Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a gastrointestinal disorder of unknown etiology or cure. One complication of IBD is an increased risk for development of colon cancer. The aims of this study were to use a previously established rat model of colitis to develop a new model of colitis-associated colon cancer and ascertain the involvement of three cancerrelated genes: K-ras, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), and p53. Four groups of rats were used: reactivated 1,2-dimethylhydrazine [DMH; trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) was used to induce colitis followed by a weekly s.c. dose of DMH], prolonged reactivation (inflammation was induced with TNBS,

We have previously shown that neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors predominantly mediate substance P-induced secretion of the non-inflamed rat colonic mucosa in vitro with a gradient in the magnitude of these responses. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of chronic inflammation on the contributions of different neurokinin receptor subtypes to colonic mucosal secretion. Colitis was induced by the intracolonic administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid in rats, reactivated 6 weeks later. Segments of proximal, mid- and distal colon were stripped of muscularis propria and mounted in Ussing chambers for measurement of short-circuit current. Use of selective agonists suggests that in the chronically inflamed rat colon NK1 receptors play a greater role in neurokinin-mediated mucosal secretion than do either NK2 or NK3. Selective antagonism implies that this is region-specific, with the inflammatory process altering the relative contribution of the neurokinin receptor subtypes within each region of the rat colon.

Puerto Rico Physiological Society has been conducting PhUn Week activities in schools located in the south of the Island. This year junior students received talks and participated in hands‐on activities related to several topics in physiology.AimThe main was to provide information on basic physiological concepts, what scientists do, and how to pursue a scientific career. We hypothesized that combining conventional talks with hands‐on activities emphasizing key words will increase the students' attention and retention, leading to correct answers on a written evaluation.MethodsStudents from eleventh grade (22 males and 8 females) were given a pre‐test which consisted of 5 multiple choice questions related to cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems. Oral presentations were given followed by hands‐on activities using repetition of key words during each activity. A post‐test was given to measure learning outcomes.ResultsIn the pre‐test, 59.3% of the overall questions were answered correctly, and this increased to 98.7% in the post‐test. Repetition during the talks and hands‐on activities increases the selection of correct answers in the written evaluation.ConclusionsWe were able to call the students attention by sharing our personal experiences as scientists and explaining physiology via a variety of assessments, which includes the repetition of key words in each activity. This outreach endeavor provides the student with alternative ways of learning physiology and a better understanding of a career in the sciences.

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