Unlabelled: The hypothalamic hormone oxytocin (OXT) plays an important role in a range of physiological processes and social-emotional functioning in both sexes. In women, physiological stimuli, such as suckling and parturition, result in pulsatile release of OXT into the peripheral circulation via the posterior pituitary gland. However, data regarding OXT secretory patterns in men during a state of rest are limited. Further, the relationship between secretory dynamics of OXT and emotional measures has never been evaluated. We hypothesized a pulsatile pattern of OXT secretion in men, and explored the relationship between OXT secretory patterns and social-emotional functioning.
Methods: Deconvolution analysis was performed on serum OXT levels obtained every 5min over a period of 10h in 5 healthy normal weight men. Area under the curve (AUC), average OXT values, and pulse characteristics [pulse number, inter-pulse interval, pulse height and mass (area under each pulse)] were calculated. State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM) assessed types of human attachment. Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) assessed perception of social support. Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) measured the ability to express and identify one's own emotions.
Results: Mean age was 22.8±1.2years, and BMI was 21.7±0.4kg/m (mean±SEM). Assuming a basal secretion of zero and a half life of five to seven minutes, we demonstrated the following: OXT AUC: 5421±1331pg/ml, mean OXT level: 9.1pg/ml, mean pulse number: 22±3/10hr, mean pulse height: 1.81±0.48pg/ml, mean pulse mass: 30.34±10.29pg/ml and mean inter-pulse interval: 27±4min. The SAAM Avoidant scale correlated negatively with mean OXT pulse height (r=-0.90, p=0.04) and pulse mass (r=-0.95, p=0.01). The ISEL Belonging score correlated positively with OXT AUC (r=0.89, p=0.04) and average OXT (r=0.93, p=0.02). ISEL Appraisal score also had a positive association with mean OXT pulse height (r=0.99, p=0.0006) and pulse mass (r=0.98, p=0.003). Finally, ISEL total score had a significant correlation with average OXT values (r=0.90, p=0.04). While none of the subjects had a score in the alexithymia range, TAS-20 Difficulty describing feelings score had an inverse correlation with OXT pulse height (r=-0.96, p=0.01) and pulse mass (r=-0.99, p=0.001). TAS-20 total score also had an inverse correlation with OXT pulse height (r=-0.94, p=0.02) and pulse mass (r=-0.96, p=0.009).
Conclusion: We demonstrate a pulsatile pattern of peripheral OXT secretion in healthy men at rest. Subjects with lower OXT pulse height and pulse mass had a more avoidant style of attachment, felt less supported, and expressed greater difficulty in describing their feelings. Our findings support the concept that OXT is a key mediator of social-emotional functioning. Future studies to determine causality are warranted.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.07.486 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
January 2025
IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598, USA.
The development of high-brightness electron sources is critical to state-of-the-art electron accelerator applications like X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) and ultra-fast electron microscopy. Cesium telluride is chosen as the electron source material for multiple cutting-edge XFEL facilities worldwide. This manuscript presents the first demonstration of the growth of highly crystalized and epitaxial cesium telluride thin films on 4H-SiC and graphene/4H-SiC substrates with ultrasmooth film surfaces.
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December 2024
Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Centre Maribor, Ljubljanska ulica 5, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia.
Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress are fundamental contributors to the onset of conditions related to childhood obesity, such as cardiovascular (CV) diseases. We aimed to assess CV risk in childhood obesity by examining sex differences in adiposity indices, cardiometabolic profiles, inflammation, and oxidative stress biomarkers. We also aimed to assess the potential of the interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC/CXCL11) as a novel biomarker.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
January 2025
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Centro de Desportos, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil.
Background: Head-out aquatic training, using modalities such as water-aerobics/hydrogymnastics (HYD) and deep-water running (DWR), has been effective in improving the physical, metabolic and cognitive health of middle-aged adults. However, direct comparisons between these modalities are lacking.
Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of water aerobics and deep-water running on anthropometric, functional and hemodynamic outcomes in adults and older adults.
Healthcare (Basel)
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55270 Samsun, Turkey.
This study aimed to examine the effects of endurance and high-intensity resistance training on arterial stiffness and ventricular repolarization in elite athletes. A total of 50 male athletes from different sports disciplines (volleyball, football, judo, and wrestling) and a sedentary group of 30 males participated in this study. Data collected from all participants included age, height, body weight, cardiovascular hemodynamic parameters, arterial stiffness parameters, and ECG measurements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngiology
January 2025
Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Atherosclerosis often starts in childhood, tracking to adulthood. In children, early vascular disease can be detected as arterial stiffness. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is considered the non-invasive gold standard method for measuring arterial stiffness and widely accepted for use in children.
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