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Burgeoning commercial applications of catechol have led to its excessive accumulation in the environment, thereby posing a severe ecological threat. Bioremediation has emerged as a promising solution. The potential of the microalga Crypthecodinium cohnii to degrade catechol and use the byproduct as a carbon source was investigated in this study. Catechol significantly increased C. cohnii growth and was rapidly catabolized within 60 h of cultivation. Transcriptomic analysis highlighted the key genes involved in catechol degradation. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that transcription of key genes CatA, CatB , and SaID involved in the ortho-cleavage pathway was remarkably increased by 2.9-, 4.2-, and 2.4- fold, respectively. Key primary metabolite content was also markedly altered, with a specific increment in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Electron microscopy and antioxidant analysis showed that C. cohnii could tolerate catechol treatment without morphological aberrations or oxidative stress. The findings provide a strategy for C. cohnii in the bioremediation of catechol and concurrent polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) accumulation.

Neuropathy can contribute to low back pain (LBP) in the region of the back. Our study investigated the proportion of neuropathic pain (NP) in low back region in chronic LBP patients from multicenter and clinics in China and identified associated factors. Assessment was made using a questionnaire and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS, only tested in low back region), as well as Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST, merely applied to the low back region), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Our questionnaire collected demographic information, behavioral habits and medical records. 2116 outpatients over 18 years old complaining of LBP lasting more than 3 months were enrolled in this study. The NP proportion in low back region in chronic LBP patients was 2.8%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that histories of lumbar surgery, abdominal or pelvic surgery, and drinking alcohol were independent positive predictors for LBP of predominantly neuropathic origin (LBNPO), while history of low back sprain and frequently carrying weight as independent negative predictor. Using these parameters may help the identification of patients with chronic LBP likely to develop NP leading to improved treatment outcomes.

Aim: To investigate the damaging effect of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on cancer cells and the inhibitory effect on tumor growth., Methods: Murine H22 hepatic cancer cells were treated with HIFU at the same intensity for different lengths of time and at different intensities for the same length of time in vitro, the dead cancer cells were determined by trypan blue staining. Two groups of cancer cells treated with HIFU at the lowest and highest intensity were inoculated into mice. Tumor masses were removed and weighed after 2 wk, tumor growth in each group was confirmed pathologically., Results: The death rate of cancer cells treated with HIFU at 1 000 W/cm2 for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 s was 3.11+/-1.21%, 13.37+/-2.56%, 38.84+/-3.68%, 47.22+/-5.76%, 87.55+/-7.32%, and 94.33+/-8.11%, respectively. A positive relationship between the death rates of cancer cells and the length of HIFU treatment time was found (r = 0.96, P<0.01). The death rate of cancer cells treated with HIFU at the intensity of 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1 000 W/cm2 for 8 s was 26.31+/-3.26%, 31.00+/-3.87%, 41.97+/-5.86%, 72.23+/-8.12%, 94.90+/-8.67%, and 99.30+/-9.18%, respectively. A positive relationship between the death rates of cancer cells and the intensities of HIFU treatment was confirmed (r = 0.98, P<0.01). The cancer cells treated with HIFU at 1 000 W/cm2 for 8 s were inoculated into mice ex vivo. The tumor inhibitory rate was 90.35% compared to the control (P<0.01). In the experimental group inoculated with the cancer cells treated with HIFU at 1 000 W/cm2 for 0.5 s, the tumor inhibitory rate was 22.9% (P<0.01). By pathological examination, tumor growth was confirmed in 8 out of 14 mice (57.14%, 8/14) inoculated with the cancer cells treated with HIFU at 1 000 W/cm2 for 8 s, which was significantly lower than that in the control (100%, 15/15, P<0.05)., Conclusion: HIFU is effective on killing or damage of H22 hepatic cancer cells in vitro and on inhibiting tumor growth in mice ex vivo.

Objective: To investigate the killing effect of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on human tumor cells and study the mechanism of its action., Methods: Human breast cancer cells MCF-7 were treated with different intensity of HIFU in vitro and incubated. The killing effect and proliferation inhibition effect of HIFU on tumor cells were investigated with the methods of trypan blue exclusion assay, MTT assay and colony formation assay. And the cell cycle, apoptotic cells and the expressions of P53, BCL-2, FAS and HSP70 were measured with flow cytometry., Results: After HIFU treatment, the death rates of cancer cell increased, the proliferation of cell waned (P < 0.05), the number of colony formation decreased (P < 0.001), the cell number increased in G0/G1 phase (P < 0.05) and decreased in S phase, the apoptotic indices increased (P < 0.01), the expression of HSP70 was enhanced, and no significant changes of P53, BCL-2, FAS expressions were found (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: HIFU produces significant effects such as killing, proliferation inhibition and colony formation inhibition on human breast cancer cells; its mechanism of action may be associated with the inhibition of DNA synthesis. In addition, HIFU treatment can induce apoptotic cell death, which may not be associated with the mediation and regulation of P53, BCL-2 and FAS genes.