Ciencias de la Salud
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Item DETERMINACIÓN DE UREA Y CREATININA SÉRICAS PRE Y POST HEMODIÁLISIS Y SU CORRELACIÓN CON EL ÍNDICE KT/V EN PACIENTES CON ENFERMEDAD RENAL CRÓNICA(2026-07-06) Unapucha Chicaiza, Kevin Alexander; Guangasig Toapanta, Víctor Hernán; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de Laboratorio ClínicoThe evaluation of dialysis effectiveness is a critical element and requires constant monitoring within the Ecuadorian healthcare system to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. This research assessed adequate hemodialysis by measuring serum urea and creatinine clearance and its correlation with the dialysis adequacy index (Kt/V). Methodologically, a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 86 patients undergoing standard renal replacement therapy. Pre- and post-dialysis blood samples were collected to quantify analytes using spectrophotometry. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using Spearman's Rho coefficient in SPSS software. The results showed a statistically significant reduction in the post-dialysis mean levels of both markers. A near-perfect positive correlation was observed between the percentage reduction in urea and the Kt/V factor (r_s = 0.997; p < 0.001), while the reduction in creatinine showed a moderate association (r_s = 0.384; p < 0.001) due to its slow kinetic signature. Therefore, it was shown that isolated creatinine clearance is not a symmetric predictor of adequacy, validating the need for synchronous and independent laboratory monitoring to prevent false negatives of dialysis sufficiency.Item ANÁLISIS INMUNOINFORMÁTICO Y DISEÑO IN SILICO DE PROTEÍNA MULTIEPITOPOS DEL VIRUS ZIKA PARA INMUNODIAGNÓSTICO DIFERENCIAL ESPECÍFICO EN ZONAS ENDÉMICAS(2026-07-06) Balseca Quishpe, Carmen Elena; Salazar Garcés, Luis Fabián; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de Laboratorio ClínicoThe Zika virus (ZIKV) poses a significant public health challenge due to its association with neurological and congenital complications, as well as the diagnostic difficulties arising from its co-circulation with other arboviruses such as Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Oropouche (OROV). This study, situated within the fields of immunology, biotechnology, and public health, aimed to design and validate *in silico* a multiepitope protein with potential for differential immunodiagnosis. To this end, a ZIKV nucleotide sequence (MF438286.1) was retrieved from the NCBI GenBank and translated using the BLASTx tool, yielding the corresponding amino acid sequence (ZIKA polyprotein ALL27019). Linear B-cell epitopes were predicted using ABCPred, and the construct was evaluated for antigenicity, allergenicity, toxicity, and structural quality using immunoinformatic tools. The result was a stable, 155-amino-acid multi-epitope construct that showed no toxicity or allergenicity. These findings support its potential as a scientific basis for future research aimed at developing differential immunodiagnostic methods for ZIKV.Item CARACTERIZACIÓN DE SALMONELLA SPP. Y SHIGELLA SPP. EN TRABAJADORES DEL GOBIERNO PROVINCIAL DE TUNGURAHUA(2026-07-02) Escobar Espinoza, María Belén; López Acuña, Mario Daniel; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de Laboratorio ClínicoThis study, entitled “Characterization of Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. in Workers of the Provincial Government of Tungurahua,” analyzed 60 fecal samples using microbiological isolation, bacterial identification, and antibiogram with the VITEK 2 automated system. The results showed a Salmonella spp. frequency of 6.67% (4/60), while no Shigella spp. isolates were detected (0%). Analysis of associated factors revealed a statistically significant relationship between the presence of Salmonella spp. and work performance in the livestock sector, as well as with direct and frequent contact with swine and cattle. The identification of Salmonella spp. in workers with frequent contact with livestock is a finding of public health relevance, as these animals can act as natural reservoirs. Continuous exposure to animals, manure, and contaminated surfaces, along with the inadequate use of personal protective equipment, increases the risk of intestinal colonization.Item CARACTERIZACIÓN DE ANTÍGENOS DEL SISTEMA RHESUS Y KELL EN CONCENTRADOS DE GLÓBULOS ROJOS DE LA HEMOTECA DEL HOSPITAL GENERAL AMBATO(2026-07-02) Chicaiza Tello, Daniela Alejandra; Pérez Laborde, Elena Johanna; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de Laboratorio ClínicoErythrocyte compatibility is a fundamental aspect of transfusion medicine. Exposure to foreign blood antigens can trigger clinically significant immunological responses When incompatibility exists between donor and recipient. The Rhesus (Rh) and Kell blood systems have greater clinical relevance after the ABO system due to the high immunogenic capacity of their antigens. The C, c, E, e antigens and the Kell antigen (K) are implicated in alloimmunization processes, post-transfusion hemolytic reactions, and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. This investigation aimed to evaluate the frequency of the Rhesus (C, c, E and €) and Kell (K) system antigens in leukoreduced red blood cell concentrates stored in the blood bank of Hospital General Ambato IESS. