Attachment style, ways of coping with stress and life attitudes by MSM who are active chemsex users

Introduction

The research was carried out in Poland between 7-19 March 2021 with the help of online questionnaire on a group of 183 male aged 18-20. The subjects were divided into two age groups: 18-29 and 30-40. The second division are chemsex and non chemsex users.

Objectives

Objective of this research was to test whether attachment styles, ways of coping with stress and feeling of sense of life influence the risk of overusing chemsex in MSM groups aged 18-29 and 30-40.

Methods

Online questionnaire composed of demographics and 3 psychological tests: Ways of Attachment Questionnaire (Polpa 2008) Ways of Coping Questionaire (polish adaptation by P. Szczepaniak, J. Strelau, K. Wrześniewski) Life Attitude Profile - Revised (polish adaptation by R. Klamut)

Results

Examinated chemsex users, based on life attitudes analysis, tend to lead a strongly oriented life, are convinced of having clear and well-defined goals. In terms of dealing with stress they are presenting focused-on-task style, they exhibit lowered levels of avoidant style than normally characteristic for addicts. The research did not reveal any connection between chemsex users and attachment styles.

Conclusions

The research did not allow to clearly point out any connections between risk factors and chemsex usage. During data analysis some weak links occurred, nevertheless too weak to state any risk factors. As results of carried out research it was possible to determine some models, which marked some specific values, obtained on given scales, and following connections between heightening and lowering chance of chemsex usage.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Basic inertial quantities including multi-segment trunk of fit, young males obtained based on personalized data

Up to now several researchers use values of basic inertial quantities of human body parts obtained for old cadavers. Taking into account the trunk researchers presented this body part often as one segment only and rarely as few-segment part. The purpose of this study was obtaining values of basic inertial quantities of body parts including five parts of the trunk for young, fit living males. Thirty young, fit males (age: 24 ± 4 years, height: 179 ± 6 cm, body mass: 74 ± 7 kg) were directly measured (circumferences and skin-fat folds) and photographed in order to use these data for Clauser et al. (parts of extremities) and Erdmann's (parts of trunk) methods for estimation of mass and location of centres of mass of body parts. These methods take into account personal data for estimating inertial quantities. Relative mass (according to the mass of the whole body) of trunk parts (sum of thorax + abdomen + pelvis but without shoulder girdle) of subjects investigated in this work was similar to that obtained by Dempster for old cadavers. Relative mass differed for shoulders and for lower extremities. Old subjects for both lower extremities had around 31-32% of the whole body mass and young subjects had almost 37%. Procedure for obtaining location of the whole body centre of mass for graphical method (summation of mas) was presented. Obtained data are very important for analyses of arched trunk, e.g. in high jumping, pole vault jumping, rhythmic gymnastics of young, fit athletes and also for models of young passengers in car-crash tests, for ergonomics and medical analyses and other purposes.

Sexual excitation, sexual inhibition and a prevalence of sexual disorders among msm and heterosexual men

Introduction

Dual control model of the sexual response (DCM) indicates, that there are two separate, but cooperating systems of sexual excitation and inhibition. Previous studies using DCM concept have shown, that MSM (men having sex with men) had higher excitation (SES) and one of the types of inhibition (SIS1) levels, in comparison to the exclusively heterosexual men. MSM also reported more frequent occurrence of sexual disorders (erectile disorders, premature ejaculation and decreased sexual desire).

Objectives

Comparison of the MSM and heterosexual men groups in order to verify erenow observed differences in sexual excitation/inhibition propensity and prevalence of sexual problems.

Methods

The sample consisted of two groups: 47 heterosexual men and 60 MSM. The participants have anonymously filled up questionnaires (Polish version of the Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales SIS/SES and the author's survey) via internet. Then statistical analysis was executed.

Results

Our findings have shown, that both groups were similar in their propensities for sexual excitation (SES) and inhibition due to the risks of failure in sexual performance (SIS1), while MSM scored higher on the inhibition scale, related to the threat of negative consequences of sexual response (SIS2). Heterosexual men more frequently suffered from premature ejaculation and less commonly reported decreased desire. There were no differences in the erectile disorders report between MSM and heterosexual men.

Conclusions

Our findings are mostly in conflict with previous DCM studies results. Several issues, just like method of sexual orientation assessment or cultural differences may had its impact on such results. More detailed studies on these issues are required.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Female sexuality in the context of dual control model

Introduction

Dual Control Model (DCM) is one of the contemporary concepts of mechanisms rooted in the central nervous system that control human sexual behaviors. The DCM holds promise for application both in scientific settings and, although at the moment limited, clinical practice. A number of psychometric tools, i.e. the SIS/SES, SES II-W and SES II-W/M questionnaires based on the DCM theoretical assumptions have been developed.

