The p38-MAPK Pathway Is Involved in Neuroprotection of Artemisinin against H2O2-induced Apoptosis in PC12 Cells

Oxidative stress, owing to the excessive production of ROS （reactive oxygen species）, is one of the leading causes for the progression of AD （Alzheimer＇s disease）. Increasing evidences suggested that oxidative stress insult impaired the physiological functioning of neuronal cells by inducing cell apoptosis. The search for drug candidates that can effectively protect neurons from oxidative stress insult might hold therapeutic potential for AD. In the present study, we tested the neuroprotective effects and the related action mechanisms of artemisinin, a FDA-approved anti-malarial drug, against H2O2 induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells. It was found that artemisinin reduced cell viability loss caused by hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） in PC12 cells. In addition, data from Flow cytometry displayed that artemisinin significantly decreased the apoptosis of PC 12 cells induced by H2O2. Furthermore Western blot analysis displayed that artemisinin stimulated the p38MAPK signaling, while treatment of PC 12 cells with specific p38MAPK pathway inhibitor SB203580 blocked the neuroprotective effect of artemisinin. These results together indicated that artemisinin is a potential protectant, and it protects PC12 cells against H2O2 injury through activation of the p38MAPK pathway.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on radiology education,training,and practice:A narrative review

Radiology education and training is of paramount clinical importance given the prominence of medical imaging utilization in effective clinical practice.The incorporation of basic radiology in the medical curriculum has continued to evolve,focusing on teaching image interpretation skills,the appropriate ordering of radiological investigations,judicious use of ionizing radiation,and providing exposure to interventional radiology.Advancements in radiology have been driven by the digital revolution,which has,in turn,had a positive impact on radiology education and training.Upon the advent of the corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,many training institutions and hospitals adhered to directives which advised rescheduling of non-urgent outpatient appointments.This inevitably impacted the workflow of the radiology department,which resulted in the reduction of clinical in-person case reviews and consultations,as well as in-person teaching sessions.Several medical schools and research centers completely suspended face-to-face academic activity.This led to challenges for medical teachers to complete the radiology syllabus while ensuring that teaching activities continued safely and effectively.As a result,online teaching platforms have virtually replaced didactic face-to-face lectures.Radiology educators also sought other strategies to incorporate interactive teaching sessions while adopting the e-learning approach,as they were cognizant of the limitations that this may have on students’clinical expertise.Migration to online methods to review live cases,journal clubs,simulation-based training,clinical interaction,and radiology examination protocolling are a few examples of successfully addressing the limitations in reduced clinical exposure.In this review paper,we discuss(1)The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiology education,training,and practice;(2)Challenges and strategies involved in delivering online radiology education for undergraduates and postgraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic;and(3)Difference between the implementation of radiology education during the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-COVID-19 era.