Margarita L. Martinez-Fierro

Post-COVID-19 condition can include persistent cognitive symptoms, commonly described as impaired attention, memory difficulties, slowed processing, and “brain fog.” Clinical and translational evidence implicates systemic inflammation, neurovascular dysfunction, blood–brain barrier disruption, glial inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and altered synaptic or network function; their relative contributions remain uncertain and may differ across patient subgroups. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound that modifies inflammatory, redox, metabolic, endothelial, and antiviral pathways in experimental systems. This focused narrative review examines whether those actions provide a mechanistic basis for the use of resveratrol in post-COVID-19 cognitive dysfunction. Evidence was considered according to biological proximity to the intended indication, distinguishing human post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) studies from acute-COVID-19, non-COVID-19 clinical, animal, organoid, and cell-based evidence. The review identifies candidate neurovascular, immune, and metabolic processes, evaluates where resveratrol evidence intersects with those processes, and distinguishes molecular observations from clinical questions that remain to be tested for to define the therapeutic potential of using resveratrol to treat post-COVID-19 cognitive impairment.

Background/Objectives: Orally administered herbal preparations have gained attention as complementary approaches in supportive cancer care; however, their clinical efficacy and safety remain uncertain. This systematic review critically evaluated evidence from randomized clinical trials investigating these interventions in patients with cancer. Methods: The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and was prospectively registered in PROSPERO. PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Springer Nature Link, CENTRAL, Scopus, LILACS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP were searched for English-language studies published from January 1990 through 8 September 2026. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2, and outcome-level certainty was evaluated using GRADE. Results: Eight randomized clinical trials met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. The studies evaluated Gamiguibi-tang, Rikkunshito, holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Alcea digitata–Malva sylvestris, Annona muricata, Malva sylvestris–Althaea digitata, Jing Si herbal tea, and Renshen Yangrong Tang across heterogeneous cancer populations. Individual trials reported potentially favorable findings for sleep, fatigue, chemotherapy-induced anorexia, anxiety, salivary function, xerostomia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and quality of life. However, the Jing Si herbal tea trial found no statistically significant between-group differences in fatigue or quality of life, and exploratory ex vivo cytotoxicity findings did not demonstrate clinical antitumor efficacy. Meta-analysis was not feasible because of substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity. All evaluated outcomes were rated as very-low-certainty evidence, primarily because of risk of bias and serious imprecision. No serious intervention-related adverse events were identified in the published reports, but adverse-event monitoring was inconsistent and no trial was adequately powered to establish safety. Conclusions: The available evidence is insufficient to establish definitive efficacy or safety or to support routine clinical implementation. Adequately powered multicenter trials using botanically authenticated and chemically characterized preparations, clinically meaningful outcomes, interaction assessment, and long-term pharmacovigilance are required.

Functional foods containing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds are a promising nutritional intervention. However, significant gaps remain in the literature on the development and evaluation of functional snacks for improving health outcomes. This systematic literature review (SLR) aimed to summarize the existing evidence on the development of enriched functional snacks containing bioactive ingredients, with a particular focus on their potential relevance to mental health. The review also examined food technologies, consumer acceptance, current knowledge gaps, and priorities for future research. The SLR was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies on snacks and functional foods published between 2020 and 2025. Original studies evaluating functional snacks and/or bioactive compounds with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, or antioxidant properties were included. The initial search yielded 281,118 records. Following screening and quality assessment, 22 articles were selected through a three-author consensus process. Among the included studies, 12/22 focused on product development and antioxidant activity. Three studies included in vivo evaluations, while four included in vitro assessments of anti-inflammatory or antioxidant effects. Technologies such as extrusion, nanoencapsulation, and freeze-drying were employed to protect bioactive compounds and preserve bioactivity. Only two studies included sensory evaluation, with both reporting preliminary evidence of high acceptability. Overall, the SLR revealed limited evidence on functional snacks, particularly regarding their effects on mental health. Significant gaps remain in biological, neuroprotective, and sensory validation. Further studies are needed to establish the efficacy, biological effects, and consumer acceptability of enriched functional snacks, as well as consumer acceptability across diverse, relevant target populations.

Natural polyphenols have gained increasing attention as potential anticancer agents, although the selective effects of many plant-derived extracts on cervical cancer cells remain insufficiently characterized. Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) peel, an underutilized agro-industrial by-product enriched in ellagitannins and related polyphenols, represents a promising source of bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and cervical cancer research. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of rambutan peel polyphenolic extract (RPPE) on cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and non-malignant cells. Cell viability, morphological alterations, and transcriptional responses associated with apoptosis, survival, and cell-cycle regulation were examined. RPPE selectively reduced the viability of HeLa cancer cells while exerting limited effects on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa). Treated HeLa cells exhibited morphological and transcriptional changes consistent with apoptosis and growth inhibition. However, minimal responses were observed in HDF treated with RPPE. Overall, these findings provide evidence that RPPE differentially affects malignant and non-malignant cells, supporting further investigation of rambutan peel-derived polyphenols as sustainable bioactive compounds for cervical cancer research and future nutraceutical applications.

