Background Many fecal incontinence (FI) patients have low anal sphincter pressure, which is thought to be a major pathophysiological mechanism. This is assessed either by stationary or pull-through manometry techniques. Fecobionics is a new device for comprehensive assessment of anorectal function. Aim To evaluate anal pressure profiles during rest and squeeze pull-through maneuvers in FI patients and normal subjects (NS) using Fecobionics and to compare with current technology. Methods Patients with FI (Rome IV criteria) and healthy controls were recruited. FI severity was assessed with FISI questionnaire. Anal pull-through maneuvers were performed using Fecobionics and anorectal manometry (ARM) during rest and maximum anal squeeze, and the pull-through pressures were measured and compared. Data were expressed as median and quartiles. Non-parametric statistical testing was done. Results Forty-four FI patients and 20 NS participated. The FISI score was 0 (0-0) in the NS group and 28 (22-35) in the FI group. Resting pull-through pressure did not differ between FI patients (82.0 (56.0-145.5 cmH(2)O)) and NS (99.5 (64.8-138.5 cmH(2)O)), whereas the maximum squeeze pressure was lower in FI (124.5 (85.5-208.8 cmH(2)O)) than NS (169.5 (122.3-262.0 cmH(2)O)) (p < 0.02). Furthermore, the difference between maximum squeeze and resting pressure differed between groups (p < 0.01). ARM did not show differences between the groups at rest or maximum squeeze (p >>0.2). Strong association was found between the resting and contracted pull-through pressures (r = 0.74, p < 0.001). Similar strong association was found in traumatic, atraumatic, passive, and urge FI subgroups. Data were not influenced by the magnitude of internal or external anal sphincter defects. Bland Altman plots showed agreement between Fecobionics pull-throughs and ARM. Conclusions Fecobionics device showed lower squeeze pressures in FI patients compared to NS during anal pull-through procedure and strong associations between these pressures and FI subgroups.

Objective. A novel bionic esophageal device was developed to assess human swallowing function and orogastric transit, aiming ultimately to improve diagnostics for dysphagia. This miniaturized, tethered device records axial pressures, orientation, and acceleration during esophageal transit, thereby providing a dynamic view of the swallowing process. Approach. In first-in-human feasibility tests, two healthy volunteers safely swallowed the device repeatedly in seated and supine positions. Main Results. The system produced transit and pressure profiles comparable to existing technologies, with prolonged transit times observed in the supine position, e.g. transit time in seated position was median 6 s (6-23) and in the supine posture median 233 s [142-317]). Significance. These findings support the potential of this bionic device for studying esophageal motility in physiological studies as well as pathological conditions in dysphagia patients, and for future translation to untethered capsule systems capable of full gastrointestinal transit analysis.

The rising use of biologic drugs has increased the demand for alternative gastric administration methods. Inception of devices engineered to insert medication into the mucosal lining overcomes limitations of traditional administration methods. Mechanical forces from such microneedle insertions can affect tissue and cellular behavior, particularly mechanotransduction markers. This study investigates the effects of needle insertion in gastric tissue to inform the design of alternative drug delivery devices. Experimental and computational approaches were utilized, using tension and radial compression tests on porcine gastric tissue to inform a finite element analysis (FEA) model. This model was validated with atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based micro-indentation to examine stiffness variations near the insertion site, and yes-associated-protein-1 (YAP-1) expression was analyzed to assess cellular mechanotransduction. AFM results revealed a distance-dependent decrease in tissue stiffness from the insertion site ( p < 0.05), with significant differences in needle geometry ( p < 0.05). The FEA model correlated well with AFM findings, confirming its validity for further cellular simulations. Mechanical stresses from needle insertion were shown to propagate through the tissue, affecting both cytoplasmic and nuclear stress distributions and altering nuclear morphology near the insertion site. The blunt needle produced a higher localized stress field compared to the sharp needle. Additionally, YAP-1 expression was lower in the injected samples than in control samples showing distance-dependent responses observed. This study demonstrates a validated model linking tissue mechanics and cellular responses, highlighting how needle geometry impacts gastric tissue mechanics and mechanotransduction, providing insights essential for designing gastric drug delivery devices.

