RESUMEN
Toxoplasmosis is a pathological condition induced by the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which has a notable affinity for the cellular components of the central nervous system. Over the decades, the relationship between toxoplasmosis and the development of psychiatric disorders has generated profound interest within the scientific community. Whether considering immunocompetent or immunocompromised patients, epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to T. gondii may be associated with a higher risk of certain psychiatric disorders. However, there are extensive debates regarding the exact nature of this association and how T. gondii is involved in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Toxoplasmosis has long been considered an asymptomatic infection among immunocompetent patients. However, there appears to be an association between chronic brain infection with T. gondii and alterations in patient neuronal architecture, neurochemistry and behavior. The present review aimed to compile statements and pathophysiological hypotheses regarding the potential association between toxoplasmosis and psychotic disorders. Further research is necessary for understanding the potential relationship of T. gondii infection and psychotic disorders.
RESUMEN
Alien hand syndrome (AHS) is an uncommon neurological condition characterized by involuntary, yet seemingly purposeful, movements of a limb, typically an upper extremity, with variable awareness and control by the affected individual. It is associated with a range of peculiar sensations, such as the feeling of limb estrangement, alien control and involuntary mirroring or restraining of movements. AHS indicates a profound disruption in volitional motor control and personal agency. The aetiology of AHS is the dysfunction of critical brain regions secondary to diverse neurological insults, such as tumours, vascular disorders, infarction or neurodegenerative diseases. It is clinically categorized into the parietal and callosal types, depending on the affected region, with manifestations often linked to the specific brain region affected. The callosal type is particularly challenging to diagnose due to its rarity and potential for nonspecific or concealed symptoms amid concurrent brain injuries. Distinguishing AHS from psychiatric disorders is crucial for accurate diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. Further research is imperative for a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of AHS and the development of effective treatments. AHS predominantly affects adults and is frequently associated with multiple comorbidities. The syndrome is also exemplified by three distinct motor behaviours: Involuntary grasping, inter-manual conflict and limb levitation accompanied by the sensation of an alien limb or the perception of external control over one's movements. It has a generally good prognosis with partial or total recovery following appropriate rehabilitation techniques, including pharmacological and psychological measures.
RESUMEN
(1) Background: Neurological Soft Signs (NSS) are subtle neurological abnormalities that are more common in schizophrenia patients than in healthy individuals and have been regularly observed in neuroleptic-naive first-episode patients, supporting the hypothesis that they are an intrinsic component of schizophrenia. (2) Methods: a review of articles published in the last ten years (from January 2013 to January 2023) was carried out on articles published in ScienceDirect and PubMed, by following the PRISMA Statement extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR), which evaluated the impact of NSS in correlation with the symptomatology, neuroleptic treatment, and the cerebral structural changes of patients with schizophrenia. (3) Results: thirty articles were included, among them twelve included MRI structural evaluation and four studies with a longitudinal design. (4) Conclusions: interest in researching NSS has increased in recent years, but questions remain about their origin and relationship to schizophrenia symptoms, thus this study aims to fill in information gaps in the hope that future research will help provide individualized treatment. It is suggested that NSS in schizophrenia might have an inherited genetic relationship pattern, thus being in line with a trait viewpoint. Most of the research revealed that schizophrenia patients had higher NSS scores than healthy controls, however, they were rather similar to their first-degree relatives, thus, also arguing in favor of a trait perspective. The greatest improvement in scores is seen in those with a remitting course, as shown by declining NSS ratings concurrent with symptomatology.
RESUMEN
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness with a significant impact on the life of both the patient and the patient's family. Magnetic resonance imaging has proven a useful tool for studying structural changes of the brain in schizophrenia. However, interpreting the published literature presents several challenges. Despite thorough research in recent years, which has included anatomopathological, imaging, electrophysiological, and genetic studies, the intimate pathophysiological mechanisms of this disease are not yet fully elucidated. The present study included patients with schizophrenia diagnosed in the psychiatric clinics from the 'Prof. Dr. Alexandru Obregia' Clinical Psychiatry Hospital between September 2019 and December 2020. Three Tesla magnetic resonance neuroimaging studies were performed. In a significant number of cases, the neuroimaging studies showed association of cerebral modifications such as enlargement of the Virchow spaces, lesions of the white matter with demyelinating appearance, and inflammatory sinus reactions. Cortical atrophy and hemosiderotic spots were present in a statistically significant proportion in the patient group with an age range of 29-61 years. MRI is indicated as a useful technique in the follow-up process of schizophrenia patients. However, whether the anomalies revealed in this disorder can be utilised as diagnostic biomarkers is still being debated.
RESUMEN
Schizophrenia, one of the most common psychiatric disorders, with a worldwide annual incidence rate of approximately 0.3-0.7%, known to affect the population below 25 years of age, is persistent throughout lifetime and includes people from all layers of society. With recent technological progress that allows better imaging techniques, such as the ones provided by computed tomography and particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), research on schizophrenia imaging has grown considerably. The purpose of this review is to establish the importance of using imaging techniques in the early detection of brain abnormalities in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. We reviewed all articles which reported on MRI imaging in schizophrenia. In order to do this, we used the PubMed database, using as search words 'MRI' and 'schizophrenia'. MRI studies of first episode patients and chronic patients, suggest reduction of the whole brain volume. Enlargement of lateral ventricles was described as positive in 15 studies out of 19 and was similar to findings in chronic patients. Moreover, for the first episode patients, all data collected point to important changes in medial temporal lobe structures, diminished hippocampal volume, the whole frontal lobe, asymmetry in prefrontal cortex, diminished volume in cingulate, corpus callosum, and cavum septum pellucidum reported abnormalities. MRI is recommended as an important tool in the follow-up process of patients with schizophrenia. Yet, it is still under debate whether the abnormalities described in this condition are able to be used as diagnostic biomarkers.