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach was used. A total of 125 blood components were analyzed using the gel microcolumn hemagglutination technique. The results were processed using descriptive statistics. The analysis showed a predominance ofblood group O, followed by groups A and B; within the Rh system, antigens D and e recorded the highest frequencies. Seven phenotypic profiles were identified, of which DCcEe, DCe and DCce were the most frequent, with greater representation in blood groups O and A, while antigen K showed a low frequency among the analyzed units. These findings allowed the evaluation of the antigenic and phenotypic frequency of the Rh and Kell systems in the studied population, reinforcing the importance of extended erythrocyte phenotyping for the selection of compatible blood components for patients with a higher risk of alloimmunization.Item PREVALENCIA Y FACTORES DE RIESGO ASOCIADOS A COCCIDIOS INTESTINALES EN UNA COMUNIDAD RURAL DE LA PROVINCIA DE COTOPAXI(2026-07-02) Bastidas Acosta, Alexander Israel; De la Torre Fiallos, Ana Verónica; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de Laboratorio ClínicoThis quantitative and cross-sectional research determined the prevalence of intestinal coccidia and associated risk factors in 83 adults from the rural community of Salache Barbapamba (Cotopaxi) through coproparasitological analyses including fresh stool exams, the Faust method, and Kinyoun staining. The results showed an overall enteroparasite prevalence of 99%, with a strong predominance of polyparasitism/ polyparasitosis in 80% of the cases. Specifically, a 23.2% prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was identified, an infection that showed a statistically significant relationship with the male sex (p=0.005) and the cleanliness of the dwelling (p=0.025), while age and water source showed no significant association. These findings demonstrate a high circulation of parasites exacerbated by poor socioenvironmental conditions, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and public health prevention measures to improve parasitic control in the studied population.Item EVALUACIÓN ANTIFÚNGICA Y ANTI BIOFILM DE ACEITES ESENCIALES EN CANDIDA ALBICANS ATCC 10231(2026-07-02) Acosta Acosta, Lissette Estefania; Proaño Pérez, María Elizabeth; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de Laboratorio ClínicoCandida albicans is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a critical priority pathogen, associated with high rates of in-hospital mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients. Its ability to form biofilms increases resistance to conventional antifungals by 100 to 1000 times, and the expression of genes such as HWP1 and SAP3 facilitate the adhesion, degradation, and maturation of these structures, severely limiting available therapeutic options. The objective was to evaluate the antifungal and antibiofilm activity of cinnamon and lemon verbena essential oils against Candida albicans ATCC 10231. A quantitative and experimental approach was used, employing well diffusion, MIC, MFC, crystal violet staining, and RT-PCR. Cinnamon showed an MIC of 1.56 mg/mL and lemon verbena of 3.12 mg/mL. The strain exhibited weak biofilm formation (OD=0.585). Lemon verbena inhibited up to 99.87% of the biofilm, and cinnamon reached 92.81%. Both oils completely suppressed HWP1 gene expression at 50 mg/mL. It is concluded that the evaluated essential oils possess antifungal and antibiofilm potential, constituting a natural alternative against Candida albicans infections.Item DISEÑO IN SILICO DE PROTEÍNA MULTIEPITOPOS ESPECÍFICA DE OROPOUCHE PARA INMUNODIAGNÓSTICO DIFERENCIAL EN ZONAS ENDÉMICAS(2026-07-02) Pilla Barroso, Annette Margarita; Salazar Garcés, Luis Fabián; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de Laboratorio ClínicoOropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging arbovirus of increasing public health concern in the Americas due to its geographic expansion, reemergence in several South American countries, and recent detection in Ecuador. Its clinical manifestations closely resemble those of other arboviral infections, including dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya, making differential diagnosis challenging and contributing to underreporting, particularly in endemic regions with limited access to specific diagnostic tools. In this context, the present study was conducted within the research field of biotechnology and immunoinformatics applied to infectious disease diagnosis. The objective of this study was to design and validate in silico a multiepitope protein specific to Oropouche virus with potential application in differential immunodiagnosis. A quantitative in silico experimental approach was employed using bioinformatics and immunoinformatics tools. The amino acid sequence of the OROV M-segment polyprotein (accession number UYI36405) was retrieved from the NCBI Protein database. Linear B-cell epitopes were predicted using ABCPred and subsequently filtered according to antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity criteria through VaxiJen v2.0, AllerTOP v2.1, and ToxinPred. The selected epitopes were assembled into a multiepitope construct, followed by structural modeling, computational validation, and codon optimization for heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The resulting construct contained six selected epitopes and exhibited favorable antigenicity, structural stability, non-toxic properties, and low similarity to other cocirculating arboviruses. