Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y Bienestar Humano
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Item type:Publication, CBCT-guided Caldwell–Luc management of a dentigerous cyst associated with an ectopic maxillary third molar in the maxillary sinus: a case report(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-08-04) - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Reconstructing severe acute respiratory infection dynamics from ICD-10 hospital discharge data: a 10-year analysis of 11.2 million discharges in Ecuador, 2014–2023(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-07-22); ; ; - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Artificial intelligence in physical examination teaching in Latin America: a critical narrative review and conceptual model proposal(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-04-13); - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Perception, knowledge and attitudes of Ecuadorian dentists towards patients with molar incisor hypomineralization(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-06-08); ; ; Ribadeneira-Morales, JenniferBackground – Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) is one of the most prevalent enamel development defects in contemporary dental practice. Understanding perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes of professionals towards this condition is key to optimizing clinical protocols and improving therapeutic results. Objective – To evaluate the perception, knowledge and attitudes of Ecuadorian dentists about diagnosis and management of patients with MIH. Methods – A cross-sectional observational study was carried out using a self-administered survey of registered dentists in Ecuador. A validated 19-question questionnaire was applied that explored demographic characteristics, knowledge of etiology and prevalence, attitudes towards clinical management, and therapeutic choices. In addition, two clinical cases with photographic support were included to evaluate treatment decisions. The statistical analysis incorporated descriptive statistics, chi-square or Fisher's exact tests, and multivariate logistic regression models. Results – A total of 352 dentists participated, predominantly working in private practice (71.9%), particularly in general dentistry (61.1%). Most practitioners reported observing MIH monthly (45.7%) and perceived an increase in its occurrence (67.0%). Demarcated opacities were the most frequent clinical manifestation (93.2%), with antibiotics being the main reported etiological factor (31.8%). The frequency of observation varied significantly between specialties (p < 0.05). Management was considered difficult, with durability of restorations being the main concern. Glass ionomer (37.5–71.4%) was the primary therapeutic choice, followed by fluoride varnish (22.6–37.5%). In the multivariate logistic regression model, professionals with 6–10 years of experience showed significantly higher odds of adequate knowledge (adjusted OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.14–4.37, p = 0.019). No independent predictors of favorable attitude towards MIH management reached statistical significance after multivariate adjustment. Conclusions – MIH is recognized as a growing and complex problem. It is frequently observed with demarcated opacities as the predominant sign and antibiotics as the main etiological factor. Its management is challenging, and professional experience appears to influence clinical knowledge. Continuing education and the development of standardized clinical protocols are needed to strengthen professional competence in MIH management. © 2026 Armas-Vega, Parise-Vasco, Angamarca-Iguago, Cagua-Ordoñez, Reytor-González, Ribadeneira-Morales, Rösing, Noal and Simancas-Racines. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Bullying and cyberbullying victimization and associated mental health and behavioral risks among adolescents in Ecuador(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-04-28); Massuht, FresiaIntroduction Bullying remains a major public health concern among adolescents and is associated with adverse mental health and behavioral outcomes. Evidence from low- and middle-income countries, including Ecuador, remains limited. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Ecuadorian version of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Associations between school bullying, cyberbullying, and emotional distress (sadness), suicidal behaviors (ideation, planning, attempts), and risk behaviors (alcohol use, marijuana use, and school fights) were assessed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) and relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results Among 300 adolescents, 10.0.3% reported school bullying and 16.0% reported cyberbullying. Bullying victimization was associated with higher odds of sadness (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.50–7.35), suicidal ideation (OR 431, 1.99–9.0.32), suicidal planning (OR 5.45, 2.51–1183), and suicide attempts (OR 5.43, 2.39–12.36). Cyberbullying was strongly associated with alcohol consumption (RR 5.33, 95% CI 2.47–11.46) and marijuana use (RR 7.20, 1.86–27.92). Discussion Bullying and cyberbullying are strongly associated with emotional distress, suicidal behaviors, and substance use among adolescents in Ecuador. These findings underscore the urgent need for school-based prevention strategies and integrated public health interventions targeting adolescent mental health. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Neck Disability Among University Employees: A Cross-Sectional Study(MDPI AG, 2026-09-01) - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Distinguishing Isolated From Familial Microtia: Demographic, Clinical, and Anatomical Insights From Ecuador(SAGE Publications, 2026-06-29); - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Promise, Mimicry, and Surveillance: Responsibly Integrating Artificial Intelligence With Socratic Inquiry in Medical EducationLarge language models are increasingly proposed as a way to deliver Socratic dialogue at scale in medical education, offering personalized, always-available, and lower-stakes inquiry that human educators cannot logistically provide. In this viewpoint, I argue that this promise is plausible but unproven and that 2 failure modes deserve more attention than they currently receive. The first is the mimicry trap: a system that fluently generates Socratic-sounding questions can appear to cultivate reasoning while functioning as interactive content delivery. I position this as an educational instance of the ELIZA effect and of the proxy-outcome problem; separating conversational mimicry from genuine metacognitive gain remains a central unresolved evaluation problem. The second is what I term the Panopticon Paradox: the data collection that makes AI tutoring effective may erode the psychological safety that Socratic inquiry requires, pushing learners toward performative rather than authentic engagement, in a manner analogous to gaming behaviors documented in intelligent tutoring systems. I present this second construct as a testable causal model with specified mediators, moderators, and falsifiable predictions rather than as an established finding. Because the evidence base is dominated by proof-of-concept tools, cross-sectional surveys, and short-term evaluations, I argue that AI is complementary rather than a replacement technology, and I propose a 3-pillar framework (governance, curriculum, and faculty development) tied explicitly to the 2 failure modes. I distinguish 4 modalities of delegation and argue that ethical deliberation, emotionally complex communication, and ambiguous clinical judgment cannot presently be recommended for autonomous or primary AI delivery. © 2026 JMIR Publications Inc.. All rights reserved. