The aim of this study was to determine, first, the chemical composition of Aloysia polystachya (Griseb) Moldenke essential oil, from leaves harvested in central Chile; and second, its antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. Eight compounds were identified via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses, with the most representative being R-carvone (91.03%), R-limonene (4.10%), and dihydrocarvone (1.07%). For Aloysia polystachya essential oil, antioxidant assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), H₂O₂, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP)) showed good antioxidant activity compared to commercial antioxidant controls; and anti-proliferative assays against three human cancer cell lines (colon, HT-29; prostate, PC-3; and breast, MCF-7) determined an IC₅₀ of 5.85, 6.74, and 9.53 µg/mL, and selectivity indices of 4.75, 4.12, and 2.92 for HT-29, PC-3, and MCF-7, respectively. We also report on assays with CCD 841 CoN (colon epithelial). Overall, results from this study may represent, in the near future, developments for natural-based cancer treatments.

Fungal diseases, both pre- and post-harvest, are currently difficult to control—increased antifungal resistances have further stimulated the search for natural alternatives. The objective of the present research work was to evaluate the antifungal activities of Mentha pulegium essential oil (EO) and its major constituents. The EO was obtained from hydro distillation of fresh leaves, and composition was determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main components were identified as pulegone (29.33%), menthol (28.79%), menthone (20.48%), and isopulegol (9.75%). EO and isopulegol exhibited the highest antifungal activity, with half maximal effective concentrations (EC₅₀) inhibiting mycelial activity of Monilinia fructicola at 24.6 µg/mL and 20.8 µg/mL, respectively, and against Botrytis cinerea, at 301.45 µg/mL and 333.84 µg/mL, respectively. These findings could lay the foundation for developing antifungal agents of agricultural value.

The objectives of this study were: (a) to determine asymmetries, both lower limb (LL) and upper limb (UL), in Chilean older adults, and (b) to relate asymmetries to FA in both LL and UL. Forty-one older adults voluntarily participated in this study (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: age 72.0 ± 8.0 years, LL asymmetries 13.78 ± 14.87%, UL asymmetries 10.70 ± 8.85%, FA 40.35 ± 16.26 points). The variables were: (1) asymmetries of LL and UL, assessed through a force platform and handgrip, respectively; (2) FA, assessed through the Latin American Group for Maturity (GDLAM) and the GDLAM index of autonomy (GI) protocol. The relationship between the variables was performed through Spearman’s correlation. The analysis showed that 39% of the participants presented asymmetries above 15% in the LL. Likewise, this 39% of older adults presented a lower FA than their peers with asymmetries below 15% in the LL (≤15%: 35.64 ± 12.26 points vs. >15%: 47.69 ± 19.23 points, p = 0.003). The analysis showed a small correlation between LL and GI asymmetries (r = 0.27, p = 0.07) and a small but negative correlation between UL and GI (r = −0.21). The mean values of asymmetries of both LL and UL are within ‘normal’ parameters. However, several older adults were identified as being at risk. In parallel, older adults who presented a higher level of asymmetries in LL showed a lower level of FA.

El presente estudio analiza el impacto formativo de una experiencia de aprendizaje colaborativo internacional en línea (COIL) orientada al diseño de productos a partir de biomateriales obtenidos de residuos alimentarios, implementada entre instituciones de educación superior de México, Chile y Panamá. Se trata de un estudio empírico de enfoque cuantitativo, con diseño no experimental, alcance descriptivo-exploratorio y corte transversal. La muestra estuvo conformada por 11 estudiantes de distintas disciplinas, seleccionados mediante muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. La recolección de datos se realizó mediante un cuestionario estructurado con ítems tipo Likert, organizado en tres dimensiones: percepción del proceso formativo, desarrollo de competencias colaborativas e interculturales y proyección profesional. Los datos fueron analizados mediante estadística descriptiva, utilizando distribuciones de frecuencia y medidas de tendencia central. Los resultados evidencian una alta valoración de la experiencia, con más del 80% de los participantes reportando niveles positivos en el desarrollo de habilidades colaborativas e interculturales, así como en la aplicación de conocimientos a problemas reales. Asimismo, se identificaron dificultades asociadas a la coordinación de equipos, la comunicación asincrónica y la construcción de confianza en entornos virtuales multiculturales. Se concluye que el enfoque COIL representa una estrategia efectiva para el desarrollo de competencias transversales y la internacionalización del currículo, especialmente en contextos interdisciplinarios orientados a la sostenibilidad. No obstante, los resultados deben interpretarse con cautela debido al tamaño muestral y al carácter exploratorio del estudio.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the 5th most frequent neoplasm and the 3rd cancer with the highest mortality according to GLOBOCAN. GC is often diagnosed in middle aged and elderly people, with a peak in incidence between 60 and 70 years old. In contrast, early-onset GC is the GC had a strong hereditary component. Associations of sporadic late onset-GC and dietary factors have been published but the role of nutritional factors in early onset GC is unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the intake of red meat, pork, processed meats and carbonated drinks in a group of early-onset GC. Our study was carried out in 19 Chilean early-onset GC patients, aged between 32 and 60 years, and 32 healthy age matched individuals from the same population. Through a survey of nutritional habits carried out retrospectively considering the stage prior to the diagnosis of GC, we determined the amount, type and frequency of ingestion of red meat, pork, processed meat and carbonated beverages. To measure the association an odds ratio and non-parametric association statistic tests were used. For the association of meat intake, we used the WHO recommendation (less than 70 g of meat per day) to classify the meat consumption levels in both groups. An odds ratio of 25.5 (4.8-135.4, p=8.3x10⁵) was determined between the consumption of more than 70 g of meat per day in the early onset GC group vs the control group. Even though there are no international recommendations for carbonated drinks consumption levels, we found a higher carbonated drink consumption among cases (cases: Ave.= 180,7, SD= ±108,5 vs controls: Ave.=43,3, SD=±38,3. P=0033). In conclusion, our results shows significant associations between the consumption of red meat, pork, processed meats, and carbonated drinks in the risk of early-onset GC patients compared with the control group. Our findings, suggest that nutritional factors could play a role in the early GC presentation, acting in conjunction with low penetrance gene mutations. We will incorporate more early onset patients to the study group and do a sex matching for the control group to evaluate this possible confounding factor. We will also incorporate a late onset GC group. We think that nutritional factors could be an important factor to modulate genetic risk, even in early-onset patients. Beca Chile Postdoctorado 74190063 to GM. Citation Format: Carol Parra, Graciela Molina, Carla Coo, Jessica López, María San Martín, Javiera Siche, Luis Carvajal-Carmona. Association between the consumption of meat and carbonated drinks and early onset gastric cancer in Chilean patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5943.