Tumor oncotypes, initial symptoms and endocrine disturbances before and/or 1 month after surgery were studied in 66 patients with prepubertal and pubertal ages having suprasellar or pineal intracranial tumors. Neoplasms found in patients of prepubertal age were: 15 craniopharyngiomas (CRA), 24 neuroepithelial-cell-derived tumors (NEC), 5 germ cell tumors (GERM) and 4 other lesions (OTHER). In patients of pubertal age, there were 7 CRA, 7 pituitary tumors (PIT), 2 NEC, 1 GERM and 1 OTHER. Approximately 90% of patients had visual abnormalities as one of the initial signs and symptoms, while 59% had increased intracranial pressure. Short stature was observed in only 10% of patients. Before surgery, somatotropic function was found to be deficient (by 2 pharmacological tests) in 90-100% of patients with CRA, PIT or GERM and in 40% of patients with NEC. Overt hypothyroidism was found in 5-25% of CRA, NEC or GERM but in 40% of PIT. Abnormal TSH responses to TRH were observed in 64% of CRA and in 29% of NEC. Low basal serum cortisol was found in 21 or 6% of patients with CRA or NEC, but in 100 or 60% of patients with PIT or GERM, respectively. Diabetes insipidus was diagnosed in 13.6% of all patients. Surgery produced few additional disturbances in endocrine function, except for the incidence of diabetes insipidus which was doubled. Gonadotropic deficiency was found in most patients of pubertal age with CRA and PIT. They were readily differentiated by the high prolactin or growth hormone (GH) levels of the latter. This study shows that: (1) CRA and NEC in the prepubertal age group, and CRA and PIT in the pubertal age group were the most frequent tumor oncotypes found; (2) visual abnormalities are the most frequent initial signs; (3) endocrine disturbances are highly frequent before surgery, while surgical intervention had little effect in increasing endocrine morbidity; (4) NEC, even though producing less endocrine dysfunctions than other tumor types, are an important etiology of endocrine sequelae because of their high relative frequency in children with prepubertal age.

We found this was a reliable and valid questionnaire for evaluating ill-treatment of women. Its use, particularly in primary care, could help expand and deepen understanding of the problem.

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Contribución de los autores:Francisca M. Monsalve-Castillo: concepción y diseño del trabajo, y redacción del manuscrito. Luciana Costa-León: asesoría técnica. Francisca M. Monsalve-Castillo, Luciana Costa-León y Anais Suárez: analizaron e interpretaron los resultados. María Elena Castellano, Anais Suárez y Ricardo Atencio: recolectaron y obtuvieron los datos. Todos los autores participaron en la revisión crítica y aprobación de la versión final del manuscrito. ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL Resultados.El 85,5 % presentó anticuerpos contra T. gondii, el 95,4 % para rubéola, el 75,2 % para citomegalovirus y el 97,2 % para el virus herpes simple 1 y 2. Se observa que el 21,1 % y el 30,2 % presentaron relación entre la variable aborto y las infecciones por citomegalovirus y virus herpes simple 1 y 2, respectivamente. Conclusiones. Existe alta seroprevalencia de infecciones por los agentes causantes del síndrome ToRCH en mujeres en edad fértil de la etnia indígena yukpa. Las condiciones sanitarias precarias y el consumo de agua contaminada con ooquistes, favorecen la adquisición de la infección por T. gondii. El hacinamiento, el inicio a temprana de edad de la actividad sexual y el número de parejas, pueden incidir en la presencia de citomegalovirus y virus herpes simple 1 y 2.Palabras clave: Toxoplasma, rubéola, citomegalovirus, herpesvirus humano 1, herpesvirus humano 2, estudios seroepidemiológicos, mujer, periodo fértil, población indígena, epidemiología. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v32i4.749 Prevalence of infectious agents in indigenous women of childbearing age in VenezuelaIntroduction. The ToRCH syndrome includes the following infectious pathogens: Toxoplasma gondii, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. In susceptible pregnant women, these pathogens can cause abortions and congenital malformation in the newborn babies. Objective. The seroprevalence of infection by ToRCH agents was determined in women of childbearing age in several Venezuelan Yukpa indigenous communities. Material and methods. In 2007, 109 samples were selected from 151 women with an age range of 14 to 40 years old. The determination of antibodies against ToRCH agents was carried out through the indirect enzyme immunoassay technique by ELISA's technique of Smartest Diagnostics. Results. Of the 109 samples, 85.5% presented antibodies against T. gondii, 95.4% for rubella, 75.2% for cytomegalovirus and 97.2% for and herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. A relationship between abortion and infection by cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus 1and 2 was noted in 21.1% and 30.2% of women presented, respectively. Conclusions. The findings show a high prevalence of ToRCH agents in women in childbearing age in Yukpa indigenous communities in Venezuela. Poor sanitary conditions and consumption of water contaminated with oocysts may be an important way of transmission of T. gondii. Overcrowding in the communities, sexual activity at an early age and number of partners and may be related to the presence of cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex...

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