Auditory-evoked brain-stem responses and auditory disorders in patients with Bell's palsy

Out of 121 patients examined with acute unilateral facial paralysis, 93 were determined to have idiopathic facial palsy (Bell's palsy). The examination included pure-tone and speech audiometry, stapedial reflex recordings, temporal bone radiography and auditory-evoked brain-stem response testing (ABR). If a retrocochlear lesion was suspected, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was performed. Patients with sensorineural hearing loss affecting all frequencies were compared to one group with hearing loss affecting only high frequencies and to another group with ABR findings suggesting a cochlear lesion. No association could be made between the etiology of these pathological results and the concurrent facial paresis. Most of them were probably caused by unrelated disorders of the auditory system. In cases with prolonged inter-peak latencies representing brain-stem responses, abnormal ABRs could be caused by the same pathology as the paralysis. This might well suggest the presence of a neuropathy in both the central auditory system and the facial tracts

A Polyphenol-Rich Fraction from Eugenia uniflora Exhibits Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities In Vivo

Leaves from Eugenia uniflora, the red Brazilian cherry, have a high content of flavonoids that possess several biological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. However, their influence on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in rats has not been investigated. In the current study, a bioguided fractionation assay revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of Eugenia uniflora is the safest and most active fraction. LC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction revealed 22 secondary metabolites, mainly myricetin and quercetin derivatives. EAF did not show toxicity up to 2000 mg/kg, and exhibited antioxidant activities in vitro in DPPH assay with IC50 of 3.35 µg/mL. Additionally, EAF exhibited substantial antioxidant activities in vivo by counteracting the oxidative damage of the prooxidant juglone [80 µM] in Caenorhabditis elegans model organism and increased its survival rate in a dose-dependent fashion through the DAF-16/Foxo pathway. Furthermore, the hepatoprotective activity of EAF (200 mg/kg against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxicated male Wistar rats was assessed. EAF significantly inhibited CCl4-induced elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TB), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG), in the blood serum and prevented lipid peroxidation and restored superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content in liver tissues. The observed hepatoprotective effects of EAF, which were supported by histopathological observations as pretreatment with EAF, effectively attenuated the CCl4-induced histopathological changes. In conclusion, EAF of Eugenia uniflora leaves has substantial hepatoprotective activities against CCl4 induced acute liver injury in rats due to its antioxidant activity

Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among school children in Um-Asher Area, Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract Objective Schistosomiasis remains one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide. This is a cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis and its associated risk factors among primary school children in Um-Asher area. The study was conducted among 170 primary school students in Um-Asher area from November 2017 to February 2018. Urine and stool samples were collected and examined for schistosomiasis infections. Moreover, data on sociodemographic characteristics and associated risk factors were obtained using a questionnaire. Results The overall prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium was 12.9%, whereas that of Schistosoma mansoni was 2.95%. Additionally, the males had higher prevalence (60%) of S. mansoni than females (40%). However, both gender were equally infected with S. haematobium (50%). With regard to risk factors, distance of residence from water source and source of drinking water are relatively associated with the infection