Case-based learning in education of Traditional Chinese Medicine: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE:To assess the effect of case-based learning(CBL)in the education of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM).METHODS:The studies concerning TCM courses designed with CBL were included by searching the databases of EBSCO,Pubmed,Science Citation Index,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Chongqing VIP database.The valid data was extracted in accordance with the included criteria.The quality of the studies was assessed with Gemma Flores-Masteo.RESULTS:A total of 22 articles were retrieved that met the selection criteria:one was of high quality;two were of low quality;the rest were categorized as moderate quality.The majority of the studiesdemonstrated the better effect produced by CBL,while a few studies showed no difference,compared with the didactic format.All included studies confirmed the favorable effect on learners'attitude,skills and ability.CONCLUSION:CBL showed the desirable results in achieving the goal of learning.Compared to didactic approach,it played a more active role in promoting students'competency.Since the quality of the articles on which the study was based was not so high,the findings still need further research to become substantiated.

Speech at the Meeting Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Chairman MAO Ze-dong's Important Instruction on Western Medicine Doctors Learning Traditional Chinese Medicine

Respected leaders,distinguished guests,venerable seniors and comrades, Today,the Meeting Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Chairman MAO Ze-dong’s Important Instructions on Western Medicine Doctors Learning Traditional Chinese Medicine was inaugurated by the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine, and it is also an important occasion to review the past and look forward to the future.

Effects of 5-hydroxymethyl Furfural Extracted from Rehmannia Glutinosa Libosch on the Expression of Signaling Molecules Relevant to Learning and Memory among Hippocampal Neurons Exposed to High Concentration of Corticosterone

Objective：To determine the effects of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural（5-HMF）,an extract of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch,on several down-regulated signaling molecules involved in learning and memory in hippocampal neurons.Methods：After cultured for 7 days,primary hippocampal neurons were divided into 5 groups：normal,corticosterone model,RU38486,5-HMF,and donepezil group.Neuron survival rates were calculated 24 h later using SYT013-P1 double-fluorescence staining and an 3-（4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide（MTT）assay.β-galactosidase activity was also assayed.Protein expressed by the glucocorticoid receptor（GCR）,brainderived neurotrophic factor（BDNF）,and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B（NR2B）,as well as phosphorylationcyclic adenosine monophosphate（cAMP）response element binding protein（p-CREB）,phosphorylation-extracellular signal-regulated kinase（p-ERK）,and phosphorylation-synapsin（p-synapsin）were quantified with Western blot.Results：Hippocampal neuron survival rates and the above-mentioned proteins were dramatically decreased（P〈0.05）,β-galactosidase activity was significantly increased in the model group,but the effect was reversed by5-HMF,RU38486,and to a lesser extent by donepezil（P〈0.05）.Conclusion：5-HMF extracts from the Chinese herb Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch could protect hippocampal neurons from glucocorticoid injury and from down-regulated signaling molecules in the GCR-BDNF-NR2B-p-ERK-p-CREB-p-synapsin signal transduction pathway.