Associations between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and psychopathological manifestations in schizophrenic patients: A single-center study from Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia, a complex neuropsychiatric disorder, is believed to be influenced by various factors including environmental exposures. A potential environmental factor is the infection by the obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii which affects neurotransmitter levels, which could potentially exacerbate, trigger symptoms of schizophrenia or make them worst. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and psychopathological presentation in persons with schizophrenia in Ecuador. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Neuroscience Institute of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Among 368 inpatients, 104 were selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics captured patient characteristics and mental health outcomes. Logistic regression models estimated the effect of toxoplasmosis on various mental health outcomes, controlling for demographic and health-related variables. RESULTS: 86.5% of participants were seropositive for toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma-seropositive schizophrenic patients had a lower risk of depression but a significantly higher risk of disorientation. The most prevalent mental health outcomes were Language Impairments (70.2%) and Bizarre Behavior (76.0%). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity may have specific effects on mental functions in schizophrenic patients, particularly reducing the risk of depression but increasing the risk of disorientation. Further studies are required to clarify these associations and the potential underlying mechanisms.

Estudio piloto de los factores de riesgo en la preeclampsia / Pilot study of risk factors in pre-eclampsia

La preeclampsia es una patología que surge de forma desconocida comprometiendo el estado de salud del binomio materno ­ neonatal, provocando daño multiorgánico. La característica principal es la relación con múltiples factores de riesgo tales como la hipertensión en familiares de primer grado, obesidad, alimentación, falta de controles obstétricos durante la gestación, entre otros; Objetivo: Validar el cuestionario diseñado para evaluar los factores que influyen en preclamsia, Determinar los factores de riesgo que influyen en su incidencia. Materiales y métodos: Se aplico una metodología cuanti cualitativa, corte transversal, exploratorio; la validación se efectuó a través del juicio de expertos, utilizando dos tipos de instrumentos uno para cada tipo de investigación, se valoran por separado, en el plan piloto se utiliza parte de la muestra seleccionada para la investigación macro. En el caso de la cualitativa se utiliza una técnica de entrevista a saturación, con una investigación de tipo fenomenológica, organizada por categorías. Resultados: El instrumento cuantitativo obtiene un puntaje 93% de confiabilidad, con un alfa de crombach de 0,7, el instrumento cualitativo 95%, dentro de los factores de riesgo se distingue los trastornos hipertensivos del embarazo, se asocia con un espectro de gravedad que va desde la hipertensión leve inducida por el embarazo hasta la eclampsia. Conclusión: Durante el estudio piloto se obtiene los datos con rapidez y efectividad, no existen conflictos en su comprensión, su confiabilidad garantiza el trabajo científico, la validación de instrumentos justifica el proceso, de inicio resultó conflictivo por la ausencia de instrumentos para medir los factores que influyen en esta patología, se encuentran los valores causales y en especial en las vivencias de cada uno de los actores e involucrados, La preeclampsia es un fenómeno frecuente cuya patología conlleva graves complicaciones para la madre y el feto con este tipos de estudio se aporta a su control y erradicación(AU)

Preeclampsia is a pathology that arises in an unknown way, compromising the health status of the maternal-neonatal binomial, causing multi-organ damage. The main characteristic is the relationship with multiple risk factors such as hypertension in first degree relatives, obesity, diet, lack of obstetric controls during pregnancy, among others; Objective: to validate the questionnaire designed to evaluate the factors that influence preeclampsia, to determine the risk factors that influence its incidence. Materials and methods: A quantitative, qualitative, cross-sectional, exploratory methodology was applied; The validation was carried out through the judgment of experts, using two types of instruments, one for each type of research, they are valued separately, in the pilot plan part of the selected sample is used for the macro research. In the case of qualitative, a saturation interview technique is used, with a phenomenological type investigation, organized by categories. Results: The quantitative instrument obtains a 93% reliability score, with a crombach alpha of 0.7, the qualitative instrument 95%, within the risk factors distinguishes hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, it is associated with a spectrum of severity ranging from mild pregnancy-induced hypertension to eclampsia. Conclusion: During the pilot study the data is obtained quickly and effectively, there are no conflicts in its understanding, its reliability guarantees scientific work, the validation of instruments justifies the process, initially it was conflictive due to the absence of instruments to measure the factors that influence this pathology, are the causal values ​​and especially in the experiences of each of the actors and involved, Preeclampsia is a frequent phenomenon whose pathology entails serious complications for the mother and the fetus with this type of study is provided to its control and eradication(AU)

Cognitive Deterioration and Quality of Life in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Single Institution Experience.

The present article aimed to analyze and describe the relationship between cognitive impairment and the perception of quality of life. The study was carried out in the psychiatric hospital within the Ecuadorian "Instituto de Neurociencias," with 50 patients, both men and women, between the ages of 18 and 65 years. An instrument for the screening of cognitive impairment in psychiatric patients, a questionnaire that measures quality of life, and a sociodemographic questionnaire were applied individually. Data collection took between 30 and 40 minutes per person. The results obtained allowed to verify the relationship between cognitive deterioration and quality of life. First, it was shown that while there was greater cognitive impairment, the perception of quality of life was low and vice versa. It was found that the areas of verbal learning, processing speed, and working memory are those that present greater difficulty for patients with this disorder.