OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of berberine on differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to adipocytes and its mechanism. METHODS Rat MSCs were isolated and cultured, adipocytic differentiation was induced with adipogenesis-inducing medium (AIM). Cells were assigned into 6 groups:normal control, AIM group, AIM+berberine 0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 μmol·L-1 groups, respectively. Morphology characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells were observed under an inverted microscope and adipocyte levels were analyzed by oil O staining. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate. The cell survival was determined by MTT assay. Expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) mRNA were detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, MSCs adipogenic differentiation, PPARγ, aP2 and C/EBPα mRNA expression significantly increased in AIM group (P<0.01), ALP activity in AIM group significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with AIM group, berberine inhibited MSCs adipogenic differentiation (P<0.01) and berberine 0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 μmol·L-1 increased ALP activity by 26%, 54%, 81% and 122%, respectively. Berberine 3 μmol·L-1 significantly downregulated PPARγ expression (0.91±0.10 vs 1.34±0.06) (P<0.01), aP2 (1.05±0.10 vs 1.53±0.09) (P<0.01) and C/EBPα mRNA (1.24±0.06 vs 1.54±0.09) (P<0.01). Berberine had no effect on proliferation of MSCs. CONCLUSION Berberine inhibits differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes, which might be closely related to the downregulation of PPARγ, aP2 and C/EBPα mRNA.

Objective To investigate the status of Cryptosporidium infection in the population in the local area of Anhui Prov?ince,and discuss the risk factors of the infection,so as to provide the evidence for the prevention and treatment of cryptosporidi?osis. Methods Qianshan County and Lingbi County of Anhui Province were selected as investigation spots,and the oocysts of Cryptosporidium in the feces of the investigation objects and the specific IgG antibody against Cryptosporidium in the serum were checked by using the pathogenic modified acid fast staining method and ELISA,respectively,so as to determine the status of Cryptosporidium infection in these investigation objects. At the same time,the questionnaire surveys were conducted in the inves?tigation objects so as to know about the risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection. Results A total of 668 people were investigat?ed in the two counties,635 people received etiological examinations,and 15 people were positive with the positive rate of 2.36%;642 people received serological examinations,and 140 people were positive with the positive rate of 21.81%;628 peo?ple received pathogenic and serological examinations at the same time,and the examination results of the both methods showed that 12 people were positive(there were 4 people in Qianshan County and 8 people in Lingbi County),and the positive rate was 1.94%. The rates of Cryptosporidium infection in the population of Qianshan County and Lingbi County were 1.24%(4/322)and 2.71%(8/295)respectively,and the difference had no statistical significance(P>0.05). The single factor analysis found that the rate of Cryptosporidium infection was higher in the children and diarrhea patients;the multivariate logistics regression analy?sis indicated that the rate of Cryptosporidium infection was higher in the people who bred poultry and the diarrhea patients. Con?clusions The positive rate of serum antibody of Cryptosporidium in the population of the local area of Anhui Province is higher, which indicates that the previous infection is serious,and the rate of Cryptosporidium infection in human is relative to the age, diarrhea and whether there are poultries to be bred in the family,which is worthy of attention in the future prevention and treat?ment.

Objective To describe the prevalence and risk factors of insomnia among adults in YiBin City. Meth?ods Using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling, 12000 subjects over 18 years old were identified in YiBin City. The subjects were screened using the insomnia survey self-edited and risk factors of insomnia were identified through logistic analysis. Results A total of 11227 subjects completed the survey in which 1671 people (14.9%, 95%CI:14.2%~15.5%) were diagnosed insomnia using ICD-10. Among them, 9.4% (157 patients) had seeked for professional help. The multi?variate logistic analysis showed that low level of life quality(OR=2.42,P<0.01), jobless(OR=1.87,P<0.01), over 60 years old(OR=1.69,P<0.01), fewer years of education(OR=1.41,P<0.01), female(OR=1.41,P<0.01)and lower annu?al per capita income(OR=1.15,P=0.01)were risk factors in insomnia people. Conclusion The incidence of insomnia is high in YiBin city. Sleep quality in high-risk group needs more attention and corresponding measures should be taken in order to increase the rate of asking for help in insomnia people.

Binding Sites ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Protein Multimerization ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate ; chemistry ; physiology

Objective: To understand the status of pinworm infection in rural children aged 3-9 years in Anhui Province, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control strategy of pinworm disease. Methods: According to the National Surveillance Program of Liver Fluke Disease and Soil Transmitted Nematodiasis(Trial), no less than 10% counties(cities and districts) in Anhui Province were selected as mobile surveillance sites every year. Each surveillance site was divided into 5 areas on the basis of geographical location(east, west, south, north and middle), from each of the areas, one administrative village was selected from one township(town, community) for conducting surveillance. Children at age 3-9 years from each site were examined for pinworm infection with the modified Kato-Katz thick smear method and the adhesive cellophane tape perianal swab method. Chi square test was used to compare the infection rate. Results: From 2017 to 2021, the 5 year average infection rate of pinworm in rural Anhui was 1.34%(128/9 557), and there was no significant difference in the infection rate over the years( P >0.05). The detection rates of the modified Kato-Katz thick smear method and the adhesive cellophane tape perianal swab method were 0.28% and 1.23%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant( χ 2=72.97, P <0.01). In different regions, the 5 year average infection rate of Fuyang City was the highest(4.27%), and the rate of each city was positively correlated with the number of local resident population( r =0.54, P <0.05). There was no significant sex difference in the 5 year average infection rates( P >0.05). The 5 year average infection rate of children aged 3 to 9 years in rural areas were 0.62%, 1.10%, 1.44%, 1.57%, 0.94%, 2.09% and 1.57%, respectively, showed an increasing trend with the increase of age( χ 2=14.41, χ 2 trend =6.70, P <0.05). There was no significant difference in the average infection rate between scattered children and collectively living children( P >0.05). Conclusion From 2017 to 2021, the infection rate of pinworm among children in rural Anhui province remains at a low level. In the future, health education and monitoring should be strengthened.

To evaluate the implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) in schistosomiasis-endemic foci, two schistosomiasis-endemic counties were selected from two provinces of Sichuan and Anhui. Professional staff working in province-, city-, county- and township-level disease control and prevention institutions, parasitic disease control institutions or medical institutions were recruited, and the understanding, use and implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) were investigated using questionnaires and interviews. The awareness, use, proportion of propagation and implementation and correct rate of answering questions pertaining to Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) were analyzed. A total of 270 questionnaires were allocated, and 269 were recovered, including 254 valid questionnaires. The overall awareness of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) was 84.64% (215/254), and propagation and implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) was not performed in 23.28% (17/73) of the survey institutions following implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017), with meeting training and allocation of propagation materials as the main type of propagation and implementation. Among 254 respondents, 77.16% (196/254) were familiar with the standard, 66.14% (168/254) understood the conditions for use of the standard during snail surveys, and 96.85% (246/254) had the approach for identifying snails. In addition, there were 41.73% (106/254), 50.78% (129/254) and 7.48% (19/254) of respondents that considered the operability of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) was very good, good and general, respectively. The findings demonstrate that the issue and implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) has filled the gap for the standardization of snail control techniques, and which plays an importang guiding role in the national schistosomiasis control program.