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Mode I fracture (tensile type) is the common cracking mode of asphalt pavements, which is caused by thermal cyclic loading or traffic. Some studies allow the analysis of the fracture modes by means of standardized tests, some of which are limited, difficult, with little repeatability or do not generate an adequate tension state. In this paper, mode I fracture toughness of asphalt mixtures with symmetric geometry specimens at intermediate temperature is evaluated. Experimental results from direct tension test and simulations on asphalt mix specimens subjected to intermediate temperatures of 10, 20 and 30 °C, mode I load rates (0.5, 1 and 2 mm/min) and notches (2 and 3 cm) were compared to find the variables that reflect the operating conditions of the asphalt mix. Results showed that shear stresses are 8.12% lower in the simulations with respect to the tests, while the load-deformation curves show 30% and 35% variation, where the temperature of 20 °C, the notch of 2 cm and the loading speed of 1 mm/min are the conditions that best represent the stress state of the test; moreover, it manages to consider the elastic and viscous components of the material.

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Eleven species of lichens of the genus Sticta, ten of which were collected in Colombia (S. pseudosylvatica S. luteocyphellata S. cf. andina S. cf. hypoglabra, S. cordillerana, S. cf. gyalocarpa S. leucoblepharis, S. parahumboldtii S. impressula, S. ocaniensis) and one collected in Chile (S. lineariloba), were analyzed for the first time using hyphenated liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry. In the metabolomic analysis, a total of 189 peaks were tentatively detected; the analyses were divided in five (5) groups of compounds comprising lipids, small phenolic compounds, saturated acids, terpenes, and typical phenolic lichen compounds such as depsides, depsidones and anthraquinones. The metabolome profiles of these eleven species are important since some compounds were identified as chemical markers for the fast identification of Sticta lichens for the first time. Finally, the usefulness of chemical compounds in comparison to traditional morphological traits to the study of ancestor-descendant relationships in the genus was assessed. Chemical and morphological consensus trees were not consistent with each other and recovered different relationships between taxa.

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Zinc is an important mineral for biological and physiological processes. Zinc deficiency (ZD) is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies worldwide and a crucial determinant of pregnancy outcomes and childhood development. Zinc levels and the zinc supplementation rate among lactating women have not been assessed neither in Ecuador nor in the Andean region. We conducted a pilot study including 64 mothers of infants between eight days to seven months old from a primary care center located in Conocoto, a peri-urban community of Quito, Ecuador. The mothers were interviewed and a fasting blood sample was taken to determine plasma zinc levels. The prevalence of ZD was calculated and compared with the prevalence of ZD among Ecuadorian non-pregnant non-lactating women, and the sample was analysed considering zinc supplementation during pregnancy. The prevalence of ZD among the participants was 81.3% (95% CI: 71.7⁻90.9), higher than the reported among non-pregnant non-lactating women (G² = 18.2; p < 0.05). Zinc supplementation rate was 31.2%. No significant differences were found comparing the groups considering zinc supplementation. The insights obtained from this study encourage extending studies to document zinc levels and its interactions among breastfeeding women in areas with a high prevalence of ZD in order to determine the need of zinc supplementation.

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BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported an association between maternal zinc deficiency and increased risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in offspring. A high prevalence of zinc deficiency and a high prevalence of NSCL/P have been reported in Ecuador. We postulated that mothers of infants with NSCL/P may have lower serum zinc levels than women from the general population. METHODS: A case series study was conducted from November 2013 to July 2016. Thirty-five healthy mothers of infants with NSCL/P were selected during surgical missions conducted by Operación Sonrisa Ecuador. A single blood sample along with pertinent medical history was collected during personal interviews after 3.6 months postpartum. The prevalence of plasma zinc concentration (PZn) deficiency among the participants was determined and analyzed along with the prevalence of PZn deficiency in Ecuadorian women of reproductive age from the general population. RESULTS: The mean PZn was 11.47 µmol/dm3 . The prevalence of PZn deficiency among the participants was 31.4% (95% CI: 17.1-48.6) and differed significantly from the prevalence of zinc deficiency observed among women from the general population (G2 = 8.66; p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the prevalence of PZn deficiency is lower in a cohort of healthy mothers of infants with NSCL/P than in women from the general population in Ecuador. More studies are required to confirm these findings and evaluate other factors related to NSCL/P pathophysiology in the Ecuadorian population.

