Antioxidant and antidepressant-like effects of Eugenia catharinensis D. Legrand in an animal model of depression induced by corticosterone.

This work investigated the antioxidant and antidepressant-like effects of ethyl acetate extract from Eugenia catharinensis in mice treated with corticosterone (20 mg/Kg). The animals received saline or corticosterone (21 days) and, in the last 7 days, they were treated with the extract (50, 125, 200 or 250 mg/Kg) or vehicle. After 24 h, the mice were submitted to the open field and forced swimming tests, after which the hippocampus and cerebral cortex were removed. Our results showed that the extract decreased the immobility time of mice in the forced swimming test and that the extract was able to reverse the effect caused by corticosterone. Corticosterone pre-treatment generated oxidative stress, altering antioxidant enzymes in the nervous tissue. The extract increased the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities and reversed the effects of corticosterone. In the hippocampus, the extract increased superoxide dismutase activity and reversed the increase in catalase activity elicited by corticosterone. We propose that the effects elicited by the Eugenia catharinensis are dependent on the presence of phenolic compounds (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, 4-hydroxy methylbenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, salicylic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, isoquercetin, rutin, ferulic acid, aromadendrin, galangin and apigenin) in this extract, as demonstrated by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

Prevalence of Tinnitus in Patients Diagnosed with Cerebral Arteriovenous Fistula Treated with Endovascular Technique.

Introduction Tinnitus is characterized as the conscious and involuntary perception of sound, and it affects ∼ 30% of the population. Despite careful physical examination, the etiology of tinnitus can be established for only 30% of patients. Tinnitus is a common symptom of cerebral arteriovenous fistulas and results from increased blood flow through the dural venous sinuses, leading to turbulent arterial flow, mainly related to sigmoid and transverse sinus lesions. Objectives To analyze the frequency of tinnitus, patient profile, and endovascular treatment characteristics in individuals diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous fistulas. Methods A retrospective and observational study based on reviewed data from medical records on the PHILIPS Tasy system (Philips Healthcare, Cambridge, MA, USA) at the neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology service of Hospital Santa Isabel in Blumenau-state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Results The profile of 68 individuals diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous fistula who underwent endovascular treatment were analyzed. Most patients were female, aged 31 to 60. Tinnitus affected 18 individuals. Dural fistulas were the most prevalent in the sample, and computed tomography alone was the most used diagnostic method for initial investigation. Conclusion The prevalence of this symptom in patients diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous fistula was found in 26.5% of this sample, mainly in women with associated comorbidities. Tinnitus remission was observed in all patients who underwent endovascular treatment to correct cerebral fistula.

Prevalence of Tinnitus in Patients Diagnosed with Cerebral Arteriovenous Fistula Treated with Endovascular Technique

Abstract Introduction Tinnitus is characterized as the conscious and involuntary perception of sound, and it affects ~ 30% of the population. Despite careful physical examination, the etiology of tinnitus can be established for only 30% of patients. Tinnitus is a common symptom of cerebral arteriovenous fistulas and results from increased blood flow through the dural venous sinuses, leading to turbulent arterial flow, mainly related to sigmoid and transverse sinus lesions. Objectives To analyze the frequency of tinnitus, patient profile, and endovascular treatment characteristics in individuals diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous fistulas. Methods A retrospective and observational study based on reviewed data from medical records on the PHILIPS Tasy system (Philips Healthcare, Cambridge, MA, USA) at the neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology service of Hospital Santa Isabel in Blumenau-state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Results The profile of 68 individuals diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous fistula who underwent endovascular treatment were analyzed. Most patients were female, aged 31 to 60. Tinnitus affected 18 individuals. Dural fistulas were the most prevalent in the sample, and computed tomography alone was the most used diagnostic method for initial investigation. Conclusion The prevalence of this symptom in patients diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous fistula was found in 26.5% of this sample, mainly in women with associated comorbidities. Tinnitus remission was observed in all patients who underwent endovascular treatment to correct cerebral fistula.

