Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio

Preferred name

Main Affiliation

Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y Bienestar Humano

Quito

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Inflammasome–Interferon Convergence in Elite HIV Controllers and Autoimmune Diseases: A Critical Integrative Reflection
(MDPI AG, 2026-08-21)
Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
;
González, Paloma
;
Fors, Martha
;
Trujillo Lopez, Gisselle
Background: Elite HIV controllers exhibit persistent immune activation despite sustained viral suppression, a phenomenon that challenges the traditional view of immunological equilibrium. In parallel, autoimmune diseases are characterised by chronic inflammation driven by dysregulated immune responses. Objective: This study aimed to analyse the potential pathophysiological convergence between both conditions and to identify a shared inflammatory axis with possible translational implications. Methods: A critical narrative and integrative reflection was conducted using a purposive, concept-driven selection of evidence from PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. A total of 43 sources were included: 28 studies informing mechanistic findings (14 on elite HIV controllers and 14 on autoimmune diseases), 12 addressing modulatory strategies (pharmacological and lifestyle-based), and 3 providing contextual frameworks. Results: Both conditions demonstrate sustained activation of innate immunity, characterised by elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, type I interferons), increased inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., sCD14, IP-10), and activation of pathways such as NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB signalling. Collectively, these findings suggest convergence towards a potential shared inflammatory axis mediated by the inflammasome–interferon pathway, which may contribute to persistent systemic inflammation and tissue damage. Evidence from pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions suggests that components of this axis may be susceptible to modulation. Conclusions: The observed convergence supports a conceptual model of shared innate inflammatory activation across both conditions. Rather than implying a unified therapeutic approach, the findings suggest a framework of convergent modulation targeting the inflammasome–interferon axis. This hypothesis warrants further investigation to determine its clinical and translational relevance. © 2026 by the authors.
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Artificial intelligence in physical examination teaching in Latin America: a critical narrative review and conceptual model proposal
(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-04-13)
Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
;
González, Paloma
;
Fors, Martha
;
Trujillo Lopez, Gisselle
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping medical education, particularly in the teaching of physical examination and the development of clinical judgement in digitally mediated contexts. This study presents a critical narrative review examining the ethical, pedagogical, and humanistic implications of AI integration into physical examination training in Latin America. A structured search of literature published between 2018 and 2025 was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Google Scholar. Thirty-one peer-reviewed studies and three institutional documents met predefined relevance criteria and were analyzed through thematic synthesis. Four thematic domains emerged: (1) AI-assisted clinical simulation and automated feedback, (2) curricular integration and institutional implementation strategies, (3) governance and ethical supervision frameworks, and (4) emerging challenges related to digital literacy, technological dependence, and preservation of clinical judgement. Evidence suggests that AI enhances procedural precision and formative feedback; however, its educational value remains complementary and dependent on structured human-in-the-loop supervision. Based on these findings, the Modelo Educativo Digital basado en Inteligencia Artificial (or Medical Education with Artificial Intelligence) (MED-IA) conceptual model is proposed, framing clinical competence development across three interconnected levels: technical execution, experiential patient interaction, and reflective judgement. The model integrates technological mediation with ethical oversight and humanistic formation. These findings highlight the need for transparent governance frameworks, teacher digital literacy, and context-sensitive institutional policies to ensure responsible AI implementation in Latin American medical education. Copyright © 2026 Torres, González, Fors and Trujillo.
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Rethinking Tuberculosis Treatment Abandonment in Latin America: A Biopsychosocial Perspective and an Integrated Model for Continuity of Care
(MDPI AG, 2026-07-24)
Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
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González, Paloma
;
Fors, Martha
;
Trujillo Lopez, Gisselle
