Multimodal imaging and electrophysiological study in the differential diagnosis of rest tremor.

Introduction: Distinguishing tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (tPD) from essential tremor with rest tremor (rET) can be challenging and often requires dopamine imaging. This study aimed to differentiate between these two diseases through a machine learning (ML) approach based on rest tremor (RT) electrophysiological features and structural MRI data. Methods: We enrolled 72 patients including 40 tPD patients and 32 rET patients, and 45 control subjects (HC). RT electrophysiological features (frequency, amplitude, and phase) were calculated using surface electromyography (sEMG). Several MRI morphometric variables (cortical thickness, surface area, cortical/subcortical volumes, roughness, and mean curvature) were extracted using Freesurfer. ML models based on a tree-based classification algorithm termed XGBoost using MRI and/or electrophysiological data were tested in distinguishing tPD from rET patients. Results: Both structural MRI and sEMG data showed acceptable performance in distinguishing the two patient groups. Models based on electrophysiological data performed slightly better than those based on MRI data only (mean AUC: 0.92 and 0.87, respectively; p = 0.0071). The top-performing model used a combination of sEMG features (amplitude and phase) and MRI data (cortical volumes, surface area, and mean curvature), reaching AUC: 0.97 ± 0.03 and outperforming models using separately either MRI (p = 0.0001) or EMG data (p = 0.0231). In the best model, the most important feature was the RT phase. Conclusion: Machine learning models combining electrophysiological and MRI data showed great potential in distinguishing between tPD and rET patients and may serve as biomarkers to support clinicians in the differential diagnosis of rest tremor syndromes in the absence of expensive and invasive diagnostic procedures such as dopamine imaging.

Measurement invariance across countries of the Test of Memory Strategies (TMS): A contribution to the cross-national validity study.

Previous literature showed a complex interpretation of recall tasks due to the complex relationship between Executive Functions (EF) and Long Term Memory (M). The Test of Memory Strategies (TMS) could be useful for assessing this issue, because it evaluates EF and M simultaneously. This study aims to explore the validity of the TMS structure, comparing the models proposed by Vaccaro et al. (2022) and evaluating the measurement invariance according to three countries (Italy, Spain, and Portugal) through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Four hundred thirty-one healthy subjects (Age mean = 54.84, sd = 20.43; Education mean = 8.85, sd =4.05; M = 177, F = 259) were recruited in three countries (Italy, Spain, and Portugal). Measurement invariance across three country groups was evaluated through Structural Equation modeling. Also, convergent and divergent validity were examined through the correlation between TMS and classical neuropsychological tests. CFA outcomes suggested that the best model was the three-dimensional model, in which list 1 and list2 reflect EF, list 3 reflects a mixed factor of EF and M (EFM) and list4 and list5 reflect M. This result is in line with the theory that TMS decreases EF components progressively. TMS was metric invariant to the country, but scalar invariance was not tenable. Finally, the factor scores of TMS showed convergent validity with the classical neuropsychological tests. The overall results support cross-validation of TMS in the three countries considered.

Combined cortical thickness and blink reflex recovery cycle to differentiate essential tremor with and without resting tremor.

Objective: To investigate the performance of structural MRI cortical and subcortical morphometric data combined with blink-reflex recovery cycle (BRrc) values using machine learning (ML) models in distinguishing between essential tremor (ET) with resting tremor (rET) and classic ET. Methods: We enrolled 47 ET, 43 rET patients and 45 healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent brain 3 T-MRI and BRrc examination at different interstimulus intervals (ISIs, 100-300 msec). MRI data (cortical thickness, volumes, surface area, roughness, mean curvature and subcortical volumes) were extracted using Freesurfer on T1-weighted images. We employed two decision tree-based ML classification algorithms (eXtreme Gradient Boosting [XGBoost] and Random Forest) combining MRI data and BRrc values to differentiate between rET and ET patients. Results: ML models based exclusively on MRI features reached acceptable performance (AUC: 0.85-0.86) in differentiating rET from ET patients and from HC. Similar performances were obtained by ML models based on BRrc data (AUC: 0.81-0.82 in rET vs. ET and AUC: 0.88-0.89 in rET vs. HC). ML models combining imaging data (cortical thickness, surface, roughness, and mean curvature) together with BRrc values showed the highest classification performance in distinguishing between rET and ET patients, reaching AUC of 0.94 ± 0.05. The improvement in classification performances when BRrc data were added to imaging features was confirmed by both ML algorithms. Conclusion: This study highlights the usefulness of adding a simple electrophysiological assessment such as BRrc to MRI cortical morphometric features for accurately distinguishing rET from ET patients, paving the way for a better classification of these ET syndromes.

