AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Objective: To investigate the potential protective effect of thymoquinone in gentamicin-induced ototoxicity through auditory brain stem responses (ABR) testing and histomorphological evaluation of the cochlea. Methods: This study was conducted on 48 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats that were randomized into 4 groups. Group 1 received intraperitoneal gentamicin; group 2 received intraperitoneal gentamicin plus corn oil solution; group 3 received intraperitoneal thymoquinone; and group 4 received intraperitoneal gentamicin plus thymoquinone. All groups received the drugs (once daily) in the above-mentioned protocols over 15 days. After conducting repeated ABR measurements, the rats were sacrificed, and their cochleae were isolated. Results: ABR thresholds were preserved in the gentamicin plus thymoquinone group when compared with the group receiving gentamicin alone. There were fewer TUNEL-positive cells and caspase-3 and caspase-9 expressions were weaker in the inner and outer hairy cells of the organ of Corti in the gentamicin plus thymoquinone group compared with the group receiving gentamicin alone. Conclusion: The ABR values and number of apoptotic cells did not significantly increase in the group receiving gentamicin plus thymoquinone when compared to the group receiving gentamicin alone. Again, the cochlear histomorphological findings were supportive of the auditory findings. In light of these findings, we conclude that gentamicin-induced ototoxicity may be prevented by thymoquinone use in rats. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the protective role of quercetin in gentamicin-induced ototoxicity through an auditory brainstem response (ABR) test and a histopathological evaluation of the cochlea. Methods: In this study, 48 female adult Sprague-Dawley rats aged 20-22 weeks and weighing 200-250 g were used. An ABR test was carried out on all rats prior to drug administration, after which, the rats were divided into four groups of 12 animals each. Drug administration was gentamicin 120 mg/kg plus ethanol in group one; gentamicin 120 mg/kg plus quercetin 15 mg/kg in group two; quercetin 15 mg/kg in group three; and ethanol in group four. The drugs were administered intraperitoneally once a day for two weeks, and the ABR test was repeated after drug administration. Subsequently, the rats were sacrificed and their cochleae were dissected and examined histopathologically. Results: There was no significant difference between the pre-treatment ABR measurement values of the groups. However, a significant increase was detected in the ABR values in the group of rats that were administered gentamicin plus ethanol, while no statistically significant increase was found in the ABR values in the groups administered with gentamicin plus quercetin; quercetin alone; and ethanol alone. The number of TUNEL positive cells in the inner and outer hair cells in the Corti organ was found to be fewer, and Caspase 3 and 9 expressions were found to be weaker in the group receiving gentamicin plus quercetin than in the group receiving gentamicin plus ethanol. Conclusions: Auditory function was detected to be significantly protected and apoptotic cells were found to. be decreased when quercetin was administered together with gentamicin. From these results it was concluded that quercetin, a powerful antioxidant, attenuates ABR thresholds and histopathological lesions in the cochlea in gentamicin-induced ototoxicity in rats. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY

We aimed to investigate whether quercetin had a therapeutic effect in an experimental rat model of allergic rhinitis. The study was conducted with 35 rats, which were randomly assigned into 4 groups: group 1 (n = 5), sham group; group 2 (quercetin group, n = 10) received 80 mg/kg day quercetin; group 3 (steroid group, n = 10) received steroid (mometasone furoate); and group 4 (control group, n = 10), received ovalbumin alone. Rats were sensitized by administration of ovalbumin on alternate days over 14 days via an intraperitoneal route. On day 15, in addition to ovalbumin via an intranasal route, quercetin and steroid were given over 7 days to the corresponding groups. All rats were then sacrificed and nasal turbinates were evaluated histopathologically, and serum total IgE and ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgE values were measured before and after treatment. A significant increase in OVA-specific IgE values was detected in all groups except sham group. A significant increase was detected in post-treatment total IgE levels in the control group, while no significant change was detected in the sham, quercetin, and intranasal steroid groups. On histopathological evaluation, it was observed that findings of allergic rhinitis were suppressed in the quercetin group when compared to the control group. In immunohistochemical evaluation, it was detected that COX-2 and VIP expressions were weaker in the quercetin group compared to the control group. Based on these findings, we conclude that quercetin was effective in allergic rhinitis induced by ovalbumin in rats both histopathologically and serologically

Impact of mean platelet volume on the occurrence and severity of sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Objective: We aimed to determine: (1) whether mean platelet volume was elevated in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss, compared with healthy controls; and (2) whether mean platelet volume level was related to hearing loss severity