Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES)

The research impact of published research is measured not only by citations in other academic research documents, but also by alternative metrics (altmetrics) indicators. They include news in newspapers, posts in social media, mentions in patents, policy documents, online encyclopedias, blogs, websites, and more. The findings of this study fifteen years after its introduction to complement citation-based metrics for assessing research im-pact may further benefit education on communication of gradu-ate student and young faculty in the chemical sciences.

The research impact of published research is measured not only by citations in other academic research documents, but also by alternative metrics (altmetrics) indicators. They include news in newspapers, posts in social media, mentions in patents, policy documents, online encyclopedias, blogs, websites, and more. The findings of this study fifteen years after its introduction to complement citation-based metrics for assessing research im-pact may further benefit education on communication of gradu-ate student and young faculty in the chemical sciences.

Introduction: The Web- and Android-based Telemedicine Platform (WATP) is a digital tool designed to facilitate remote medical consultation and data exchange through mobile devices. It addresses health care gaps in underserved rural regions, such as Ecuador, where access to specialized care is limited. This study validated the platform in the Ecuadorian context, focusing on its use in rural clinical settings and its potential integration into academic and health care institutions as a scalable solution for nationwide implementation. Materials and Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used, including technical, clinical, and educational validation. Technical validation involved 10 general practitioners and five specialists who evaluated task completion times, error rates, and user satisfaction. Clinical validation analyzed three teleconsultations, one pediatric and two dermatological, conducted between October 2022 and December 2023, with a focus on diagnostic precision and case clarity. The educational validation involved 17 final-year medical students, 2 faculty members, and 2 observers in a gynecology course in a simulation center to evaluate its impact on learning outcomes. Results: Technical validation demonstrated low error rates, high user satisfaction, and average task completion times of 5 min for general practitioners and 3 min for specialists. Clinical validation achieved 100% diagnostic accuracy through cross-validation with five independent specialists. Educational validation showed significant improvements in the students’ diagnostic skills and clinical case documentation abilities. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of WATP to improve health care access and enhance diagnostic skills among medical students, offering a scalable solution tailored to rural challenges in Ecuador.

Citrus flavonoids are highly bioactive compounds exerting numerous health benefits including anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, mitoprotective and neuroprotective activity. Research on their broad‐scope bioactivity experienced a renaissance in the early 2000s and further accelerated after COVID‐19, including research on their antimicrobial properties. Summarizing selected research achievements on the antimicrobial activity of the main Citrus flavonoids, this study aims to provide a unified picture on the antimicrobial properties of these valued compounds that will hopefully assist in the development of flavonoid‐based antimicrobials, including antibacterial treatments suitable for clinical use minimizing antimicrobial resistance.

Gastrointestinal cancer is a malignant condition of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) which affect multi-organs of digestive system, such as esophagus, stomach, biliary system, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Gastrointestinal cancer is a 5th most common malignant cancer and 4th major cause in cancer-related mortality rate. Various significant facilities are available that have reduced the radio-resistance, chemo-resistance, and their adverse side effects. However, there are serious side effects associated with chemical and radiations during the process. Baicalein is a natural flavonoid extracted from dried roots of Scutellaria baicalensis, showing anti-cancerous property. It is also participating in inhibiting metastasis, accelerating apoptosis and elevating autophagy through inhibition of inflammation and cell proliferation. In this review, we have focused on Chemistry and pharmacokinetics of Baicalein for drug designing and clinical applications majorly in gastrointestinal cancer. Moreover, various types of cancer related to gastrointestinal, role of nanotechnology, and its synergism for reducing cancer are also discussed. Thus, the review would be beneficial to explore the role of baicalein against gastrointestinal cancer treatment.

