The where of handovers by humans: Effect of partner characteristics, distance and visual feedback.

Object handovers between humans are common in our daily life but the mechanisms underlying handovers are still largely unclear. A good understanding of these mechanisms is important not only for a better understanding of human social behaviors, but also for the prospect of an automatized society in which machines will need to perform similar objects exchanges with humans. In this paper, we analyzed how humans determine the location of object transfer during handovers- to determine whether they can predict the preferred handover location of a partner, the variation of this prediction in 3D space, and to examine how much of a role vision plays in the whole process. For this we developed a paradigm that allows us to compare handovers by humans with and without on-line visual feedback. Our results show that humans have the surprising ability to modulate their handover location according to partners they have just met such that the resulting handover errors are in the order of few centimeters, even in the absence of vision. The handover errors are least along the axis joining the two partners, suggesting a limited role for visual feedback in this direction. Finally, we show that the handover locations are explained very well by a linear model considering the heights, genders and social dominances of the two partners, and the distance between them. We developed separate models for the behavior of 'givers' and 'receivers' and discuss how the behavior of the same individual changes depending on his role in the handover.

Correction to: Laxative effect of repeated Daiokanzoto is attributable to decrease in aquaporin-3 expression in the colon.

The article Laxative effect of repeated Daiokanzoto is attributable to decrease in aquaporin-3 expression in the colon, written by Risako Kon, Miho Yamamura, Yukari Matsunaga, Hiroshi Kimura, Moe Minami, Saki Kato, Nobutomo Ikarashi, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on 27 January 2018 without open access.

Laxative effect of repeated Daiokanzoto is attributable to decrease in aquaporin-3 expression in the colon.

Daiokanzoto (DKT) exerts its laxative effect via colonic inflammation caused by sennoside A in Daio (rhubarb). Previously, we showed that the laxative effect of sennoside A is related to decreased aquaporin-3 (AQP3) expression in mucosal epithelial cells due to colonic inflammation. We also found that a combination of glycyrrhizin, an ingredient in Kanzo (glycyrrhiza), and sennoside A attenuates the inflammatory response induced by sennoside A and reduces its laxative effect. These findings indicate that DKT may be a long-term treatment for chronic constipation, but there is no evidence supporting this hypothesis. In this study, we analyzed the laxative effect of repeated DKT administration, focusing on AQP3 expression in the colon. After rats were treated for 7 days, decreased AQP3 expression and the onset of diarrhea were observed in the DKT group, but were not seen in the Daio group either. Although the relative abundance of gut microbiota after repeated DKT administration was similar to that after control treatment, Daio reduced Lactobacillaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and Bacteroidaceae levels and markedly increased Lachnospiraceae levels. In this study, we show that DKT has a sustained laxative effect, even upon repeated use, probably because it maintains decreased AQP3 expression and gut microbiota homeostasis. This outcome therefore indicates that DKT can be used as a long-term treatment for chronic constipation.

CPT-11-Induced Delayed Diarrhea Develops via Reduced Aquaporin-3 Expression in the Colon.

While irinotecan (CPT-11) has a potent anti-cancer effect, it also causes serious diarrhea as an adverse reaction. In this study, we analyzed the pathogenic mechanism of CPT-11-induced delayed diarrhea by focusing on water channel aquaporin-3 (AQP3) in the colon. When rats received CPT-11, the expression level of AQP3 was reduced during severe diarrhea. It was found that the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and the loss of crypt cells were increased in the colon when CPT-11 was administered. When celecoxib, an anti-inflammatory drug, was concomitantly administered, both the diarrhea and the reduced expression of AQP3 induced by CPT-11 were suppressed. The inflammation in the rat colon during diarrhea was caused via activated macrophage by CPT-11. These results showed that when CPT-11 is administered, the expression level of AQP3 in the colon is reduced, resulting in delayed diarrhea by preventing water transport from the intestinal tract. It was also suggested that the reduced expression of AQP3 might be due to the inflammation that occurs following the loss of colonic crypt cells and to the damage caused by the direct activation of macrophages by CPT-11. Therefore, it was considered that anti-inflammatory drugs that suppress the reduction of AQP3 expression could prevent CPT-11-induced delayed diarrhea.

