Epidemiology of non-oncological high-impact chronic pain in Ecuadorian adults in 2022.

There are limited data on non-oncological high-impact chronic pain (HICP) in Ecuador; we report the epidemiological characteristics of HICP. In this cross-sectional study, we included a random sample of adult individuals who had cell phones. The weighted prevalence of HICP was 9.

Development and validation of a scoring system to predict mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study in two large hospitals in Ecuador.

Objective: To develop and validate a scoring system to predict mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study. We analyzed 5,062 analyzed hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated at two hospitals; one each in Quito and Guayaquil, from February to July 2020.

Multi-level analysis of the gut-brain axis shows autism spectrum disorder-associated molecular and microbial profiles.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by heterogeneous cognitive, behavioral and communication impairments. Disruption of the gut-brain axis (GBA) has been implicated in ASD although with limited reproducibility across studies. In this study, we developed a Bayesian differential ranking algorithm to identify ASD-associated molecular and taxa profiles across 10 cross-sectional microbiome datasets and 15 other datasets, including dietary patterns, metabolomics, cytokine profiles and human brain gene expression profiles.

Increased Cardiovascular Mortality in Ecuador during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), represented a high burden for low and middle-income countries. Patients with NCDs are at higher risk of COVID-19 and suffer worse clinical outcomes. We present mortality trends for myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, hypertension (HT), and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from 2005 to 2021 in Ecuador.

Effect of convalescent plasma as complementary treatment in patients with moderate COVID-19 infection.

Introduction: South America is one of the regions most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific and affordable treatments are needed to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Evidence regarding the use of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients is still limited.

Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 supplementation modifies the fecal resistome during Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

Background: The gut microbiota is a significant reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). The use and misuse of antimicrobials can select multi-resistant bacteria and modify the repertoire of ARGs in the gut. Developing effective interventions to manipulate the intestinal resistome would allow us to modify the antimicrobial resistance risk.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus type-2 and their association with intake of dairy and legume in Andean communities of Ecuador.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are metabolic alterations associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Diet has a significant impact on the risk to develop MetS and T2D; in this regard, consumption of fruits, vegetables, and protein rich foods (from plant and animals) are important to prevent and manage these pathologies. There are limited studies regarding the potential association between Andean foods rich in proteins and the presence of cardio-metabolic conditions in Ecuador.

Low levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Andean communities of Ecuador.

The major burden of hypertension (HTN) occurs in low-middle-income countries (LMIC) and it is the main modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Few population studies on HTN prevalence have been carried out in Ecuador where there is limited information regarding its prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of HTN and its association with socio-economic, nutritional, and lifestyle habits in urban and rural Andean communities of Pichincha province in Ecuador.

Duodenal microbiome in patients with or without Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Intestinal microbiota are recognized as an organ with important physiological functions whose alterations have been associated with common diseases including inflammatory intestinal conditions, malnutrition, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The composition and function of the microbiota in the distal part of the intestine has been mainly described, while there is limited information on the small intestine microbiota. The objective of the present study was to describe the duodenal microbiome in individuals with dyspepsia in the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori gastric infection.

Effect of Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 as complementary treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection on gut microbiome.

Conventional therapy for H. pylori infection includes the combination of antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor. Addition of probiotics as adjuvants for H.

Free Amino Acid Content in Human Milk is Associated with Infant Gender and Weight Gain during the First Four Months of Lactation.

Background: There is a growing interest regarding the physiological role of free amino acids (FAA) present in human milk (HM). Recent studies show FAA in HM could be influenced by infants' gender and could have an important role in their growth and development. We studied the concentrations of FAA in HM and potential associations with infants' gender and their patterns of growth in a cohort of Ecuadorian women.

Analysis of gut microbiome, nutrition and immune status in autism spectrum disorder: a case-control study in Ecuador.

Most studies on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk factors have been conducted in developed countries where ethnicity and environment are different than in developing countries. We compared nutritional status, immune response and microbiota composition in mestizo children with ASD with matched controls in Ecuador. Twenty-five cases and 35 controls were matched by age, sex and school location.

Efficacy of a Lupinus mutabilis Sweet snack as complement to conventional type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment.

