1.The cultivation of students' autonomous learning ability by flipped classroom of molecular biology based on network teaching platform
Qingshou YAO ; Jiayang QIN ; Xiaohua ZHANG ; Sixiang SAI
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2017;16(3):287-289
This paper analyzes the factors that affect students' autonomous learning from the aspects of teaching interaction,the binding force of curriculum to students,the application of network and electronic products.On the basis of this,we put forward that taking the molecular biology course of biotechnology major and bio-pharmacy Major as a teaching reform template in our university,and based on the network teaching platform of molecular biology,adopt flipped classroom as the main form to improve students' autonomous learning ability,and promote their ability of lifelong learning,so that they can adapt to the development of pharmaceutical biotechnology industry.
2.On the reform of examination method of molecular biology experiment course in biotechnology specialty
Qingshou YAO ; Sixiang SAI ; Xiaohua ZHANG ; Jiayang QIN
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2021;20(5):546-549
The molecular biology experiment course plays a bridge role in the biotechnology curriculum system, and has important effect in training students' experimental operation skills, analyzing difficulties and solving problems. This article takes the biotechnology major of local medical colleges as an example to analyze and elaborate the assessment method reform and effect in the teaching process of molecular biology experimental course, aiming at promoting the teaching level of molecular biology experimental courses and improving the training quality of biotechnology professionals.
3.Construction of virtuality and reality combination teaching mode of molecular biology experiment based on constructivism
Qingshou YAO ; Xiaohua ZHANG ; Sixiang SAI ; Jiayang QIN ; Jiayu ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2023;22(5):685-689
Objective:Molecular biology experimental technology has become an important basic tool for exploring biology and medicine and other related disciplines. We aim to explore an effective molecular biology experimental teaching model which will definitely improve students' molecular biology experimental skills and autonomous learning ability.Methods:Guided by the theory of constructivism, with the molecular biology experimental course as the carrier, and with the basic requirements of constructing the basic molecular biology experimental technology of the system, a teaching platform was established to guide students to preview the experiment independently; the physical experimental projects were integrated and optimized and the virtual simulation experimental projects were increased, with virtuality and reality, to improve students' molecular biology experimental skills and autonomous learning ability.Results:An online teaching platform has been established, which effectively guides and improves the effect of students' preview experiments, and cultivates the ability of autonomous learning. Besides, the experimental teaching mode combining optimization of physical experimental projects and virtual simulation experimental projects significantly improved students' molecular biology experimental operation skills and problem-solving ability.Conclusion:A constructivism-based teaching mode of combining virtual and real molecular biology has been established, which is an effective way to improve students' molecular biology experimental skills and autonomous learning ability.
4.Repurposing econazole as a pharmacological autophagy inhibitor to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Ningna WENG ; Siyuan QIN ; Jiayang LIU ; Xing HUANG ; Jingwen JIANG ; Li ZHOU ; Zhe ZHANG ; Na XIE ; Kui WANG ; Ping JIN ; Maochao LUO ; Liyuan PENG ; Edouard C NICE ; Ajay GOEL ; Suxia HAN ; Canhua HUANG ; Qing ZHU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(7):3085-3102
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by the highest mortality among carcinomas. The pathogenesis of PDAC requires elevated autophagy, inhibition of which using hydroxychloroquine has shown promise. However, current realization is impeded by its suboptimal use and unpredictable toxicity. Attempts to identify novel autophagy-modulating agents from already approved drugs offer a rapid and accessible approach. Here, using a patient-derived organoid model, we performed a comparative analysis of therapeutic responses among various antimalarial/fungal/parasitic/viral agents, through which econazole (ECON), an antifungal compound, emerged as the top candidate. Further testing in cell-line and xenograft models of PDAC validated this activity, which occurred as a direct consequence of dysfunctional autophagy. More specifically, ECON boosted autophagy initiation but blocked lysosome biogenesis. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that this autophagic induction was largely attributed to the altered expression of activation transcription factor 3 (ATF3). Increased nuclear import of ATF3 and its transcriptional repression of inhibitor of differentiation-1 (ID-1) led to inactivation of the AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, thus giving rise to autophagosome accumulation in PDAC cells. The magnitude of the increase in autophagosomes was sufficient to elicit ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, ECON, as an autophagy inhibitor, exhibited synergistic effects with trametinib on PDAC. This study provides direct preclinical and experimental evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of ECON in PDAC treatment and reveals a mechanism whereby ECON inhibits PDAC growth.