Few studies have addressed drug resistance of Enterobacterales in rural communities in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the coexistence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase genes in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains carrying the mcr-1 gene in rural communities in Ecuador from healthy humans and their backyard animals. Sixty-two strains, thirty E. coli and thirty-two K. pneumoniae strains carrying the mcr-1 gene were selected from a previous study. PCR were performed for the presence of ESBLs and carbapenemase genes. The strains were further characterized, and the genetic relationship was studied with multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST) of seven housekeeping genes. Fifty-nine of the sixty-two mcr-1 isolates (95%) harbored at least on β-lactam resistance gene. The most prevalent ESBL genes were the bla_TEM genes (present in in 80% of the E. coli strains) and the bla_SHV gene (present in 84% of the K. pneumoniae strains). MSLT analysis revealed 28 different sequence types (ST); 15 for E. coli and 12 for K. pneumoniae, with most ST never described in humans and animals. The coexistence of mcr-1 and β-lactams resistant genes in E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains is alarming and threatens the efficacy of last-resort antibiotics. Our findings highlight backyard animals as a reservoir of mcr-1/β-lactams resistant genes.

Food insecurity (FI) represents a critical public health concern, particularly for adolescents, as it compromises nutritional intake and mental health during crucial developmental stages. This study examines the associations between FI and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of 712 adolescents aged 12–17 y from Valle de Ricote, Region of Murcia, Spain. Data were sourced from the cross-sectional “Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities” study. FI was assessed via the Child Food Security Survey Module, whereas mental health symptoms were evaluated via the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Generalized linear models adjusted for socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and anthropometric variables were employed to estimate the relationships between FI and psychological outcomes. Of the 712 adolescents (median age 14 y; 56% girls), 16.2% experienced FI. These adolescents had significantly greater risks of mental health symptoms: the likelihood of experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress was 2–3 times greater than that of their food-secure peers (odds ratios ranging from 2.45 to 3.35). Notably, the predicted probabilities of experiencing symptoms of anxiety and stress among food-insecure adolescents were 39.2% and 43.5%, respectively, whereas they were 16.1% and 19.8%, respectively, among their food-secure peers (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). These results underscore the profound psychological toll of FI and highlight the necessity of targeted interventions to address this issue. Addressing FI through public health policies and psychosocial programs is essential for mitigating its detrimental impact on adolescent mental health.

Background: Previous studies have tested the link between diet quality and academic performance in the young population. However, no study has analyzed the specific relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and academic performance in adolescents. The aim of the present study was to test the link of UPF consumption with academic performance in a sample of adolescents from Spain. Methods: This secondary cross-sectional analysis utilized information from 788 youths aged 12–17 participating in the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities study. The sample comprised 44.7% boys and 55.3% girls, with a median age of 14.0 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 13.0 to 15.0). The UPF consumption was measured through a self-completed food frequency survey. Academic performance was determined using end-of-year academic records provided by each educational institution. To examine the relationships between these variables, generalized linear models were employed. The models were adjusted for factors including sex, age, socioeconomic status, conduct, physical activity, sleep duration, body mass index, and sedentary behavior. Results: Significant dose–response associations between UPF consumption and all the different academic performance indicators, showing that higher UPF consumption is consistently associated with poorer academic performance (p < 0.001 for all). Higher daily UPF servings were associated with lower adjusted marginal means for grade point average, language, maths, and English. Furthermore, adolescents in the highest UPF tertile had a grade point average of 5.6 compared to 6.6 in the lowest tertile, with similar patterns being observed for language (6.0 vs. 7.0), maths (5.2 vs. 6.2), and English (5.7 vs. 6.6). Conclusions: Our study identifies a negative association between UPF consumption and academic performance in adolescents, highlighting it as a modifiable factor that could impact academic outcomes. Adolescents with higher UPF consumption exhibited consistently lower grades across various academic indicators, emphasizing the importance of dietary quality during this critical developmental period.

Background: This study aimed to determine the proportion of Ecuadorian preschool children meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) 24‐hour movement behaviour guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep, to examine differences by sex and geographic location and to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years (SUNRISE) protocol. Methods: In this pilot study, a total of 108 children aged 3–4 years from kindergartens in Quito (Ecuador) participated in 2024. Physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviour were evaluated using accelerometry ( ActiGraph wGT3x‐BT ). Gross and fine motor skills were evaluated using validated tasks, and executive functions were assessed via the Early Years Toolbox. Results: Only 11.8% of children met all three WHO recommendations of 24‐hour movement behaviours, while 16.1% did not meet any. Boys showed higher compliance with the physical activity guidelines compared to girls, and urban children demonstrated slightly better adherence to the screen time guideline. A total of 100% of participants completed anthropometric, executive function and motor skill assessments, respectively. Additionally, 86.1% of children provided at least one valid day of accelerometer data, and 75.9% accumulated three or more valid days, supporting the feasibility and acceptability of the SUNRISE study protocol in this population. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the SUNRISE study methods among Ecuadorian children. Given the low proportion of children meeting the WHO movement guidelines, long‐term strategies are needed to promote healthier lifestyles from early childhood in Ecuador.

Background/Objectives: Sleep-related problems are common among university students and are linked to adverse academic and health outcomes. This study evaluated the association between lifestyle medicine adherence and sleep-related problems among first-year Ecuadorian university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Quito, Ecuador, during the 2024–2025 academic year. First-year undergraduate students aged 16–35 years were recruited through a census-based, non-probability strategy (N = 2007). Lifestyle medicine adherence was assessed using the Short Multidimensional Inventory Lifestyle Evaluation for University Students (U-SMILE), and sleep-related problems were defined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure sleep domain (score ≥ 2), a symptom screen that is conceptually related to, but not identical with, the U-SMILE sleep quality domain. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were used and adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. A post-hoc sensitivity analysis recomputed the global U-SMILE score after excluding the sleep quality domain. Results: The median age was 18.0 years, and 51.0% were female. Among participants with Level 1 sleep data (n = 1906), 47.8% were classified as having sleep-related problems. In the fully adjusted model (n = 1893), higher overall U-SMILE scores were associated with lower odds of sleep-related problems (odds ratio (OR) per 1 point = 0.93, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.91–0.94; OR per 1 SD = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.50–0.62). In a post-hoc sensitivity analysis, this association persisted after excluding the sleep quality domain from the global score (OR per 1 point = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.93–0.95; OR per 1 SD = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.60–0.73). Among non-sleep domains, the strongest associations were avoidance of substance use (OR = 0.87), social relationships (OR = 0.90), and nutrition (OR = 0.90); physical activity, nature engagement, and stress management were also significant. Conclusions: Higher lifestyle medicine adherence was associated with lower odds of sleep-related problems, including in post-hoc analyses when the sleep domain was omitted from the U-SMILE total. These findings support multidimensional lifestyle medicine approaches for sleep health promotion in university settings.