Introduction: One of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide is penetrating abdominal trauma, with different impact approaches in the regions. Among the devices most commonly used in these practices are firearms and sharp weapons, causing great concern about the rate of increase of these violent cases; there is often increased use of sharp weapons due to their high availability in homes and sites of recurrence, however, the use of firearms has been increasing by the entry of these into the country by Organized Crime Groups (GDO). It is essential to study the lesions and injury mechanism to provide a correct clinical record, report writing, to testify before a judge, and there is also a just conviction in the trials in which the Forensic Physician is involved. Objectives: General: Analyze the different penetrating abdominal injuries, as well as their mechanism of action, in victims of violence by sharp weapons and firearms. Specifics: Consolidate information through research and search in high-impact databases to provide a tool for Criminology and Forensic Science professionals. Define the devices commonly used in these criminal acts, as well as correlate this information with data from major conflict areas worldwide. Methodology: Through a systematic search in databases and scientific journals, including PUBMED, PMC, ELSEVIER, The Cochrane Library Plus, NCBI, The Lancet Global Health and UpToDate, the aim was to develop a descriptive study based on an updated and structured literature review.  Results: In the first half of 2024, in Ecuador, there were 2,595 homicides committed with firearms and weapons. The firearm may cause an entry, trajectory and exit orifice or sometimes the projectile remains at the level of some internal anatomical structure. Injuries caused depend on speed, distance and the weapon used. Blunt weapons can cause sharp, stabbing, contusive, short-stabbing wounds. The most frequently affected organ at the abdominal level was the small intestine. Conclusions: The detailed description of injuries is essential for the development of justice, so it is important to study these both for the Criminalistics and Forensic Sciences staff as well as for the emergency room staff of hospitals that often carry out the reception of these cases, Bearing in mind that the most commonly used devices for criminal offences are revolvers, medium-speed and high-velocity projectile weapons, as well as pointed instruments which may cause injury. General Area of Study: Criminalistics. Specific area of study: Legal Medicine. Type of study: Bibliography Review.

Introduction. Tooth extraction due to pulpal, periapical, and periodontal disease is one of the most common procedures in dentistry, with unpredictable scarring and volume loss leading to long-term atrophy of the alveolar bone crest. Using clinical and imaging evaluation of recent Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (RCT) research publications, the Objective was to analyze the application of platelet-rich fibrin in the bone regeneration of post-extraction dental alveoli. Methodology, according to the protocol (PRISMA 2020), this study is a qualitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive documentary. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scielo, Google Scholar, Embase, and Redalyc were used in this systematic review. The risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 6.2 (RevMan 6.2), with inclusion and exclusion criteria, including 25 randomized clinical trials published until 2022, which have investigated the use of PRF in bone and soft tissue regeneration in extraction sites. Results of this systematic review in accordance with the heterogeneous findings of clinical research, Conclusions PRF is useful to preserve the post-extraction alveolar ridge, vertical dimensional stability and promote cell proliferation which prevents the decrease of the buccal, lingual or palatal alveolar bone crest, it is worth mentioning that others have not found significant differences due to variations in design or methodology, so additional prolonged standardized research is required. General Area of Study: Dentistry Specific area of study: oral surgery Type of study: Systematic bibliographic review.

