There are no studies attempted to determine the effects of different phases of menstrual cycle on frequency following response (FFR) for speech stimuli. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in latencies and amplitude of FFR waves recorded at four phases of menstrual cycle. In addition, it was also attempted to determine if there is any ear effect on latency and amplitude measures across the phases of menstrual cycle. FFR was recorded in 20 females in the age range of 18-25 years in the four menstrual cycles [Phase I-menses (day 1-3), Phase II-proliferative phase (day 11-14), Phase III-mid-luteal phase (day 17-22) and Phase IV-pre-menstrual phase (day 25-27)]. The results of the study showed that there was significant reduction in latencies and slight increase in amplitude during menses and mid-luteal phase compared to mid-cycle and pre-menstruation cycles. The present study supports the hypothesis that difference in the levels of sex hormones in women during menstrual cycle can affect brainstem encoding of speech stimuli.
Indeterminate results obtained with the Western blot (WB) confirmatory test on HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA)-positive samples, constituted 15.6% (444/2849) over a 2.5-year period at the referral laboratory for the Western region at the King Fahd General Hospital, Jeddah. Two hundred and fourteen WB-indeterminate samples were followed up by repeat WB testing of subsequent samples from the same patients over a 3-12 month period. One hundred and forty-two samples (66.4%) gave negative results. Sixty-five samples (30%) remained indeterminate. Only seven samples (3.3%) not initially meeting WHO criteria for positivity turned clear-cut positive, with high EIA readings on follow-up. It was discovered initally that a significant proportion of indeterminates was due to low-grade cross-contamination between samples as a result of aerosol backflow during aspiration in the washing procedure. This was eliminated by rinsing the lines between samples, separating samples with high EIA from those with low EIA, and rerunning indeterminate samples. A reduction of indeterminates from 21% to 8.5% subsequently followed. After this improvement, most of the samples that remained indeterminate had low EIA readings, and few bands of mainly anti-gag (p55, p24 or p18) or anti-pol (p51) antibodies, while the few turning positive all had anti-gp160, in addition to anti-p24 or p55. Interestingly, over the last year and a half of the study, 1.4% of the total samples (21/1506) had repeatedly high EIA readings but were negative by WB. In addition, 16 samples (1.1%) were positive for HIV-2. A separate computer-based system for the storage of data was very helpful in ascertaining proper follow-up of indeterminate WB results.
Highlights
This is one the first published cases of gestational gigantomastia in Saudi Arabia.
Gestational gigantomastia is a very rare disease (1 in 100 000 pregnancies).
This case of gestational gigantomastia is complicated by ulceration and discharge.
The treatment options are skin-sparing mastectomy and breast reconstruction.
Immediate reconstruction by pre-pectoral implant and ADM is an option.
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