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BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is the optimal way to feed children during their first six months of life, having important benefits for them and their mothers. However, the proportion of Ecuadorian mothers who continue to exclusively breastfeed their infants during the recommended six-month period has been reported to remain below the World Health Organization's goal set of 90 %. Little is known regarding factors influencing adolescent mothers to decide whether to practice EBF or not. Furthermore, there is no data about the EBF rates among adolescent mothers in Quito, Ecuador. METHODS: This cross-sectional study took place from April to November 2013 in the largest maternity ward in Quito, Ecuador (Hospital Gineco Obstétrico Isidro Ayora). Adolescent mothers parenting an infant between 6 and 24 months of age (n = 375) were interviewed using a structured questionnaire about EBF knowledge, beliefs and practices. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the independent predictors of EBF. RESULTS: In our sample, 62.9 % of adolescent mothers raising infants between 6 to 24 months of age chose EBF. Knowledge about the maternal benefits of breastfeeding and awareness of appropriate time frame for EBF were statistically associated with increasing the likelihood of choosing EBF. Adolescent mothers who were acquainted with the recommended duration of EBF were more likely to practice EBF (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.73; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.003, 2.98) as well as those who knew that breastfeeding is a protective factor against breast cancer (AOR = 5.40; 95 % CI 1.19, 24.56). CONCLUSIONS: Although adolescent mothers may be more prone to discontinuing EBF before their infants reach six months of age, the prevalence of EBF among adolescent mothers interviewed was higher than the rate reported for Ecuadorian mothers in other age groups. Our data underscores the importance of emphasizing the correct practice of BF and its benefits in breastfeeding education programs provided to Ecuadorian mothers, in order to promote the extension of breastfeeding duration to the recommended levels.

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Chagas disease is the most important parasitic disease in Latin America. The causative agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, displays high genetic diversity and circulates in complex transmission cycles among domestic, peridomestic and sylvatic environments. In Ecuador, Rhodnius ecuadoriensis is known to be the major vector species implicated in T. cruzi transmission. However, across vast areas of Ecuador, little is known about T. cruzi genetic diversity in relation to different parasite transmission scenarios. Fifty-eight T. cruzi stocks from the central Ecuadorian coast, most of them derived from R. ecuadoriensis, were included in the study. All of them were genotyped as T. cruzi discrete typing unit I (DTU TcI). Analysis of 23 polymorphic microsatellite loci through neighbor joining and discriminant analysis of principal components yielded broadly congruent results and indicate genetic subdivision between sylvatic and peridomestic transmission cycles. However, both analyses also suggest that any barriers are imperfect and significant gene flow between parasite subpopulations in different habitats exists. Also consistent with moderate partition and residual gene flow between subpopulations, the fixation index (FST) was significant, but of low magnitude. Finally, the lack of private alleles in the domestic/peridomestic transmission cycle suggests the sylvatic strains constitute the ancestral population. The T. cruzi population in the central Ecuadorian coast shows moderate tendency to subdivision according to transmission cycle. However, connectivity between cycles exists and the sylvatic T. cruzi population harbored by R. ecuadoriensis vectors appears to constitute a source from which the parasite invades human domiciles and their surroundings in this region. We discuss the implications these findings have for the planning, implementation and evaluation of local Chagas disease control interventions.

