Some studies have demonstrated the relationship between social support networks (SSNs) and health status. In this sense, it has been considered that physical and mental functioning is a key indicator of the health in the age people. The aim of this study was to determine the association between social support networks and physical functioning. A cross-sectional study was carried out including a convenience sample of 150 older community-dwelling Mexicans. We assessed the familial, extra-familial and institutional SSNs; social contacts; the activities of daily living (ADL); the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs); and physical functioning task (PFT) performance among study participants. Of the 150 older subjects, 53 reported living alone (35%), 113 (75%) reported having few SSNs, and 37 (25%) reported having enough SSNs. Persons with few familial SSNs were at increased odds of demonstrating dependence in at least one of the ADL (OR = 3.25, 95% CI 1.06–9.92, p < 0.05). Likewise, persons with few institutional SSNs and few social contacts were at increased odds of demonstrating dependence in at least one of the IADL (OR = 6.96, 95% CI 1.57–30.7, p < 0.01; OR = 5.02, 95% CI 1.44–17.5, p < 0.01, respectively). We also observed that having few extra-familial SSNs and few social contacts were the main risk factors for PFT dependence, with ORs of 3.70 (95% CI 1.21–11.2, p < 0.05) and 3.85 (95% CI 1.10–13.5, p < 0.05), respectively. Our findings suggest that having few SSNs could be a significant risk factor for reduced physical functioning in older adults.

Sleep disturbances are one of the most frequent health problems in old age, among which insomnia stands out. It is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, frequent awakenings, or waking up too early and not having restful sleep, which may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment and depression, affecting functionality and quality of life. Insomnia is a very complex multifactorial problem that requires a multi- and interdisciplinary approach. However, it is frequently not diagnosed in older community-dwelling people, increasing the risk of psychological, cognitive, and quality of life alterations. The aim was to detect insomnia and its relationship with cognitive impairment, depression, and quality of life in older community-dwelling Mexicans. An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in 107 older adults from Mexico City. The following screening instruments were applied: Athens Insomnia Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire WHOQoL-Bref, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory. The frequency of insomnia detected was 57% and its relationship with cognitive impairment, depression, and low quality of life was 31% (OR = 2.5, 95% CI, 1.1–6.6. p < 0.05), 41% (OR = 7.3, 95% CI, 2.3–22.9, p < 0.001), and 59% (OR = 2.5, 95% CI, 1.1–5.4, p < 0.05), respectively. Our findings suggest that insomnia is a frequent clinical disorder that is not diagnosed and a significant risk factor for cognitive decline, depression, and poor quality of life.

Background: Anti-cariogenic properties of silver nanoparticles and fluorides have been probed mainly in vitro and with the objetive to evaluate the remineralizing effects of an applied silver nanoparticle compound plus fluoride varnish, a randomized split-mouth clinical trial was conducted in children aged 6 to 7 years. Methods: The project was approved by the ethics committee of the faculty. Primary molars were randomly distributed into two groups, as follows: Group A was treated with a compound based on silver nanoparticles plus fluoride varnish (SNP-FV), and Group B was treated with a silver diamine fluoride compound (SDF-KI), which is the current standard treatment. Laser fluorescence with a DIAGNOdent pen was used for the evaluation, with follow-up examinations at 15 days, 6 months, and 12 months. ANOVA test was used to compare the groups. The results showed a decrease in demineralization was observed after treatment with SNP-FV; similar results were observed after treatment with SDF-KI. Within each group, there were favorable changes. In the SDF-KI group, the differences in demineralization were 25.63 at 15 days, 29.37 at 6 months, and 30.6 at one year (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, in the SNP-FV group, the decreases were 22.7 at 15 days, 28.78 at 6 months, and 31.11 at one year (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The SNP-FV combined treatment represents an alternative remineralizing treatment for the management of carious lesions in the dentin of primary molars.

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. One of the two first-line drugs for treatment is nifurtimox, a nitrofuran that exhibits high toxicity. Therefore, the need arises to investigate new therapeutic options, and, in this sense, our objective was to study compounds that maintain the trypanocidal activity associated with the furan nucleus and by structural modification of substituents reduce their toxicity. In the following research work, a chemical library was formed using the databases PubChem, ChEMBL and ChemSpider, later a virtual screening was carried out with the chemoinformatic tools Way2Drug, molinspiration, DataWarrior and admetSAR obtaining the prediction of biological activity, physicochemical parameters, data of toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties, respectively. The last stage consisted of the molecular docking of the molecules at the active site of the trypanothione reductase protein of Trypanosoma cruzi, determining its binding energy and intermolecular interactions. Compounds NF-85, NF-150, NF-246 and NF-279 with potential anti-T. cruzi activity were identified, the four molecules had greater affinity for trypanothione reductase (-7.0, -7.2, -7.0 and -7.3 kcal / mol, respectively), compared to nifurtimox (-6.7 kcal / mol).

Background: Tagetes lucida Cav (T. lucida) is an herbaceous plant from the family Asteraceae, native to Mexico, Guatemala, and other Mesoamerican countries. Their common names are: (i) Spanish names: “hierbanís”, “jericón”, “pericón vomol”, “Santa María”, “cuchrucumín”, “falso hipericón”, “hierba añil”, “pericón”, “periquillo”; (ii) indigenous names: “ichka”, “cuahuyauhtli”, “yahuhtli”, “naná uarhi”, and (iii) English names: “sweet-scented marigold”, “sweet mace”, and “sweet marigold”., Its chemical composition of coumarins, estragole, quercetin, and flavonoids has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a mouthwash made with T. lucida for control of chronic periodontitis (CP) in older adults. Methods: We carried out a quasi-experimental study with a convenience sample of 60 older adults with CP. The sample was divided into a placebo group (PG) n = 30, administered with a mouthwash made with alcohol diluted with purified water (10%), and the experimental group (EG) n = 30 treated with a mouthwash made with T. lucida extract in 10% alcohol; both groups were administered three times a day for three months. Results: We found a significant improvement in the EG group compared with the PG group in: probing pocket depth (baseline, 5.2 ± 0.81 vs. post-treatment, 3.1 ± 0.43, p < 0.05), the clinical attachment loss (baseline, 6.6 ± 1.9 vs. post-treatment, 2.1 ± 1.5, p < 0.05), lipoperoxides (baseline, 0.056 ± 0.03 vs. post-treatment, 0.034 ± 0.02 µmol/L, p < 0.05), and chronic inflammation markers (IL-1, IL-8, and TNF-α) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that mouthwash made with T. lucida extract, administered three times a day, clinically improved chronic periodontitis in older adults, associated to a significant decrease in lipoperoxides and proinflammatory markers.