Fetal brain ultrasound measures and maternal nutrition: A feasibility study in Ecuador.

OBJECTIVE: Nutrition during pregnancy is an important modifiable determinant of fetal growth and development. This pilot study aimed to characterize the association between fetal anthropometry, fetal brain development, and maternal diet among women in Ecuador using portable ultrasound in resource-limited clinics, including measurements of brain structures not typically imaged in this setting. METHODS: Pregnant women (n = 47) from four resource-limited health centers were surveyed on demographic, socioeconomic, morbidity, and dietary information. Maternal height, weight, and blood pressure were taken. A sonographer took 15 images per participant, including those standardly assessed during the fetal survey and additional brain structures identified as potentially responsive to maternal nutrition, but not part of the standard fetal survey. RESULTS: Mean percentiles for all standard fetal survey measurements generated from WHO Fetal Growth Curves fell below 50%, and negative mean Z scores were found for biparietal diameter (-0.95 ± 1.11) and femur length (-0.22 ± 1.10). Generalized linear modeling adjusting for gestational age and other covariates showed frequency of seafood consumption was positively associated with fetal biparietal diameter Z score (P = 0.005), beans and legumes positively associated with femur length (P = 0.006), and a negative association was found for soda consumption and fetal head circumference (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of capturing images of nutrition-relevant fetal brain structures not part of the standard fetal survey in resource-limited settings using portable ultrasound. Our study revealed associations between anthropometry, brain structure size, and maternal diet demonstrating potential for prenatal nutrition research using ultrasound in the field.

How to decrease teenage pregnancy: rural perspectives in Ecuador.

Introduction: This study aimed to understand the sociocultural context of teenage pregnancy in an Ecuadorian city with a large indigenous population, to gauge the acceptability of a multifaceted pregnancy prevention program for adolescents, and to elicit perspectives on the optimal program design from adolescents and adult key informants. Methods: We ascertained qualitative data via an online, electronic survey administered from August to September 2020. Open- and closed-ended questions elicited perspectives relating to burden of adolescent pregnancies, acceptability of pregnancy prevention programs, and optimal design of future programs. Twenty-four adolescents (13-19 years of age) and 15 adult key informants working in the healthcare, business, and education sectors in Cotacachi completed the survey. Survey responses were analyzed using a structural and in vivo coding, and an inductive approach to consensus-building around key themes. Results: Most adolescent survey respondents (75%) believed that teen pregnancy is "fairly common" in Cotacachi, and 41.7% believed differences in teen pregnancy rates are not associated with ethnicity. In comparison, 66.7% of adult survey respondents said teen pregnancy disproportionately occurs among indigenous teenagers. Additionally, 45.8% of adolescent and 80% of adult survey respondents believed that a comprehensive sexual education program would help reduce teenage pregnancy rates by imparting reliable sexual health knowledge. Adult respondents noted that the past programs were unsuccessful in preventing teenage pregnancy because of these programs' inability to fully engage teenagers' attention, very short time duration, or inappropriate consideration of cultural context. Discussion: In Cotacachi, Ecuador, a sexual health education program is both desired and feasible according to adult and teenager key informants. A successful program must adapt to the cultural context and engage youth participation and attention.

Risk Perception and Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Against COVID-19 in a Hypertensive Population From a Semi-Urban City of Ecuador.

Background: In an elderly population with hypertension, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with a higher incidence of mortality and a protracted course of clinical symptoms. Objective: To assess the perceived risk of infection and complications due to COVID-19 in people with hypertension living in a semi-urban city of Ecuador. Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey of adult outpatients with a previous diagnosis of hypertension in the semi-urban community of Conocoto in Quito, Ecuador was conducted from August to December 2020. Results: A total of 260 adult outpatients, aged 34-97 years, completed telephone surveys. Of total, 71.5% (n = 186) of respondents were women and 28.5% (n = 74) of respondents were men. Overall, 18.1% believe that their risk of infection is "very high," 55.4% believe that their risk of infection is "high," 21.5% believe that their risk of infection is "low," and 5% believe that their risk of infection is "very low." The perceived risk of complications, if infected by COVID-19, revealed that 21.9% believe that their risk of complication is "very high," 65.0% believe that their risk of complication is "high," 10.4% believe that their risk of complication is "low," and 2.7% believe that their risk of complication is "very low." Conclusion: Patients with hypertension are aware of the risks posed by COVID-19 infection and its impact on their health. However, the health system must educate the population on health practices and behaviors to avoid COVID-19 infection until the majority of the population of Ecuador can be vaccinated.