Background: Tuberculosis remains a major public health challenge in Latin America, where social inequalities, fragmented health systems, and barriers to care continue to undermine disease control. Although effective treatment is available, treatment abandonment and loss to follow-up remain persistent obstacles to successful outcomes. Methods: A structured critical analysis of the contemporary literature on tuberculosis treatment abandonment and retention in care was conducted using a narrative evidence synthesis approach. Forty scientific documents published between 2018 and 2026 were included. Of these, 23 Latin American studies informed the results synthesis, while 13 international studies supported the comparative critical reflection. Results: Findings were organised into five domains: social vulnerability, clinical complexity, health system barriers, priority populations, and protective factors and innovation. The evidence indicates that treatment abandonment is not an isolated individual behaviour, but a phenomenon associated with the convergence of social, clinical, and institutional determinants across the care trajectory. Poverty, migration, drug resistance, incarceration, weak follow-up systems, and fragmented care were repeatedly associated with discontinuity, whereas social support, active follow-up, digital tools, and economic measures were linked to improved adherence and retention in care. Conclusions: From a biopsychosocial perspective, treatment abandonment should be understood as a systemic and preventable failure across the tuberculosis care continuum. The proposed Latin American Integrated Model for Retention in Tuberculosis Care (MILERTB) offers an anticipatory, equity-oriented, and person-centred framework to strengthen retention in care and guide future implementation research. © 2026 by the authors.
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Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Prisons of Latin America and the Caribbean: A Critical Reflection on Structural Challenges and Gaps
(2026)
Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
;
Sánchez Redrobán, José
;
Trujillo Lopez, Gisselle
Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) represents a major public health threat, particularly in the prisons of Latin America and the Caribbean, where rates are up to 40 times higher than those observed in the general population. These facilities act as community amplifiers due to overcrowding, poor ventilation, diagnostic delays, and treatment discontinuity. This study offers a critical reflection on the magnitude, determinants, and implications of DR-TB in regional penitentiary contexts. A reflective analytical review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS, complemented by WHO and PAHO reports, prioritising studies from 2019 to 2024. The findings reveal MDR-TB and pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) outbreaks in Peru, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic, as well as community transmission linked to prisons in Brazil and Colombia. Persistent gaps remain in systematic screening, drug susceptibility testing coverage, and post-release follow-up. Scientific production continues to be uneven and predominantly biomedical, with limited consideration of social and human rights determinants. DR-TB in prisons reflects the structural deficiencies of health and justice systems; its control requires intersectoral policies, genomic surveillance, and strategies that ensure early diagnosis, treatment continuity, and dignified detention conditions. © 2026 by the authors.
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Altmetrics in the evaluation of scholarly impact: a systematic and critical literature review
(2025)
Paloma González
;
Martha Fors
;
Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
Altmetrics have emerged as a complementary tool to traditional citation-based metrics in the assessment of scholarly impact. Unlike traditional metrics that primarily capture academic citations over long periods, altmetrics reflect immediate online attention across platforms such as Twitter, blogs, news outlets, and Mendeley. This article critically examines whether altmetrics can serve as a substitute for traditional metrics by exploring their strengths, limitations, disciplinary variations, and correlation with conventional indicators. Through a review of recent empirical studies and theoretical debates, the article argues that while altmetrics offer valuable insights into social impact and engagement, they are not yet mature or standardized enough to fully replace traditional metrics. Instead, a hybrid model that integrates both systems may offer a more holistic and inclusive measure of research influence.
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Epidemiological trends of leishmaniasis in the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador (2015–2021): implications for public health surveillance
(Informa UK Limited, 2026-07-10)
Sánchez Redrobán, José
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Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
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Fors, Martha
;
Rueda, Washington
;
Sierra, Jacqueline
