Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

In Ecuador, leishmaniasis constitutes a public health problem, due to its wide distribution in rural areas of the Costa, Sierra and Oriente regions, thus being one of the main causes of morbidity. The objective of this research is aimed at identifying the level of knowledge about leishmaniasis in cantons of the Province of Manabí. The study is descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional. For this, a random sample of 369 residents of the Jipijapa, Montecristi and Puerto López cantons of the Manabí Province was selected. A validated questionnaire was applied to obtain the sociodemographic characteristics and level of knowledge about disease and preventive measures. Regarding the definition of the disease, the population had poor knowledge, as well as ignorance of the transmitting vector. It is concluded that the population has little knowledge about the disease, which could influence the transmission of leishmaniasis in the area

Dengue is the arbovirus with the highest incidence worldwide. Approximately 100 million cases of dengue with warning signs and between 250,000 and 500,000 cases of severe dengue are registered annually. In Ecuador, in the last four years, 83,472 cases of dengue have been registered. Previous studies show an increase in cases with liver dysfunction. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between serum levels of the aspartate aminotransferase enzyme and alanine aminotransferase and the lipid profile in patients with confirmed Dengue infection. 110 selected patients were studied without distinction of age, gender or origin, whose diagnosis was confirmed virologically and serologically. A virus seronegative control group was included. In the lipid profile, significant differences (p<0.003) were found in total cholesterol values ​​and in secondary infections; while the frequency of elevation of both aminotransferases was high in patients with dengue, however, quantitatively comparing serum values ​​did not show significant changes or association. The endemicity of dengue is confirmed, as well as the changes in the lipid profile, however, the need for population studies taking into account the genetics of the populations is evident

The altitude or altitudinal floors is a variable associated with the climatology that influences the prevalence of neglected tropical diseases. A descriptive, field, documentary and cross-sectional investigation was carried out during January to July 2021. The highest prevalence of infection was recorded in the coastal region with altitudes between 0-350 meters above sea level. For Dengue, the provinces of Guayas (60.25%) and Manabí (21.63%) showed a higher prevalence. For Chagas, the province of El Oro (13.3%). For Leishmaniasis, Esmeraldas (11.43%). For Cysticercosis, Pichincha (4.99%) and for Geohelminthiasis, Zamora-Chinchipe (74%). Dengue transmission was found above 1600 masl. Chagas was registered in Pichincha, Loja and Sucumbíos over 2,200 meters above sea level. For Leprosy, there are no updated records. Climatic conditions favor the infectivity and dispersal of Cysticercosis eggs. A significant and positive correlation (P <0.01) was found between altitude and the prevalence of the pathologies studied. Altitude could become a predictive variable of significant importance to develop efficient strategies for monitoring, surveillance and prevention of these pathologies

The deficit of drinking water and the reuse of wastewater by farmers affects one of the factors of contamination of food such as vegetables that, when consumed raw, causes a vehicle in the transmission of enteroparasites producing some diseases. To determine the presence of enteroparasites in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) commercialized in the central market of Portoviejo; An analytical, non-experimental and prospective study was designed, with intentional sampling; where 62 lettuces were selected from the vegetable stalls of the Portoviejo municipal market. The samples were processed by spontaneous sedimentation technique, observing direct sediments and with Lugol in the search for intestinal parasites, in addition a smear was made for staining with Ziehl-Neelsen. Of the total of processed samples, 82.3% of lettuces are found with some parasitic species. The most frequent species were: Endolimax nana with 22 cases (35.48%) and Entamoeba complex, Giardia lamblia and Chilomaxtix mesnili with 5 cases each (8.06%). A high degree of contamination by parasites was determined in the lettuce samples analyzed; which is related to low hygienic standards in the cultivation, harvest, distribution and / or maintenance of the vegetable

Objetive determine the association between knowledge about COVID-19 and prevention practices in Peruvian citizens. A cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted using an online survey. The independent variable was the level of knowledge about COVID-19 and the dependent variable the frequency of prevention practices measured through a validated scale in this population, generalized linear models were used to estimate the prevalence ratios, crude and adjusted for sociodemographic variables. Results: Of the 385 respondents, 28.0% had poor knowledge about COVID-19, the scale of practices for the prevention of COVID-19 (Cronbach's Alpha 0.86) showed 42.6% of inappropriate practices. Having poor knowledge about COVID-19 was associated with inadequate prevention practices (RPa 1.81, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.44, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Poor knowledge about COVID-19 increases the probability of inappropriate practices for its prevention.

