A comparative analysis of lung function and spirometry parameters in genotype-controlled natives living at low and high altitude.

BACKGROUND: The reference values for lung function are associated to anatomical and lung morphology parameters, but anthropometry it is not the only influencing factor: altitude and genetics are two important agents affecting respiratory physiology. Altitude and its influence on respiratory function has been studied independently of genetics, considering early and long-term acclimatization. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate lung function through a spirometry study in autochthonous Kichwas permanently living at low and high-altitude. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study of spirometry differences between genetically matched lowland Kichwas from Limoncocha (230 m) at Amazonian basin and high-altitude Kichwas from Oyacachi (3180 m) in Andean highlands. The sample size estimates permitted to recruited 118 patients (40 men and 78 women) from Limoncocha and 95 (39 men and 56 women) from Oyacachi. Chi-square method was used to analyze association or independence of categorical variables, while Student's t test was applied to comparison of means within quantitative variables. ANOVA, or in the case that the variables didn't meet the criteria of normality, Kruskal Wallis test were used to compare more than two groups. RESULTS: The FVC and the FEV1 were significantly greater among highlanders than lowlanders (p value < 0.001), with a proportion difference of 15.2% for men and 8.5% for women. The FEV1/FVC was significantly higher among lowlanders than highlanders for men and women. A restrictive pattern was found in 12.9% of the participants. CONCLUSION: Residents of Oyacachi had greater FVC and FEV1 than their peers from Limoncocha, a finding physiologically plausible according to published literature. Lung size and greater ventilatory capacities could be an adaptive mechanism developed by the highlander in response to hypoxia. Our results support the fact that this difference in FVC and FEV1 is a compensatory mechanism towards lower barometric and alveolar partial pressure of oxygen pressure.

'Desculturización,' urbanization, and nutrition transition among urban Kichwas Indigenous communities residing in the Andes highlands of Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: The nutrition transition continues to affect populations throughout the world. The added impact of market integration and urbanization exacerbates the impact of the nutrition transition upon Indigenous populations worldwide. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the nutritional concerns of the urban Kichwas community residing in the Andes highlands of Ecuador. STUDY DESIGN: This is a qualitative study. METHODS: Eight focus groups were conducted with Kichwas men and women in November 2015 in the Imbabura province of the Andes in Ecuador. DATA ANALYSIS: Applied thematic analysis was used to analyze findings regarding nutrition. RESULTS: The participants shared concerns regarding increased intake of fast food, poor meal timing, and a shift in the child's food preferences that rejects traditional foods. They attributed these concerns to urbanization resulting from an increase in dual-income households and a loss of cultural identity. CONCLUSIONS: Synergistic cultural factors are related to nutritional concerns voiced by the urban Kichwas community. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: Syndemic theory is a useful interpretive lens regarding nutritional trends within the Kichwas communities as they relate to the increased risk of chronic disease.

A Y-chromosomal survey of Ecuador's multi-ethnic population reveals new insights into the tri-partite population structure and supports an early Holocene age of the rare Native American founder lineage C3-MPB373.

Ecuador is a multiethnic and pluricultural country with a complex history defined by migration and admixture processes. The present study aims to increase our knowledge on the Ecuadorian Native Amerindian groups and the unique South American Y-chromosome haplogroup C3-MPB373 through the analysis of up to 23 Y-chromosome STRs (Y-STRs) and several Y-SNPs in a sample of 527 Ecuadorians from 7 distinct populations and geographic areas, including Kichwa and non-Kichwa Native Amerindians, Mestizos and Afro-Ecuadorians. Our results reveal the presence of C3-MPB373 both in the Amazonian lowland Kichwa with frequencies up to 28 % and, for the first time, in notable proportions in Kichwa populations from the Ecuadorian highlands. The substantially higher frequencies of C3-MPB373 in the Amazonian lowlands found in Kichwa and Waorani individuals suggest a founder effect in that area. Notably, estimates for the time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) in the range of 7.2-9.0 kya point to an ancient origin of the haplogroup and suggest an early Holocene expansion of C3-MPB373 into South America. Finally, the pairwise genetic distances (RST) separate the Kichwa Salasaka from all the other Native Amerindian and Ecuadorian groups, indicating a so far hidden diversity among the Kichwa-speaking populations and suggesting a more southern origin of this population. In sum, our study provides a more in-depth knowledge of the male genetic structure of the multiethnic Ecuadorian population, as well as a valuable reference dataset for forensic use.

Violencia de género contra mujeres indígenas del área rural del cantón tena, año 2021 / Gender-based violence against indigenous women in the rural area of the tena Canton, year 2021

El Ecuador es un estado laico, pluricultural y multiétnico, la población indígena está representada por el 27% de la población ecuatoriana. Las mujeres indígenas, se enfrentan a diversos tipos de violencia en su vida cotidiana, la cual representa una violación de derechos humanos, civiles, políticos, justicia y vivir una vida libre de violencia. Objetivo: Analizar los factores que inciden en la violencia de género contra las mujeres indígenas del área rural del Cantón Tena. Metodología: Es un estudio con enfoque cuali-cuantitativo, en la parte cualitativa se utilizó un diseño bibliográfico documental- analítico y en la parte cualitativa se realizó a través de un enfoque fenomenológico analítico. Para la parte cuantitativa se aplicó un instrumento de recolección cuantitativa validado, mientras tanto, la parte cualitativa se aplicó un cuestionario semi estructurado bajo la técnica de la entrevista. Los datos obtenidos de la encuesta fueron codificados y procesados en el programa spss2.0. Resultados: Se evidenció que los factores sociodemográficos representaron una relación directa con la alta incidencia de violencia contra las mujeres indígenas del cantón Tena. Los datos de la prueba piloto a 30 encuestadas, período agosto- septiembre 2021, fueron: la edad 20-45 años (87,67%); estado civil unión libre (63.33%); grado de instrucción secundaria (76,67%); ocupación ama de casa (100%); procedencia rural (100%), el tipo de violencia recibida la violencia psicológica (86,67%), física (56,67%), sexual (33,33%). Conclusiones: Se identificó que la totalidad de mujeres indígenas del área rural del cantón Tena recibieron violencia por parte de sus familiares, amigos y parejas y tenían un nivel educativo bajo y pobres(AU)

Ecuador is a secular, multicultural and multi-ethnic state, the indigenous population is represented by 27% of the Ecuadorian population. Indigenous women face various types of violence in their daily life, which represents a violation of human, civil, and political rights, justice and to live a life free of violence. Objective: To analyze the factors that influence gender violence against indigenous women in the rural area of Cantón Tena. Methodology: It is a study with a qualitative-quantitative approach, in the qualitative part a documentary-analytical bibliographic design was used and in the qualitative part it was carried out through an analytical phenomenological approach. For the quantitative part, a validated quantitative collection instrument was applied, meanwhile, the qualitative part was applied a semi-structured questionnaire under the interview technique. The data obtained from the survey were coded and processed in the spss2.0 program. Results: It was evidenced that sociodemographic factors represented a direct relationship with the high incidence of violence against indigenous women in the Tena Canton. The data from the pilot test on 30 respondents, period August-September 2021, were: age 20-45 years (87.67%); free union marital status (63.33%); grade of secondary education (76.67%); housewife occupation (100%); rural origin (100%), the type of violence received: psychological (86.67%), physical (56.67%), sexual (33.33%) violence. Conclusions: It was identified that all indigenous women in the rural area of the Tena canton received violence from their relatives, friends and partners and had a low and poor educational level(AU)