Objective:To investigate the regulation and mechanism of chronic Trichinella spiralis ( Ts) infection on liver immunopathology in mice co-infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA( PbA). Methods:According to body weight, 64 specific pathogen free female Kunming mice (6 - 8 weeks old, weighting 22 - 25 g) were divided into 4 groups by using random number table method. Control group: uninfected; Ts group: mice were mono-infected with 30 Ts larvae by oral gavage on day 0; PbA group: mice were mono-infected with 1 × 10 6PbA-infected red blood cells in 0.1 ml of phosphate buffer (PBS) administered by intraperitoneal injection on day 121; co-infected ( Ts+PbA) group: mice were infected with 30 Ts larvae by oral gavage and intraperitoneal injected with 1 × 10 6PbA-infected red blood cells in 0.1 ml PBS on day 121 after Ts infection. There were 16 mice in each group, in which 10 mice in each group were monitored for the survival rate. The peripheral red blood cell parasitemia of PbA group and Ts + PbA group were monitored every other day by light microscope examination of Giemsa-stained thin tail-blood smears from day 3 after PbA infection. Mice were sacrificed at day 135 after Ts infection and/or at day 15 after PbA infection, the mouse body weight and liver weight were measured, and the liver index were calculated. Ts-infected mice were monitored by a light microscope examination of diaphragm compression slide. Under a light microscope, the liver pathology and liver fibrosis of mice were observed and compared with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Sirius red staining, respectively. The F4/80 + Kupffer cells in liver of mice were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Results:After infection with Ts or PbA, Ts larvae cysts were observed in diaphragm tissues and PbA were observed in red blood cells under the light microscope. After PbA infection, there was no significant difference in survival rate between PbA group and Ts+ PbA group ( P > 0.05). Compared with PbA group, the peripheral red blood cell parasitemia was significantly decreased in Ts+ PbA group on days 11 and 15 after PbA infection (%: 27.104 ± 7.623 vs 45.032 ± 9.849, 60.218 ± 2.776 vs 76.778 ± 6.351, P < 0.05), and the liver index and the liver pathology score were significantly decreased in Ts+ PbA group ( P < 0.05). Sirius red staining showed that the positive area of liver fibrosis in Ts+ PbA group was significantly higher than that in PbA group ( P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the average optical density value of F4/80 + Kupffer cells in Ts+ PbA group was significantly higher than that in PbA group ( P < 0.01). Conclusion:Chronic Ts infection may reduce the peripheral red blood cell parasitemia, increase F4/80 + Kupffer cells expression in liver, and attenuate liver pathology in mice co-infected with PbA.

Parasitic diseases still remain the world's greatest health problems and cause huge economic burden in poor areas. The drugs currently used to treat protozoiases and helminthiases have certain defects, and it is urgent to develop more effective therapeutic drugs for these diseases. Berberine is one kind of important anti-inflammatory agents originally derived from Coptis rhizoma. The derivatives of berberine are obtained by modifying the structural site of berberine. In addition to its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities, berberine and its derivatives also have significant anti-parasitic activity. In this paper, we summarized recent progress in the use of berberine and its derivatives against the infections of protozoa ( Leishmania spp ., Trypanosoma spp. , Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium falciparum, and Eimeria tenella) and helminths ( Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma. japonicum, Echinococcus granulosus, and Toxocara canis), which may providea useful reference for researchers in this field.

Objective To describe the relationships between sleep duration,dietary patterns and overweight/obesity among adolescents in Xuzhou,and to develop prevention and intervention strategies for adolescent-obesity.Methods Data of 3 103 boys and girls from 5 junior high schools were analyzed.Self-reported information on duration of sleep,dietary patterns,physical activities and time spent on watching video/audio program were assessed and physique data was also collected.Descriptive statistics,multiple liner regression and logistic regression models were used.Results The prevalence rates on overweight and obesity in boys were 23.5％ and 22.5％,and in girls were 18.1％ and 11.9％,respectively.Proportions of insufficient sleep (＜ 8 h/d) in boys appeared 28.1％ and in girls as 33.0％.From logistic regression analysis revealed that there appeared risk on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in boys who had sleep duration ＜7 h/d [OR(95％CI):1.72 (1.08-2.74)],but no significant association was found between duration of sleep and overweight/ obesity in girls.After adjusting on age,levels of parental education,family income,physical activities,time spent on watching video/audio programs,and weight status,boys who had sleep duration less than 7 h/d would have the odds ratio of 1.69 (1.10-2.73),for the likelihood of increasing the frequency of eating snacks compared to their counterparts who had sleep duration of ≥8 h/d.Conclusion The Shortened duration of sleep seemed an independent risk factor on overweight/ obesity among male adolescents,and it was associated with the increased frequency of eating snacks.Data from our study showed that the dietary patterns might play a role in the association between duration of sleep and overweight/obesity,among male adolescents.

Objective To evaluate the influence of chronic psychosocial stress on BMI in adolescents.Methods Physical examination and questionnaire survey were conducted among the students of junior grade 1 and senior grade 1 in 10 middle schools in Xuzhou in September 2011.Their body height and weight were measured at baseline survey and the self-report information about socio-demographic data,emotional symptoms (depressive symptoms,anxiety symptoms),and life style/behavior were collected from them.Chronic psychosocial stress was assessed with Multidimensional Life Events Rating Questionnaire (MLERQ),which consists of five items,stress of family life,school life,peer relation,gender relation and health growth.Results A total of 5 473 valid questionnaires were collected for analysis (2 841 from boys and 2 632 from girls).The follow-up measurement of body height and weight were conducted in September 20 13.A total of 4 316 students (2 171 boys,2 145 girls) were surveyed,and 1 157 students missed the follow up.The psychosocial stress score in the overweight and obese girls at baseline survey was positively associated with BMI-Z increase at follow up survey (P＜0.01).No such effect was observed among the boys at follow-up survey.Conclusion High level of chronic psychosocial stress could lead to BMI increase in overweight and obese girls,suggesting that female adolescents are susceptible population of psychosocial stress induced obesity.