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The core problem of Chinese resident doctor training is that medical educators present content in an attractive teaching mode to make students more motivated to learn and improve their clinical thinking ability, humanistic care, and practical ability. The traditional classroom mode of teaching cannot meet the needs of modern medical education. The purpose of this study is to explore the benefits and challenges of the flipped classroom (FC) combined with case- and team-based learning (FC-CTBL) for residency training. In this study, 60 junior surgical residents of Xiangya Medical College were enrolled. "Diabetic foot" was selected as the content of this study. Residents were divided into an FC-CTBL group and an FC group. FC-CTBL and FC were compared on the basis of residents' feedback questionnaires, residents' learning burden, test scores from a pre-quiz, and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE). Residents were more satisfied with the FC-CTBL model compared with FC. In the FC-CTBL group, more participants said that the course improved their teamwork skills, analytical skills and their confidence in tackling unfamiliar problems. Residents in the FCCTBL group also spent significantly less time preparing for class and performed better in the OSCE than those in the FC group. FCCTBL stimulates residents' learning motivation, decreases their workload, improves their performance in the OSCE and may help to enhance clinical thinking and teamwork skills. The FC-CTBL approach is a good option for residency training.

Comprehensive Summary: Hyperlanins A (1) and B (2), two highly rearranged polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol (PPAP)‐related meroterpenoids based on different new carbon skeletons, were isolated from Hypericum lancasteri. Compound 1 incorporates an unprecedented 5/6/7/5 ring system featuring a 3,13‐dioxatetracyclo[9.2.1.12,5.01,8]pentadecane core. Compound 2 possesses a unique compact 6/6/5/6/6/5/6 ring system with a caged tetracyclo[6.2.1.13,8.05,11]dodecane motif. Their structures were established by spectroscopic data, X‐ray diffraction, and computational approaches. Both compounds showed anti‐inflammatory activity in vitro. Compounds 1 and 2 could decrease the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐/nigericin‐induced IL‐1β release in THP‐1 cells. Both compounds also showed inhibition in hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) pathway luciferase reporter assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We here report the multicolor electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of binary microcrystals prepared from a blue‐emissive iridium complex 1 and an orange‐emissive ruthenium complex 2. These materials display a plate‐like morphology with high crystallinity, as demonstrated by microscopic and powder X‐ray diffraction analyses. Under light excitation, these microcrystals exhibit gradient emission color changes as a result of the efficient energy transfer between two complexes. When modified on glass carbon electrodes, these microcrystals exhibit tunable ECLs with varied emission colors including sky‐blue, white, orange, and red, depending on the doping ratio of complex 2 and the applied potential. Furthermore, organic amines with different molecular sizes are used as the co‐reactant to examine their influences on the ECL efficiency of the porous microcrystals of 1. The analysis on the luminance and RGB values of ECL suggests the existence of energy transfer in the generation of multicolor ECLs in these binary crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect samples found on human corpses can provide the information important to estimating the minimum postmortem interval （PMImin）. A female cadaver, found in a deserted factory in Chongqing of China, was confirmed as a homicide case after the forensic investigation and autopsy. Determining the time of death was difficult due to the inconsistent degree of decomposition in different parts of the decedent. The insect specimens found on the cadaver were identified to be Chrysomya rufifacies （C. rufifacies, Macquart） by morphology and mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis. The PMImin was estimated to be 452 h, based on the developmental rate of C. rufifacies. The PMImin was estimated successfully to be almost precise, which provided an important entomological evidence for case investigation and suspect prosecution. In so doing, this highlights the usefulness of entomological evidence of specific species in the geographic area for PMI accurate estimation, especially in the case of advanced decomposed corpses.

Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) plays a more and more important role in the process of designing and assembly of functional materials, due to its high strength and modulus, controllable structure, feasible modification, biocompatibility and biodegradability. As a kind of macromolecule system with "intelligent" behavior, the stimuli-responsively functional materials make a sensitive response when stimulated by the external environment, and show the corresponding function. With the addition of CNCs, not only the mechanical properties of CNC-based functional materials are greatly improved, but also the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of CNCs provide a convenient way to enrich the stimulus response source of these functional materials. Herein, combining with the chemical structure of CNC, the synthesis of CNC-based stimuli-responsive functional materials was comprehensively summarized. Meanwhile, the recent developments of single or multiple stimuli-responsive functional materials based on CNCs, such as water-, thermal-, pH-, light-responsive functional materials were summarized, with the stimulate switch taken as the main line. Finally, it was pointed out that future research would focus on improving the surface-modification efficiency of CNC, and broadening multi-stimulus responsiveness of CNC-based functional materials. The preparation of CNC-based functional materials with high performances will be significant in the future research as well.

AimsAnimal studies show that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is an important mediator of atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF). This study investigated the role of TGF-β1 in human AF and the mechanism of atrial-selective fibrosis.Methods and resultsAtrial specimens from 17 open heart surgery patients and left atrial and ventricular specimens from 17 explanted hearts were collected to assess the relationship between TGF-β1, AF, and differential atrial vs. ventricular TGF-β1 levels. A transgenic mouse model overexpressing active TGF-β1 was used to study the mechanisms underlying the resultant atrial-selective fibrosis. Higher right atrial total TGF-β1 levels (2.58 ± 0.16-fold, P < 0.0001) and active TGF-β1 (3.7 ± 0.7-fold, P = 0.013) were observed in those that developed post-operative AF. Although no ventricular differences were observed, 11 explanted heart failure hearts exhibited higher atrial TGF-β1 levels than 6 non-failing hearts (2.30 ± 0.87 fold higher, P < 0.001). In the transgenic mouse, TGF-β1 receptor-1 kinase blockade resulted in decreased atrial expression of fibrosis-related genes. By RNA microarray analyses in that model, 80 genes in the atria and only 2 genes in the ventricle were differentially expressed. Although these mice atria, but not the ventricles, exhibited increased expression of fibrosis-related genes and phosphorylation of Smad2, there were no differences in TGF-β1 receptor levels or Smads in the atria compared with the ventricles.ConclusionsTGF-β1 mediates selective atrial fibrosis in AF that occurs via TGF-β Receptor 1/2 and the classical Smad pathway. The differential atrial vs. ventricular fibrotic response occurs at the level of TGF-β1 receptor binding or phosphorylation.