Social Integration and Community Health Participation of Elderly Men in Peri-Urban Ecuador.

Background: Social integration is an essential element to the maintenance of health and well-being in elderly populations. In the Cumbaya Valley of Quito, Ecuador, community health clinics sponsor social clubs for specific populations to address this important aspect of health. Men, who tend to be less socially integrated than women, are largely absent from these programs. Objective: This paper investigates the quality and extent of men's social integration in the Cumbaya Valley of Quito to understand why men are less likely to attend the community health center clubs and to develop ideas for increasing male participation, which may differ from current methods. Methods: A composite survey was used to interview 100 men over the age of 40 to collect data on their social health and information regarding their interaction with community health center clubs and other local social groups. Findings: Social integration scores were varied, with some men having high social scores and others having low scores. Men generally had greater access to affectionate and tangible support but lower access to emotional support and positive social interaction. Men spend far more social time with their families and much less with friends and neighbors. Regression analysis revealed that social scores have a relationship with age and education. Qualitative results suggest gendered expectations of men in the community have negatively impacted their willingness to engage in community health groups. Participants also provided suggestions, including specific sports, gardening, and meal distribution, to promote male participation. Conclusion: There is a strong need to increase services, strategies, and programs that address the lack of social integration experienced by men. This paper presents the particular role community clinics can play in increasing the social well-being of its male patients.

Breastfeeding practices and complementary feeding in Ecuador: implications for localized policy applications and promotion of breastfeeding: a pooled analysis.

BACKGROUND: Best practices in breastfeeding are often not followed despite appropriate levels of knowledge and positive attitudes regarding the benefits of human milk. For many reasons, some women do not initiate breastfeeding, suspend breastfeeding early, or initiate complementary feeding earlier than recommended. Usual measurement methods use large sample surveys at a national scale, which are not well suited for monitoring sub-national differences. METHODS: In order to understand how local infant feeding practices could influence policy and promotion practices, we apply data pooling methodology to analyse breastfeeding patterns in different Ecuadorian settings: Cumbayá parish, located near Quito, the Ecuadorian capital; the city of Macas and rural surroundings in the Amazon basin province of Morona Santiago; and the province of Galapagos. Surveys were conducted independently between August 2017 and August 2018; while they are representative of each respective setting, sampling designs and survey methods differ, but the same demographic information and data based on standard breastfeeding indicators established by the World Health Organization (WHO) were collected. In order to account for differences in the different settings, the design effect of each survey was considered in the analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in breastfeeding practices between the suburban Cumbayá parish near Quito and Galapagos on one hand, and urban and rural parts of Morona Santiago, on the other. The rates of early breastfeeding initiation and age-appropriate breastfeeding are significantly higher in urban and rural Morona Santiago then in Cumbayá or Galapagos, while the rate of exclusive breastfeeding is highest in rural parts of Morona Santiago. No significant differences were found in complementary feeding practices between Cumbayá and Galapagos, but there are with urban and rural Morona Santiago. Initiation of breastfeeding in the first hour after birth occurs in only 36.2% of cases in Cumbayá but in 75.4% of cases in urban Morona. CONCLUSIONS: Differences among regions reflect specific opportunities and barriers to practices related to promoting optimal infant health and nutrition. Consequently, regional or local conditions that often are not apparent in national-level data should orient policies and promotion activities in specific populations.