Citizen science is becoming very useful in surveying and monitoring biodiversity. Within the European Union LIFE medCLIFFS project, a network of volunteers has been established for the detection and long-term monitoring of invasive plant species that threaten the endemic flora of Mediterranean cliffs in north-eastern Spain. Through iNaturalist, volunteers record various data along a series of 1 km transects. Based on the ca. 700 observations collected by volunteers in 2023 (the first year of the project), a simple and visually-attractive methodology for assessing the recorded populations has been developed. This method classifies populations into one of three population dynamics categories: (1) propagative behavior (i.e., populations with seedlings or young plants but lacking senescent or dead individuals); (2) senescent behavior (i.e., showing senescent/dead plants but lacking seedlings/juveniles); and (3) a mixed behavior (i.e., containing both). This methodology, whose outputs are easily interpretable as heatmaps, allows the collection of large datasets on invasive plants by citizen scientists, with two main purposes: (1) knowing which species are most concerning based on simple, straightforward observations of their population dynamics; and (2) identifying which regions of the study area are more problematic and, thus, where management efforts should be directed.

Objective This study aimed to identify predictive factors for engagement with dental caries-related posts on Instagram. Methods Using CrowdTangle, 10,000 English-language posts were retrieved based on total interactions. From these, 2063 posts were evaluated using predetermined inclusion criteria, and a final sample of 500 posts was selected. Two independent investigators classified the posts according to dichotomized criteria: author profile (regular or commercial users), sentiment (positive or neutral/negative), motivation (financial or nonfinancial), format (link or photo), aim of content (prevention or treatment), and facticity (information or misinformation). Predictive factors for total interaction and overperforming scores were determined using multiple logistic regression models. Results Misinformation accounted for 44% of posts. Most posts were shared by regular users (67.8%), used a photo format (61%), and expressed a positive sentiment (73.8%). Prevention-related posts were significantly related to financial motivation, while treatment-related posts were linked to time of publication, neutral/negative sentiment, and photo format. Older posts were positively associated with misinformation (odds ratio (OR) = 1.45). Positive sentiment (OR = 1.71) and regular user profiles (OR = 1.93) were associated with higher total interactions. In contrast, business profiles (OR = 2.39) and posts with neutral/negative sentiment (OR = 1.79) were associated with overperforming scores. Conclusion Despite a significant amount of misinformation, only sentiment and author profiles were predictive factors for total interaction and overperforming scores in Instagram posts about dental caries.

Objective To determine the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in invasive cervical cancer samples from Ecuadorian women who attended the Cancer Institute (Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer – SOLCA). Methods Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cervical cancer tissue samples collected during 2017–2021 were deparaffinized, and nucleic acid extraction and purification was performed using silica columns. The obtained nucleic acids were analyzed using INNO-LiPA® HPV Genotyping Extra II per the manufacturer’s specifications. Data were retrieved from records, and HPV genotypes were determined from the FFPE samples. Results The study included samples from 190 women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, with a median age of 52.78 years. Squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 78.94% of the cases, while 21.05% had adenocarcinoma. Among the 190 samples, 80.53% tested positive for HPV DNA, while 19.47% were negative. The most common genotypes detected were HPV 16 (64.05%), 18 (16.99%), and 58 (6.54%). HPV infection frequency was higher in samples from patients with elementary level education (p < 0.05). Conclusions This study provides valuable insights into the distribution of HPV genotypes in invasive cervical cancer samples from Ecuadorian women. The results indicate an elevated presence of HPV 16, HPV 18, and HPV 58, which are vaccine-preventable genotypes.

Objectives: This study characterized toothache-related Portuguese Facebook posts, identifying factors driving misinformation production and user engagement. Methods: Investigators qualitatively analyzed 500 posts published between August 2018 and August 2022, screening on language and theme. Posts were selected using CrowdTangle and assessed for motivation, author profile, content, sentiment, facticity, and format. The interaction metrics (total interactions/overperforming scores) were compared between groups of dichotomized characteristics, including time of publication. Data were evaluated by descriptive analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, and the path analysis by generalized structural equation modeling. Results: 39.6% of posts (n = 198) contained misinformation, significantly linked to noncommercial posts with positive sentiment, links, and videos from regular users motivated by financial motivation. Additionally, user engagement was only positively associated with business/health authors' profiles and the time of publication. Conclusion: Toothache-related posts often contain misinformation, shared by regular users in links and video formats, tied to positive sentiments, and generally with financial motivation.