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Paradoxes of Elimination and Persistence: Neglected Tropical Diseases in Ecuador Compared to Latin America and the CaribbeanObjective To describe, from a comparative Latin American perspective, the progress and gaps in the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ecuador, integrating recent data on arboviruses, American trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and structural determinants such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Methods A narrative review with a descriptive comparison of secondary data based on secondary sources published between 2015 and 2026. Sources were identified through structured searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, the PAHO Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (IRIS), the WHO Global Health Library, and the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) data portal, supplemented by targeted retrieval of official technical reports from WHO, PAHO, UNICEF, and Ecuador’s Ministry of Public Health. Comparative indicators were constructed between Ecuador and the Region of the Americas or Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) for: (a) burden and elimination of selected NTDs; (b) recent dengue dynamics; and (c) WASH service coverage. A synthetic two‐panel table with key indicators was prepared, and an interpretive narrative analysis was conducted. Results Globally, NTD and malaria prevalence decreased 58% between 1990 and 2021, but the reduction in disability‐adjusted life years was only 18%, with a disproportionate burden still in low‐ and middle‐income regions. In the Americas, Ecuador was the second country to certify onchocerciasis elimination in 2014, following intensive mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns with ivermectin, with posttreatment surveillance confirming absence of transmission. The Region recorded a record dengue outbreak in 2024 with over 12.6 million suspected cases and more than 7700 deaths, concentrated in four large Latin American countries; through epidemiological Week 21 of 2025, more than 3 million cases had been reported, of which 23,623 corresponded to Ecuador. In 2020, 75% of the LAC population used safely managed drinking water and 34% used safely managed sanitation; nevertheless, 17 million people still lacked access to even basic water services and 72 million lacked basic sanitation. In Ecuador, basic drinking water‐service coverage reached 95.7% in 2022, but only 41.6% used safely managed sanitation, and in rural areas, substantial proportions of unimproved water sources, surface water use, and open defecation persist. According to GBD 2023 data, the age‐standardized DALY rate for NTDs and malaria combined was 193.8 per 100,000 in Ecuador (95% UI: 139.4–267.6), substantially lower than Bolivia (388.9) and Brazil (313.3). Conclusions Ecuador illustrates a regional paradox that is primarily institutional and programmatic rather than biological. Vertical programs endowed with a dedicated external initiative, a donated single‐dose drug, a verifiable elimination endpoint, and long‐term technical accompaniment—as in onchocerciasis—can interrupt transmission of a historical NTD, whereas the persistence of structural determinants—poverty, precarious urbanization, and WASH gaps—sustains the burden of other NTDs and arboviruses. PAHO’s Communicable Disease Elimination Initiative offers an opportunity to articulate elimination goals with rural water and sanitation policies, entomological surveillance, and intercultural territorial approaches. Sustained investments in WASH, integrated surveillance, and strengthened primary care are required to transform punctual elimination achievements into structural health equity gains. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Local thermal anomalies and the altitudinal rise of dengue hospitalisation rates in Ecuador, 2011–2024: a national ecological study(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-09-08); ; ; Introduction Dengue is expanding beyond its traditional lowland range as rising temperatures may enable Aedes aegypti establishment at progressively higher altitudes. Ecuador, spanning sea level to above 4500 m, offers a natural altitudinal experiment, yet hospital-based evidence on the thermal drivers of Andean dengue is lacking. Methods We conducted a national ecological time-series analysis at the canton level using Ecuador's hospital discharge registry (INEC) for 2011–2024, the period with standardised canton coding, identifying dengue hospitalisations by ICD-10 codes A90, A91 and A97. Monthly land surface temperature, precipitation and vegetation index were derived from MODIS and GPM products. A distributed lag non-linear model estimated the temperature–hospitalisation association; a quasi-Poisson model restricted to Andean cantons (≥1500 m), with canton, calendar-month and year fixed effects, tested whether thermal anomalies above each canton's 2007–2015 baseline were associated with hospitalisation rates. Results Among 74,601 dengue hospitalisations with a resolvable canton of residence (232 deaths; case fatality 0.31%), dengue was recorded in 68 cantons above 1500 m, including altitudes exceeding 3000 m. The national hospitalisation rate rose from 29.7 to 77.0 per 100,000 and the Andean rate approximately 7-fold (1.9 to 12.8). The minimum hospitalisation temperature was 18.4°C nationally and 18.9°C in Andean cantons. A +1°C anomaly versus zero was associated with a 1.07-fold increase in hospitalisation rates (95% CI 1.02–1.13; p = 0.012). Without canton fixed effects, the same contrast yielded 1.21 (1.07–1.36); the within-canton association fell to 1.04 (1.00–1.08) when the 2024 epidemic year was excluded. Discussion Positive deviations from local historical baselines, rather than absolute temperature, were associated with rising dengue hospitalisation rates among Andean residents, by a modest margin that depends materially on the 2023–2024 epidemic. In-hospital case fatality was nearly twice as high in low Andean cantons (0.62%, 95% CI 0.20–1.45; five deaths) as on the coast (0.33%), a non-significant difference that nonetheless supports strengthening dengue recognition in highland facilities.