Background/Objectives: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes and remains associated with limited therapeutic options and high systemic toxicity from conventional chemotherapy. Ipomoea pes-caprae is a coastal medicinal plant traditionally consumed in Mexico for inflammatory and renal disorders and contains bioactive metabolites with reported antioxidant and pharmacological properties. However, its antitumoral activity and systemic safety profile remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, antitumoral activity, and toxicity of a traditionally prepared aqueous infusion of I. pes-caprae leaves (IPCAE). Methods: IPCAE was characterized using phytochemical screening and complementary instrumental analyses. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH assay. A randomized preclinical study was performed in mice bearing MDA-MB-231 xenografts treated with IPCAE, cisplatin, or saline control. Results: The infusion showed measurable antioxidant activity (72.25 ± 1.25% DPPH inhibition at 1 mg/mL) and a total polyphenol content of 7.29 µg/mg gallic acid equivalents. Phytochemical screening revealed abundant flavonoids and reducing sugars, with moderate saponin content. In vivo, IPCAE produced only a transient and non-significant trend toward slower tumor progression compared with control (p = 0.214) and cisplatin (p = 0.377). However, marked systemic toxicity was observed, including severe thoracic dermal lesions in 40% of animals and 70% mortality by day 15. Survival was significantly reduced compared with control and cisplatin groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although IPCAE exhibited antioxidant activity, no statistically significant antitumoral effect was observed under the evaluated conditions. Furthermore, repeated oral administration resulted in marked systemic toxicity, characterized by visible dermal lesions, clinical deterioration, and increased mortality. Therefore, the present findings do not support the use of the evaluated crude preparation as an anticancer intervention. Future studies should focus on detailed toxicological characterization, bioassay-guided fractionation, dose optimization, and identification of the individual metabolites responsible for the observed biological effects. The antioxidant activity demonstrated in this study should be interpreted independently from antitumoral activity, as no causal relationship between these findings was established.

Background/Objectives: Genitourinary cancers represent a major and growing source of cancer burden worldwide; however, important disparities persist across the Americas. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, mortality, and disability burden of prostate, testicular, bladder, and kidney cancers across 38 countries and territories using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 estimates, with emphasis on temporal trends and sociodemographic inequalities. Methods: A descriptive ecological study was conducted using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 estimates. Age-standardized incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates per 100,000 population were analyzed for prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers. Burden estimates were obtained from GBD 2023 data, and temporal trend analyses were conducted using age-standardized rates from 2000–2023. Temporal trends were assessed using weighted log-linear regression to estimate annual percentage changes (APCs) based on age-standardized rates from 2000–2023. Results: In 2023, prostate cancer accounted for the greatest genitourinary cancer burden across the Americas, with high incidence concentrated in high-income North America, whereas mortality and DALY rates were disproportionately elevated in Latin America and the Caribbean. Across all cancer types, high-SDI regions consistently exhibited higher incidence but more favorable mortality and disability profiles. Testicular cancer incidence increased across all SDI quintiles, although mortality reductions were mainly observed in high-SDI settings. Bladder and kidney cancers demonstrated similar epidemiological patterns, with declining mortality trends in high-income regions but persistent or increasing burden in lower-SDI countries. Mortality-to-incidence disparities remained substantial across Latin America and the Caribbean, which may reflect differences in healthcare resources, early detection, treatment availability, or other contextual factors not directly captured in the GBD database. National extremes included Bermuda prostate ASIR 170.63 and Dominica DALYs 1423.30 per 100,000. Conclusions: The burden of genitourinary cancers across the Americas remains strongly associated with socioeconomic inequalities. Although higher-resource settings have achieved important reductions in mortality and disability, these gains have not been equitably distributed across the region. Strengthening health system capacity, improving early diagnosis, and ensuring equitable access to evidence-based cancer care are essential to reduce avoidable mortality and improve long-term outcomes throughout the Americas.