Leishmaniasis remains a significant public health challenge in Ecuador, yet subnational epidemiological data are scarce. This descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study characterizes leishmaniasis in the Metropolitan District of Quito from 2015 to 2021 using national epidemiological surveillance (VIEPI) data. We analyzed demographic, geographical, and clinical variables, alongside temporal patterns, for 460 confirmed cases. The study revealed a statistically significant male predominance (61.5%, $p < 0.001$) and higher incidence in rural areas (67.0%). The 20–49 years age group was most affected (42.4%), while pediatric cases (0–14 years) accounted for 25.1%, exceeding the regional average for the Americas and indicating peridomestic transmission. Cutaneous leishmaniasis predominated (97.2%) with no visceral cases reported. The hospitalization rate was low (4.1%) and no fatalities were recorded, suggesting clinically manageable disease with effective outpatient management. Linear regression analysis indicated a modest upward tendency, though substantial year-to-year variability suggests persistent transmission with fluctuating incidence rather than a strictly linear trend. In conclusion, leishmaniasis in Quito exhibits a defined epidemiological pattern. These results provide baseline evidence to inform targeted local public health strategies. Key limitations include reliance on passive surveillance data, which may underestimate the true burden, and the absence of molecular species characterization and environmental covariates. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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Integration of Information Technologies for Smart and Sustainable Management of Personal Protective Equipment Warehouses
(2026)
Álvarez Sánchez, Ana
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Suárez del Villar, Alexis
;
Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
The management of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) warehouses in sectors such as mining is crucial to ensuring safety and operational efficiency, although challenges persist in developing countries such as Ecuador due to a lack of automation and manual processes. This study aimed to analyze the impact of digitization through technologies such as barcode readers and inventory software on PPE logistics management in an Ecuadorian mining company. A mixed approach was used, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, with a descriptive cross-sectional design, collecting data through interviews, observation, and documentary records, and evaluating inventory accuracy, traceability, and automation before and after the intervention. The results showed an increase in inventory accuracy from 82% to 98.7% and traceability improved to nearly 95%, in addition to a 40% reduction in delivery and replenishment times and 15% operational savings (This percentage corresponds mainly to the reduction in costs associated with labor and logistics resources, not including the initial costs of implementing the software). Acceptance of the new system was high, with ratings above 4.5 for ease of use and error reduction. The main conclusion is that digitization in PPE warehouse management significantly optimizes logistics efficiency, improves traceability, and reduces occupational risks, demonstrating its viability and benefits in the Ecuadorian context. These findings support technological modernization in similar sectors and lay the groundwork for future research that delves deeper into indicators such as service quality, staff satisfaction, and budget efficiency, thereby contributing to strengthening occupational safety and operational sustainability in critical industries. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.
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Bullying and cyberbullying victimization and associated mental health and behavioral risks among adolescents in Ecuador
(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-04-28)
Fors, Martha
;
Gonzalez, Paloma
;
Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
;
Massuht, Fresia
Introduction 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.
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Face-to-face versus virtual education in biostatistics: a comparative study among medical students in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic
(2026)
Paloma González
;
Martha Fors
;
Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
Introduction: The abrupt shift from face-to-face to virtual teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic challenged universities worldwide. In this study, we examine how this transition affected learning outcomes and student experiences in a biostatistics course for medical students at the Universidad de Las Américas in Quito, Ecuador. Methods: We surveyed 57 students (34 face-to-face in 2019, 23 virtual in 2020–21) to explore perceptions of learning facilitation, teacher and peer interaction, and self-regulated learning. Additionally, we compared academic performance across modalities using statistical analysis. Results: We found that students taught in person reported significantly higher levels of instructor contact and peer collaboration (p ≤ 0.05), while no statistically significant difference emerged in final grades between modalities (face-to-face mean = 8.89 ± 0.89; virtual mean = 9.01 ± 0.56; p = 0.967). Conclusion: These findings suggest that although virtual instruction can achieve comparable academic outcomes, the student experience differs markedly and may favor in-person formats for interaction and collaboration. For medical education contexts, our results highlight the value of integrating robust instructional design and peer collaboration in online environments. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs and explore mixed-mode (blended) strategies to harness the strengths of both modalities. Copyright © 2026 González, Fors and Torres.
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Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio

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