Character Of Man Research Articles

Testosterone Therapy and Bone Quality in Men With Diabetes and Hypogonadism

Testosterone Therapy and Bone Quality in Men With Diabetes and Hypogonadism

Knowledge, Attitude, Confidence, and Barriers in the Practice of Erectile Dysfunction Screening among Primary Health-Care Providers in Taiping Perak, Malaysia

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common health problem and has clinical importance. it is well documented that ED is associated with coronary heart disease. However, the practice of ED screening is poor in primary care settings. Objectives: To assess primary health-care providers' knowledge and attitude toward ED and to determine the confidence and barriers in the screening of ED. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires was conducted at 11 government health clinics in Taiping Perak in 2018 involving all health-care providers who run the outpatient and noncommunicable disease unit. SPSS (version 25) statistical package was used to analyze the data. Mann–Whitney U-test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Chi-square test were employed. Results: A total of 77 primary health-care providers participated in this study. The median age of the participants was 31 years (interquartile range 7). A total of 38 (49.4%) participants scored above the median knowledge. Participants who were doctors, users of clinical practice guide in ED, confident in ED screening, and perceived adequate training scored higher in knowledge (P ≤ 0.05). Smoking as a cause of ED (98.7%) recorded the highest percentage of correct responses, whereas the prevalence of ED (18.2%) recorded the lowest. All participants perceived ED as an important health issue and felt that proper treatment is required. Only 16 (20.8%) participants had confidence in ED screening practice. Lack of training in ED screening and assessment was the barrier that significantly affects the confidence of practice (P = 0.012). Conclusion: The knowledge on ED and confidence in its screening were unsatisfactory among the primary health-care providers. Our work suggests the requirement to equip health-care professionals with adequate training on ED screening, assessment, and management for early prevention of cardiovascular disease and improvement of men's quality of life.

Environmental Exposure to Endocrine Disruptor of Bisphenol A and Semen Quality of Men

Background: The reproductive health disorders in men are one of the urgent problems of international medicine. The prevalence of idiopathic male infertility has the highest rate. Oxidative stress, genetic factor, and endocrine disruptors are considered to be the most probable causes for the idiopathic male infertility. In this regard, studying the effect of endocrine disruptors, in particular bisphenol A on male reproductive health, becomes actual and relevant. Aims: The aim of the study was to reveal the relationship between the concentration level of bisphenol A (BPA) in seminal fluid and semen quality in men with normo- or pathozoospermia, as well as between the concentration level of bisphenol A and the level of total testosterone and estradiol in plasma. Materials and methods: 53 samples of seminal fluid of men with normo- or pathoospermia were studied. In seminal fluid the concentration of bisphenol A was determined by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The spermiological analysis was performed according to the WHO recommendations (2010) including the evaluation of sperm count/concentration, motility and morphology, and DNA fragmentation index. In addition, the concentration of total testosterone and estradiol in plasma was determined. The results were statistically processed using the Mann–Whitney U test, the correlation analysis, the paired regression method, and the ROC curves to determine the cut-off point for BPA in the seminal fluid. The results were considered statistically significant at p0.05. Results: In 100% of the ejaculate samples BPA with a median concentration of 0.15 (0.06–0.31) ng/ml was detected. Using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient, statistically significant correlations between the concentration of BPA and the total count (r=-0.330, p=0.016), concentration (r=-0.309; p=0.024), the proportion of progressively motile spermatozoa (r=-0.575; p=0.001), the proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology (r=-0.397, p=0.003), the degree of sperm DNA fragmentation (r=0.349, p=0.025), and the concentration of total testosterone (r =-0.616; p0.001) were registered. A statistically significant inverse linear relationship (r=-0.406, p=0.003) and (r =-0.364, p=0.048) was determined by a paired linear regression between the BPA concentration in the seminal fluid and the proportion of progressively motile spermatozoa, and the total testosterone level respectively. To assess the risk of pathozoospermia, the threshold value of seminal BPA concentration was determined using the analysis of ROC-curves; the cut-off point was 0.1025 ng/ml. Conclusions: BPA in the seminal fluid influences negatively on the quality of the sperm and suppress the level of total testosterone in plasma.

