The link between autonomic stress reactivity and subjective urge/craving has been less systematically examined in behavioral addictions (i.e. problematic Internet use) than in substance use disorders. The present study investigated whether problematic Internet users (PU) show enhanced autonomic stress reactivity than non-PU, indexed by lower Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and higher Skin Conducta...

BACKGROUND Empathy plays a key role in social understanding, but its empirical measurement has proved difficult. The Empathy Quotient (EQ) is a self-report scale designed to do just that. This series of four studies examined the reliability and validity of the EQ and determined its factor structure. METHOD In Study 1, 53 people completed the EQ, Social Desirability Scale (SDS) and a non-verba...

We defined Systemic inflammation (SI) as a "typical, multi-syndrome, phase-specific pathological process, developing from systemic damage and characterized by the total inflammatory reactivity of endotheliocytes, plasma and blood cell factors, connective tissue and, at the final stage, by microcirculatory disorders in vital organs and tissues." The goal of the work: to determine methodological ...

BACKGROUND We hypothesized that a substantial proportion of the subjectively experienced variance in pain in fibromyalgia patients would be explained by psychological factors alone, but that a combined model, including neuroendocrine and autonomic factors, would give the most parsimonious explanation of variance in pain. METHODS Psychometric assessment included McGill Pain Questionnaire, Gene...

Background and Objective: In this research, the effect of chronic dietary soybean aqueous extract on aortic reactivity of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats was investigated. Materials and Methods: STZ-diabetic rats were treated with soybean aqueous extract for two months after diabetes induction. Contractile reactivity to KCl and phenylephrine (PE) and relaxation response to acetylcholine (ACh...

Second order rate constants for reactions of 4,4'-dimethylaminobenzhydrylium cations with amines and other nucleophiles in water define a scale of nucleophilicity (N(+)'' = log k + 2.63). The N(+)'' scale can be extended by linking directly to an established N(+) scale based on reactions of methyl vinyl pyridinium cations with amine nucleophiles. Logarithms of rate constants for other benzhydry...

The evaluation of reactive chemical hazards at the pilot and manufacturing scale, using laboratory testing, is increasingly used and has been well documented. However, reactive chemical hazard evaluation at the R&D scale presents special challenges. The typical hazard testing program requires a significant amount of sample, often takes time (>3 days) to complete, and is can be quite costly. On ...

AIMS Depression and anxiety are linked to coronary events but the mechanism(s) remains unclear. We investigated the associations of depression and anxiety with serotonin-mediated platelet hyperactivity in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients in a cross-sectional study. METHODS AND RESULTS Three months after an acute coronary event, stable CAD patients (n = 83) on aspirin and clopidogrel wer...

BACKGROUND Recent insights into the role of the human microbiota in cognitive and affective functioning have led to the hypothesis that probiotic supplementation may act as an adjuvant strategy to ameliorate or prevent depression. OBJECTIVE Heightened cognitive reactivity to normal, transient changes in sad mood is an established marker of vulnerability to depression and is considered an impo...

AIM To develop and psychometrically validate the Compassion Competence Scale. BACKGROUND Compassion is a vital asset in the nursing profession; thus, it is necessary to develop a suitable instrument for assessment. METHODS The 49-item preliminary instrument was developed using concept analysis (hybrid model). Content and face validity were confirmed by 10 experts and 10 nurses, respectively...