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Introducción: La vaginosis bacteriana (VB) es un síndrome polimicrobiano, en la cual la flora dominante de lactobacilos normales es sustituida por una flora polimicrobiana. La prevalencia de VB en Perú varía entre 27 y 43,7%. El Centro de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (DCD) sugiere el tratamiento de VB en mujeres sintomáticas con metronidazol oral/gel o clindamicina crema. Se planteó en el presente estudio evaluar la eficacia, tolerancia y seguridad de la combinación de metronidazol, miconazol, centella asiática, polimixina y neomicina en cápsula blanda para el tratamiento de VB. Material y Métodos: El presente estudio de tipo abierto, observacional, prospectivo, permitió evaluar la eficacia, tolerancia y seguridad en la aplicación de la combinación de metronidazol, miconazol, centella asiática, polimixina y neomicina en cápsula blanda. Resultados: Se incluyó a 61 pacientes con edad promedio de 29.28 años (rango 18-48) de las cuales 93,4% tenía historia previa de flujo vaginal anormal. Se realizaron dos visitas durante el estudio, la primera para diagnóstico e inicio de tratamiento y la segunda de control post tratamiento. Tres pacientes no tuvieron segunda visita y 8 no tenían registrada toda la información para definir la respuesta terapéutica. La segunda visita se realizó a los 21 días en promedio. Los principales signos y síntomas en la primera visita de diagnóstico fueron flujo vaginal (100,0%), disconfort vaginal (85,2%), dispareunia (70,5%) y dolor abdominal bajo (57,4%), las cuales disminuyeron en forma significativa (p<0,05) a la segunda visita post tratamiento. La prueba de aminas resultó positiva en el 93,4% de los casos en la primera visita y en el 15,5% de los casos en la segunda visita (p<0,05). De la población inicial de estudio, solo 53 mujeres son evaluables para eficacia terapéutica...

Introduction: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a polymicrobial syndrome, in which the normal dominant flora consisting in Lactobacillus is replaced by polymicrobial flora. The prevalence of BV in Peru varies between 27 and 43.7%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest therapy for BV in symptomatic women should include oral/gel metronidazole or clindamycin cream. We proposed in this study to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of the combination of metronidazole, miconazole, Gotu kola (Centella asiatica), polymixin, and neomycin in soft capsules, for the treatment of BV. Material and Methods: This investigation was an open, observational, and prospective study, which allowed us to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of the aforementioned combined therapy administered in soft capsules. Results: The study included 61 patients with a mean age of 29.28 years (range, 18-48) and 93.4% had a history of abnormal vaginal discharge. Two visits took place during the study, the first for making the diagnosis and initiating therapy, and the second was the post-treatment control. Three patients did not have a second visit and 8 did not record all the information required to define the therapeutic response. The second visit took place after 21 days on average. The main signs and symptoms at the first visit were vaginal discharge at diagnosis (100.0%), vaginal discomfort (85.2%), dyspareunia (70.5%) and lower abdominal pain (57.4%), which were significantly reduced (p <0.05) in the second visit after treatment. The amine test was positive in 93.4% of cases in the first visit and in 15.5% of cases in the second visit (p <0.05). From the initial population in the study, only 53 women are evaluable for efficacy. An overall response rate in 44 women (83.02%) was achieved with the soft capsule combination treatment. Adverse events were reported in only one case...

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Existen múltiples complicaciones relacionadas a la derivación portosistémica por vía transyugular (TIPS): La lesión de la arteria hepática es una complicación descrita y potencialmente fatal cuyo manejo ha sido mediante embolización selectiva. El objeto de este informe es comunicar la experiencia derivada de un caso reciente, en el cual al estar realizando el TIPS fue canalizada selectivamente al diagnosticar la complicación. El paciente tuvo una evolución satisfactoria sin deterioro de las pruebas de funcionamiento hepático o signos clínicos importantes. El radiólogo intervencionista debe estar pendiente de las complicaciones potenciales relacionadas al procedimiento, evitarlas en lo posible y en caso de presentarse tratarlas de inmediato

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El documento contiene cinco estudios exploratorios realizados por los trabajadores sociales, colaborados por los otros profecionales integrantes de los euipos que trabajan en zonas rurales, areas de accion de los programas de la Fundacion San Gabriel. Estos estudios constutiyen documentos de informacion general de la zonas, son parte de la etapa de reconocimiento, promocion y movilizacion, con que se inicia el trabajo. Dan una vision general sobre datos agropecuarios, recursos institucionales y poblacionales. Creemos que puede ser un documento de interes para las personas y organizaciones que deseen tener informacion sobre estas areas.

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