A multi-centre investigation of delivering national guidelines on exercise training for men with advanced prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy in the UK NHS

BackgroundNational guidelines (NICE-CG175) recommended 12 weeks of supervised exercise training for men treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer to counter debilitating adverse effects of castration. As with other chronic conditions where exercise is indicated, it is uncertain if these services are being delivered in the health services. The aim of this multi-centre investigation was to examine what exercise referral is currently available for men on ADT as provided by the NHS and if a supervised, individually-tailored exercise training package (as per the national NICE guidelines CG175) is embedded within prostate cancer care.MethodsA multi-centre investigation of current National Health Service (NHS) care involving a web-based survey of NHS prostate cancer care, five focus groups involving 26 men on ADT and 37 semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in the management of prostate cancer. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis evaluated quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Qualitative methods followed COREQ standards.ResultsHCPs and men on ADT asserted that medical castration has a serious and debilitating impact on many features of men's quality of life. There is support for exercise training programmes as part of cancer care and patients would support their initiation soon after diagnosis. Involving the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) is proposed as key to this. Critically, traditional values in oncology would need to be overcome for widespread acceptance. Specialist further training for HCPs around behaviour change support could encourage this. Given that these schemes are seen as a fundamental part of cancer care, it is felt the NHS should commission and support provision. 79 representatives of 154 NHS trusts (51%) provided survey data on current delivery: only 17% could provide supervised exercise as per CG175.ConclusionsEvidence-based national exercise guidelines are not being delivered to men on ADT as intended. Traditional values in oncology and the need for NHS financial support are seen as major barriers to provision of current best practice guidelines. Despite this both HCPs and men on ADT are in favour of such programmes being a fundamental part of their cancer care.

Impact of inherent aspects of body image, eating behavior and perceived health competence on quality of life of university students.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of inherent aspects of body image, eating behavior and perceived health competence on quality of life of university students. Participants completed the instruments Body Shape Questionnaire (reduced version, BSQ-8B), Male Body Dissatisfaction Scale (reduced version, MBDS-R), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (reduced version, TFEQ-18), Perceived Health Competence Scale (bifactorial version, PHCS-B), World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Short Form (WHOQoL-bref) and a questionnaire for characterization of sample. Psychometric properties of instruments were previously evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis. A hypothetical model for each sex was developed and tested. In both model surveys the aspects of the body image (BSQ-8B: body shape concern; MBDS-R: musculature and general body appearance), of eating behavior (TFEQ-18: cognitive restriction, emotional eating, and uncontrolled eating) and of the perceived health competence (PHCS-B: expectations of achieving the desired health results and competence in health behaviors) were used as direct predictors on quality of life (WHOQoL-bref). The variables age, medication use for body change, food supplement use for body change, and body mass index (BMI) were inserted in the aspects of the body image. The variables course shift, initial expectation regarding the course, self-reported performance in the course, concomitant work activities to studies, and economic class were inserted into the quality of life. The model surveys were evaluated using structural equation modeling. A level of significance of 5% was used. A total of 2,198 university students (female = 63.5%), including 1,151 Brazilians and 1,047 Portuguese, participated of study (locally representative samples). The average age of women was 20.8 ± 2.4 years and of men was 21.3 ± 3.3 years. The psychometric properties of the instruments were adequate, except for the PHCS, which was adjusted for each sex. The models presented variance explained of 54% and 49% for women and men, respectively. In both sexes, the students’ perceived health competence and academic variables contributed significantly to their quality of life, and age, BMI, and medication and supplement use were significant factors relating to how a student views his or her body image. Women's quality of life was associated with body shape concern and emotional eating aspects. Men's quality of life was associated with general body appearance and cognitive restriction aspects. These results can be used to create and implement educational programs to improve quality of life of university students.

