Field study of parasitic contamination of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens in the Ecuadorian Andes.

Background: Raw vegetables have been considered vehicles of enteroparasites. South American countries are among the most important exporters of fresh vegetables, including Ecuador, which has a tropical climate and soils rich in organic matter that allow it to harvest throughout the year for sale to different countries. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of the parasitic contamination of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens grown in an agricultural area of the Ecuadorian Andes. Methods: A cross-sectional field study was conducted with snowball sampling on 1,416 samples (516 fruits, 488 vegetables, and 412 leafy greens). Each sample were washed with water, and the resulting solution after removing the vegetables, was subjected to 24-hour sedimentation. The concentrated sediment underwent microscopic analysis. Results: The overall positivity for parasitic contamination was 63.4%, with leafy greens having the highest contamination rate (76.9%) (P<0.0001), surpassing vegetables (67.8%) and fruits (48.4%). Cabbage (100%), onions (84%), and strawberries (60.2%) emerged as the most contaminated within their respective groups. Protozoa were more prevalent (49.6%) than helminths (15.5%) (P<0.0001). Blastocystis sp. (33.5%) ranked highest, followed by Eimeria spp. (26.3%), Entamoeba spp. (10.3%), Giardia spp. (8.3%), Balantidium spp. (6.9%), Cryptosporidium spp. (6.6%), Cyclospora spp. (4.4%), Cystoisospora spp. (0.5%), Strongylida (15.5%), and Ascaris spp. (0.4%). Conclusions: The study reveals that vegetables and fruits for human consumption from this area of the Ecuadorian Andes are highly contaminated with various parasites, constituting a possible source of infection for humans and animals in this area, or in non-endemic areas where these products are marketed. The finding emphasizes the need for strict hygienic measures in agricultural crops, which will be properly achieved through the treatment of soil, manure and water used for cultivation.

Papel de la atención psicopedagógica en el sistema educativo / Role of psychopedagogical care in the educational system

La educación es un proceso complejo en cualquiera de los niveles educativos. Los educandos pueden sentir distintas sensaciones como miedo, inseguridad, alegría, temor y ansiedad que condicionan la actitud y predisposición al régimen educativo. La adaptación al proceso se hace diferente en cada estudiante y depende de la capacidad propia de vencer, controlar o modificar los sentimientos que se generan. En ocasiones, es necesario la orientación profesional, como alternativa orientadora, para lograr una mejor adaptación de los estudiantes al medio que los rodea y que no se afecte su rendimiento académico ni su comportamiento social. La atención psicopedagógica se considera una herramienta metodológica de apoyo al sistema educativo, cuya importancia no es dimensionada correctamente en muchas ocasiones(AU)

Education is a complex process at any educational level. Learners can feel different sensations such as fear, insecurity, happiness, fear and anxiety that condition the attitude and predisposition to the educational system. Adaptation to the process is different for each student and depends on their own ability to overcome, control or modify the feelings that are generated. Sometimes professional guidance is necessary, as a guidance alternative, to achieve a better adaptation of students to the environment that surrounds them and that neither their academic performance nor their social behavior is affected. Psychopedagogical attention is considered a methodological tool to support the educational system, whose importance is not correctly dimensioned on many occasions(AU)

Comportamiento clínico epidemiológico de gestantes adolescentes con hipertensión arterial / Clinical epidemiological behavior of adolescent pregnant women with arterial hypertension

RESUMEN Fundamento: los trastornos hipertensivos son considerados como la principal causa de morbimortalidad materna y fetal a nivel mundial y en Ecuador. Objetivo: describir el comportamiento clínico epidemiológico de los trastornos hipertensivos de la gestación en adolescentes. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo que incluyó las 59 de gestantes adolescentes que presentaron preeclampsia o eclampsias atendidas en el contexto de la investigación durante el periodo comprendido entre mayo y diciembre de 2017. Se aplicó un cuestionario de investigación para obtener la información relacionada con las variables de investigación definidas. Resultados: promedio de edad de 16,32 años, predominio de gestantes con color de la piel no blanco y nulíparas. Elevado número de comorbilidades asociadas con predominio del sobrepeso e hipertensión arterial; predominio de pacientes que no habían recibido tratamiento preventivo con calcio y aspirina. La cefalea y el edema en miembros inferiores fueron las complicaciones maternas más frecuentes. El sufrimiento fetal, el crecimiento intrauterino retardado y la prematuridad fueron las complicaciones fetales con mayor frecuencia de presentación. Conclusiones: el patrón clínico y epidemiológico de las adolescentes con preeclampsia y eclampsia coincide con lo reportado en la literatura universal. Se evidencian falencias en el programa de control de riesgo preconcepcional y en la calidad del seguimiento de las gestantes que motiva un aumento de la incidencia de eclampsia y preeclampsia.

