Characteristic of face shapes and body image depicted in Japanese comics （manga）

The present study investigated the stereotypes of the ideal male and female face shapes depicted in Japanese comics （manga） and their influence on body image. General trends of face shapes in male and female figures （n=1381） were analyzed in manga published during 2006-2008. In manga for female readers, both males and females have a thinner cheek-jaw silhouette, while in manga for male readers, they have a natural cheek-jaw silhouette. Moreover, compared with females’ face shapes of males depicted in all the manga categories have more variation of face shape. Interestingly, males in manga stories for adult female readers are depicted with the highest frequency of thin cheek-jaw silhouette. The meaning of the thinner cheek-jaw silhouette in manga is discussed

Oral Iron Absorption of Ferric Citrate Hydrate and Hepcidin-25 in Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Riona-Oral Iron Absorption Trial

Oral ferric citrate hydrate (FCH) is effective for iron deficiencies in hemodialysis patients; however, how iron balance in the body affects iron absorption in the intestinal tract remains unclear. This prospective observational study (Riona-Oral Iron Absorption Trial, R-OIAT, UMIN 000031406) was conducted at 42 hemodialysis centers in Japan, wherein 268 hemodialysis patients without inflammation were enrolled and treated with a fixed amount of FCH for 6 months. We assessed the predictive value of hepcidin-25 for iron absorption and iron shift between ferritin (FTN) and red blood cells (RBCs) following FCH therapy. Serum iron changes at 2 h (ΔFe2h) after FCH ingestion were evaluated as iron absorption. The primary outcome was the quantitative delineation of iron variables with respect to ΔFe2h, and the secondary outcome was the description of the predictors of the body’s iron balance. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to identify the determinants of iron absorption during each phase of FCH treatment. ΔFe2h increased when hepcidin-25 and TSAT decreased (−0.459, −0.643 to −0.276, p = 0.000; −0.648, −1.099 to −0.197, p = 0.005, respectively) in GEEs. FTN increased when RBCs decreased (−1.392, −1.749 to −1.035, p = 0.000) and hepcidin-25 increased (0.297, 0.239 to 0.355, p = 0.000). Limiting erythropoiesis to maintain hemoglobin levels induces RBC reduction in hemodialysis patients, resulting in increased hepcidin-25 and FTN levels. Hepcidin-25 production may prompt an iron shift from RBC iron to FTN iron, inhibiting iron absorption even with continued FCH intake