The effects of similarity in the dark triad traits on the relationship quality in dating couples

The study examined the effects of similarity in the Dark Triad (DT) traits on women and men's relationship quality (RQ) by using profile similarity (PS) and polynomial regression analysis (PRA) as the methods for the assessment of partners' similarity. Participants were 100 young adult heterosexual dating couples. The effects of similarity in the DT traits on RQ were somewhat different depending on different methods used as well as whether we considered women or men's RQ. PRA showed that dissimilarity in psychopathy was related to lower women's RQ, while similarity at high levels of Machiavellianism to lower RQ in women and men. Additionally, women's RQ decreased more sharply when partners were similar at high levels of Machiavellianism. PS in narcissism was associated with higher RQ in women and men. This study suggests that different methods of assessment of (dis)similarity could add to the more thorough understanding of the associations between personality traits and relationship outcomes.

Men's perceptions of the impact of the physical consequences of a radical prostatectomy on their quality of life: a qualitative systematic review.

To identify men's perceptions of the impact of the physical consequences of a radical prostatectomy on their quality of life. Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer and second most common cause of cancer death of men in the Western world. Compared to other prostate cancer treatments, trials report worse urinary incontinence and sexual function and similar bowel function among men with prostate-specific antigen detected prostate cancer who underwent radicalized prostatectomy. This review included men of all ages and nationalities who had undergone a radical prostatectomy as treatment for any stage of prostate cancer. It considered studies that investigated:Any setting where the topic was addressed with participants meeting the inclusion criteria was included. The review considered studies that focused on qualitative data including, but not limited to: phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and action research. Studies were included if they reported results relating to one or more of the phenomena of interest. Studies not written in English were excluded. The search strategy aimed to find published studies from six databases from database inception to November 2017. Methodological quality of studies was independently assessed by two reviewers using the standardized JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. For data extraction, the standardized Joanna Briggs Institute System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information (JBI SUMARI) data extraction tool was used. A meta-aggregation was undertaken and the final synthesis of the findings was reached through discussion. Results are presented as five aggregated qualitative syntheses. Nineteen qualitative studies were included in the review. The five synthesized findings were: CONCLUSIONS:: Urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are significant side-effects of radical prostatectomy which have a negative impact on men's quality of life for which they feel ill prepared, and physical and psychosocial support is essential.

A STUDY OF THE ENGLISH CREATIVITY OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF ROPAR DISTRICT WITH REFERENCE TO SEX AND TYPE OF SCHOOL

Education is an ability possessed and exercised by humans to use their knowledge and past experiences to deal with future events more effectively and efficiently. Generally, fostering learner creativity is a vital role for any teacher, as doing so can help learners to develop predictive, analytical, critical, and problem solving skills, to develop confidence and self-esteem. Fostering creativity is even more important for a teacher of a second or foreign language as it can help to achieve the affective and cognitive engagement vital for language acquisition as well as helping learners to understand language used for natural communication and to use language for effective communication themselves. English is a leader language of all languages spoken by the people in the world. Instead of pressuring the Children for the good result in the school one should create a burden free environment for the children so they can explore their creativity. As we know every child is unique and has different skills from others. For the expression of their creative talent they have a painter called teacher in the school. The international development of a man's character is only possible by the education. The present research “A study of the English creativity of the High school students of Ropar District with reference to sex and type of school” is an attempt to look into the relationship of creativity and learning English