Acute effects of a chewable beetroot-based supplement on cognitive performance: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Dietary nitrate (NO3-) has been shown to be useful as an ergogenic aid with potential applications in health and disease (e.g., blood pressure control). However, there is no consensus about the effects of dietary NO3- or beetroot (BR) juice supplementation on cognitive function. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a single dose of a chewable BR-based supplement on cognitive performance. METHODS: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled two-period crossover clinical trial was carried out based on the extension of the CONSORT guidelines for randomized crossover trials. A total of 44 participants (24 F; 20 M; 32.7 [12.5] years; 66.3 [9.0] kg; 170 [9.2] cm; 22.8 [1.4] kg/m2) were randomly allocated to receive first either four BR-based chewable tablets (BR-CT) containing 3 g of a Beta vulgaris extract (RedNite®) or four tablets of a placebo (maltodextrin). A 4-day washout period was used before crossover. Ninety minutes after ingestion of the treatments, a neuropsychological testing battery was administered in each period. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT05509075. RESULTS: Significant improvements with moderate effect size were found on memory consolidation at the short and long term only after BR-CT supplementation via the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test immediate (+ 20.69%) and delayed (+ 12.34%) recalls. Likewise, enhancement on both frontal lobe functions (+ 2.57%) and cognitive flexibility (+ 11.16%) were detected after BR-CT. There was no significant change (p < 0.05) on verbal memory of short-term digits, working memory and information processing speed. Mixed results were found on mood and anxiety through the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y1 and STAI-Y2); however, sequence and period effects were seen on STAI-Y2. CONCLUSIONS: The acute administration of a chewable BR-based supplement improves certain aspects of cognitive function in healthy females and males, particularly memory capacity and frontal skills.

Neuroimaging correlates of postural instability in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Postural instability (PI) is a common disabling symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), but little is known on its pathophysiological basis. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to identify the brain structures associated with PI in PD patients, using different MRI approaches. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 142 PD patients and 45 control subjects. PI was assessed using the MDS-UPDRS-III pull-test item (PT). A whole-brain regression analysis identified brain areas where grey matter (GM) volume correlated with the PT score in PD patients. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) were also used to compare unsteady (PT ≥ 1) and steady (PT = 0) PD patients. Associations between GM volume in regions of interest (ROI) and several clinical features were then investigated using LASSO regression analysis. RESULTS: PI was present in 44.4% of PD patients. The whole-brain approach identified the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and superior temporal gyrus (STG) as the only regions associated with the presence of postural instability. VBM analysis showed reduced GM volume in fronto-temporal areas (superior, middle, medial and inferior frontal gyrus, and STG) in unsteady compared with steady PD patients, and the GM volume of these regions was selectively associated with the PT score and not with any other motor or non-motor symptom. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a significant atrophy of fronto-temporal regions in unsteady PD patients, suggesting that these brain areas may play a role in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying postural instability in PD. This result paves the way for further studies on postural instability in Parkinsonism.

Neuroimaging correlates of postural instability in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify the brain structures associated with postural instability (PI) in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). METHODS: Forty-seven PSP patients and 45 control subjects were enrolled in this study. PI was assessed using the items 27 and 28 of the PSP rating scale (postural instability score, PIS). PSP patients were compared with controls using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). In PSP patients, LASSO regression model was used to investigate associations between VBM-based Region-Of-Interest grey matter (GM) volumes and different categories of the PSP rating scale. A whole-brain multi-regression analysis was also used to identify brain areas where GM volumes correlated with the PIS in PSP patients. RESULTS: VBM analysis showed widespread GM atrophy (fronto-temporal-parietal-occipital regions, limbic lobes, insula, cerebellum, and basal ganglia) in PSP patients compared with control subjects. In PSP patients, LASSO regression analysis showed associations of the right cerebellar lobules IV-V with ocular motor category score, and the left Rolandic area with bulbar category score, while the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) was negatively correlated with the PIS. The whole-brain multi-regression analysis identified the right IFG as the only area significantly associated with the PIS. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, two different approaches demonstrated that the IFG volume was associated with PIS in PSP patients, suggesting that this area may play a role in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PI. Our findings may have important implications for developing optimal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation protocols targeting IFG in parkinsonism with postural disorders.