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the proposal of a computationally designed OROV-specific multiepitope protein as a potential antigenic candidate for the future development of differential immunoassays, contributing to improved diagnosis and epidemiological surveillance of this emerging arboviral disease.Item RELACIÓN TSH-FT4 COMO HERRAMIENTA DIAGNÓSTICA PARA DETECCIÓN TEMPRANA DE ALTERACIONES TIROIDEAS EN NIÑOS CON DESNUTRICIÓN CRÓNICA DEL CS. GUANO.(2026-07-02) Pilco Colcha, Brithney Valeria; Ron Mora, Álvaro Sebastián; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de Laboratorio ClínicoThe most important public health problem continues to be chronic childhood malnutrition, due to its consequences on growth, neurological development, and metabolic function. Thyroid hormones are essential for the regulation of growth and energy homeostasis, and in this sense nutritional changes can significantly affect the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. The objective of this research was to analyze the relationship between nutritional status and thyroid function in children with chronic malnutrition at the Guano Type B Health Center. A quantitative study was carried out, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional and correlational design. The population was made up of children diagnosed with chronic malnutrition, in whom anthropometric variables were evaluated using the Z-score, and the corresponding hormonal parameters of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3). For statistical analysis, non-parametric tests were used, specifically the Spearman correlation test and the Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed that 50.7% of the participants showed some type of alteration in thyroid function. The most frequent finding was a biochemical profile compatible with overt hypothyroidism, with a prevalence of 33.3%. It was found that the Z-score was negatively correlated with TSH (p=-0.372; p=0.002) and positively with FT4 (p=0.364; p=0.002) and FT3 (p=0.337; p=0.005), suggesting that as nutritional status worsens, TSH Tises and free thyroid hormones decrease. Severely malnourished children also had significantly higher TSH concentrations and significantly lower FT4 and FT3 levels compared to moderately malnourished children (p<0.05). It is concluded that in children with chronic malnutrition there is a significant association between nutritional status and thyroid function. Worsening malnutrition is associated with progressive alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis that are evidenced by a compensatory increase in TSH and a decrease in FT4 and FT3. These findings highlight the importance of integrating endocrine evaluation into the comprehensive management ofchildren with chronic malnutrition, particularly in those with severe forms ofnutritional compromise.Item FUERZA DEL HALLUX VALGUS Y RELACIÓN CON EL DOLOR DE LA FASCIA PLANTAR EN BAILARINES DE DANZA FOLCLÓRICA(2026-07-01) Villarroel Sevilla, Karen Alejandra; Diaz Guevara, Patricio Hernán; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de FisioterapiaThis study analyzed the relationship between hallux valgus force and plantar fascia pain in folk dancers. The sample consisted of young people aged 15 to 17 who practice dance. A digital dynamometer was used to measure hallux valgus force, the VAS scale to assess plantar pain, and the ImageJ software to calculate the hallux valgus angle. The findings revealed that the average force between both feet was similar, at 67.14 ± 18.28 N for the right foot and 67.08 ± 11.75 N for the left foot. However, the right foot showed greater variability. Regarding plantar pain, the left foot presented mild discomfort, while the right foot presented moderate pain, reaching severe levels on some occasions. As for the hallux valgus angle, both feet showed mild deformities. When evaluating the relationship between the variables, no statistically significant relationship was found between hallux valgus strength and plantar fascia pain, indicating a virtually nonexistent correlation. This suggests that pain intensity was not directly linked to the measured strength, but rather may have depended on other functional and biomechanical factors related to the physical demands of folk dance.Item RELACIÓN ENTRE LA FLEXO-EXTENSIÓN DE CODO Y LA VELOCIDAD DE IMPACTO DE LA PELOTA DURANTE EL SAQUE EN TENISTAS(2026-07-01) Vásquez Sisalema, Diego Sebastián; Cantuña Vallejo, Paúl Fernando; Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Facultad de Ciencias de Salud / Carrera de FisioterapiaThis study analyzed the relationship between elbow flexion-extension and ball impact velocity during the serve in male tennis players. A quantitative approach was employed using a non-experimental, correlational, and cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 15 amateur and competitive tennis players, generating a total of 45 records from three serve attempts per participant. Through biomechanical analysis, elbow flexion and extension angles, as well as ball impact velocity, were assessed. After confirming data normality, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied. The results revealed a strong negative correlation between elbow flexion and ball impact velocity (r = -0.894; p < 0.05), and a strong positive correlation between elbow extension and velocity (r = 0.850; p < 0.05). It is concluded that elbow biomechanics significantly influence serve performance, and that proper technical execution is a relevant factor for optimizing athletic performance and contributing to injury prevention.