Iberis amara L. belongs to the family of Brassicaceae, which is native to Southern Europe. It is a bloomer cultivated as an ornamental and medicinal plant. Iberis amara has pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-insect, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antiallergic, and anti-cancer effects. This plant is rich in essential oil, fatty oil, amines, glucosinolates, cucurbitacins, and flavonoids. Botanical description, medicine uses, the chemical compositions, and biological activities of Iberis amara are summarized in the present review. Iberis amara is an available and promising medicinal plant for pharmaceutical industries. The purpose of this review is to systematically describe the botanical characteristics, the chemical compositions, and biological activities of Iberis amara, hereby providing a scientific basis for the development of this plant in pharmaceutical applications.

Background/Aims:It is a common belief that constipated patients have hard feces that contributes to the difficulties defecating. To the best of our knowledge, no studies had been published on controlled evacuation of simulated feces with different consistencies. Methods:Twelve normal subjects were recruited for studies with the simulated feces device "Fecobionics" of different consistency (silicone shore 0A-40A corresponding to Bristol stool form scale types 2-4). The subjects filled out questionnaires and had the balloon expulsion test and anorectal manometry done for reference. The Fecobionics probes were inserted in rectum in random order with +20 minutes between insertions. The bag was filled to urge-to-defecate and evacuations took place in privacy. Non-parametric statistics with median and quartiles are provided. Results:One subject was excluded due to technical issues, and another had abnormal anorectal manometry-balloon expulsion test. The 4 females/6 males subjects were aged 23 (range 20-48) years. Most differences were observed between the 0A and 10A probe (duration, maximum bag pressure, duration x maximum bag pressure, and relaxation of the front pressure and the bend angle during evacuation), eg, the duration was 9 (8-12) seconds at 0A and 18 (12-21) seconds at 10A (P < 0.05), and maximum bag pressure was 107 (96-116) cmH2O at 0A and 140 (117-162) cmH2O at 10A (P < 0.05). The bend angle before evacuation differed between the probes whereas only the 10A differed from 40A during defecation. The 10A was harder to evacuate than the 0A probe. Except for the bend angles, no further significant change was observed from 10A to 40A. Conclusion:Fecal consistency affects defecatory parameters.

Contractile patterns in rectum, puborectalis muscle and anal sphincter must be studied to understand defecation. Six subjects had contractile waveforms studied with Fecobionics. Symptom questionnaires, balloon expulsion test and anorectal manometry were done for reference. The Fecobionics bag was filled in rectum to urge-to-defecate volume and measurements were done for 4 h before the subjects attempted to evacuate the device. Pressures and bend angle (BA) variations were analyzed with Fast Fourier Transformation. Four normal subjects exhibited low frequency waves (< 0.06 Hz) for pressures and BA. The waves were uncoordinated between recordings, except for rear and bag pressures. Peak wave amplitudes occurred at 0.02–0.04 Hz. Pressures and the BA differed for peak 1 (p < 0.001) and peak 2 amplitudes (p < 0.005). The front pressure amplitude was bigger than the others (rear and BA, p < 0.05; bag, p < 0.005) for peak 1, and bigger than bag pressure (p < 0.005) and BA (p < 0.05) for peak 2. One subject was considered constipated with lower front pressure amplitudes compared to normal subjects and increased amplitudes for other parameters. The sixth subject was hyperreactive and differed from the other subjects. In conclusion, the rectum, anal sphincter and puborectalis muscle showed different contraction waves during prolonged measurements. The data call for larger studies to better understand normal defecation, feces-withholding patterns, and the implications on anorectal disorders.