Differentiating between common PSP phenotypes using structural MRI: a machine learning study.

BACKGROUND: Differentiating Progressive supranuclear palsy-Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS) from PSP-Parkinsonism (PSP-P) may be extremely challenging. In this study, we aimed to distinguish these two PSP phenotypes using MRI structural data. METHODS: Sixty-two PSP-RS, 40 PSP-P patients and 33 control subjects were enrolled. All patients underwent brain 3 T-MRI; cortical thickness and cortical/subcortical volumes were extracted using Freesurfer on T1-weighted images. We calculated the automated MR Parkinsonism Index (MRPI) and its second version including also the third ventricle width (MRPI 2.0) and tested their classification performance. We also employed a Machine learning (ML) classification approach using two decision tree-based algorithms (eXtreme Gradient Boosting [XGBoost] and Random Forest) with different combinations of structural MRI data in differentiating between PSP phenotypes. RESULTS: MRPI and MRPI 2.0 had AUC of 0.88 and 0.81, respectively, in differentiating PSP-RS from PSP-P. ML models demonstrated that the combination of MRPI and volumetric/thickness data was more powerful than each feature alone. The two ML algorithms showed comparable results, and the best ML model in differentiating between PSP phenotypes used XGBoost with a combination of MRPI, cortical thickness and subcortical volumes (AUC 0.93 ± 0.04). Similar performance (AUC 0.93 ± 0.06) was also obtained in a sub-cohort of 59 early PSP patients. CONCLUSION: The combined use of MRPI and volumetric/thickness data was more accurate than each MRI feature alone in differentiating between PSP-RS and PSP-P. Our study supports the use of structural MRI to improve the early differential diagnosis between common PSP phenotypes, which may be relevant for prognostic implications and patient inclusion in clinical trials.

Assessing of the Italian version of the Memory Strategy Test (TMS) in people with Parkinson disease: a preliminary descriptive psychometric study.

BACKGROUND: Previous literature has shown that executive functions (EF) are related to performance in memory (M) tasks. The Test of Memory strategies (TMS) is a psychometric test that examines EF and M simultaneously and it was recently validated on an Italian healthy cohort. The first aim of the study was to apply TMS, for the first time, on a sample of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), who are characterized by mild cognitive impairment. The second aim is to investigate whether TMS scores can discriminate PD patients from healthy controls. METHOD: Ninety-eight subjects were enrolled, including 68 patients with PD, and 30 Italian healthy controls (HC), who also underwent a memory evaluation through well-known tests. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) demonstrated that TMS of PD patients had a bi-dimensional structure as previously found in healthy cohort. In detail, The TMS-1 and TMS-2 lists require greater involvement of the EF factor, while TMS-3, TMS-4 and TMS-5 the M factor. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and precision-recall (PR) curves showed that the M subscale can distinguish between HC and PD, while EF had poor discrimination power. CONCLUSION: The hypothesized prediction model of TMS test seems to have adequate ability to discriminate PD from HC especially for the M function.

Cortical involvement in essential tremor with and without rest tremor: a machine learning study.

INTRODUCTION: There is some debate on the relationship between essential tremor with rest tremor (rET) and the classic ET syndrome, and only few MRI studies compared ET and rET patients. This study aimed to explore structural cortical differences between ET and rET, to improve the knowledge of these tremor syndromes. METHODS: Thirty-three ET patients, 30 rET patients and 45 control subjects (HC) were enrolled. Several MR morphometric variables (thickness, surface area, volume, roughness, mean curvature) of brain cortical regions were extracted using Freesurfer on T1-weighted images and compared among groups. The performance of a machine learning approach (XGBoost) using the extracted morphometric features was tested in discriminating between ET and rET patients. RESULTS: rET patients showed increased roughness and mean curvature in some fronto-temporal areas compared with HC and ET, and these metrics significantly correlated with cognitive scores. Cortical volume in the left pars opercularis was also lower in rET than in ET patients. No differences were found between ET and HC. XGBoost discriminated between rET and ET with mean AUC of 0.86 ± 0.11 in cross-validation analysis, using a model based on cortical volume. Cortical volume in the left pars opercularis was the most informative feature for classification between the two ET groups. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated higher cortical involvement in fronto-temporal areas in rET than in ET patients, which may be linked to the cognitive status. A machine learning approach based on MR volumetric data demonstrated that these two ET subtypes can be distinguished using structural cortical features.