Air pollution associated with public transport systems constitutes a critical yet highly heterogeneous component of urban exposure and represents an important challenge for sustainable urban mobility and environmental health governance. Commuters and transport workers are frequently subjected to pollutant concentrations that exceed those reported by ambient background monitoring networks. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the global scientific literature on air quality in public transport microenvironments—including buses, bus stops, terminals, and underground stations—through a multidimensional analytical framework that considers climatic classification, socio-economic context, meteorological drivers, transport microenvironment typology, sampling strategies, analytical techniques, and exposure metrics. A large body of peer-reviewed studies published worldwide was examined to identify dominant patterns, methodological trends, and persistent knowledge gaps. Across regions, the evidence consistently reports elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and ultrafine particles) and traffic-related gaseous pollutants, particularly within confined or poorly ventilated environments and during peak traffic periods. Marked geographical, climatic, and socio-economic imbalances are evident, with most studies conducted in temperate and tropical climates and in countries with very high or high Human Development Index, whereas arid, continental, and low-HDI regions remain substantially underrepresented. From a methodological perspective, the literature is dominated by short- to intermediate-term monitoring campaigns relying on active sampling, mobile measurements, and increasingly calibrated low-cost sensors, while long-term stationary observations and standardized integrative monitoring frameworks remain scarce. Although advanced analytical approaches—such as chemical characterization, environmental magnetism, receptor modeling, computational fluid dynamics, and inhaled dose assessment—are increasingly applied, their systematic integration remains limited. Overall, this review reveals persistent methodological, geographical, and conceptual gaps and highlights the urgent need for standardized, interdisciplinary, and long-term monitoring strategies to improve exposure assessment and support evidence-based mitigation policies and sustainable urban transport planning aimed at reducing health risks associated with public transport-related air pollution.

Chronic low-grade inflammation, a key driver of diabetes and fatty liver disease, is present in obesity, which affects 2.1 billion adults as of 2021. Plant-derived bioactive peptides have emerged as promising alternatives to treat inflammation in these pathological processes. This study evaluated the effect of pre- and post-ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis on bioactive peptide production and antioxidant activity from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and pumpkin (Cucurbita argyoesperma) seed proteins. Pre-treated hydrolysates were fractionated by molecular weight (Nos-2 and Cox-2 mRNA expression, as well as secreted levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1). These findings indicate that ultrasound treatment, mainly as pre-treatment, represents an effective strategy for producing bioactive peptide hydrolysates with anti-inflammatory properties in vitro that warrant deeper investigation.

Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) maintain lifelong neurogenesis, a fundamental process for neuroplasticity, memory and brain homeostasis. Despite decades of research, translating basic NSC biology into effective clinical therapies remains a central challenge. Here we present a narrative review that provides a comprehensive update on the current landscape of adult NSC research, associating molecular mechanisms with the emerging translational technologies. First, we analyze the biological features and neurogenic sequences within canonical niches such as the subventricular lateral zone and the subgranular zone, emphasizing phylogenetic and migratory differences between rodent models and humans. Second, we integrate these mechanisms with the influence of environmental and pathological modulators, describing how aging, metabolic changes, chronic stress and neuroinflammation disrupt NSC quiescence and lineage progression. Finally, we highlight recent technological advances driving the field toward clinical applications. By examining current NSC isolation strategies, induced pluripotent stem cell modeling, direct somatic reprogramming and the use of CRISPR-Cas9-based gene-editing therapies, this review delineates the pathways to overcome existing methodological limitations. Ultimately, we provide an integrated context that connects the modulation of the neurogenic niches with advanced in vitro technologies, offering new perspectives for regenerative medicine and the treatment of neurological disorders.

Heavy metal contamination of foods remains a persistent global challenge for food safety and public health, driven by industrialization, mining activities, intensive agriculture, and ongoing environmental degradation. This scoping review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature on the occurrence of priority toxic metals—arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel—in food matrices, with emphasis on contamination pathways, analytical detection strategies, and documented human health effects. The reviewed studies reveal widespread accumulation of heavy metals in staple foods, including cereals, vegetables, seafood, and processed products, with concentrations frequently approaching or exceeding international regulatory limits, particularly in regions exposed to strong anthropogenic pressure. Conventional laboratory-based techniques, such as atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma methods, remain the reference standards for quantitative determination and regulatory compliance; however, their application to large-scale or continuous monitoring is often constrained by cost, infrastructure, and operational complexity. Consequently, increasing attention has been directed toward emerging detection approaches, including portable X-Ray fluorescence, Raman/SERS spectroscopy, electrochemical biosensors, electronic tongues, and in situ magnetic measurements, as complementary tools for rapid screening and field-based surveillance. Among these, environmental magnetism and in situ magnetic techniques stand out as non-destructive, low-cost proxies capable of identifying metal-associated particulate contamination linked to food production systems. Chronic dietary exposure to heavy metals is consistently associated with neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and oxidative stress, underscoring the need for integrated, multi-tiered monitoring frameworks to support early detection, risk assessment, and prevention.