Predictors of the international prostate symptoms scores for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Background:Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) can significantly reduce men's quality of life and may point to serious pathology of the urogenital tract. This study aimed at finding predictors of symptoms score on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) for patients with LUTS.Materials and Methods:The study was cross-sectional conducted among 225 Ghanaian men visiting the urology clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Trained interviewers used the IPSS, which adds a quality of life question to the American Urology Association symptom index to determine the extent to which patients are troubled by their symptoms. Five milliliters of blood was collected for total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed to evaluate the prostate volume (PV).Results:The mean age of the participants was 67.96 ± 14.57. The average score obtained from the study participants using the IPSS scale was 17.52 ± 7.83. There was a significant association between bother score and IPSS symptoms grade (P < 0.0001). Regression plot of the participants' points for IPSS in relation to the age, PSA, and PV showed statistically significant positive associations (P < 0.05). However, the coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.156, 0.022, and 0.048, respectively. This means that each unit increase of age, PSA, and PV only influences 15.6%, 2.3%, and 4.8% of the change in the symptom score. There was statistically significant association between age and moderate-to-severe LUTS with age range of 75 years above recording the highest odds (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 18.72, (1.15–99.78), P < 0.0001). The PSA range 20.1–50 ng/ml was significantly associated with moderate-to-severe LUTS (AOR = 17.37 (2.19–223.45), P = 0.006). Moreover, other factors, which were significantly associated with moderate-to-severe LUTS, were smoking (AOR = 0.32 (0.11–0.94) P = 0.038) and being widowed (AOR = 0.05 (0.002–0.52), P =0.010) respectively.Conclusion:The study found a statistically significant correlation between age, PSA, PV, and IPSS scores; however, these influences were mild.

Male Slings for Post-prostatectomy Incontinence.

Stress urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy can have a significant impact on a man's quality of life. Male slings offer a perceived minimally invasive treatment option and do not require the manual dexterity necessary to operate an artificial urinary sphincter. In this review, we outline the history of male slings and discuss the various fixed and adjustable slings that are available on the market. It is important for the general urologist to understand the technical differences, outcomes, and common complications of suburethral slings.

Cues of upper body strength account for most of the variance in men's bodily attractiveness.

Evolution equips sexually reproducing species with mate choice mechanisms that function to evaluate the reproductive consequences of mating with different individuals. Indeed, evolutionary psychologists have shown that women's mate choice mechanisms track many cues of men's genetic quality and ability to invest resources in the woman and her offspring. One variable that predicted both a man's genetic quality and his ability to invest is the man's formidability (i.e. fighting ability or resource holding power/potential). Modern women, therefore, should have mate choice mechanisms that respond to ancestral cues of a man's fighting ability. One crucial component of a man's ability to fight is his upper body strength. Here, we test how important physical strength is to men's bodily attractiveness. Three sets of photographs of men's bodies were shown to raters who estimated either their physical strength or their attractiveness. Estimates of physical strength determined over 70% of men's bodily attractiveness. Additional analyses showed that tallness and leanness were also favoured, and, along with estimates of physical strength, accounted for 80% of men's bodily attractiveness. Contrary to popular theories of men's physical attractiveness, there was no evidence of a nonlinear effect; the strongest men were the most attractive in all samples.

Benefits and Health Implications of Testosterone Therapy in Men With Testosterone Deficiency.

Testosterone (T) deficiency (TD; hypogonadism) has deleterious effects on men's health; negatively affects glycometabolic and cardiometabolic functions, body composition, and bone mineral density; contributes to anemia and sexual dysfunction; and lowers quality of life. T therapy (TTh) has been used for the past 8 decades to treat TD, with positive effects on signs and symptoms of TD. To summarize the health benefits of TTh in men with TD. A comprehensive literature search was carried out using PubMed, articles relevant to TTh were accessed and evaluated, and a comprehensive summary was synthesized. Improvements in signs and symptoms of TD reported in observational studies, registries, clinical trials, and meta-analyses were reviewed and summarized. A large body of evidence provides significant valuable information pertaining to the therapeutic value of TTh in men with TD. TTh in men with TD provides real health benefits for bone mineral density, anemia, sexual function, glycometabolic and cardiometabolic function, and improvements in body composition, anthropometric parameters, and quality of life. TTh in the physiologic range for men with TD is a safe and effective therapeutic modality and imparts great benefits on men's health and quality of life. Traish AM. Benefits and Health Implications of Testosterone Therapy in Men With Testosterone Deficiency. Sex Med Rev 2018;6:86-105.