To determine the interests of Google users from different countries about pacifier-related information over time, through a quantitative and qualitative analysis. This infodemiology longitudinal retrospective ecological study investigated pacifier-related computational metadata from 22 countries using Google Trends platform. Initially, Relative Search Volume (RSV) time series data and their respective main queries were collected employing the topic “pacifier – subject” as the search strategy from January 2004 to June 2024, considering all categories. Data were then analyzed through seasonal decomposition to determine the trend, seasonal, and residual components of the collected time series using Python 3 programming libraries in a Google Collaboratory interface. Additionally, Mann–Kendall tests were performed to access the significance level of trends observed from the seasonal decomposition. Finally, the queries were qualitatively evaluated to identify the main subjects related to users’ interests. Statistical significance was determined with p values < 0.05. In general, RSV time series curves exhibited upward trends in all analyzed countries over the years, with significance levels demonstrated by the Mann–Kendall tests. Moreover, queries often centered around types of pacifiers, encompassing searches specifically for certain commercial brands. Some searches concerning newborn and baby care were also observed, particularly highlighting breastfeeding practices. Google users have shown an increasing interest in pacifier-related topics. These data can help understand the needs and concerns of parents and caregivers regarding pacifier use, ultimately supporting the development of effective educational strategies.

This research aims to adapt and validate the Project Implementation Profile (PIP) instrument for evaluating projects carried out in Latin America. Four hundred twenty professionals participated as leaders or team members in projects completed in 2020-2021. As the instrument was developed in English, a translation and retranslation procedure was used, in which professional and academic experts in project management participated, along with certified translators, for its adaptation to the Spanish-speaking population in Latin America. For the exploratory factor analysis, the unweighted least squares extraction method was selected, obtaining four critical success factors: Communication with the client, monitoring and planning, senior management, and technical capabilities, with Cronbach Alpha coefficients between .876 and 933. Subsequently, confirmatory factor analysis was applied, demonstrating that the instrument has convergent and discriminant validity and, consequently, can be used in academia for future research on project management and professionally to evaluate the performance of Ecuadorian projects, considering the limitation that the percentage of participation of projects from other Latin American countries in the study sample was 22%.

Demographic history and mutational load are of paramount importance for the adaptation of the endangered species. However, the effects of population evolutionary history and genetic load on the adaptive potential in endangered conifers remain unclear. Here, using population transcriptome sequencing, whole chloroplast genomes and mitochondrial DNA markers, combined with niche analysis, we determined the demographic history and mutational load for three threatened whitebark pines having different endangered statuses, Pinus bungeana , P. gerardiana and P. squamata . Demographic inference indicated that severe bottlenecks occurred in all three pines at different times, coinciding with periods of major climate and geological changes; in contrast, while P. bungeana experienced a recent population expansion, P. gerardiana and P. squamata maintained small population sizes after bottlenecking. Abundant homozygous‐derived variants accumulated in the three pines, particularly in P. squamata , while the species with most heterozygous variants was P. gerardiana . Abundant moderately and few highly deleterious variants accumulated in the pine species that have experienced the most severe demographic bottlenecks ( P. gerardiana and P. squamata ), most likely because of purging effects. Finally, niche modeling showed that the distribution of P. bungeana might experience a significant expansion in the future, and the species' identified genetic clusters are also supported by differences in the ecological niche. The integration of genomic, demographic and niche data has allowed us to prove that the three threatened pines have contrasting patterns of demographic history and mutational load, which may have important implications in their adaptive potential and thus are also key for informing conservation planning.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in the treatment of induced periodontitis in rats with experimental arthritis. Methods: Sixty rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups according to the type of treatment and the systemic condition of the animals: CTR-S: healthy animals in which saline solution (SS) was administered; ASU-S: healthy animals in which ASU (0.6 mg/kg) was administered; AR/ASU-S: animals with induced arthritis in which ASU was administered; AR-S: animals with induced arthritis in which SS was administered. Periodontitis was induced by ligatures, maintained for 15 days. Subsequently, the treatment was performed by scaling with hand instruments. The SS and ASU were administered daily by gavage until euthanasia of the animals that occurred at 7, 15 or 30 days after the scaling procedure (N.=5 animals/group). Bone resorption, inflammatory infiltrate composition, and osteoclastogenesis were assessed. Results: The AR-S group had greater bone loss, smaller amounts of fibroblasts and larger amounts of inflammatory cells than all other groups. In addition, the AR-S group had greater osteoclastogenesis in relation to the healthy animal groups. Conclusions: The use of ASU improved the healing pattern after treatment for experimental periodontitis in animals with arthritis reducing the periodontal bone loss.