Exploring the Use of Technology for Sexual Health Risk-Reduction among Ecuadorean Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of sexual health knowledge and resource access among youth in Latin America, along with rising rates of teenage pregnancy and STD transmission. OBJECTIVE: To determine baseline sexual health knowledge and the acceptance of a technology based sexual health risk-reduction program among Ecuadorean adolescents. METHODS: We used mixed methods to determine the sexual health knowledge and practices, and technology use among 204 adolescents from two schools in Cumbayá and Lumbisí, Ecuador. Quantitative data was collected through surveys and qualitative through single-gender focus groups. FINDINGS: Nearly every participant (96.6%) expressed interest in a sexual health education program using technology and social media. A majority of participants indicated that they consulted parents (58.3%) regarding sexual health questions. Only a few participants had access to physicians outside of appointments (3.9%), and most desired more sexual health information (87.3%). Although approximately one-quarter of participants were sexually active (27%), most lacked baseline knowledge regarding contraceptives and STDs. Facebook (91%) and WhatsApp (53%) were the most frequently used and requested social media for an educational program. Students indicated a strong desire to be involved in the design stages of a sexual health risk-reduction program, rather than use a pre-established program. CONCLUSIONS: There is strong interest in a technology based sexual health risk-reduction program through Facebook and WhatsApp, which could establish communication between health providers and Ecuadorian youth to disseminate health information and answer private inquiries. Findings from this study, the first of its kind among South American adolescents, introduces a novel idea: involving participants from initial design stages of a text-messaging health education program. Future studies should focus on engaging families as well as physicians' willingness to participate.Implications and Contributions: This paper is the first acceptability study of a technology based sexual health risk-reduction program among low-income South American adolescents. Findings enhance understanding of pregnancy and STD prevention interventions by demonstrating participants' desire for self-design and implementation, and highlight their importance through a lack of baseline adolescent sexual health knowledge.

GH and GHR signaling in human disease.

Along with its inherent properties in growth promotion, cell division and regeneration, growth hormone (GH) exerts a variety of miscellaneous and widespread actions on the human body after binding to its receptor (GHR). Indeed, GH influences the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins; shapes body composition, influences cardiovascular profile, quality of life, and induces other direct and indirect physiologic effects. Besides this salutary actions, GH and its derived peptide insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), main product of the GH/GHR interaction, have been implicated in the genesis of diseases such as cancer and insulin-resistant diabetes. The effects of these peptides are difficult to discern in healthy individuals but can be better evaluated in disease states in which their action in target tissues is abnormal. In consequence, we selected acromegaly and Laron syndrome due to GH receptor deficiency (GHRD) as models for excess and absence of GH action, and focused in the role of GH/GHR signaling in the genesis of cancer and diabetes. Considering that malignancy has been linked at epidemiological level to type 2 diabetes and high body mass index, suggesting that hyperinsulinemia is an independent contributor to cancer genesis and progression, we propose that the GH-derived IGF-I is also an independent influence for progression to neoplasia since its absence associates with less DNA damage, diminished mutagenesis and efficient apoptosis. Regarding development of type 2 diabetes, we support the notion that GH, by influencing insulin sensitivity via its counter-regulatory properties on carbohydrate metabolism, is an important contributor for development of this disease.

Análisis de la gestión de recursos humanos en los modelos de salud familiar, comunitaria e intercultural de los países andinos / Analysis of human resources management in family health, community and intercultural models in Andean countries