Methods

A total of 309 women aged 18–45 were eligible for the study. Inclusion criteria were met by 214 individuals who were included in the further analysis. Sexual excitation/sexual inhibition inventory for women (SESII-W) was used to evaluate sexual inhibition and sexual excitation. Semi-structure interview was used to evaluate sexual function in investigated individuals. Correlation between risky sexual behaviors, FSD and SE/SE was measured.

Results

Among the women, 28.5% were diagnosed with FSD, with orgasmic dysfunction being the most common, 11.2%. Engaging in risky sexual behavior (having multiple sexual partners and one-night-stand sexual relationships, sexual intercourse with persons known to be HIV-positive, drug users or prostitutes, unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex, sex for money or drugs and sexual activity while using alcohol and/or psychoactive substances) was associated with higher sexual excitation scores and lower sexual excitation scores of SESII-W. In contrast, the presence of FSD were negatively correlated with SE and positively with SI.

Conclusions

Dual control model might be a good model describing different sexual behaviors in the population of women.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Revisiting the phylogeography and demography of European badgers (Meles meles) based on broad sampling, multiple markers and simulations

Although the phylogeography of European mammals has been extensively investigated since the 1990s, many studies were limited in terms of sampling distribution, the number of molecular markers used and the analytical techniques employed, frequently leading to incomplete postglacial recolonisation scenarios. The broad-scale genetic structure of the European badger (Meles meles) is of interest as it may result from historic restriction to glacial refugia and/or recent anthropogenic impact. However, previous studies were based mostly on samples from western Europe, making it difficult to draw robust conclusions about the location of refugia, patterns of postglacial expansion and recent demography. In the present study, continent-wide sampling and analyses with multiple markers provided evidence for two glacial refugia (Iberia and southeast Europe) that contributed to the genetic variation observed in badgers in Europe today. Approximate Bayesian computation provided support for a colonisation of Scandinavia from both Iberian and southeastern refugia. In the whole of Europe, we observed a decline in genetic diversity with increasing latitude, suggesting that the reduced diversity in the peripheral populations resulted from a postglacial expansion processes. Although MSVAR v.1.3 also provided evidence for recent genetic bottlenecks in some of these peripheral populations, the simulations performed to estimate the method's power to correctly infer the past demography of our empirical populations suggested that the timing and severity of bottlenecks could not be established with certainty. We urge caution against trying to relate demographic declines inferred using MSVAR with particular historic or climatological events.

Effectiveness of microsatellite and SNP markers for parentage and identity analysis in species with low genetic diversity: the case of European bison

The European bison (Bison bonasus) has recovered successfully after a severe bottleneck about 90 years ago but has been left with low genetic variability that may substantially hinder parentage and identity analysis. According to pedigree analysis, over 80% of the genes in the contemporary population descend from just two founder animals and inbreeding coefficients averaged almost 0.5, whereas microsatellite heterozygosity does not exceed 0.3. We present a comparison of the effectiveness of 17 microsatellite and 960 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for paternity and identity analysis in the European bison. Microsatellite-based paternity and identity analysis was unsuccessful because of low marker heterozygosity and is not a practical approach in this species. Simulations using SNP markers suggest that 80-90 randomly selected loci, or just 50-60 of the most heterozygous loci, would be sufficient to ensure successful paternity and identity analysis in this species. For the purpose of standardizing future analysis, a panel of 50-60 bovine SNPs characterized by high heterozygosity and an even distribution in the genome could be selected. This panel of markers could be typed using VeraCode (Illumina) or similar SNP genotyping systems. The low cost of these SNP genotyping methods compared with a 16 locus microsatellite survey means that off-the-shelf SNP genotyping systems developed for domestic species represent powerful tools for genetic analysis in related species, and can be effective even in bottlenecked species in which heterozygosity of other markers such as microsatellites may be very low.

Facilitative interactions between the Eurasian badger (Meles meles), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland

Based on radio-tracking of Eurasian badgers ( Meles meles (L., 1758)), red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)), and raccoon dogs ( Nyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834)) and observations at burrows conducted in Białowieża Primeval Forest (eastern Poland) in 1996–2002, we addressed the hypothesis that facilitative interactions between a native (badger) and an alien (raccoon dog) species contributed to the invasion success of the latter. In winter, 88% of badger setts were occupied by both badgers and raccoon dogs, 4% by badgers and red foxes, and 4% by all three species. In summer, only 20% of badger setts were cohabited by other carnivore species (10% by raccoon dogs and 10% by foxes). Duration of occupation of badger setts by raccoon dogs averaged 117 days (SE = 21 days). Seasonal variation in raccoon dog use of badger setts was explained by changes in ambient temperature: the lower was the temperature, the higher was the rate of sett occupation by raccoon dogs. When wintering in the same sett, badgers and raccoon dogs used different parts of the sett. We conclude that facilitation by badgers (through habitat amelioration and refuge from cold and predation) makes the realized niche of raccoon dogs larger than predicted from their fundamental niche. The facilitating role of badger is stronger in winter, which is a critical period for raccoon dog survival in the temperate and boreal zone.

