Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the association between the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with sociodemographic parameters and lifestyle during COVID-19 confinement in Mexico, Chile, and Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study, with 742 observations of online surveys in 422, 190, and 130 individuals from Mexico, Chile, and Spain, respectively. Sociodemographic data, presence of comorbidities, food habits, and physical activity (PA) patterns were evaluated. The HRQoL was evaluated according to the SF-36 Health Survey. The multilinear regression analysis was developed to determine the association of variables with HRQoL and its physical and mental health dimensions. Results: The female sex in the three countries reported negative association with HRQoL (Mexico: β −4.45, p = 0.004; Chile: β −8.48, p < 0.001; Spain: β −6.22, p = 0.009). Similarly, bad eating habits were associated negatively with HRQoL (Mexico: β −6.64, p < 0.001; Chile: β −6.66, p = 0.005; Spain: β −5.8, p = 0.032). In Mexico, PA limitations presented a negative association with HRQoL (β −4.71, p = 0.011). In Chile, a sedentary lifestyle (h/day) was linked negatively with HRQoL (β −0.64, p = 0.005). In Spain, the highest associations with HRQoL were the presence of comorbidity (β −11.03, p < 0.001) and smoking (β −6.72, p = 0.02). Moreover, the PA limitation in Mexico (β −5.67, p = 0.023) and Chile (β −9.26, p = 0.035) was linked negatively with mental health. Conclusions: The bad eating habits, PA limitations, female sex, comorbidity presence, and smoking were parameters linked negatively with HRQoL.

Background: The urban environment is an important determinant of frailty, primarily through factors such as infrastructure that supports physical activity, availability of social and medical support, and access to nutritious food. Given the increasing aging population, understanding the link between urban quality, frailty, and metabolic health is crucial for effective public health and urban planning interventions. Objective: This study aims to quantify the impact of distinct urban domains (built-environment characteristics, accessibility to essential services, availability of green and recreational spaces, and neighborhood socioeconomic context) on frailty status, nutritional profile, and hematological or biochemical biomarkers in community-dwelling older adults by integrating geospatial analysis. Methods: A cohort of 251 older adults (aged older than 65 years) was studied. Frailty was assessed using the Frailty Trait Scale 5, and nutritional status was determined using the Controlling Nutritional Status score. Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated in a subset of 70 participants by MINDRAY automatic equipment. A spatial analysis of frailty was conducted by incorporating Geographic Information System layers that mapped the distribution of urban facilities, including fruit and vegetable shops, senior centers, pharmacies, emergency health centers, parks and squares, community centers, and exercise facilities. Statistical analyses included t tests, Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA, and correlation analyses. Results: The prevalence of frailty was 17.5%. Frail individuals exhibited significantly higher BMI (mean 31.5, SD 4.4 vs mean 28.5, SD 4.5 kg/m²; P =.0001). When comparing the upper (Q4) and lower (Q1) quartiles of urban quality, Q4 participants had higher Frailty Trait Scale 5 scores (mean 15.2, SD 7.4 vs mean 11.8, SD 6.4; P =.0334) and lower handgrip strength (mean 19.1, SD 4.4 vs mean 22.8, SD 7.3 kg; P =.006). Frail individuals resided significantly closer to emergency health centers ( P =.0010), family health centers ( P =.0412), and exercise facilities ( P =.0322). In addition, bilirubin (Spearman ρ=0.33; P =.0049), serum iron (Spearman ρ=0.27; P =.0272), transferrin saturation (Spearman ρ=0.24; P =.0386), red blood cell count (Spearman ρ=0.26; P =.0303), and red blood cell distribution width (Spearman ρ=0.23; P =.0462) were positively correlated with urban quality. Frail participants also had higher Controlling Nutritional Status scores ( P =.0323), which were positively correlated with urban quality (Spearman ρ=0.25; P =.0359). Conclusions: Urban quality was significantly associated with hematological parameters, nutritional status, and frailty. Frail individuals in areas with better urban quality exhibit lower handgrip strength, higher frailty scores, and greater proximity to emergency rooms, community health centers, and exercise facilities. This spatial distribution may reflect higher accessibility to health care and recreational resources among frail participants. Urban planning and public health strategies should focus on creating age-friendly environments to prevent frailty and improve health outcomes.

