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.

Tumor del gastrointestinal (GIST): revisión de la literatura y presentación de tres casos clínicos / Gastrointestinal stroma tumors (GIST): a review of the literature and presentation of three cases

Los tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) son neoplasias de baja frecuencia que presentan menos del 1 por ciento de todos los tumores del tracto digestivo. Inicialmente se clasificaban dentro del grupo de los sarcomas pero actualmente se consideran como una entidad clínico patológica diferente. Comprometen con mayor frecuencia el estómago pero se pueden presentar en cualquier otra ubicación del tracto digestivo donde exista músculo liso. Su diagnóstico es histológico. El 80 por ciento de estos tumores expresa CD 117 y el 20 por ciento restante tiene mutaciones en un receptor de Tirosina-Kinasa (TK) relacionado con PDGFRa (platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha). El tratamiento se basa en cirugía y administración de inhibidores de Tirosina-Kinasa. En este trabajo se presentan tres casos clínicos de GIST del aparato digestivo. CD 117 positivos. Se revisan los aspectos fisiopatológicos, clínicos, diagnóstico y terapéuticos de este tipo especial de tumores.