Identifying the factors that affect men's quality of life while waiting for confirmation of cancer diagnosis: A qualitative study

Background: The early detection of cancer can lead to improved survival, but awaiting confirmation of results or a final diagnosis can be stressful. Men generally have poorer outcomes compared to women, often due to late presentation. Although high levels of distress are well documented there is limited research on what men want and need to effectively self-manage during this stage. It is acknowledged that peer and self-management support is beneficial, however research to date has concentrated on the survivorship stage. This study aims to explore how waiting for a final diagnosis impacts on men and their quality of life and the needs of men during this period.

The Best of Both Worlds: An Example Mixed Methods Approach to Understand Men's Preferences for the Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are widely used to quantify individuals' preferences for healthcare. Guidelines recommend the design of DCEs should be informed by qualitative research. However, only a few studies go beyond guidelines by fully presenting qualitative and quantitative research jointly together in a mixed methods approach (MMA). Using an example study about men's preferences for medical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), we demonstrate how qualitative research can complement DCEs to gain a rich understanding of individuals' preferences. We were the first to combine online discussion groups (ODGs) with an online DCE. A thematic analysis of the ODGs and a conceptual map provided insights into men's quality of life (QoL) with LUTS and relevant treatment attitudes. This was used to design the DCE. Men's willingness to pay (WTP) for these attributes was estimated. Findings from ODGs and DCE were compared to understand WTP and preference heterogeneity. Men mostly valued medicine that reduced urgency and night-time frequencies of urination but avoided sexual side effects. We find heterogeneity in the effect of sexual side effects on men's preferences. The ODGs suggest this is because several men may be sexually inactive due to their age, being widowed or having comorbidities. The ODGs also raised concern about men's awareness of LUTS. We argue that the insights gained into men's preferences for treatment and how LUTS affects men's QoL could not have been obtained by either the qualitative research or the DCE alone.

Performing Emotion and Reading the Male Body in the Irish Court, c. 1800–1845

Justice in the early nineteenth-century Irish court was shaped by the bodies of men. Physical appearance was understood to provide information about a person's social background, character, sense of guilt, and honesty; it was available to be read by others in the court when interpreting events during trial. As well as making judgements based on clothing and the appearance of the body, how court actors performed emotion was central to discussions of how their bodies, and so their character, should be read. Such readings of emotion on the male body were heavily shaped by the science of physiognomy that provided a model for interpreting often complex, ambiguous, and individualized displays of emotion. This article uses evidence provided in newspaper reporting of criminal trials in early nineteenth-century Ireland to explore how performances of emotion were used and interpreted as a form of evidence in the courtroom. It demonstrates that emotion and emotional dispositions were central to determining a man's character, affecting how their evidence was viewed and whether they received justice. As importantly, displays of emotion in court were involved in the shaping of courtroom dynamics. In both cases, emotion became implicated in the making of justice.

Unmet Supportive Care Needs of Men With Locally Advanced and Metastatic Prostate Cancer on Hormonal Treatment: A Mixed Methods Study.

Men affected by prostate cancer who are undergoing hormone therapy can endure a range of symptoms that can adversely affect quality of life. Little research has been conducted to date, to understand the specific unmet supportive care needs of this patient group within the context of current service delivery. The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of unmet supportive care needs of men affected by prostate cancer on hormone therapy in the United Kingdom. Mixed methods study recruited 31 men with ≥T3 prostate Cancer or worse and treated by hormone therapy. A small cross-sectional survey (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] C30 and PR25, Self-Management Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Supportive Care Needs Survey) was used to inform the interview schedule. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and framework approach was used to analyze the data. Complex unmet supportive care needs that were related to physical, psychological/emotional, intimacy/sexual, practical, health system/informational, existential, and patient/clinician communication needs are experienced. Men articulated that current healthcare delivery is failing to provide a holistic person-centered model of care. This is one of the few studies that have identified the unmet supportive care needs of men receiving hormone therapy for ≥T3 prostate Cancer or worse. The needs are multiple and far-ranging. Despite national cancer reforms, unmet supportive care needs persist. The findings from this study may be central in the re-design of future services to optimize men's quality of life and satisfaction with care. Clinicians are encouraged to use these finding to help them optimize care delivery and individual quality of life.

