Haemodynamic brain response to visual sexual stimuli is different between homosexual and heterosexual men

The underlying neurobiological factors involved in sexual orientation are largely unknown. This study investigated whether neural circuits or different cognitive processes accounted for differences in brain activation in 14 heterosexual and 14 homosexual males. Brain scans were undertaken in each subject using functional magnetic resonance imaging while they viewed different sexual stimuli, i.e. heterosexual couple stimuli (HCS), gay couple stimuli (GCS), lesbian couple stimuli (LCS) and neutral stimuli (NS). Ratings of sexual attractiveness of the stimuli were assessed. Subjective sexual arousal was induced by HCS and GCS in heterosexual and homosexual men, respectively. Sexual disgust was induced by GCS and LCS in heterosexual and homosexual men, respectively. Compared with viewing NS, viewing sexual stimuli induced significantly different brain activations, most of which had the characteristics of cognitive processes. These observations suggest that different cognitive patterns may be the major cause of different subjective responses to sexual stimuli between heterosexual and homosexual men.     

Collodion baby and respiratory distress syndrome

The congenital ichthyosis appears mainly in the form of collodion baby. This one can be suspected in case of polyhydramnios associated with a snowy aspect of the amniotic liquid in the antenatal echography. The reported four cases of collodion baby were premature children having presented a respiratory distress syndrome of variable gravity. The pulmonary disease was of multifactorial origin. The outcome was favorable for four children.