The validity and reliability of the Test of Memory Strategies among Italian healthy adults.

Background: Previous literature has shown that executive functions (EF) are related to performance in memory (M) tasks. Nevertheless, there is a shortage of psychometric tests that examine these two constructs simultaneously. The Test of Memory Strategies (TMS; previously validated in Spain and Portugal) could be a useful verbal learning task that evaluates these two constructs at once. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the TMS in an Italian adult sample. Method: One hundred twenty-one healthy volunteers (74 F, Mean age = 45.9 years old, SD = 20.4) who underwent a neuropsychological examination participated in this study. We conducted a Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the structural validity of the TMS. We conducted a latent variable analysis to examine convergent and discriminant validity of the TMS sub-scale scores reflecting executive functions and memory. We also examined the TMS reliability in terms of internal consistency through the McDonald's omega. Results: The CFA confirmed the expectation that the TMS-1 and TMS-2 subtests reflect a factor and that the TMS-3, TMS-4, and TMS-5 subtests reflect a different factor. This result is in line with the prediction that TMS-1 and TMS-2 require the use of executive functions and memory simultaneously, and therefore we called this factor executive functions (EF); whereas the TMS-3, TMS-4, and TMS-5 subtests require less involvement of executive functions, thus reflecting a construct that we named memory (M). The TMS subtests for EF and M showed convergent validity with the test scores using a traditional neuropsychological battery, assessing memory and executive functions separately. Finally, the reliability of the subtests was good. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that TMS is a valid and reliable scale to simultaneously assess M and EF while among Italian healthy adults.

Cluster Analysis Method Reveals Gender Attitudes in Sociosexual Orientation of a Southern Italy Population During the COVID-19 Lockdown.

Introduction: The COVID-19 epidemic and its lockdown dramatically impacted the general well-being of the population and affected sociosexual experiences, thus modifying sexual behavior, desire, and well-being. Clustering analysis has not yet been applied to research and data investigating sociosexuality. The cluster analysis method could be a valid support for clinicians in investigating the condition of a population with respect to problems related to sociosexuality. The aim of the present study was to analyze the different perceptions of the sociosexual experiences in southern population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We enrolled 734 (450 female) participants with a carried out anonymous web-based survey from the 16th of April 2020 to the 3rd June of 2020. The revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R) is a self-report test assessing three theoretically meaningful facets of sociosexual orientation (behavior, attitude, and desire). Results: We found eleven clusters, and the findings showed, for the first time, an intra- and inter-diagnostic heterogeneity in the sexual profile of participants. Theoretically, we identified subtype clusters whose sexual attitude was to avoid sexual promiscuity with significant gender differences. Women show a greater propensity for attitude and desire facet than men. Conclusions: Our new method of unsupervised learning could represent a reliable tool to support socio-cultural analysis studies on issues influenced by cultural mechanisms in a quick and explanatory way, as in the case of sexual orientation and attitude differences between men and women. Social and Policy Implications: Understanding these gaps is fundamental for policy makers, managers of social networks, those who deal with engaged couples and families, and sexuality starting from the very youngest adolescents. We claim to devise a strategy to measure how much a sexist culture implicitly and explicitly limits the freedom of sexual expression and how this can affect psycho-sexual well-being in a society. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13178-022-00771-2.

Cortical atrophy distinguishes idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus from progressive supranuclear palsy: A machine learning approach.

INTRODUCTION: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) share several clinical and radiological features, making the differential diagnosis challenging. In this study, we aimed to differentiate between these two diseases using a machine learning approach based on cortical thickness and volumetric data. METHODS: Twenty-three iNPH patients, 50 PSP patients and 55 control subjects were enrolled. All participants underwent a brain 3T-MRI, and cortical thickness and volumes were extracted using Freesurfer 6 on T1-weighted images and compared among groups. Finally, the performance of a machine learning approach with random forest using the extracted cortical features was investigated to differentiate between iNPH and PSP patients. RESULTS: iNPH patients showed cortical thinning and volume loss in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe and cingulate cortex, and thickening in the superior parietal gyrus in comparison with controls and PSP patients. PSP patients only showed mild thickness and volume reduction in the frontal lobe, compared to control subjects. Random Forest algorithm distinguished iNPH patients from controls with AUC of 0.96 and from PSP patients with AUC of 0.95, while a lower performance (AUC 0.76) was reached in distinguishing PSP from controls. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a more severe and widespread cortical involvement in iNPH than in PSP, possibly due to the marked lateral ventricular enlargement which characterizes iNPH. A machine learning model using thickness and volumetric data led to accurate differentiation between iNPH and PSP patients, which may help clinicians in the differential diagnosis and in the selection of patients for shunt procedures.

