Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Published: February 2010
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
The present study explored the possible relationships between impulsivity, gender, and a peripheral serotonergic marker, the platelet serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT), in a group of 32 healthy subjects. The impulsivity was measured by means of the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, version 11 (BIS-11), a widely used self-report questionnaire, and the platelet SERT was evaluated by means of the specific binding of (3)H-paroxetine ((3)H-Par) to platelet membranes, according to standardized protocols. The results showed that women had a higher BIS-11 total score than men, and also higher scores of two factors of the same scale: the motor impulsivity and the cognitive complexity. The analysis of the correlations revealed that the density of the SERT proteins, as measured by the maximum binding capacity (B(max)) of (3)H-Par, was significantly and positively related to the cognitive complexity factor, but only in men. Men showed also a significant and negative correlation with the dissociation constant, Kd, of ((3)H-Par) binding, and the motor impulsivity factor. These findings suggest that women are generally more impulsive than men, but that the 5-HT system is more involved in the impulsivity of men than in that of women.
Background: Previous studies have examined clinical predictors of incident heart failure (HF) in men and women. However, potential mechanisms through which these clinical predictors relate to the onset of HF remain to be established.
Objectives: The authors studied the association between clinical and proteomic risk profiles of new-onset HF in men and women.
This study presents the development and validation of the Sexual Boredom Inventory (SBI), a 6-item measure assessing sexual boredom as a temporary, context-dependent state. Initial items were drafted from data obtained through qualitative analysis, and the SBI was tested using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a sample of adults reporting on their sexual experiences in the past month. A single-factor model was found to be the best fit, with four items dropped during refinement.
Objective: Currently, there has been no gold standard for diagnosing small airway dysfunction (SAdf). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between small airway parameters derived from spirometry and oscillometry in hospitalized patients, assessing the potential of oscillometry as an alternative diagnostic tool for SAdf. Additionally, this study explored the inconsistencies and influencing factors related to spirometry and oscillometry in diagnosing SAdf, conducting a preliminary assessment of these factors.