Association of Musculoskeletal Joint Pain With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Daytime Sleepiness, and Poor Sleep Quality in Men.

To investigate the association of musculoskeletal pain with objectively determined obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and subjective sleep measures in a population-based sample. Participants were community-dwelling men (n = 360) age ≥35 years from the Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress (MAILES) study. Shoulder, back, hip, knee, hand, and foot pain were assessed by computer-assisted telephone interview or self-completed questionnaire. OSA was determined with full in-home unattended polysomnography (Embletta X100) scored by 2007 American Academy of Sleep Medicine alternative criteria. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale assessed daytime sleepiness and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index assessed sleep quality. OSA was not associated with the presence of any joint pain (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.03 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.61-1.76]). There was no association between OSA and pain in any specific joint (shoulder, back, hip, knee, hand, or foot), nor was the number of joints in pain associated with OSA. There was, similarly, no association between pain variables and excessive daytime sleepiness, except for hand pain (OR 3.10 [95% CI 1.50-6.39]). However, pain was associated with poor sleep quality: any pain (OR 2.19 [95% CI 1.25-3.82]), shoulder pain (OR 2.16 [95% CI 1.25-3.75]), back pain (OR 2.24 [95% CI 1.41-3.55]), and foot pain (OR 2.47 [95% CI 1.43-4.26]). The number of painful joints was also associated with poor sleep quality (5-6 joints versus no joints OR 7.34 [95% CI 2.30-23.42]). No association between OSA and pain or between daytime sleepiness and pain was found. Consistent with previous reports, poor sleep quality was associated with musculoskeletal pain in this population sample. The etiologic differences between OSA-related sleep disruption and poor subjective sleep quality require further investigation.

Effects of a 12‐week Telenutrition Weight Loss Intervention on Diet Quality in Men

Poor diet and obesity are independent risk factors for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This study used a randomized controlled trial design to pilot test the effect of a 12‐week home‐delivered telenutrition weight loss program on diet quality in 40–70 year old men with obesity, waist circumference &gt;40 inches and at least one chronic health condition. Both the control (n=29) and the intervention group (n=27) received diet‐related educational materials. Only the intervention group received individualized, weekly support by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) via telephone and videoconferencing. Diet was assessed using 4‐day food records and Nutrition Data Systems for Research (NDSR) software at weeks 0, 6, and 12. Diet quality was determined using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI‐2010). Diet quality significantly increased 9.5 points in both groups (95% CI: 3.7, 15.2) at week 6. The telenutrition group scores further increased by 9.3 points (95% CI 1.0, 17.6). No additional increase occurred at week 12 (control p‐value: 0.22; telenutrition p‐value: 0.55). A 10‐point improvement in diet quality was, on average, associated with a 0.7% reduction in body weight (95% CI: 0.4, 1.0; p‐value &lt; 0.001). Weight loss programs delivered via videoconferencing can be effective for improving diet quality in men in health disparate areas like Appalachia.Support or Funding InformationWest Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute's Health Outcomes and Policy Evaluation (HOPE) Funding Opportunity with funds made available from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

Assortative Mating for Psychopathy Components and its Effects on the Relationship Quality in Intimate Partners

In three studies, we examined assortative mating for psychopathy components as well as its effects on the relationship quality in intimate partners. Compared to the original structure we confirmed three factors of psychopathy: criminal tendencies (CT), erratic lifestyle (ELS) and interpersonal manipulation (IM), while callous affect (CA) was not replicated. Hypotheses regarding positive versus negative assortment, initial assortment versus convergence, and active assortment versus social homogamy were tested. All hypotheses were examined using both variable-centered approach (VCA) and couple-centered approach (CCA). We found moderate positive assortment between intimate partners in psychopathy as a latent construct estimated by structural modelling. Furthermore, positive assortment for all three components of psychopathy was found either by using only VCA (CT), only CCA (IM) or both approaches (ELS). Additionally, initial assortment rather than convergence hypothesis and active assortment rather than social homogamy hypothesis was confirmed for all three psychopathy components, with a slight tendency towards divergence and social homogamy. We explored the effects of similarity in psychopathy components on the women and men' relationship quality by using profile similarity and polynomial regression analyses. Profile similarity in IM was significantly positively related to women's relationship quality, while the results of the polynomial regression analyses were more complex, and showed that only (dis)similarity in CT did not exert any effect on women and men's relationship quality. Greater disagreement between women and men's ELS was related with more sharp decrease of women's relationship quality, while men's relationship quality decreased at the higher levels of women and men's ELS. Greater disagreement between women and men's IM results in a lower women's relationship quality, while women and men's relationship quality was higher when women's IM was higher than men's.