Association between ocular abnormalities and systemic diseases in Down Syndrome patients / Associação entre achados oftalmológicos e comorbidades em pacientes com Síndrome de Down

Abstract Objectives: Describe ocular findings and its correlation with systemic diseases in Down Syndrome (DS) pediatric patients. Methods: Quantitative and cross-sectional study of prevalence with children aged from 0 to 25 years. Standard ophthalmic examinations performed: visual acuity, slit lamp biomicroscopy, ocular motility, static refraction and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Ocular findings were associated with comorbidities available in pediatric records of patients in FURB Down Syndrome Outpatient clinic, in which they have regular follow-up. Results: A total of 76 patients were evaluated (33 males and 43 females). Of these, 72 patients (94.73%) had ocular abnormalities. Refractive errors were the most prevalent (94.73%), followed by alterations in indirect ophthalmoscopy (40.8%), biomicroscopy (15.8%), ocular motility (15.8%) and epiphora (9.2%). From the refractive changes 13.15% had myopia; 76.31% had hypermetropia and 47.36% had astigmatism. Sytemic abnormalities were observed in 73 children. The most prevalent was thyroid diseases presented in 65.79%, followed by heart disease 61.84%, gastrointestinal disease (15.79%); abdominal hernias (14.4%); respiratory changes (14.4%); genitourinary alterations (10.53%); musculoskeletal alterations (10.53%) and epilepsy (3.95%). There was statically significant association between the presence of myopia and hypothyroidism (p = 0.01); astigmatism and heart diseases (p = 0.003); and astigmatism and genitourinary alterations (p = 0.001). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of ophthalmologic abnormalities in this study of children with Down Syndrome. Associations between myopia and hypothyroidism, astigmatism and heart diseases, and astigmatism and genitourinary disorders were found. More studies and increase of the sample are necessary to confirm the associations of ophthalmologic abnormalities with most common systemic diseases in this population.

Resumo Objetivos: Descrever as alterações oculares e sua correlação com outras comorbidades em pacientes pediátricos com Síndrome de Down (SD). Métodos: Estudo quantitativo de prevalência com delineamento transversal em crianças de 0 a 25 anos portadoras de SD. Realizados exames oftalmológicos de acuidade visual, biomicroscopia anterior, motilidade ocular, refração estática objetiva ou subjetiva conforme o nível de cooperação do paciente e oftalmoscopia indireta. Os achados foram correlacionados com as comorbidades disponíveis nos prontuários dos pacientes do Ambulatório de Síndrome de Down da FURB, no qual são acompanhados regularmente. Resultados: Foram avaliados 76 pacientes (33 do sexo masculino e 43 do sexo feminino). Dentre esses, 72 pacientes (94,73%) tiveram alterações oculares. Alterações refrativas foram as mais prevalentes (94,73%), seguidas de alterações na oftalmoscopia indireta (40,8%), biomicroscopia (15,8%), motilidade ocular (15,8%) e epífora (9,2%). Das alterações refrativas 13,15% tiveram miopia; 76,31% tiveram hipermetropia e 47,36% tiveram astigmatismo. Na amostra, 73 pacientes possuíam alguma comorbidade. A mais prevalente foi a alteração de tireoide, presente em 65,79% dos pacientes, seguido de alterações cardíacas (61,84%), alterações gastrointestinais (15,79%), hérnias abdominais (14,4%), alterações respiratórias (14,4%), alterações geniturinárias (10,53%), alterações osteomusculares (10,53%) e epilepsia (3,95%). Houve associações significativas entre miopia e hipotireoidismo (p = 0,01); astigmatismo e cardiopatias (p = 0,003); e astigmatismo e alterações geniturinárias (p = 0,001). Conclusão: Houve alta prevalência de alterações oftalmológicas na amostra. Foram encontradas associações entre miopia e hipotireoidismo, astigmatismo e cardiopatias, e astigmatismo e alterações geniturinárias. Mais estudos e aumento da amostra são necessários para confirmar os resultados das associações nessa população.