Risk factors for elevated liver enzymes during refeeding of severely malnourished patients with eating disorders: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There are few previous reports regarding the cause and evolution of liver injury in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) during the refeeding process, and its management remains controversial. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for elevated liver enzymes during refeeding and their effect on the therapeutic process in severely malnourished patients with eating disorders. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study of 167 female inpatients in a single hospital from January 2004 to March 2015, 67 who had normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels on admission were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of elevated ALT levels during refeeding, and then compared. RESULTS: The median age and body mass index (BMI) of the patients on admission were 22 [interquartile range (IQR), 16-33] years and 12.2 (IQR, 11.1-13.0) kg/m2, respectively. Compared with their cohorts, significantly more patients in the early onset age group (<15 years old) had elevated ALT levels during refeeding (67% vs. 33%, p = 0.033), as did patients with longer median time to nadir BMI (3.0 vs. 0 days, p = 0.03). In addition, onset age [odds ratio (OR): 0.274; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.077-0.981; p = 0.047] and time to nadir BMI (OR: 1.271; 95% CI: 1.035-1.56; p = 0.022) were significantly associated with the odds of elevated ALT levels during refeeding. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that early age at onset may be a potential risk factor for elevated ALT levels during refeeding in severely malnourished patients with eating disorders. Furthermore, elevated ALT levels during refeeding were significantly associated with delay in the start of weight gain. No significant relationship was found between the amount of initial prescribed calories and elevated ALT levels during refeeding. The median time to maximum ALT was 27 (IQR, 21-38) days after the refeeding process started.

Drug Permeation Characterization of Inhaled Dry Powder Formulations in Air-Liquid Interfaced Cell Layer Using an Improved, Simple Apparatus for Dispersion.

PURPOSE: An improved, simple apparatus was developed to easily and uniformly disperse dry powders onto an air-liquid interfaced cultured cell layer. We investigated drug permeation in cell cultures with access to the air-liquid interface (ALI) following deposition of a dry powder using the apparatus. METHOD: The improved apparatus for dispersing the powders was assembled. Dry powders containing model drugs were prepared and dispersed onto the cell layer with ALI. After the dispersion, the permeation of each model drug was measured and compared with other samples (solutions with the same compositions). RESULTS: The improved apparatus could with ease uniformly disperse 40% of the loading dose onto the cell layer with ALI. Dry powders showed higher drug permeability compared to the samples. without cytotoxicity or an effect on tight junctions. The high drug permeability of dry powders was independent of the molecular weight of model drugs. The contribution of active transport was small, while an increase in passive drug transport via trans- and paracellular routes was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled dry powder formulations achieved higher drug permeability than their solution formulations in ALI. A high local concentration of drugs on the cell layer, caused by direct attachment of the inhaled dry powder, contributed to increased drug permeability via both trans- and paracellular routes.

Association of Beck Depression Inventory score and Temperament and Character Inventory-125 in patients with eating disorders and severe malnutrition.

The authors investigated the association between personality and physical/mental status in malnourished patients with eating disorders. A total of 45 patients with anorexia nervosa, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorders were included and compared with 39 healthy controls. Personality characteristics and severity of depression were assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory-125 and Beck's Depression Inventory. Depression correlated with harm avoidance and self-directedness in both cases and controls. Body mass index did not correlate with personality in either group. These findings should be verified by longitudinal studies with higher weight/weight recovered patients.

Synthesis and interaction with midkine of biotinylated chondroitin sulfate tetrasaccharides.

Regiospecifically sulfated chondroitin sulfate repeating tetrasaccharides, CS-OO, GlcAß-GalNAcß-GlcAß-GalNAcß;CS-EE, GlcAß-GalNAc(4S6S)ß-GlcAß-GalNAc(4S6S)ß; and CS-AA, GlcAß-GalNAc(4S)ß-GlcAß-GalNAc(4S)ß, having biotin linked with a hydrophilic linker at the reducing terminal were synthesized effectively by a coupling of the corresponding disaccharide units and regioselective sulfation. CS-EE showed greater affinity for midkine than CS-AA and CS-OO.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis induced by the α-glucosidase inhibitor miglitol.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare condition in which pneumocysts develop in the submucosa or subserosa of the colon. We report herein a case of PCI induced by the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (alphaGI) miglitol. There have been 9 recorded cases of PCI induced by other alphaGIs, but this is the first report of miglitol causing PCI. The PCI lesions in our case were smaller than those induced by voglibose or acarbose. The possibility of PCI should be considered in diabetic patients on alphaGI therapy who complain of gastrointestinal symptoms, and the gastrointestinal tract should be thoroughly investigated in these patients.