The hemiparasitic tribe Cymbarieae (Orobanchaceae) plays a crucial role in elucidating the initial stage of the transition from autotrophism to heterotrophism. However, the complete chloroplast genome of the type genus Cymbaria has yet to be reported. In addition, the traditional Mongolian medicine Cymbaria daurica is frequently subjected to adulteration or substitution because of the minor morphological differences with Cymbaria mongolica. In this study, the complete chloroplast genomes of the two Cymbaria species were assembled and annotated, and those of other published 52 Orobanchaceae species were retrieved for comparative analyses. We found that the Cymbaria chloroplast genomes are characterized by pseudogenization or loss of stress‐relevant genes (ndh) and a unique rbcL–matK inversion. Unlike the high variability observed in holoparasites, Cymbaria and other hemiparasites exhibit high similarity to autotrophs in genome size, guanine–cytosine (GC) content, and intact genes. Notably, four pairs of specific DNA barcodes were developed and validated to distinguish the medicinal herb from its adulterants. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the genus Cymbaria and the Schwalbea–Siphonostegia clade are grouped into the tribe Cymbarieae, which forms a sister clade to the remaining Orobanchaceae parasitic lineages. Moreover, the diversification of monophyletic Cymbaria occurred during the late Miocene (6.72 Mya) in the Mongol–Chinese steppe region. Our findings provide valuable genetic resources for studying the phylogeny of Orobanchaceae and plant parasitism, and genetic tools to validate the authenticity of the traditional Mongolian medicine “Xinba.”

Tortula atrovirens (Sm.) Lindb. is an important component of biological soil crusts and possesses an extraordinary tolerance against desiccation in dryland habitats. However, knowledge of the organelle genome of this desiccation-tolerant (DT) moss is still lacking. Here, we assembled the first reported Tortula organelle genome and conducted a comprehensive analysis within the Pottiaceae family. T. atrovirens exhibited the second largest chloroplast genome (129,646 bp) within the Pottiaceae, whereas its mitogenome (105,877 bp) and those of other mosses were smaller in size compared to other land plants. The chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of T. atrovirens were characterized by the expansion of IR boundaries and the absence of homologous recombination-mediated by large repeats. A total of 57 RNA editing sites were detected through mapping RNA-seq data. Moreover, the gene content and order were highly conserved among the Pottiaceae organelle genomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that bryophytes are paraphyletic, with their three lineages (hornworts, mosses, and liverworts) and vascular plants forming successive sister clades. Timmiella anomala is clearly separated from the monophyletic Pottiaceae, and T. atrovirens is closely related to Syntrichia filaris within the Pottioideae. In addition, we detected four hypervariable regions for candidate-molecular markers. Our findings provide valuable insights into the organelle genomes of T. atrovirens and the evolutionary relationships within the Pottiaceae family, facilitating future discovery of DT genetic resources from bryophytes.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the engagement of Instagram users with Brazilian Portuguese posts related to amber necklaces for teething symptoms relief, identifying predictive factors that can increase users' engagement with information and misinformation. Methods: This digital study analysed Brazilian Portuguese amber necklace-related posts on Instagram. The posts were collected using specific search strategies on CrowdTangleTM. Subsequently, two independent investigators were trained and calibrated to categorise the posts concerning the proposed outcomes. The posts were categorised according to their facticity (information or misinformation), type of media (album/photo or video/Instagram TV), sentiment (positive, neutral, or negative), author's occupation (dentist or non-dentist), and type of profile (commercial or personal). Additionally, investigators compiled information about the time of publication (days) and interaction metrics (total interaction and overperforming score). The statistical analysis assessed the inter-examiner reliability, group comparisons, and the factors associated with interaction and misinformation. P values <0.05 were considered significant. Conclusion: Videos and personal profiles were predictive factors for higher user engagement with amber necklace posts on teething symptoms relief on Instagram, even with the warnings of health organisations and the lack of scientific evidence to confirm its efficacy.

