Flavivirus detection in humans and mosquito reservoirs has been an important issue since it can cause a variety of illnesses and could represent a health problem in geographical zones where the vector is endemic. In this work, we designed and characterized a biosensor based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and antibody 4G2 for the detection of dengue virus (DENV) in vitro, obtaining different conjugates (with different antibody concentrations). The AuNP–4G2 conjugates at concentrations of 1, 3, and 6 µg/mL presented an increase in the average hydrodynamic diameter compared to the naked AuNPs. Also, as part of the characterization, differences in the UV-Vis absorbance spectrum and electrophoretic migration were observed between the conjugated AuNPs (with BSA or antibody) and naked AuNPs. Additionally, we used this biosensor (AuNP–4G2 conjugate with 3 µg/mL antibody) in the assembly of a competitive lateral flow assay (LFA) for the development of an alternative test to detect the flavivirus envelope protein in isolated DENV samples as a future tool for dengue detection (and other flaviviruses) in the mosquito vector (Aedesaegypti) for the identification of epidemic risk regions. Functionality tests were performed using Dengue virus 2 isolated solution (TCID₅₀/mL = 4.58 × 10³) as a positive sample and PBS buffer as a negative control. The results showed that it is possible to detect Dengue virus in vitro with this gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow assay with an estimated detection limit of 5.12 × 10² PFU. We suggest that this biosensor could be used as an additional detection tool by coupling it to different point-of-care tests (POCT) for the easy detection of other flaviviruses.

The high rate of deaths around the world from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) (70%) is a consequence of a poor diet lacking in nutrients and is linked to lifestyle and environmental conditions that together trigger predisposing factors. NCDs have increased 9.8% of public health spending worldwide, which has been increasing since 2000. Hence, international organizations such as the WHO, the Pan American Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have been developing strategic plans to implement government and economic policies to strengthen programs in favor of food security and nutrition. A systematic review is presented to document an analysis of the origin and characteristics of obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and cancers affecting a large part of the world’s population. This review proposes a scientifically based report of functional foods including fruits, vegetables, grains, and plants, and how their bioactive compounds called nutraceuticals—when consumed as part of a diet—benefit in the prevention and treatment of NCDs from an early age. Multifactorial aspects of NCDs, such as culture and eating habits, are limitations to consider from the clinical, nutritional, and biochemical points of view of everyone who suffers from them.

The present study aimed to determine the presence of the aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in breast milk samples from 123 nursing women and the degree of exposure of infants to this toxin, in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon state (northeast Mexico). Upon analysis, 100% of the samples were found to be contaminated with the toxin at an average concentration of 17.04 ng/L, with a range of 5.00 to 66.23 ng/L. A total of 13.01% of the breast milk samples exceeded the regulatory limit of 25 ng/L for AFM1 concentration, set by the European Union. The estimated daily intake for AFM1 and the carcinogenic risk index were also determined in the 0- to 6-, 7- to 12-, 13- to 24-, and 25- to 36-month-old age groups. The AFM1 intake through breast milk ranged from 1.09 to 20.17 ng/kg weight/day, and was higher than the tolerable daily intake, indicating a carcinogenic risk for infants in the age groups of 0- to 24-months old. This evidence demonstrates a susceptibility of breast milk to AFM1 contamination that may suggest a carcinogenic risk for the breastfed infants in Monterrey city, Nuevo Leon state, and the need to control the presence of aflatoxins in foods eaten by nursing mothers.

The aim of this study was to validate an HPLC-UV method to assess vitamin D status by determining the linearity and precision of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃) calibration curve, the limits of detection, quantitation and robustness of the method, and its accuracy. A second stock solution of 25(OH)D₃ was prepared (500 ng/mL), and working dilutions (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ng/mL) were prepared for a calibration curve. The HPLC equipment had a UV-Vis diode-array detector and utilized an Acclaim^TM 120 C18 column (5 µm, 4.6 × 250 mm) with a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min, a column temperature of 30 °C, and the standards and samples were maintained at 4 °C, with an injection volume of 100 µL. Detection of 25(OH)D₃ was determined at 265 nm, with a retention time of 4.0 min. The validation was conducted according to the FDA Validation of Analytical Procedures: Guidance for Industry. Vitamin D was extracted from plasma samples using acetonitrile (ACN)–0.1% formic acid (2:1 v/v), and the percentage of recovery was calculated. The proposed method conditions gave excellent linearity (R² = 0.9989) and the linearity coefficient was R² > 0.99 for 25(OH)D₃. The detection and quantification limits were 1.1703 ng/mL and 3.5462 ng/mL, respectively. Decreasing or increasing the reading temperature by 1 °C decreased the response units (AU) of vitamin D, 25(OH)D₃. When the current flow rate decreased by 0.2 mL/min (1.0 mL/min), the retention time increased to 4.913 min, whereas an increase of 0.2 mL/min of the proposed flow rate (1.4 mL/min) decreased the retention time to 3.500 min. The percentage of recovery varied from 92.2% to 97.1%. The proposed method to quantify a vitamin D metabolite (25(OH)D₃) in human plasma samples was reliable and validated.

Los extractos de plantas son una rica fuente de compuestos naturales con propiedades antioxidantes, con potencial aplicación en la prevención o tratamiento de enfermedades crónico degenerativas de importancia en nuestro país. Los cladodios de Opuntia ficus-indica son una fuente de mucílago, un complejo de fitoquímicos y otros nutrientes, el cual podría representar un nutracéutico natural con una importante capacidad antioxidante. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la técnica de extracción de licuado-centrifugado de Opuntia ficus-indica, con diferentes solventes, calculando el porcentaje de rendimiento de extracción, contenido total de fenoles y capacidad antioxidante como equivalentes de Trolox de diferentes variedades de O. ficus-indica. La técnica de extracción permitió obtener mucílagos con porcentajes de rendimiento mayores a 10 %. La variedad Jalpa presentó la mejor capacidad antioxidante con 0.616 µmoles ET/ g peso seco y un mayor contenido de fenoles con 10.35 ± 0.95 mg EAG/g peso seco. El mucílago obtenido tiene propiedades que lo recomiendan como un material natural que puede utilizarse como potencial antioxidante. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54167/tch.v18i2.1395

Functional foods enriched with plant-derived bioactive compounds have emerged as promising complementary dietary strategies to improve glycemic regulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties, sensory acceptance, and microbiological characteristics of a functional yogurt enriched with Moringa oleifera leaf extract, as well as its effect on blood glucose levels in an alloxan-induced diabetic rat model. Phytochemical characterization of the hydroethanolic leaf extract by HPLC and direct-infusion ESI-IT-MS² revealed phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol, together with additional glycosylated flavonoids. M. oleifera extract increased the yogurt’s protein content. Sensory evaluation indicated moderate acceptance compared to natural yogurt, with color being the least-accepted attribute. Microbiological analysis showed no inhibitory effect against representative bacterial genera of the gastrointestinal microbiota under the experimental conditions evaluated. In vivo evaluation in alloxan-induced diabetic female Wistar rats demonstrated a significant reduction in blood glucose levels, from 396.50 ± 17.85 mg/dL to 254.50 ± 32.79 mg/dL after 15 days of treatment. These findings support further investigation of M. oleifera functional yogurt as a potential functional food in the context of glycemic control.