Endogenous stem cells have significant advantages in cell therapy for excellent histocompatibility, low tumorigenicity risk, unnecessity for in vitro expansion and culture, and low disease transmission risk. There have been some applications for endogenous stem cells in treating diseases, targeting some organic and functional diseases throughout the body. In ocular tissue, the lens is a breakthrough for regenerative therapy due to its potential to grow throughout life and observation accessibility. Achieving lens regeneration in adult mammals attributes to some prerequisites. Firstly, the location of endogenous stem cells in the lens has been identified. Then, surgical approaches have been advanced to preserve lens stem cells and create a microenvironment suitable for lens regeneration. Protein compositional analysis of the regenerated lens reveals that it is similar to a mature lens rather than an embryonic lens, suggesting that the regulation of lens regeneration is not the same as the induction of embryonic onset. The strategy for regulating lens regeneration needs to focus not only on the activation and proper differentiation of stem cells but also on regulating the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). In the future, in order to apply the experiences of lens regeneration to other ocular tissues, to mobilize endogenous cells and promote their growth, some strategies could be used. These strategies include mimicking cellular stress via the addition of cellular active ingredients, such as exosome, mitochondria, and small molecular compounds. Additionally, we can also try to restore lens tissue structure and microenvironment through surgical or biomaterial assistance.
Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of medical education curriculum named “Development and Application of Ophthalmic Artificial Intelligence”, and provide reference for the development of other related curriculums. Methods: Longitudinal observational study method was adopted. During the fall semester of 2020, we conducted an education curriculum named “Development and Application of Ophthalmic Artificial Intelligence” and analyzed the results of mid-term and final examinations, and curriculum evaluation of students. Results: There were 118 undergraduate students taking the course and most of them were junior students majoring in clinical medicine. The score of the mid-term examination was in the range of 77.2±10.07, and 56 students (47.46%) got more than 80 points. The score of the final examination was in the range of 82.24±6.77, and 91 students (77.12%) got more than 80 points. The score of course evaluation of students was in the range of 98.76±3.55, and more than 90% of the students thought that teachers have made full preparations before class, together with clear teaching logic and accurate expressions in class. Conclusion: The smooth progress of our course proved the feasibility of medical artificial intelligence teaching. The teaching setting interspersed with theory and practice could help students to master knowledge and technology better, so as to achieve the teaching objectives.
Objective: To investigate the student satisfaction and educational effect of integrating ideological and political elements into the eight-year clinical medicine ophthalmology integrated curriculum. Methods: An anonymous paper questionnaire survey was administered to fifth-grade clinical medicine students ofthe eight-year clinical medicine program of Sun Yat-sen University to assess students’ satisfaction with ideological and political education as well as the educational effectiveness. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed on thequestionnaire results, and the qualitative data were represented by frequency and percentage. Results: Ninety valid surveys were collected. 91% of the students agreed with the incorporation of ideological and political elements into the curriculum, 93% of the students thought the incorporation of ideological and political elements into the curriculum was good or very good, and 82% of the students believed that the ideological and political curricula helped arouse their interest in ophthalmology. The overall correct rate for ideological and political questions reached 92.9%, with the following correct rates from most accurate to least accurate: doctor-patient communication (100%), history of ophthalmology (98.9%), policy (83.3%), and research frontier (82.2%). Conclusion: Eight-year clinical medicine students are highly satisfied with the integration of intellectual and political components into the ophthalmology integration curriculum. Ideological and political education has yielded favorable results, with students demonstrating a thorough grasp of ideological and political facts. Future curricula should expand students’ awareness of research frontiers and policy issues while maintaining their interest in doctor-patient communication and the history of ophthalmology.