• In Ibero-American, the anxiety and anhedonia are related to the consumption of food. • The anxiety is related to the consumption of palatable foods during confinement. • The different type of foods had a different probability of increasing serving size. • An increase in average body weight was observed during confinement for COVID-19.

Background and objectives: The confinement by COVID-19 has affected the food chain and environments, which added to factors such as anxiety, frustration, fear and stress have modified the quality of the diet in the population around the world. The purpose of this study was to explore diet quality during the COVID-19 pandemic in 11 Latin American countries. Methodology: Multicentric, cross-sectional study. An online survey was applied to residents of 11 Latin-American countries, during April and May 2020, when confinement was mandatory. Diet quality was evaluated using a validated questionnaire. Result: 10,573 people participated in the study. The quality of the food by country shows that Colombia presented the best quality, while Chile and Paraguay presented the lowest. When comparing the overall results of diet quality by gender, schooling and age, women, people with more schooling and people under 30 years of age, presented better diet quality. The regression model showed that the variables associated with diet quality were: age (df = 3, F = 4. 57, p < 0.001), sex (df = 1, F = 131.01, p < 0.001), level of education (df = 1, F = 38.29, p < 0.001), perception of weight change (df = 2, F = 135.31, p < 0.001), basis services (df = 1, F = 8.63, p = 0.003), and quarantine (df = 1, F = 12.14, p = 0.001). Conclusion: It is necessary for governments to intervene to reverse these indicators, considering that inadequate feeding favors the appearance of no communicable diseases, which favor a higher risk of infection and worse prognosis with COVID-19.

Cell phenotype does not only depend on the nucleotide sequence, but is determined by those genes that are expressed and those that are not. One way to regulate this gene expression pattern is by modifying the chromatin structure via diverse epigenetic mechanisms. In the present article we present the most important epigenetic mechanisms: deoxyribonucleic acid methylation, histone post-translational modifications, non-coding ribonucleic acid mediated gene-silencing, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, and Polycomb and Trithorax group proteins.

Background: Deterioration in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and healthy eating behavior due to the effect of COVID-19 lockdown has been reported. The aim of this study was to associate eating habits and HRQoL with physical activity behavior in Latin American university students during COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Measured 4,859 university students with a mean age of 22.4 years and they were mostly female (73.7%) from 10 Latin American countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and, Peru). Eating habits were measured using a survey validated with other university students, HRQoL was assessments using the short version of the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) scale and physical activity behavior with a dicotomous question based on the international recommendations for physical activity.Results: There is a higher complaince for all the international recommendations for healthy foods intake in the physically active group of students (p < 0.01), with the exception of alcohol and salt. In addition, physically active students presented a significantly higher HRQoL (p < 0.001) in all the dimensions analyzed when compared to physically inactive students.Conclusions: Latin American university students who are physically active are more likely to have a healthier eating behavior and a lower risk of a decreased HRQoL during COVID-19 pandemic.

Gene therapy involves the transference of new genetic material to the cell in order to obtain a therapeutic benefit, offering a new option for the treatment of various diseases. In this article, some of these nucleic acid-based drugs, such as plasmids, aptamers, oligonucleotides, ribozymes and small interfering ribonucleic acid, are presented. Their mechanism and level of action is commented and several delivery systems, such as liposomes, cationic polymers, direct nucleic acid transfer and viral vectors, are also discussed.

Non-caloric sweeteners are food additives that can be added to food and beverages, in substitution of sugar, thus allowing to decrease energy content and free sugars intake. However, many health care professionals have questioned the safety of these additives for human consumption. Therefore, it is crucial that health care professionals become familiar with the characteristics of each non-caloric sweetener (chemical structure, absorption profile, metabolism, and route of excretion) and with the findings of the detailed safety assessments done prior to their approval, so that they can be a reliable source of scientific information for their patients.The purpose of this article is to provide a better understanding of the safety assessment process of non-caloric sweeteners prior to their approval, which includes determining the non-observed adverse effect level and the acceptable daily intake.