ABSTRACT Background: hypertensive disorders are considered as the main cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide and in Ecuador. Objective: to describe the epidemiological clinical behavior of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in adolescents. Methods: a descriptive study was carried out which included the 59 of pregnant teenagers who presented preeclampsia and/or eclampsia attended in the context of the research during the period from May to December 2017. A research questionnaire was applied to obtain information related to the variables of defined research. Results: average age of 16.32 years, predominance of pregnant women with non-white skin color and nulliparous. High number of comorbidities associated with a predominance of overweight and arterial hypertension; predominance of patients who had not received preventive treatment with calcium and aspirin. Headache and edema in the lower limbs were the most frequent maternal complications. Fetal distress, delayed intrauterine growth and prematurity were the fetal complications with the highest frequency of presentation. Conclusions: the clinical and epidemiological pattern of adolescents with preeclampsia and eclampsia coincides with that reported in the universal literature. Failures are evident in the preconception risk control program and in the quality of the follow-up of pregnant women that motivates an increase in the incidence of eclampsia and preeclampsia.

Dimensiones de calidad de vida afectadas en pacientes diabéticos / Quality of Life Dimensions Affected in Diabetic Patients

Introducción: La diabetes mellitus, segunda causa de mortalidad a nivel mundial, es una enfermedad crónica con elevada incidencia en adultos. La calidad de vida puede verse modificada con la sintomatología que afecta el estado de salud del paciente. Objetivo: Describir las dimensiones de calidad de vida afectadas en pacientes adultos y adultos mayores diabéticos. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, transversal en unidades operativas del Distrito de Salud Chambo-Riobamba, Ecuador, desde noviembre 2017 a enero 2018. Universo de 138 pacientes con diabetes mellitus. Se realizó un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, la muestra quedó constituida por 101 pacientes. Para obtener los datos se empleó la escala de calidad de vida y satisfacción en pacientes. Resultados: Predominó el sexo femenino en edades de 50 a 79 años (76,20 por ciento), religión católica (79,20 por ciento), casados (62,37 por ciento) y nivel de instrucción básica (60,39 por ciento). La hipertensión arterial, la artritis y los problemas de visión conformaron las características clínicas con mayor incidencia. Entre las dimensiones de calidad de vida frecuentemente afectadas se reportaron los cambios en su apariencia y las limitaciones para desarrollar actividades físicas. Conclusiones: Los cambios en su vida personal, la capacidad individual para adaptarse a la enfermedad, las limitaciones para el desarrollo de las actividades diarias, el descanso y los problemas económicos, se encuentran entre las dimensiones de calidad de vida más afectadas, las que generan en el enfermo dificultades para el mantenimiento de su salud(AU)

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus, the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, is a chronic disease with a high incidence in adults. The quality of life can be modified with the symptoms that affect the patient's state of health. Objective: To describe the dimensions of quality of life that are affected in diabetic adult and elderly patients. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with operational units of the Chambo-Riobamba Health District, Ecuador, from November 2017 to January 2018. The study group was made up of 138 patients with diabetes mellitus. A non-probabilistic sampling was carried out for convenience, and the sample finally consisted of 101 patients. To obtain the data, the scale of quality of life and satisfaction in patients was used. Results: There was a predominance of the female sex prevailed at ages 50 to 79 (76.20 percent), together with the Catholic religion (79.20 percent), married as a status (62.37 percent), and basic education level (60.39 percent). Hypertension, arthritis and vision problems formed the clinical features with the highest incidence. Among the dimensions of quality of life frequently affected, changes in their appearance and limitations to develop physical activities were reported. Conclusions: Changes in personal life, the individual capacity to adapt to the disease, limitations for the development of daily activities, rest, and economic problems are among the most affected dimensions of quality of life, which generate difficulties for the patients' maintaining their health(AU)