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Introduction . The interest in clinical investigations in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of aging men has increased over recent years, particularly in the context of partial androgen deficiency. The aim of this paper is to inform the scientific community about a harmonized Italian Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale. Methods . There were two slightly different Italian AMS scales, which both underwent an up-to-date linguistic & cultural translation process, i.e., were both valid to be applied in clinical research. However, there are potential long-term problems associated with having two Italian language versions of the scale in the same country. Therefore, an ad hoc committee of key persons related to both versions met with the scale's developer, to create a harmonized single Italian AMS. Results . The harmonization meeting came up with a consensus item-by-item and the new Italian reference scale was agreed upon. It was decided that this scale should be published to avoid any confusion among future users. Conclusion . The Italian AMS scale published in this paper should be used for future clinical and other research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyse, in healthy volunteers exposed to noise of high intensity, any changes in certain hormonal parameters that might be related to psychological and behavioral effects. The parameters studied were cortisol (CORT), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), insulin (IRI). Some subjective spontaneously expressed parameters, such as feelingcold, feeling sleepy, being bothered by noise and feeling uneasy, feeling nausea, were also taken into consideration. A significant reduction of cortisol compared to the base values was noted both during exposure to noise and at the end of the stimulus. The DHEA-S values increased compared to the base values during administration of the noiseand after exposure had finished. After the end of the noise stimulus, prolactin showed a reduction compared to pre- and post-exposure values. Compared to the basic values, GH diminished both during and after exposure to noise. Insulinaemia showed a significant increase of the value during exposure to noise, both compared with basal levels andwith the values noted after exposure. The data obtained from the investigation carried out showed an influence on the human organism of acoustic stress that manifests itself through a complex multiendocrineresponse. This suggests that noise affected the endocrine system that might be related to psychological and behavioral effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]