Esteban Ortiz‐Prado
YOU?
Author Swipe
View article: Continental scale geographic analysis of hospital exposure to natural hazards in the Americas
Continental scale geographic analysis of hospital exposure to natural hazards in the Americas Open
Natural hazards-including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, landslides, and volcanic activity-pose substantial threats to healthcare systems in the Americas. This study aims to evaluate the exposure of primary, secondary, and tertiary hospi…
View article: Between illness and hunger: the food crisis affecting patients in Ecuador
Between illness and hunger: the food crisis affecting patients in Ecuador Open
View article: Challenges in the management of intracranial hypertension in pediatric patients with HIV: a case report
Challenges in the management of intracranial hypertension in pediatric patients with HIV: a case report Open
Introduction The HIV epidemic is often primarily associated with key populations at higher risk of transmission, which has led to an underestimation of its impact on the pediatric population. In children, the disease may go unnoticed due t…
View article: The non-traditional challenges of conducting science in developing countries: the case of Ecuador
The non-traditional challenges of conducting science in developing countries: the case of Ecuador Open
Scientific progress has been predominantly driven by countries in the Global North, which benefit from robust infrastructure, greater funding, and supportive research policies. In contrast, countries in the Global South continue to face su…
View article: Youth co-creation in health interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Youth co-creation in health interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis Open
Introduction Co-creation is an iterative, bidirectional collaboration between researchers and laypeople to create knowledge. Co-creation has increasingly been recognized as an effective strategy for developing youth (10-35 years old) healt…
View article: Smart greening initiatives for healthcare facilities: A caribbean case study on environmental sustainability and disaster resilience
Smart greening initiatives for healthcare facilities: A caribbean case study on environmental sustainability and disaster resilience Open
Background: The Smart Hospitals Program was implemented in seven Caribbean countries to enhance disaster resilience and environmental sustainability in small- to medium-sized healthcare facilities. The initiative focused on improving energ…
View article: A global health crisis in the making: the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization and its impact on global health equity
A global health crisis in the making: the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization and its impact on global health equity Open
The USA initiated their year-long withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2025, citing financial and governance concerns. This could have a significant impact on global health, as the country is the WHO's largest fin…
View article: Integration of ECG and Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Wellens’ Syndrome with Acute Heart Failure: A Case Report
Integration of ECG and Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Wellens’ Syndrome with Acute Heart Failure: A Case Report Open
Introduction: Twelve-lead electrocardiography (ECG) remains an essential diagnostic tool for patients presenting with chest pain. Timely recognition of specific electrocardiographic patterns is critical for guiding reperfusion strategies a…
View article: Collapse of dialysis services and preventable mortality in Ecuador: a national crisis in chronic kidney disease care with global implication
Collapse of dialysis services and preventable mortality in Ecuador: a national crisis in chronic kidney disease care with global implication Open
View article: Generative Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education: Enhancing Critical Thinking or Undermining Cognitive Autonomy?
Generative Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education: Enhancing Critical Thinking or Undermining Cognitive Autonomy? Open
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) enables the production of coherent and contextually relevant text by processing large-scale linguistic datasets. Tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and LLaMA are increasingly integrated into m…
View article: Ecuador’s 2025 presidential election and the disconnection between public health and the political agendas
Ecuador’s 2025 presidential election and the disconnection between public health and the political agendas Open
Background In Latin America, public health proposals by presidential candidates often lack methodological rigor, limiting their feasibility and impact. Evidence-based planning aligned with national health priorities and disease burden is e…
View article: First reported case of Pascalia glauca poisoning in a pediatric patient: a case report
First reported case of Pascalia glauca poisoning in a pediatric patient: a case report Open
Background Pascalia glauca is a toxic plant species predominant in South America, known to cause severe liver and kidney damage, and even death, in animal studies. Its toxicity is attributed to carboxyatractyloside, a compound that inhibit…
View article: Retrospective Analysis of the Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Tertiary Hospital Located at High Altitude
Retrospective Analysis of the Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Tertiary Hospital Located at High Altitude Open
Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading global cause of death, responsible for 17.9 million deaths annually (32%) as of 2019. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) significantly contributes to this burden, particularly in low- a…
View article: Facing crisis: how Ecuador's energy shortages threaten public health
Facing crisis: how Ecuador's energy shortages threaten public health Open
View article: Reprogramming cancer immunity with next-generation combination therapies
Reprogramming cancer immunity with next-generation combination therapies Open
Cancer immunotherapy has fundamentally reshaped oncology by harnessing the immune system to eliminate malignant cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 have achieved durable remissions in select cancers, yet mos…
View article: Stroke risk following bee and wasp stings: a systematic review of ischemic and hemorrhagic events
Stroke risk following bee and wasp stings: a systematic review of ischemic and hemorrhagic events Open
Background Each year, approximately 100 million cases of bee and wasp stings are re-ported globally, with the majority resulting in mild reactions. However, in rarer instances, these stings can lead to severe and potentially fatal outcomes…
View article: Hansen’s Disease in Ecuador: Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Research Priorities: A Literature Review
Hansen’s Disease in Ecuador: Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Research Priorities: A Literature Review Open
Background: Hansen’s disease or leprosy is one of the 21 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In Ecuador, leprosy is considered eliminated as a public health problem; however, new cases are reported annually. Additionally, Mycobacterium lep…
View article: Correction: A decade of progress in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: advances in SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists – a comprehensive review
Correction: A decade of progress in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: advances in SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists – a comprehensive review Open
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1605746.].
