Hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) has been recently proposed as a transmitter in the brain and peripheral tissues. Its role in the gastrointestinal tract is still unknown despite some data which suggest an involvement mediating smooth muscle relaxation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this gas on intestinal segments from mouse jejunum and colon, and muscular strips from the human and rat colon. In isolated segments of mouse colon and jejunum, bath applied sodium hydrogen sulphide (NaHS) (a H 2 S donor) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous motor complexes (MCs) (IC 50 121 lmol L human strips, and 80, 167 and 674 lmol L )1 for rat strips respectively. We conclude that H 2 S strongly inhibits in vitro intestinal and colonic motor patterns. This effect appears to be critically dependent on K channels particularly apamin-sensitive SK channels and glybenclamide-sensitive K (ATP) channels.

Background:Test anxiety often leads to poor academic performance. This study aimed to determine the effect of computer-based tests on nursing students’ test anxiety.Methods:This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2016 on 39 nursing student with anxiety score under 128 on Spielberger’s State-Trait Inventory (STAI). They were randomly allocated to computer-based tests (CBT) and paper-based test (PBT) group. Prior to exam, all students completed Sarason’s Test Anxiety Scale (TAS). We administered CBT for students in experimental group. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and one-way ANOVA.Results:Students mean test anxiety score was 11.94 and 11.32 in CBT and PBT groups, respectively. 47.4% of students in CBT group and 29.4% of those in PBT group experienced higher test anxiety, while the difference was not significant (p=0.56).Conclusions:Despite, there was no significant difference between anxiety score of two groups; but students’ test anxiety score was higher in CBT group. With the current increase in computer-based assessment, educational administrators must be aware of and plan for the possible unfavorable effects of computer assisted testing, such an anxiety. Future studies are needed to evaluate and compare the effect of different type of student testing such as distance testing or CBTs using new information technologies such as laptop, tablet or mobile phone on students’ test anxiety and performance.

This study was undertaken to determine the influences of various doses of peppermint oil on the hepatic en-zymes, alanine transaminase, apartate tranaminase, alkaline phosphotase and gamma glutamyl transferase and the level of malondialdehyde in the serum of mice with and without immobility stress. The mice exposed to drink water, 0.9, 27 and 60 mg/kg peppermint oil from the days 1 to 5 for a period of 4 h before and after immobility stress. Serum MDA in-creased in treatment group II, III and IV after immobility stress. There was a significant decrease in ALT in treatment group III and IV after immobility stress. There were also significant decreases in ALP and GGT in treatment group IV af-ter immobility stress. This result may suggest that, MDA level is higher in immobilization stress group than in the un-immobilized animals in serum and this results show that enzyme activities decreased after immobilization stress.