Abstract Introduction Prenatal exposure to the Zika virus can impair neurodevelopment and cause auditory damage. Objective To analyze the frequency-following response (FFR) and the auditory behavior (with the LittlEars® questionnaire) of children with and without prenatal exposure to Zika virus infection. Methods A total of 30 children participated in the present study, divided into 3 groups: 10 children with microcephaly and prenatal exposure to the Zika virus; 10 normocephalic children with prenatal exposure to the Zika virus; and 10 children with no evidence of prenatal exposure to the virus. The FFR test was performed with the /da/ syllable. The LittlEars® questionnaire was used with parents/guardians. Results For the FFR measurements, there was no difference between the groups. The children with exposure to the Zika virus presented a final score in the questionnaire below what is expected from children with normal hearing. A significant difference was observed for the final, semantic, and expressive scores between the group with microcephaly and the other groups. A strong negative correlation was seen between the LittlEars® questionnaire final score and the FFR measurements for the group with microcephaly when compared with the other groups. Conclusion Children exposed to the Zika virus, with and without microcephaly, presented FFR patterns similar to what was seen in children with no evidence of virus exposure. However, they showed signs of immature auditory behavior, suggesting auditory development delay.

Abstract Introduction The use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine is formally indicated in cases of chronic autoimmune diseases. However, the use of these medications has already been associated with possible transitory or definitive alterations in hearing function and/or vestibular function in humans, when administrated in the short and long terms. Objective To describe, through a literature analysis, the functional vestibular and/or hearing alterations, caused by the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in youths and adults. Data Synthesis In total, 2,481 studies were identified in the initial search: out of these 32 were selected for a full-text reading, and 9 were selected after the exclusion of those which did not meet the eligibility criteria. Of these, four articles pointed to the presence of vestibular and auditory-associated alterations, three indicated only auditory pathologies, and two, vestibular disorders. Regarding the auditory alterations, tinnitus was the most frequent symptom, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was described in most studies, varying in degree from mild to severe. As for the vestibular alterations, vertigo was the most reported symptom. Conclusion Knowledge of the auditory and vestibular effects after the use of these substances can help in the decision regarding the best treatment, enabling the consideration of other available therapies for patients at risk of suffering those alterations, reducing the risk of auditory and vestibular disorders.

RESUMO Objetivo descrever, por meio de revisão da literatura, alterações auditivas e/ou vestibulares relacionadas ao uso em curto ou em longo prazo da mefloquina. Estratégia de pesquisa trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, realizada nas seguintes bases de dados: PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, LILACS, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Embase, OpenGrey, DissOnline e OAlster. Critérios de seleção foram incluídos estudos com participantes a partir de 18 anos de idade, que fizeram uso de mefloquina e que foram submetidos à avaliação auditiva e/ou questionário referente à função auditiva e vestibular. Foram excluídas revisões de literatura, capítulos de livros e estudos que utilizaram a mefloquina combinada a outros medicamentos. Resultados foram identificados 1.267 estudos nas bases de dados utilizadas, sendo selecionados 28 artigos para leitura completa. Destes, 12 foram incluídos na revisão, de acordo com os critérios de elegibilidade. Quatro artigos apontaram a presença de alterações vestibulares e auditivas, 2 indicaram apenas alterações auditivas e 6 apenas desordens vestibulares. No que se refere às manifestações auditivas, zumbido e perda auditiva foram os sintomas mais frequentes. Vertigem/tontura e desequilíbrio corresponderam às alterações vestibulares comumente apresentadas. Conclusão manifestações auditivas e vestibulares foram referidas em curto e longo prazo, após o tratamento com a droga. A descontinuação de seu uso possibilitou a reversão das manifestações, porém, em alguns casos, foi observada a permanência das afecções. Considera-se importante a realização de acompanhamento audiológico e vestibular durante a ingestão da mefloquina, visto o seu perfil de toxicidade e possíveis manifestações colaterais de caráter auditivo e vestibular.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe through a literature review auditory and/or vestibular alterations associated with the short or long-term use of mefloquine. Research strategy Integrative review performed on the following databases: Pubmed, Web of Science, Scielo, Lilacs, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Embase, Open Grey, DissOnline, OAlster. Selection Criteria The articles selected included studies with participants that were 18 years old or over, who used mefloquine and who were submitted to an auditory evaluation and/or a questionnaire regarding auditory and vestibular function. Literature reviews, book chapters, and studies using mefloquine associated with other drugs were excluded. Results 1,267 studies were identified in the databases used, 28 articles were selected for full reading, and out of these, twelve were included in the review according to the eligibility criteria. Four articles pointed out the presence of vestibular and auditory diseases, two indicated only auditory disorders, and six solely vestibular disorders. Regarding auditory manifestations, tinnitus and hearing loss (HL) were the most frequent symptoms. Vertigo/dizziness and imbalance matched to the vestibular changes were commonly observed. Conclusion Auditory and vestibular manifestations were referred to in the short and long-term after treatment with the drug. The discontinuation of its use made it possible to reverse the manifestations; however, in some cases, the permanence of the disorders was reported. Audiological and vestibular follow-up during mefloquine use is considered important, given its toxicity profile and possible side manifestations of an auditory and vestibular nature.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of including whole corn germ (WCG) on the performance; diet metabolizability; yields of carcass, cuts, and offal; and quality of meat of broilers. A total of 648 chicks were assigned to six treatments in a completely randomized design with six replicates, with 18 birds in each. Treatments consisted of a corn- and soybean meal-based control diet (0 g kg−1 WCG) and five test diets including WCG at the levels of 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 g kg−1. Birds and diets were weighed at each seven days to determine feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The partial collection methodology was employed to determine the apparent metabolizable energy (AME), nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn), and the apparent metabolizability coefficients of gross energy (AMCGE), dry matter (AMCDM), crude protein (AMCCP), and ether extract (AMCEE) of the diets. In the evaluation of meat quality, we analyzed the pH, cooking losses, shear force, water-holding capacity, color, and peroxide index of the meat. There was a difference for BWG and FCR in the total rearing period (1 to 42 days), for which optimum BWG was estimated as 2921 g/bird, with 118 g kg−1 inclusion of WCG. There was no difference for the AME, AMEn, and AMCCP of the diets, although AMCGE, AMCDM, and AMCEE declined as WCG was included. The increasing levels of WCG did not influence the yields of carcass and cuts or the meat quality. There was an increase in the yield of gizzard and proventriculus. Whole corn germ can be used at low levels in the diet of broilers without compromising their productive rates.