View article: SARS-CoV-2 infection, not vaccination, the true association between COVID-19 and myocardial infarction mortality: A nationwide study in Ecuador
SARS-CoV-2 infection, not vaccination, the true association between COVID-19 and myocardial infarction mortality: A nationwide study in Ecuador Open
COVID-19 infection, rather than vaccination, is strongly associated with increased myocardial infarction (MI) mortality in Ecuador. In contrast, the small but statistically significant protective effect observed for vaccination reinforces …
View article: The growing oversupply of physicians in Ecuador: challenges and implications for the healthcare system
The growing oversupply of physicians in Ecuador: challenges and implications for the healthcare system Open
View article: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies Open
The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a highly oncogenic retrovirus recognized as the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Among …
View article: Pandemic paradox: How the COVID-19 crisis transformed vaccine hesitancy into a two-edged sword
Pandemic paradox: How the COVID-19 crisis transformed vaccine hesitancy into a two-edged sword Open
The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines was a landmark achievement that saved millions of lives. However, this success also intensified vaccine hesitancy, as misinformation, evolving public health guidelines, and growing distrust in ins…
View article: Sinus bradycardia and acute renal injury secondary to Viperidae snakebite: first case report
Sinus bradycardia and acute renal injury secondary to Viperidae snakebite: first case report Open
Background Worldwide, millions of people suffer from snakebites every year. In Ecuador, as of epidemiological week 30 of 2024, approximately 271 cases have been reported. Clinical case A 54-year-old male patient suffered a snakebite from t…
View article: Current and emerging Mpox vaccine strategies: A comprehensive review
Current and emerging Mpox vaccine strategies: A comprehensive review Open
Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a zoonotic orthopoxvirus closely related to variola virus, is a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus in the Orthopoxvirus genus, which includes vaccinia and cowpox viruses. Identified in 1958 and first documented in hu…
View article: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as a key tool in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma: a case report in an elderly patient with extreme blood pressure variability
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as a key tool in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma: a case report in an elderly patient with extreme blood pressure variability Open
Background Pheochromocytoma is a rare, life-threatening, neuroendocrine tumor originating from catecholamine-secreting chromaffin cells, with an incidence of up to 8 per million people globally each year. It manifests a broad spectrum of s…
View article: Oncolytic virotherapy and tumor microenvironment modulation
Oncolytic virotherapy and tumor microenvironment modulation Open
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) have emerged as a transformative approach in cancer therapy, offering tumor-specific lysis while sparing normal tissues. In addition to their direct cytolytic effects, OVs actively reshape the tumor microenvironment…
View article: A decade of progress in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: advances in SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists – a comprehensive review
A decade of progress in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: advances in SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists – a comprehensive review Open
Cardiovascular and renal complications remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Since 2015, large-scale cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have demonstrated that sodium-glu…
View article: Evaluation of HIV Late Presentation Trends: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Leading Ecuadorian Public Hospital
Evaluation of HIV Late Presentation Trends: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Leading Ecuadorian Public Hospital Open
The global impact of HIV is especially significant when diagnoses are made in advanced stages. While strategies exist to mitigate late presentations, Ecuador’s 2018–2022 strategic plan has not yet been evaluated. This study assesses the pr…
View article: Multinational Attitudes Toward AI in Health Care and Diagnostics Among Hospital Patients
Multinational Attitudes Toward AI in Health Care and Diagnostics Among Hospital Patients Open
Importance The successful implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care depends on its acceptance by key stakeholders, particularly patients, who are the primary beneficiaries of AI-driven outcomes. Objectives To survey hos…
View article: Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3): efficacy, safety, and implications in public health
Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3): efficacy, safety, and implications in public health Open
Vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol) is a fat-soluble secosteroid with essential roles in calcium-phosphorus metabolism, bone health, and an expanding range of extraskeletal processes. Upon synthesis in the skin via ultraviolet B exposure or inges…