Gender-specific sensitivity to low frequencies in male speech

The perception of human voices as naturally occurring sound objects may correspond to the detection of specific components of the frequency spectrum. In the current study, a psychophysical experiment was undertaken to investigate whether male and female listeners differed with respect to which frequencies were important in the perception of a male voice as a natural sound object. For females (but not males) the presence of low frequencies (<220 Hz), but not high frequencies (>4 kHz), was most crucial in the perception of a male voice as natural. This finding could be compatible with a neuroethological interpretation: low frequencies in the range that were studied are important in distinguishing male from female voices and mature from immature male voices.     

The use of dinitrochlorobenzene in the treatment of vulvar carcinoma in situ

Topical immunotherapy of vulvar carcinoma in situ (CIS) is attractive because the disease is often recurrent, multifocal, rarely invades, easily monitored for response, and affects a younger population. The sensitization, challenge, and topical use of DNCB (dinitrochlorobenzene) is described. Six patients with histopathologically proven CIS of the vulva, who failed to respond to surgery and/or topical 5-fluorouracil (Efudex), were studied. Five of the six patients had disappearance or marked improvement in their disease grossly and microscopically. Although DNCB therapy is proposed as a viable alternative to traditional modes of therapy, careful evaluation of local and systemic reactions are necessary to determine its “long-term” effectiveness.