Subjective learning gain from a simulation-based health management course: a mixed methods study.

Objectives: Simulations are increasingly being offered as part of the educational experience of healthcare students. We used a Health Management Scenario Simulation system to create a course. This study aimed to evaluate learning gains before and after the course.

Study of visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective: Visceral hypersensitivity is highly prevalent in most functional bowel disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and activation of intestinal mast cells (MC) may play a role because they have been found in close proximity to gastrointestinal mucosal sensory nerve terminals containing neuropeptides and a bi-directional pathway connecting the central nervous system, gut, and MC has been demonstrated. The current study appraised the status of rectal visceral perception, as well as the changes in the MC and substance P (SP) in the intestinal mucosa of patients with IBS.

Methods: The study group comprised 42 patients with IBS and 19 healthy subjects who underwent anorectal manometry and rectal perception thresholds to balloon distension.

[The changes of mucosal mast cells and substance P in patients with irritable bowel syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the changes of the mast cells (MCs) and substance P (SP), and to elucidate their possible roles in visceral hypersensitivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods: In 22 diarrhea-predominant IBS, 20 constipation-predominant IBS and 19 controls, the biopsies were carried out from the terminal ileum, the ileocecal junction, the ascending colon, and the sigmoid colon. The MCs and the SP-ergic nerve terminals, SP receptor (SPR) cells were stained by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry respectively, and the results were investigated qualitatively and quantitatively by color image analyzer.