Carlos Alberto

Graduate School, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Av. La Fontana 750, La Molina Location, Lima 15024, Peru Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

by Tamas Kozicz and Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA

Background: Mental disorders are often associated with a high burden of physical comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular risk factors, which contribute to functional impairment. However, limited evidence exists regarding the multidimensional interaction between cardiovascular risk, cognitive function, and emotional symptoms in hospitalized psychiatric patients. Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between cardiovascular risk and cognitive impairment and to characterize multidimensional health profiles through cluster analysis in hospitalized patients with mental disorders. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in Colombia (N = 50). Cardiovascular risk (Framingham score and anthropometry), cognitive performance (MoCA, DRS-2, FAB), emotional symptoms (BAI, BDI-II, Yesavage, GHQ-28), and functional status (Barthel, Lawton–Brody) were assessed. Hierarchical cluster analysis and Spearman correlations (rho) were used for data analysis. Results: Two distinct clusters were identified. Differentiation was primarily driven by emotional symptom severity and executive dysfunction rather than traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Cluster 2 represented a high-vulnerability profile, characterized by severe anxiety, depression, and significant cognitive impairment (MoCA: 10.3 +/− 5.1). Robust positive correlations were found between BDI-II and Yesavage (rho = 0.91; p < 0.001) and between MoCA and FAB (rho = 0.81; p < 0.001). Negative correlations confirmed that age (rho = −0.45) and depressive symptoms (rho = −0.32) significantly impacted functional independence (Lawton–Brody). Conclusions: In hospitalized psychiatric patients, multidimensional health profiles are defined by emotional burden and executive dysfunction rather than traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Identifying the high-risk Cluster 2 underscores the need for integrated, multidisciplinary care models that simultaneously address mental health, cognition, and functionality to improve clinical outcomes.

Posgrado en Manejo Sostenible de Agroecosistemas, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72960, Mexico

Purpose of ReviewCutaneous neurofibromas (cNFs) are a hallmark feature of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and are associated with substantial physical, psychosocial, and quality-of-life burden. Progress in therapeutic development is hindered by the absence ...

by Victor Hugo de Souza Lima Carlos Alberto Soriano Carolina N. Spiegel and

Husk tomato (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) is a crop of major economic, cultural, and nutritional importance in Mexico and exhibits substantial genetic and morphological diversity. Characterizing this variability is essential for both germplasm conservation and breeding programs. During the spring–summer 2024 growing season, 28 husk tomato populations were evaluated at the Bajío Experimental Station (INIFAP), Guanajuato, Mexico, using a completely randomized design with 12 replications. Forty-one traits were assessed following UPOV and IPGRI descriptors. Cluster analysis, canonical discriminant analysis, and the ESIM selection index were applied. A total of 77 morphotypes were identified, exhibiting variation in 33 of the 41 evaluated traits, mainly related to growth habit, leaf morphology, fruit traits, and calyx attributes. Correspondence analysis revealed a close relationship between vegetative growth and fruit size. Cluster analysis clustered the morphotypes into six clusters with no clear geographic structure, suggesting extensive gene flow. Canonical discriminant analysis explained 94.65% of the total variation, identifying seed size, leaf dimensions, and number of anthers as key discriminant traits. The ESIM index highlighted six morphotypes with favorable agronomic and morphological combinations. These results provide a practical basis for the selection of parental materials in husk tomato breeding programs under diverse agroecological conditions.

Various tubers are cultivated in the Peruvian Andes. Olluco (Ullucus tuberosus) is consumed locally for its culinary qualities and nutritional value. In addition to its resistance to pests and extreme climatic conditions, this Andean tuber is an important source of starch. In this study, the extraction and characterization of the physical, chemical, technofunctional, and thermal properties of olluco starches from the Puka cheqche papalisa (PCP), Bela api chuqcha lisa (BACL), and Q’ello muro lisa (QML) varieties were conducted, with samples collected in 2024. Extraction yields ranged from 3.00 to 4.45%, viscosities from 6443.17 to 6892.77 cP, a high whiteness index from 90.43 to 93.52, water activity less than 0.55, and a heterogeneous particle size distribution. Amylose content ranged from 31.00 to 33.33%. FTIR analysis revealed similar functional groups and structural bonds across the varieties. For technofunctional properties, the QML variety exhibited greater water absorption, a higher solubility index, and greater swelling power. Pasting temperatures ranged from 68.70 to 71.10 °C, with low retrogradation. Thermal analysis showed good thermal stability from 104.46 to 268.42 °C, a low gelatinization temperature from 59.37 to 60.19 °C, and an enthalpy of up to 5.5757 J/g. Olluco starches have high potential for industrial applications, and their ease of cultivation makes them ideal for starch extraction.

Background: Metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles are increasingly explored as antimicrobial biomaterials in endodontics due to their multi-target mechanisms of action, largely mediated by metal ion release (e.g., Ag+, Cu+). However, bacterial metal resistance systems, particularly efflux-related proteins, may influence their antimicrobial performance. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and distribution of metal resistance-associated proteins in bacteria involved in endodontic infections using a bioinformatic approach. Methods: An in silico, cross-sectional bioinformatic analysis was conducted using publicly available genomes from the Bacterial and Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center (BV-BRC). Bacterial species associated with acute apical abscess (AAA), symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP), asymptomatic apical periodontitis (AAP), and post-treatment apical periodontitis (PTAP) were included. The presence of selected metal resistance-related proteins (CutC, CopA, CzcA, CusA, SilA, P-type ATPase, and PA3920) was assessed using a binary presence/absence framework. Prevalence, group comparisons (Fisher’s exact test), and co-occurrence patterns (Phi coefficient) were analyzed. Results: Metal resistance-associated proteins were widely distributed across all infection types, with prevalence ranging from 70.0% to 82.9% and no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). CutC was the most prevalent protein, followed by CopA and CzcA, whereas SilA and PA3920 were not detected. Correlation analysis revealed consistent co-occurrence patterns among key taxa, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Prevotella spp. Conclusions: Metal resistance-related proteins are broadly distributed in endodontic microbiota, indicating a conserved genetic capacity for metal tolerance. These findings suggest that microbial resistance determinants may influence, but do not directly determine, the antimicrobial performance of nanoparticle-based biomaterials. This study provides a hypothesis-generating, bioinformatic framework to support the design and optimization of antimicrobial biomaterials, highlighting the need for experimental validation and integration of phenotypic and biofilm-based analyses.

by Nahuel Agustín Ponce and Grupo de Genética y Mejoramiento de Especies Forrajeras, Instituto de Botánica del