Platelet inhibition is a fundamental objective to prevent and treat thrombus formation. Platelet activation depends on mitochondrial function. This study aims to identify a new mitochondria-targeting compound with antiplatelet activity at safe concentrations in vitro. Cytotoxicity and viability tests were performed on human platelets from volunteer donors, together with experiments on aggregation, platelet activation, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial respiration, and thioredoxin reductase 2 (TrxR2) enzymatic activity in isolated platelet mitochondria. The compound MitoCDNB, corresponding to the molecule 5-chloro-2,4-dinitrophenylamino linked with triphenylphosphonium cation (TPP+) by a butyl chain and methanesulfonate as the counterion, was evaluated. MitoCDNB demonstrates potent, high mitochondria-selective antiplatelet effects that provide a novel approach to platelet inhibition with potentially minimized systemic risks. Here, we describe the first compound that inhibits platelet activation by decreasing TrxR2 enzymatic activity and collagen-stimulated maximal mitochondrial respiration, preventing aggregation and platelet activation. These results can be used to develop new antiplatelet drugs targeting mitochondria.

Population aging is a defining demographic transformation in Latin America, but its subnational spatial dynamics remain insufficiently understood. This study examines how population aging becomes spatially differentiated during an advanced stage of demographic transition, using the Maule Region of Chile as a case study between 1992 and 2024. We conducted a longitudinal ecological analysis using official Population and Housing Census data from 1992, 2002, 2017, and 2024 at provincial and commune levels. The Aging Index, defined as the number of people aged 65 years and over per 100 people younger than 15 years, was used as the main demographic indicator. To assess demographic acceleration and territorial differentiation, we calculated absolute change, multiplication indices, average annual growth rates, and intercensal growth rates. Spatial dependence was evaluated using Global Moran’s I and Local Indicators of Spatial Association based on a first-order queen contiguity matrix, with robustness checks using alternative spatial weights. Territorial inequality was assessed through dispersion measures, the Gini coefficient, and β-convergence analysis. Sex-specific Aging Indices, old-age and youth dependency ratios, and the share of the oldest-old population were also examined. By 2024, the Maule Region reached an Aging Index of 83.9, exceeding the national value of 79.0. Aging levels were highest in Cauquenes and in predominantly rural communes such as Curepto, Vichuquén, Hualañé, and Licantén. Intercensal growth rates increased over successive periods, indicating acceleration of population aging. Spatial clustering intensified, with Global Moran’s I increasing from 0.188 in 1992 to 0.298 in 2024, and significant High-High clusters emerging in coastal dryland communes. Territorial dispersion widened, while β-convergence was not statistically significant, indicating persistent local divergence rather than convergence toward similar aging profiles. Aging was consistently higher among women, old-age dependency exceeded youth dependency in nine communes, and the oldest-old represented more than one-quarter of older adults in the most aged territories. These findings show that subnational population aging may combine regional demographic aging with local divergence, spatial concentration, and territorial inequality. Integrating demographic and spatial indicators can support comparative population studies and geographically targeted planning for rapidly aging regions in Latin America and comparable contexts.

Introduction: Aging advancing decreases ankle-foot strength and mobility, affecting gait and balance control. The heel-rise (HR)task requires the ankle-foot to control different biomechanical demands. It is still unclear whether these demands during HRare associated with functional performance in older adults. The aim was to describe the association between HR biomechanicalparameters and single-leg stability, functional mobility, and walking speed in community-dwelling older adults.Methods: Sixty-nine older adults (73.0, SD 6.8 years) were tested on a force platform performing bilateral rapid HR in the riseand drop phases. The biomechanical parameters measured were peak force and time, impulse, root mean square and displacementof the center of pressure (CoP), as well as displacement and velocity of the center of mass (CoM), and vertical stiffness.Functional performance was assessed through balance using the single-leg stance test (SLS), functional mobility with the TimedUp & Go test (TUG), and walking speed (WS). Associations between functional tests and biomechanical parameters were determinedusing correlation tests.Results: HR peak strength and time showed a medium to large association with TUG and WS but not SLS. CoP anteroposteriordisplacement showed a large association in the drop phase with all functional tests but not in the rise phase. CoM velocity andvertical stiffness were associated with all tests in both phases.Conclusion: Older adults HR biomechanical parameters are more closely associated with functional mobility and walking speedtests (TUG and WS) than with static balance tests such as SLS.