Magnetic Resonance Planimetry in the Differential Diagnosis between Parkinson's Disease and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

The clinical differential diagnosis between Parkinson's disease (PD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is often challenging. The description of milder PSP phenotypes strongly resembling PD, such as PSP-Parkinsonism, further increased the diagnostic challenge and the need for reliable neuroimaging biomarkers to enhance the diagnostic certainty. This review aims to summarize the contribution of a relatively simple and widely available imaging technique such as MR planimetry in the differential diagnosis between PD and PSP, focusing on the recent advancements in this field. The development of accurate MR planimetric biomarkers, together with the implementation of automated algorithms, led to robust and objective measures for the differential diagnosis of PSP and PD at the individual level. Evidence from longitudinal studies also suggests a role of MR planimetry in predicting the development of the PSP clinical signs, allowing to identify PSP patients before they meet diagnostic criteria when their clinical phenotype can be indistinguishable from PD. Finally, promising evidence exists on the possible association between MR planimetric measures and the underlying pathology, with important implications for trials with new disease-modifying target therapies.

Cerebellar voxel-based morphometry in essential tremor.

BACKGROUND: Imaging studies investigating cerebellar gray matter (GM) in essential tremor (ET) showed conflicting results. Moreover, no large study explored the cerebellum in ET patients with resting tremor (rET), a syndrome showing enhanced blink reflex recovery cycle (BRrc). OBJECTIVE: To investigate cerebellar GM in ET and rET patients using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis. METHODS: Seventy ET patients with or without resting tremor and 39 healthy controls were enrolled. All subjects underwent brain 3 T-MRI and BRrc recording. We compared the cerebellar GM volumes between ET (n = 40) and rET (n = 30) patients and controls through a VBM analysis. Moreover, we investigated possible correlations between cerebellar GM volume and R2 component of BRrc. RESULTS: rET and ET patients had similar disease duration. All rET patients and none of ET patients had enhanced BRrc. No differences in the cerebellar volume were found when ET and rET patients were compared to each other or with controls. By considering together the two tremor syndromes in a large patient group, the VBM analysis showed bilateral clusters of reduced GM volumes in Crus II in comparison with controls. The linear regression analysis in rET patients revealed a cluster in the left Crus II where the decrease in GM volume correlated with the R2BRrc increase. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that ET and rET are different tremor syndromes with similar mild cerebellar gray matter involvement. In rET patients, the left Crus II may play a role in modulating the brainstem excitability, encouraging further studies on the role of cerebellum in these patients.

The relationship between sociosexual orientation, muscle performance and disgust sensitivity: a preliminary correlational study.

BACKGROUND: Sociosexual orientation (SO), muscle performance (MP), and disgust sensitivity (DS) play a crucial role in sexual life. Previous research reported a relationship between SO and muscle strength, but the association across these variables has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between SO, MP, and DS. METHODS: Seventy-two subjects (age: 49.7±13.7 years, 38 F) participated in the study. The SO, MP and DS were evaluated using a Sexual Attitude Scale (SAS), a revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), a body composition analysis, handgrip test (HG), a Standing Long Jump Test (SLJ), a Body Odor Disgust Scale (BODS) and Three Domains of Disgust Scale (TDDS). RESULTS: A strong evidence in favor of a positive association between SO and MP (r=0.52, BF10=29), inconclusive evidence for a negative correlation between SO and DS (r=-0.37, BF10=2) and moderate evidence in favor of the absence of a relationship between MP and DS (r=0.001, BF01=5) was found using a Bayesian hypothesis testing approach (Bayes Factor). CONCLUSIONS: Higher MP is associated with a greater tendency to have occasional relationships and multiple sexual partners, in both genders. MP-related self-esteem and perceived vulnerability may be involved in mating behaviors. We speculate that the sexual hormones might mediate the relationship among these variables. Future studies are warranted to explore this hypothesis.

