RESUMO
In this study, we investigated the effect of dihydroartemisinin on Echinococcus protoscoleces and explored the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in this process. Echinococcus protoscoleces were collected and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium. Changes in the expressions of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP-78), caspase-12, and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) were assessed through confocal immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. Cell viability and morphological changes were observed under a light microscope. The ultrastructure of protoscoleces was observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Caspase-3 activity was detected using an enzyme assay kit. After dihydroartemisinin treatment, the protoscoleces showed loss of viability, and morphological changes including soma contraction, blebs formation, hooks loss, microtrichia destruction, and development of lipid droplets was observed. The levels of caspase-12 and CHOP were increased within 2 days of dihydroartemisinin treatment. However, the levels of GRP-78, caspase-12, and CHOP were decreased in 4 days. Furthermore, caspase-3 activity was increased after treatment with different concentrations of dihydroartemisinin. Dihydroartemisinin can induce apoptosis in protoscoleces via the ER stress-caspase-3 apoptotic pathway in vitro. These results indicate that dihydroartemisinin is a potentially valuable therapeutic agent against echinococcosis.
Assuntos
Anti-Helmínticos/farmacologia , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Artemisininas/farmacologia , Echinococcus/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse do Retículo Endoplasmático/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Caspase 12/metabolismo , Caspase 3/metabolismo , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Duração da Terapia , Echinococcus/citologia , Echinococcus/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Echinococcus/ultraestrutura , Chaperona BiP do Retículo Endoplasmático , Proteínas de Choque Térmico/metabolismo , Microscopia , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura , Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão , Microscopia de Fluorescência , Fator de Transcrição CHOP/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of a social media platform for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 222 patients from October 2018 to June 2019, who required H pylori therapy. We used WeChat, a social media platform, as a patient reminder tool. They were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups (n = 111 per group) to compare and evaluate their disease awareness, medication adherence, incidence of adverse drug reactions, and H pylori eradication rate. RESULTS: Patients in the intervention group had significantly better disease-related knowledge, medication adherence, and H pylori eradication rates than those in the control group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Using a social media platform may improve treatment rates of H pylori infection.