Suppression of third-order intermodulation in a klystron by third-order injection

The first observations and measurements are reported on suppression of the third-order intermodulation (IM3) product arising from nonlinear mixing of two drive frequencies in a klystron, by externally injecting a wave at the IM3 product frequency. Optimum amplitude and phase of the injected wave for maximum suppression are examined. Results indicate that suppression of the IM3 product by as much as 30 dB can be achieved. Experimental results compare favorably with predictions of a 1D simulation code that takes into account all kinematical and dynamical effects including charge overtaking and space charge forces.

[The significance of scintigraphic, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic left atrial transesophageal pacing in diagnosis of ischemic heart disease]

The aim of the study was to compare the perfusion scintigraphy (using SPECT method with Tc-99-MIBI) during left atrial transoesophageal pacing test (LAPT) with pacing electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (ECHO) and electrocardiography exercise test (ExT) in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) diagnostics. The effect of LATP on heart haemodynamic parameters and the correlation between scintigraphic, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters during LAPT test have been also assessed. Investigations were carried out in 55 subjects (Group I: 36 patients with effort angina pectoris; group II: controls: 19 clinically healthy subjects). Coronarography was performed in 24 patients 6 weeks before or after examinations. LATP test was analyzed with ECG, ECHO and SPECT. Echocardiography did not increase significantly the LATP test diagnostic value. Perfusion scintigraphy enhanced sensitivity and predictive excluding value LATP test. These values were 93.3% v 62.9% and 90% v 59.3% respectively. LATP test assessed with ECG, ECHO and perfusion scintigraphy expressed significantly higher sensitivity and predicting excluding value in comparison to ExT. LATP test analyzed in such way was characterized by 100% sensitivity and 100% predicting excluding value.

CONCLUSION

Combination of LATP with electrocardiography, echocardiography and SPECT is a non-invasive high quality method for ischaemic heart disease diagnostics.

Different T-cell activation by streptozotocin and Freund's adjuvant in popliteal lymph node (PLN)

A popliteal lymph node (PLN) test was further validated for predictive screening of autoimmunity-inducing drugs. Autoimmune-like T-cell activation of streptozotocin (STZ) was compared with the effect of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), injected locally into the foot pad of BALB/c mice. Early cell activation in enlarged PLN was monitored by flow cytometry. Injection of both STZ and FCA markedly increased the absolute PLN cell number as well as specific T-helper (CD4+), T-suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+), and B (Ig+) subsets. However, quantitative analysis of early T-cell activation revealed important differences between STZ-induced PLN reaction and FCA-related lymphoproliferation. At 72 h, the number of cells stained with anti-early activation marker (EAM+; CD69+) increased over 10 times in STZ-enlarged nodes and only 3 times in the FCA-inflamed nodes. Furthermore, different cytometric profiles were noted for STZ-activated and FCA-activated cells stained with anti-interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) (CD25+). The data suggest the applicability of early cytometric screening of enlarged PLN for predictive analysis detection of chemicals inducing an autoimmune-like reaction.

Exogenous melatonin modifies the circadian rhythm but does not increase the level of some immune parameters in the chicken

The effect of daily injection of the pineal hormone melatonin and naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, on the circadian rhythm and the level of immune parameters (plaque forming cell [PFC] number, serum agglutinin titer, lymphoid gland weight, total white blood cells (WBC) and their fraction number, and serum lysozyme [LZ] content) was examined in White Leghorn cockerels and female BALB/c mice kept in LD 12:12. Animals were immunized ip with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) to stimulate their immune system. Subcutaneous injections of melatonin, naltrexone, or both drugs together were made 2 hr before the end of light, for 4 or 5 days, beginning on the day of immunization. The day following the fifth injection, chickens were sacrificed over a 24 hr period every 4 hr (experiment I) or twice daily, i.e., at the beginning of light and dark phases (experiment II). Mice were killed on the day following the fourth injection at the beginning of light, and splenic PFC number was determined (experiment III). In experiment I, the existence of the diurnal rhythm was evaluated by cosinor analysis. Melatonin injections entrained the circadian rhythm in anti-SRBC serum agglutinins, but it did not influence circadian rhythmicity in other parameters examined. The circadian rhythm in total WBC number and their fractions was entrained by naltrexone treatment. Melatonin injections did not affect either the diurnal mean of parameters examined or the weight of lymphoid organs. Splenic PFC number in chickens was diminished by both melatonin and naltrexone injections, whereas in mice it was increased by melatonin, and naltrexone antagonized that effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)