Incidental evidence of hypointensity in brain grey nuclei on routine MR imaging: when to suspect a neurodegenerative disorder?

Deep grey nuclei of the human brain accumulate minerals both in aging and in several neurodegenerative diseases. Mineral deposition produces a shortening of the transverse relaxation time which causes hypointensity on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The physician often has difficulties in determining whether the incidental hypointensity of grey nuclei seen on MR images is related to aging or neurodegenerative pathology. We investigated the hypointensity patterns in globus pallidus, putamen, caudate nucleus, thalamus and dentate nucleus of 217 healthy subjects (ages, 20-79 years; men/women, 104/113) using 3T MR imaging. Hypointensity was detected more frequently in globus pallidus (35.5%) than in dentate nucleus (32.7%) and putamen (7.8%). A consistent effect of aging on hypointensity (p < 0.001) of these grey nuclei was evident. Putaminal hypointensity appeared only in elderly subjects whereas we did not find hypointensity in the caudate nucleus and thalamus of any subject. In conclusion, the evidence of hypointensity in the caudate nucleus and thalamus at any age or hypointensity in the putamen seen in young subjects should prompt the clinician to consider a neurodegenerative disease.

The Scent of Monogamy: Self-Reported Olfactory Function Predicts Sexual Well-Being and Infidelity in an Italian Population.

Previous studies have shown that olfactory function plays an essential role in the bonding of a romantic relationship. Body odors, in particular, seem involved in both mate choices and other intimate behaviors. Our sense of smell is also crucial to detect possible pathogen threats, by activating a suitable disgust reaction. Previous studies have shown that disgust sensitivity is negatively related to sociosexuality, and disgust generally inhibits our sexual drive. In the present study, we explored the possible relation between olfactory function, pathogen disgust sensitivity, sociosexuality, sexual well-being, and infidelity through a web survey. Our exploratory analyses found that, in a large Italian sample (N = 1107), among those in a stable relationship, self-reported olfactory function predicted sexual well-being (p < .05) and negatively predicted infidelity (p < .05) when controlling for other relevant sociodemographics variables. Moreover, the relation between self-reported olfactory function and sexual well-being was mediated by pathogen disgust sensitivity. Although significant, these results must be interpreted with caution, because the effect sizes were small.

Corticospinal tract abnormalities and ventricular dilatation: A transdiagnostic comparative tractography study.

BACKGROUND: Microstructural alterations of corticospinal tract (CST) have been found in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). No study, however, investigated the effect of ventricular dilatation on CST in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate CST diffusion profile in a large cohort of PSP patients with and without ventricular dilatation. METHODS: Twenty-three iNPH patients, 87 PSP patients and 26 controls were enrolled. Evans index (EI) and ventricular volume (VV) were measured in all patients. CST tractography was performed to calculate FA, MD, AxD and RD in six different anatomical regions: medulla oblungata (MO), pons (P), cerebral peduncle (CP), posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC), corona radiata (CR), subcortical white matter (SWM). ANCOVA was used for comparing CST diffusion profiles between the groups and association between CST microstructural metrics and measures of ventricular dilatation (EI and VV) was assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-three PSP patients had ventricular dilatation (EI > 0.30, PSP-vd) while 54 PSP patients had normal ventricular system (EI ≤ 0.30, PSP-wvd). iNPH patients had the most marked FA and AxD increase in PLIC and CR of CST followed by PSP-vd, PSP-wvd and controls; RD was altered only in iNPH. A strong correlation was found between CST diffusion metrics and EI or VV. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the microstructural changes of CST in iNPH patients and demonstrate for the first time similar alterations in PSP-vd patients, suggesting a crucial role of ventricular dilatation in the mechanical compression of CST.

The Socio-Sexual Experiences in Southern Italians during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Clustering Analysis.

The COVID-19 outbreak has dramatically impacted on socioeconomic structure, individual freedom, general wellbeing, psychological health and sexuality. Indeed, social distancing, home confinement and the fear of contagion have reduced the possibility of romantic encounters thus influencing sexual activity, desire and behavior and, consequently, modifying socio-sexual experiences. The aim of this study is to examine sociosexuality and sociosexual experiences in southern Italians during the COVID-19 pandemic.