Negative Impact of Testosterone Deficiency and 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Therapy on Metabolic and Sexual Function in Men.

Androgens are steroid hormones with pleotropic and diverse biochemical and physiological functions, and androgen deficiency exerts a negative impact on human health. Testosterone (T) either directly or via its transformation into the more potent metabolite 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) or via aromatization into estradiol (E2)modulates important biochemical signaling pathways of human physiology and plays a critical role in the growth and/or maintenance of functions in a host of tissues and organs. T and 5α-DHT play an important role in regulating physiology of the muscle, adipose tissue, liver, bone, and central nervous system, as well as reproductive and sexual functions. Thus, androgen deficiency (also referred to as hypogonadism) is a well-recognized medical condition and if remained untreated will have a negative impact on human health and quality of life.In this chapter, we have summarized the negative impact of Tdeficiency (TD) on a host of physiological functions including reduced lean body mass(LBM), increased fat mass(FM), increased insulin resistance(IR), metabolic syndrome (MetS)and adiposity, reduced bone mineral density(BMD), anemia, sexual dysfunction, and reduced quality of life and increased mortality. In addition, we discuss another critical aspect of unrecognized form of androgen deficiency resulting from inhibition of 5α-reductases with drugs, such as finasteride and dutasteride, to block transformation of T into 5α-DHT in the course of treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The negative impact of drugs that inhibit transformation of T to 5α-DHT by 5α-reductases on metabolic function is manifested in fat accumulation in the liver,which may predispose to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Also, inhibition of 5α-DHTformation increases glucose synthesis and reduces glucose disposal potentially contributing to hyperglycemia, IR, and elevated activities of liver function enzymes concomitant with reduction in circulating T levels, worsening erectile dysfunction(ED), and reduced quality of life.Although we have attempted to summarize the current literature pertaining to this critical topic "androgen deficiency" and its impact on men's health and quality of life, there remain many gaps in the knowledge regarding the biochemical pathways that are involved in the pathophysiology of androgen deficiency. We wish to clearly state that there are areas of controversies, including whether age-related androgen deficiency (functional hypogonadism)merits treatment and whether T therapy provided real proven benefits. Finally, considerable debate exists with respect to the potential and purported cardiovascular(CV)risks of treating TD with exogenous T. For brevity sake, we will not discuss in detail the benefits of T therapy in men with TD since this topic is comprehensively covered by Dr. F. Saad's chapter in this book, entitled "Testosterone Therapy and Glucose Homeostasis in Men with Testosterone Deficiency (Hypogonadism)."We have made a concerted effort to address the controversy of T therapy in men with TD in the discussion. However, we wish to acknowledge that these issues will remain a matter of debate for some time to come. Only with advances in fundamental basic science and clinical research, some of these controversial issues may be laid to rest. Nevertheless, we believe that there is considerable body of credible evidence to suggest that T therapy of men with TD is safe and effective and provides a host of health benefits and therefore merits considerations in men with TD, irrespective of the underlying cause or etiology. An additional aspect of androgen deficiency is the drug-induced reduction in 5α-DHT levels by the use of 5α-reductase inhibitors. We also believe that physicians prescribing 5α-reductase inhibitors (i.e., finasteride or dutasteride) for relief of BPH symptoms or treatment of hair lossshould engage their patients in a productive discussion regarding the potential adverse side effects of these medications on their overall health and quality of life.