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Journal Article 2007; 28(Suppl 4): 8-9 PubMed PMID: 18030256 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alcohol Drinking:epidemiology, Alcoholic Beverages, Coronary Disease:epidemiology, Databases, Factual, Humans, Hypertension:epidemiology, Longevity:drug effects, Slovakia:epidemiology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Wine,.   

: There was a significant difference in occurrence of coronary hearth disease and arterial hypertension occurrence in the sample of 16,345 patients living in northeast part of Slovak republic near Polish frontier versus to the viticulture regions of Nove Zamky, Sturovo in favour of villages in Bardejov region. Another difference was that 80 years and older respondents live significantly more frequently in south Slovakian viticulture villages....

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Evaluation Studies 2007; 28(2): 191-198 PubMed PMID: 17435681 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Depression:diagnosis, Dissociative Disorders:diagnosis, Epilepsy:diagnosis, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Theoretical, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychological Tests, Reproducibility of Results, Surveys and Que.   

OBJECTIVE: Dissociation is often defined as partial or total disconnection between memories of the past, awareness of identity and of immediate sensations, and control of bodily movements, often resulting from traumatic experiences, intolerable problems, or disturbed relationships. This type of reaction to a psychological and/or physical trauma has often various neurobiological consequences and its clinical assessment has received enormous interest in recent psychological and neuroscience research.

METHODS: Psychometric parameters of the Czech version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale were tested from the viewpoints of internal consistency, validity and factor structure, using data from a sample of n=783 adults, divided into three groups (epilepsy n=243, depression n=357, norm n=183), average age 39 years, SD=13.5.

RESULTS: Findings of this study demonstrated that reliability, validity and factor structure of the Czech version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale correspond to those of the original English version.

CONCLUSIONS: The Czech version of the questionnaire may be considered a suitable tool for estimating subjectively experienced dissociative symptoms....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(4): 439-444 PubMed PMID: 16891992 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Choice Behavior:physiology, Decision Making:physiology, Economics, Humans, Impulsive Behavior:metabolism, Male, Nonlinear Dynamics, Risk-Taking, Saliva:metabolism, Surveys and Questionnaires, Testosterone:metabolism, Time Factors,.   

OBJECTIVES: Although impulsivity has been associated with androgens (e.g., testosterone), little is known regarding the relationship between testosterone levels and impulsivity in intertemporal choice (delay discounting). This study was aimed to examine the relationship between delay discounting of gains and losses and testosterone levels, which is of interest in neuroendocrinology and neuroeconomics.

METHODS: We assessed degrees to which delayed monetary gains and losses were discounted (hyperbolic discounting rate) in healty male students (age: 22.4+/-2.67). Participants' salivary testosterone levels were also assessed by utilizing liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS) method.

RESULTS: Non-linear curve fitting analysis showed an inverted-U relationship between delay discounting of gains and salivary testosterone levels; while no relationship between salivary testosterone levels and delay discounting of losses was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that (i) testosterone may enhance delay discounting rate of gains in non-impulsive subjects, (ii) testosterone may have an opposite (reducing) effect on delay discounting rate of gains in impulsive subjects, and (iii) testosterone is unrelated to subject's sensitivity to future bad outcomes. Implications for evaluating the effects of testosterone treatment and anti-androgenic therapy on impulsive behavior often observed in psychiatrics (e.g., pathological gambling, credit card debt, substance misuse, and needle-sharing) are discussed....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(4): 297-301 PubMed PMID: 15361821 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Brain:physiology, Female, Homosexuality:physiology, Humans, Male, Sex Characteristics, Sex Differentiation, Sexual Behavior:physiology, Sexual Partners:psychology, Surveys and Questionnaires,.   

OBJECTIVES: The current study examined and compared the preferred partner characteristics of heterosexual and homosexual men and women in relation to speculated patterns of brain differentiation underlying the preferences. Further, the study compared the preferences of butch versus femme homosexual women.

METHODS: Two hundred twelve heterosexual and homosexual men and women completed questionnaires on which they rated themselves and their idealized sexual partners on various morphological and behavioral characteristics.