Introducción: Junto con destacar la importancia de contar con trabajadores sanitarios en cantidad y calidad suficientes, los Estados miembros del Organismo Andino de Salud - Convenio Hipólito Unanue (ORAS/CONHU), han impulsado iniciativas orientadas a generar y diseminar conocimiento sobre políticas, estrategias y modelos de gestión de recursos humanos. Objetivo: Analizar el componente de Gestión de Recursos Humanos de Salud, identificando los modelos aplicados y su contribución a la instalación de un sistema de salud basado en atención primaria. Diseño: Estudio cualitativo. Lugar: Ministerios de Salud de los países andinos. Participantes: Gestores de Recursos Humanos. Intervenciones: Diseño y aplicación de instrumento para el análisis cualitativo. Resultados: Los países han logrado avances en el desarrollo de los sistemas de gestión de recursos humanos de salud, reconociéndose que los problemas persistentes son la escasez e inadecuada distribución del personal, así como, perfiles profesionales de egreso que no se ajustan plenamente a las necesidades de salud derivadas del cambio epidemiológico y de un creciente compromiso por avanzar hacia el acceso y cobertura universales de salud. Conclusiones: Estrategias innovadoras de planificación, formación y gestión del desempeño, podrían contribuir a enfrentar los problemas de recursos humanos de salud, en un contexto adecuado de liderazgo y gobernanza.

Introduction: While stressing the importance of health workers in sufficient quantity and quality, the member states of the Andean Health Organization -Hipólito Unanue Agreement (ORAS / CONHU) have launched initiatives aimed at generating and disseminating knowledge on policies, strategies and models of human resource management. Objective: To analyze the component of Human Resources for Health Management, identifying models used and their contribution to the set up of a health system based on primary care. Design: Qualitative study. Location: Ministries of Health of the Andean countries. Participants: Managers of Human Resources. Interventions: Design and implementation of a tool for qualitative analysis. Results: Countries have made progress in developing systems for managing human resources for health. They acknowledge that persistent problems include staff shortage and maldistribution, as well as professional graduate profiles not fully meeting population health needs derived from epidemiological change and a growing commitment to universal health coverage. Conclusions: Innovative strategies for planning, training and performance management could help to address the problems of human resources for health in a proper context of leadership and governance.

Hipercalcemia recurrente en un paciente con sarcoidosis aguda / Recurrent Hypercalcemia in a patient with acute sarcoidosis

La sarcoidosis es una condición granulomatosa crónica, de causa desconocida y que se caracteriza histológicamente por la presencia de granulomas epitelioides no caseificantes que pueden aparecer en cualquier órgano del cuerpo humano. Esta patología puede ser aguda o subaguda y autolimitada o tomar un curso crónico, caracterizado por exacerbaciones y remisiones. La hipercalcemia se puede encontrar entre el 10 y el 20% de los pacientes con la enfermedad. La causa de esta reside en que los monocitos y macrófagos activados presentes en el granuloma sobreexpresan el receptor de la vitamina D y la enzima 25-hidroxivitamina D 1-α hidroxilasa de una manera resistente a la inhibiciσn normal por niveles elevados de calcio sérico. Esta actividad enzimática autónoma conlleva a una sobreproducción de calcitriol, que a su vez, incrementa la absorción intestinal del calcio de la dieta y la actividad de los osteoclastos con aumento en la reabsorción ósea y consecuentemente produciendo hipercalcemia. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 49 años de edad, raza negra, con parotidomegalia bilateral, múltiples adenopatías mediastinales, hipercalcemia severa recurrente y falla renal aguda en quien se documentó sarcoidosis como causa de sus síntomas.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology characterized by the presence of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas that can take place in every organ or system of the human body. This disease can be acute or sub acute and self limited in presentation or can have a chronic course characterized by exacerbations and remi-ssions. Hypercalcemia can be detected in 10 to 20 percent of the patients with the disease. It is caused by the over expression of vitamin D-receptor and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1-α hydroxilase enzyme in monocytes and activated macrophages within the granuloma in a way that is resistant to the natural inhibition driven by high serum calcium levels. This autonomous enzymatic activity leads to the overproduction of calcitriol which increase intestinal absorption of the calcium present in the diet and also increase the activity of osteoclast with consequent high bone turnover and hypercalcemia. In this report we present the case of a 49 years old man, black race, bilateral parotid gland enlar-gement, bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, severe recurrent hypercalcemia and acute renal failure in who sarcoidosis was documented as the cause of his symptoms.