Vaginal Infections are the result of a set of external and internal factors that alter the vaginal microbiota. Objective to determine the alteration of the vaginal microbiota in women of reproductive age who attended a gynecological consultation at the IPASME-Mérida -Venezuela, as well as establishing the relationship of some clinical and microbiological variables and risk factors with the different types of clinical entities. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 40 women who were interviewed according to a structured questionnaire and a gynecological examination. The clinical and microbiological diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was made using the Amsel criteria and by evaluation, according to the Nugent criteria, of the smear stained with the Gram stain. 47.5% of the women presented altered vaginal microbiota, with a 30% prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, followed by 10% of candidal vulvovaginitis and 6.5% of trichomoniasis. A statistically significant relationship (p <0.05) was found between bacterial vaginosis and the Amsel criteria. The smear of vaginal discharge, stained with the Gram stain, confirmed the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis

Worldwide, water and food contamination is an emerging health problem. This study aims to identify bacteria of clinical interest and their antimicrobial susceptibility profile, isolated from agricultural products irrigated with water from the Guano River. A total of 10 samples of agricultural products, collected of five geographical points near the Guano River, were analyzed. Bacterial isolation and identification was performed by conventional tests using culture media in conjunction with biochemical tests. The antibiotic resistance profile was determined by the agar disc diffusion method. We identified 75.00% of bacteria belonging to the order Enterobacterales, 18.75% to Aeromonas spp. and 6.25% corresponding to Enterococcus faecalis. Of the Enterobacterales, 83.33% showed resistance to amoxicillin and 50.00% showed decreased sensitivity to imipenem. The 3 strains of Aeromonas spp. showed resistance to amoxicillin with decreased sensitivity to imipenem. The E. faecalis strain showed resistance to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. The presence of Aeromonas spp. confirms the role of food as a vehicle of transmission of this enteropathogen

Spiders are one of the most abundant species in the world, due to their adaptability and presence in both rural and urban areas. The objectives were to determine the most outstanding morphological characters of spiders, mention the differential characteristics with other poisonous animals, identify the three genera of medical importance and know the distinctive characteristics, including their clinical presentation and treatment, and finally some preventive measures that will serve in a general way in each of the cases. The bibliographic review of this content corresponds to a series of databases from the last twenty years. The three most common genera in Latin America, and with the highest reported cases in Ecuador are: Phoneutria, Loxosceles and Latrodectus. The species of medical importance in Ecuador are: P. perty, P. fera, Latrodectus wakckenaer, and Loxosceles heinecken. The main component of Loxosceles venom is sphingomyelinase D, from Phoneutria it appears to be involved in the kallikrein-kininogen-kinin system; on the other hand, Latrodectus, the venom has as its main component an alpha-Latroxin. This review offers fundamentals to know the gender that causes the crucial symptoms, to prescribe a correct treatment and avoid the complications caused by spider bites

   

Productivity within organizations is an extremely important indicator, since it allows evaluating the labor force, the level of economic development and the competitiveness of manufacturing organizations. The objective of this research was to develop a procedure to improve productivity in condensed milk packaging processes in Ecuadorian industries. Quantitative research was carried out, with the application of tools such as time study, operational analysis and man-machine diagram. The application of this study in the condensed milk packaging line showed a 58% increase in productivity capacity, in addition to a 99% decrease in losses (wastage) in the process, all this as a result of the consideration of the improvement of methods and related to the technology used.