Introduction: therapeutic lifestyles changes including frequent consumption of legumes have resulted in improved metabolic control and decreased blood pressure in type 2 diabetes-mellitus (T2DM) patients. Objective: this was a quasi-experimental-28-week crossover-study that assessed the effect of daily consumption of the legume Lupinus mutabilis (LM) on metabolic control of T2DM patients under hypoglycemic oral treatment. Material and methods: we recruited 79 adult male and female patients that were followed for 14-weeks without LM consumption and then received increasing doses of a LM-based-snack for other 14-weeks.

Molecular typing of a large nosocomial outbreak of KPC-producing bacteria in the biggest tertiary-care hospital of Quito, Ecuador.

Objectives: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen associated with nosocomial infections worldwide. Isolates with a K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing phenotype show reduced susceptibility to first-choice antibiotics.

Impact of training primary care physicians in behavioral counseling to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors in Ecuador.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of implementing a physician-based, patient-centered counseling intervention model in Ecuador to improve the ability of primary care physicians (PCPs) to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among patients.

Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial conducted in primary care clinics in Quito in 2014 - 2016. Participants included 15 PCPs and their adult patients at high risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Reevaluating nutrition as a risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases.

Introduction: The consumption of saturated fats is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: Review published papers on the role of macro-nutrient intake in cardiovascular risk.

Results: Recent reports from the PURE study and several previous meta-analyses, show that the consumption of total saturated and unsaturated fat is not associated with risk of acute myocardial infarction or mortality due to cardiovascular disease.

Impact of milk based micronutrient supplementation in school children in Quito-Ecuador.

Background: The most common micronutrient deficiencies in Ecuadorian schoolchildren are vitamin A (VA), zinc, and iron. The objective of the present study was to test the efficacy of cow's milk as a vehicle for VA, zinc, and iron supplementation.

Methods: Three hundred twenty-eight children aged 6-10 years were included in a randomized, double blind controlled study; 173 children received 480 mL of whole milk (300 Kcals; G1) daily and 155 children received fortified milk (300 Kcals; G2) daily for 23 weeks.

Molecular Identification of Leishmania spp. in Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) From Ecuador.

The detection and identification of natural infections in sand flies by Leishmania protozoan species in endemic areas is a key factor in assessing the risk of leishmaniasis and in designing prevention and control measures for this infectious disease. In this study, we analyzed the Leishmania DNA using nuclear ribosomal internal transcript spacer (ITS) sequences. Parasite DNA was extracted from naturally infected, blood-fed sand flies collected in nine localities considered leishmaniasis-endemic foci in Ecuador.

Diagnostic Efficacy of Molecular Techniques for Detection and Identification of Leishmania Species in Human Whole Blood and Skin Samples from Ecuador.

Microscopic examination is the standard method for diagnosis of cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis despite its low sensitivity. This study compared the diagnosis efficacy of microscopic examination versus polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods and DNA sequencing using whole blood and skin lesion samples from patients with suspected leishmaniasis. The presence of Leishmania was determined by microscopy and amplification of 18S ribosomal RNA gene from blood and skin samples of 22 patients.

Innovations in Health Value and Functional Food Development of Quinoa ( Willd.).

Quinoa ( Willd., Amaranthaceae) is a grain-like, stress-tolerant food crop that has provided subsistence, nutrition, and medicine for Andean indigenous cultures for thousands of years. Quinoa contains a high content of health-beneficial phytochemicals, including amino acids, fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, saponins, phytosterols, phytoecdysteroids, phenolics, betalains, and glycine betaine.

L-glutamate: a key amino acid for senory and metabolic functions.

Glutamic acid or its ionic form L-glutamate (GLU) is one of the most abundant amino acids in nature and it plays important functions at the cellular and systemic levels. For instance, in the intestine and liver, GLU is a source of energy and is the precursor of key biological molecules. At the central nervous system of mammals, GLU acts as an excitatory neurotrausmitter due to the interaction with specific receptors.

Blood-meal identification in phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Valle Hermoso, a high prevalence zone for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ecuador.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies of the genus Lutzomyia. In South America, cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in the majority of countries. There are no previous reports of phlebotomine sand fly host feeding sources in Ecuador.

RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR GASTRIC METAPLASIA AND CANCER: A HOSPITAL-BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN ECUADOR.

Introduction: worldwide, stomach cancer is the fifth most frequent cancer, with 952 000 new cases diagnosed in 2012. Ecuador currently holds the 15th place of countries with the highest incidence of stomach cancer for both sexes.

Objectives: the objective of this study was to evaluate risk and protective factors for gastric cancer/metaplasia.