Hepatic rupture is a rare complication of severe preeclampsia. A high index of suspicion is required in the presence of abdominal pain accompanied by hemodynamic decompensation in a pregnant woman. Hepatic rupture constitutes a medical emergency that demands immediate intervention, often with the support of other medical disciplines, in a highly specialized hospital setting. Unruptured hepatic hematomas can be managed conservatively. Immediate delivery and surgical repair of the liver are necessary for maternal survival. Spontaneous liver rupture in pregnancy is often unrecognized, highly lethal, and not completely understood with few cases having been reported in the literature. Therefore, we present two cases of HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) syndrome with hepatic rupture, emphasizing their clinical presentation and therapeutic approaches.

Relict subtropical coniferous forests in China face severe fragmentation, resulting in declining populations, and some are under significant threat from invasive alien species. Despite the crucial importance of understanding forest dynamics, knowledge gaps persist, particularly regarding the impact of invasive plants on vulnerable natives like Keteleeria evelyniana. In this study, we investigated the impact of invasive plants on the regeneration of forests dominated by K. evelyniana, a subtropical relict species in southwestern China. For this purpose, we characterized forest dynamics of 160 forest plots featuring K. evelyniana as the primary dominant species and determined whether the presence of invasive plants was correlated with regeneration of K. evelyniana. We identified four distinct forest types in which K. evelyniana was dominant. We found that radial growth of K. evelyniana trees is faster in younger age-classes today than it was for older trees at the same age. The population structure of K. evelyniana in each forest type exhibited a multimodal age-class distribution. However, three forest types lacked established saplings younger than 10 years old, a situation attributed to the dense coverage of the invasive alien Ageratinaadenophora. This invasive species resulted in a reduction of understory species diversity. Additionally, our analysis uncovered a significant negative correlation in phylogenetic relatedness (net relatedness index) between native and invasive alien plant species in eastern Yunnan. This suggests closely related invasive species face heightened competition, hindering successful invasion. Taken together, our findings indicate that successful establishment and habitat restoration of K. evelyniana seedling/saplings require effective measures to control invasive plants.

The herbarium Trèmols, preserved in the Botanical Institute of Barcelona (IBB), was created during the second half of the 19th century by the Catalan chemist and botanist Frederic Trèmols Borrell (Cadaqués 1831–1900). He was a member of important scientific institutions, including the Real Acadèmia de Ciències i Arts de Barcelona, the Societat Botànica Barcelonesa, the Société Botanique de France, and the Société Helvétique pour l’Échange des Plantes. The value of this herbarium lies in the large volume of specimens that it preserves (12,953) and the high percentage (61.9%) of material of foreign origin that it contains. The Trèmols herbarium was completely digitised in 2019 as part of a wider study that is aimed to classify, digitise, document, review, and, finally, make the IBB historical herbaria available to the scientific community. Herein, we provide a general overview of the almost 13,000 specimens of this collection, which can give valuable insight into the flora that existed more than 100 years ago.

The purpose of workplace public health programmes and regulations is to promote safety and health for the entire working population nationwide. Some countries limit the scope of such programmes to medium or big-sized companies, leaving out small and micro-enterprises, thus discriminating against many workers exposed to risks. This Viewpoint aims to identify inequalities in occupational health generated by the new Regulation for Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) in Ecuador. We showed how the regulation excludes all micro-enterprises and displayed the essential role of micro-enterprises in the business fabric and the Ecuadorian labour market. More than 93% of the registered companies are micro-enterprises and these include more than 25% of the employees in the formal economy. Integrating occupational health into the public health system will require deep analysis to improve protection for the working population.