Although the CD-induced amelioration of gut injury involves melatonin receptors, the direct antioxidant effects on melatonin appear to be independent of receptor activity.

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1. Unabsorbed nutrients in the distal gut inhibit upper gastrointestinal motility. 2. The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in gastric motility following segmental resections and to evaluate the role of capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons that may be responsible for these changes. 3. Wistar albino rats of both sexes (200-250 g) were used. Under aseptic conditions and anaesthesia (100 mg/kg ketamine), a baby-feeding tube was placed distal to the resection in either the ileum or caecum for intraluminal perfusion of saline or 20 lipid. In one group of rats, capsaicin was perfused (0.6) for afferent denervation. One group of rats underwent jejunal and ileal resections with end-to-end anastomosis of the remaining segments and were cannulated distal to these anastomosis. Ten days after the surgery, the percentage gastric emptying of a solid meal was calculated. 4. Intra-ileal (18) and intracaecal (34) lipid perfusions delayed gastric emptying compared with groups perfused with saline (54 and 74, respectively; P< 0.001 and P< 0.01). The delay in gastric emptying by ileal perfusion was significantly greater than that following caecal perfusion (P< 0.05). With both resections, gastric emptying was delayed compared with sham groups (P< 0.05-0.01). Local administration of capsaicin abolished the inhibitory effect of lipid on gastric emptying in healthy intact rats and in the jejunal-resection group, whereas a partial reversal was seen in the ileal-resection group. 5. In conclusion, the present data demonstrate that in both healthy intact rat groups and in short bowel groups, capsaicin-sensitive extrinsic neurons participate in brake mechanisms of the distal gut.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the strong or weak aspects of an interactive study module introduced during the "Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems Subject Committee" in the second year of the medical program. Five study groups consisting of 25 students attended two-hour module sessions for six weeks with the same tutor. According to the module assessment questionnaire, the majority of the students assessed the module as excellent or good. The students reported that they had gained not only in knowledge but also in skills development. The general opinion of the students was that both the organization and the implementation of the module met their expectations. Nearly one-half of the students reported that their expectations with regard to the educational environment and the participation of students were fully met. The major weakness in this new educational trial appears to be assessment of the module.

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