RESULTS: Results of within-subjects multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) showed that the pattern of preferred partner characteristics of heterosexual women is most consistent with the theorized brain differentiation underlying those preferences. There was varying support for the theory as it applies to the other three groups. Between-subjects MANOVAs provided evidence to support some of the predictions generated by theory on the differences in brain differentiation between heterosexual and homosexual men and women and between homosexual women categorized as butch and femme.

CONCLUSION: The overall pattern of preferred partner characteristics among and between heterosexual and homosexual men and women does not support theory that holds that underlying brain differentiation between the groups is discrete and categorical. Rather, it supports theory that holds that differentiation manifests itself on a continuum leading to a variety of patterns of sexual orientation, and by extension, preferred partner characteristics....

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Journal Article 2002; 23(4): 299-302 PubMed PMID: 12195230 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aging:physiology, Brain:physiology, Homosexuality, Male, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Characteristics, Sexual Behavior:physiology, Surveys and Questionnaires,.   

OBJECTIVES: The current study was designed to test a neurohormonally based theory of sexual orientation and preferred partner characteristics in homosexual men. The theory holds that the brains of homosexual men are masculinized and feminized directing attraction to targets younger and more masculine than self, and the brains of homosexual adolescents are incompletely masculinized and feminized directing attraction to targets older and more masculine than self.

METHODS: Ninety-six homosexual men completed questionnaires that asked them to rate morphological and behavioral characteristics associated with ethologically relevant indicators of masculinity. The participants made ratings for themselves as adolescents and adults, their current partners and idealized partners as adults, and their idealized partners as adolescents.

RESULTS: Results of within-subjects multivariate analyses of variance supported most of the hypotheses. Participants as adults rated their idealized partners as more masculine than themselves and their real partners on five measures: height, weight, muscle development, facial hair, and sexuality. As adolescents they indicated a preference for males older and more masculine than self. The participants in adulthood did not show the predicted preference for partners younger than themselves.

CONCLUSION: The increased ratings of sexuality for self from adolescence to adulthood support the contention that some additional masculinization of the brain may occur with aging. The increased ratings of body size for the idealized target from adolescence to adulthood keeps the target more masculine then self across developmental periods. This phenomenon is consistent with the speculated feminization of the brain at both periods and its effects on partner preferences....

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Journal Article 2025; 46(2): 107-114 PubMed PMID: 40929710 Citation  Keywords:  Humans, Male, Hyperprolactinemia:complications, Erectile Dysfunction:etiology, Retrospective Studies, Middle Aged, Prolactin:blood, Adult, Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors:therapeutic use, Dopamine Agonists:therapeutic use, Surveys and Questionnaires, Treatment Outcome, Aged,.   

OBJECTIVE: In addition to hypogonadism, other endocrine disorders-particularly hyperprolactinemia-can significantly influence erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of normalizing prolactin (PRL) levels on erectile function in men diagnosed with ED and hyperprolactinemia. The primary outcome was improvement in IIEF-5. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a three group of patients (N = 20) diagnosed with hyperprolactinemia who simultaneously presented with ED, confirmed by clinical criteria and results of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Group Conservative did not receive hyperprolactinemia treatment. Treatment of hyperprolactinemia consisted of pharmacotherapy with dopaminergic agonists (group Dostinex) and/or neurosurgical intervention, depending on individual findings (group Surgery). For ED therapy, each patient received one of the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5I)-specifically sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, or avanafil. RESULTS: After successful hyperprolactinemia therapy, all treated patients achieved normalized PRL levels. At the same time, each patient showed an improvement in IIEF-5 scores, indicating a significant enhancement in erectile function. Groups Conservative showed tendency to improve. Groups Dostinex and Surgery reached significant enhancement in erectile function. CONCLUSION: Our results confirmed the positive impact of resolving the primary endocrine cause on overall sexual health. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive hormonal assessment in the management of male sexual dysfunction, including measurement of PRL levels. While hyperprolactinemia is a relatively uncommon cause of ED, its treatment-whether pharmacological or surgical-can lead to PRL normalization and a marked improvement in erectile function. The combined use of PDE5I and hyperprolactinemia treatment represents an effective therapeutic approach that should be considered in the care of men with ED....

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