Introduction. Hiatal hernia is defined as a displacement of the abdominal structures towards the thorax through the esophageal hiatus. They are classified into four types according to the anatomical relationship between the stomach and the hiatus. Its prevalence is higher in women and the elderly, and it is often associated with obesity and genetic factors. They are usually asymptomatic, but patients may report gastroesophageal reflux, dyspnea, or chest pain, and are frequently detected incidentally. Upper digestive endoscopy is the main diagnostic method, complemented by X-rays, esophagograms, and CT scans. Treatment includes conservative management or surgery, with Nissen Fundoplication being one of the procedures of choice due to its efficacy assessed by the elimination of symptoms. Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of Nissen fundoplication as the treatment of choice in patients diagnosed with hiatal hernia refractory to conservative treatment, analyzing its impact on the resolution of the clinical picture through a bibliographic review of updated scientific evidence. Methodology. A search was performed in scientific databases selecting articles based on reliability, validity, and clinical relevance, prioritizing publications in English and Spanish from the last 6 years, 14 articles with an elevated level of evidence that met the established criteria were chosen. Results. Hiatal hernia occurs when the cardia protrudes through the esophageal hiatus. Its diagnosis is usually incidental, with endoscopy and esophagogram standing out as the main tools. Conservative treatment with PPIs is the first-line therapy for type I hernias, reserving surgery for refractory or severe cases; Nissen fundoplication is the most used surgical procedure due to its high effectiveness, although there are other techniques such as Toupet or Dor, which reduce postoperative discomfort such as dysphagia, which implies a challenge when choosing the appropriate surgical technique for each patient. Conclusion. Hiatal hernia is a complex condition that requires timely diagnosis to determine the appropriate treatment. Management depends on the type of hiatal hernia and its severity. Thus, Type I hernias respond to conservative treatments with PPIs and lifestyle changes, while Type II-IV hernias usually require surgery. Nissen fundoplication, performed by laparoscopy, is the most effective surgical treatment, although it can cause dysphagia and abdominal distension, so it is important to assess conditions such as the length of the esophageal sphincter and BMI, highlighting the need to personalize treatment to optimize results and improve the patient's quality of life. General Area of Study: Medicine. Specific area of study: General surgery. Type of study: Bibliography Review.

Introduction: NGAL is an early biomarker to detect tubular kidney damage and early renal failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus since its serum concentration rises 2h after the damage and precedes the increase in serum creatinine concentration by 24 hours, surpassing traditional biomarkers such as creatinine, microalbuminuria, albuminuria, cystatin C and KIM-1.  in sensitivity (90 - 95%) and specificity (90 - 95%). Objectives: To analyze whether the combination of NGAL and other biomarkers (such as KIM-1, microalbuminuria, cystatin C, etc.) improves diagnostic accuracy for the detection of tubular damage in patients with glomerular disease. Methodology: A documentary literature review is conducted, with a descriptive, non-experimental, and analytical approach using inclusion and exclusion criteria to apply it to the PRISMA methodology. Results: NGAL is a highly sensitive (90-95%) and specific (90-95%) biomarker to detect renal failure in early stages even before traditional biomarkers since it rises between 2 and 6 hours after kidney damage, very useful in patients who have type II diabetes mellitus due to their tendency to develop diabetic nephropathy and although its cost is higher, its predictive and preventive value justifies it and can be measured in different samples such as urine,  serum, plasma and even cerebrospinal fluid. Studies show that elevated levels of NGAL in urine and serum are associated with an increased risk of progression of chronic kidney disease, inhibiting this protein could be risky as it also has protective functions in initial stages of kidney damage. NGAL is an early and reliable biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity, being able to detect kidney damage even earlier than traditional biomarkers and useful in urgent situations. The combined use of NGAL with other markers such as KIM-1, microalbuminuria and cystatin C improves the detection of kidney damage, especially in glomerular disease, however, NGAL stands out in the evaluation of tubular damage. General study area: Clinical Laboratory. Specific area of study: Uroanalysis. Type of article: Systematic bibliographic review.

Introduction. Toxocariasis is a zoonosis caused by the larvae of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, with greater prevalence in rural areas where human-animal interaction is frequent. Children are a vulnerable group due to their regular contact with pets. Objective. To determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Toxocara spp. by ELISA in the child population of a school in Chimborazo and its association with the presence of the parasite in domestic pets. Methodology. Cross-sectional study with 200 students, selecting a sample of 157 children. Serological tests were performed on 70 participants with frequent contact with pets. Fecal samples from dogs, cats, and children were collected for coproparasitological analysis using standardized techniques. Results. 50% of dogs and 50% of cats had Toxocara spp infection. By ELISA, anti-T. canis antibodies were detected in 15 children (21%) and anti-T. cati in 5 children (7%), representing a seroprevalence of 28%. A significant association was found between childhood seropositivity and infected pets (p<0.05). Conclusion. Zoonotic transmission of Toxocara spp. between children and pets is evidenced, with a seroprevalence of 28%. These findings underscore the need to implement educational programs on responsible pet ownership, preventive hygiene, and periodic deworming, especially in rural school settings. General Study Area: Laboratory. Specific area of study: Parasitology. Type of study: Original articles.