Methylene blue reduces IL-1β levels by enhancing ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation to improve diabetic retinopathy in rats / 细胞与分子免疫学杂志

Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effect of methylene blue on diabetic retinopathy in rats. Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into blank, control and experimental groups. The control and experimental groups were induced with diabetes by streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneal injection. After 6 weeks of successful modeling, the experimental group received intravitreal injection of methylene blue at a dose of [0.2 mg/(kg.d)], while the control group received an equal amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) intravitreal injection, both continuously injected for 7 days. ELISA was used to detect the levels of retinal superoxide dismutase (SOD), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (iPF2α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in rats. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of retinal extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation (p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), and PAS staining was used to detect retinal morphological changes. Results Compared with the blank group rats, the retinal SOD activity in the control and experimental group rats was significantly reduced. iPF2α, IL-1β and p-ERK1/2 level increased, while p-AKT level decreased. Compared with the control group, the SOD activity of the experimental group rats increased. iPF2α and IL-1β level went down, while p-ERK1/2 and p-AKT level went up significantly. The overall thickness of the retinal layer and the number of retinal ganglion cells were significantly reduced. Conclusion Methylene blue improves diabetic retinopathy in rats by reducing retinal oxidative stress and enhancing ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation.

Application of formative assessment in standardized general practice residency training / 中华全科医师杂志

Forty three medical graduates from Hainan Medical University participating in the standardized general practice residency training in 2015 and 2016 were randomly divided into study group (n=22) and control group (n=21). The study group received a mid-term assessment and formative assessment, and the control group received the final assessment only. At the end of the six months of training, the scores of the mid-term assessment in study group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(82.9±8.4) vs. (75.5±10.2), t=12.706, P<0.01]. A questionnaire survey was conducted among the participants in study group, 86.4% of them recognized and supported the formative assessments. Formative assessment can improve the teaching quality of general practice residency training. The trainees have a positive attitude towards this assessment mode.