Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Induced by Obesity, Gestational Diabetes, and Preeclampsia in Pregnancy: Role of High-Density Lipoproteins as Vectors for Bioactive Compounds.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are essential components in a myriad of pathogenic entities that lead to metabolic and chronic diseases. Moreover, inflammation in its different phases is necessary for the initiation and maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. Therefore, an equilibrium between a necessary/pathologic level of inflammation and oxidative stress during pregnancy is needed to avoid disease development. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are important for a healthy pregnancy and a good neonatal outcome. Their role in fetal development during challenging situations is vital for maintaining the equilibrium. However, in certain conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and other cardiovascular diseases, it has been observed that HDL loses its protective properties, becoming dysfunctional. Bioactive compounds have been widely studied as mediators of inflammation and oxidative stress in different diseases, but their mechanisms of action are still unknown. Nonetheless, these agents, which are obtained from functional foods, increase the concentration of HDL, TRC, and antioxidant activity. Therefore, this review first summarizes several mechanisms of HDL participation in the equilibrium between inflammation and oxidative stress. Second, it gives an insight into how HDL may act as a vector for bioactive compounds. Third, it describes the relationships between the inflammation process in pregnancy and HDL activity. Consequently, different databases were used, including MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus, where scientific articles published in the English language up to 2023 were identified.

[Parenting stress, maternal feeding styles related to preschooler body mass index]. / Estrés de la crianza, estilos maternos de alimentación y su relación con el índice de masa corporal del preescolar.

Introduction: Introduction: excess weight in childhood is influenced by multiple factors; parenting could contribute to this problem, given that during the infant stage the parents, and mainly the mother, are responsible for providing food and feeding their children. Objective: to explore the relationship of parenting stress and maternal feeding styles with preschool BMI. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional study. A total of 382 dyads, mother and child (3-5 years of age) participated. The children attended public preschool institutions. Participating mothers completed the Parenting Stress Scale and the Caregiver Feeding Styles Questionnaire. Weight and height were measured, and the child's BMI was calculated. Results: 34 % of the mothers more frequently used an indulgent style, 28.2 % of the preschool children had overweight-obese. Mothers with an authoritative style had the highest mean range of parenting stress compared to other categories (H = 15.302, gl = 3, p = 0.002). Maternal schooling, responsibility and demand dimensions were identified as contributing to preschooler BMI. Conclusion: parenting stress and feeding styles are variables that contribute to the risk of overweight-obesity in prescho.

Introducción: Introducción: el exceso de peso en la infancia se ve influenciado por múltiples factores; la crianza podría contribuir a este problema, dado que durante la etapa infantil son los padres y principalmente la madre los responsables de proporcionar alimento y de alimentar a sus hijos. Objetivo: explorar la relación del estrés de la crianza y los estilos maternos de alimentación con el IMC del hijo preescolar. Materiales y métodos: estudio transversal. Participaron 382 díadas madre e hijo, los últimos de 3-5 años. Los hijos asistían a instituciones públicas de educación preescolar. Las madres participantes contestaron la Escala de Estrés de la Crianza y el Cuestionario de Estilos de Alimentación del Cuidador. Se midió peso, talla y se calculó el IMC del preescolar. Resultados: el 34 % de las madres utilizaban con mayor frecuencia un estilo indulgente y el 28,2 % de los hijos preescolares tenía sobrepeso-obesidad. Las madres con estilo autoritario presentaban el rango promedio más alto de estrés de la crianza comparado con las otras categorías (H = 15,302, gl = 3, p = 0,002). Se identificó que la escolaridad materna, la dimensión de la responsabilidad y la demanda contribuyen al IMC del hijo preescolar. Conclusión: el estrés de la crianza y los estilos de alimentación son variables que contribuyen al riesgo de sobrepeso-obesidad en los hijos preescolares.

Applications and Pharmacological Properties of Cactus Pear (Opuntia spp.) Peel: A Review.

Nowadays, there is a growing interest in the exploitation of by-products from fruits and vegetables, generated from industrial processing or human feeding. Residues of popularly consumed fruits such as orange, lemon, banana, pomegranate, among others, have been widely described and studied; however, cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) residues, as a locally consumed product, have been forgotten. The whole fruit can be divided into the edible portion (pulp) and the non-edible portion (seeds and peel). Several studies mainly focus on the characteristics of the edible portion or in the whole fruit, ignoring by-products such as peels, which are rich in compounds such as phenols, flavonoids and dietary fiber; they have also been proposed as an alternative source of lipids, carbohydrates and natural colorants. Some uses of the peel have been reported as a food additives, food supplements, as a source of pectins and for wastewater treatment; however, there have not been any deep investigations of the characteristics and potential uses of the cactus pear peel (CPP). The aim of the present paper is to provide an overview of the current research on CPP. CPP has many bio-active compounds that may provide health benefits and may also be useful in pharmaceutical, food and manufacturing industries; however, greater research is needed in order to gain thorough knowledge of the possibilities of this by-product.

[Confirmatory factor analysis of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire in Mexican mothers of preschool children]. / Análisis factorial confirmatorio del Cuestionario Integral de Prácticas de Alimentación en madres mexicanas de niños preescolares.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: identifying maternal attitudes and behaviors related to child feeding could be difficult since the underlying constructs are abstract and complex. Different questionnaires have been used to identify these constructs: one of the most widely used is the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ), which had been validated in different populations. However, no previous study ever validated the CFPQ in Mexican mothers. Material and methods: a process of cultural adaptation was done to adapt the CFPQ to Mexican mothers, and subsequently a confirmatory factor analysis was done. A total of 300 mother-preschooler pairs participated. Weight and height were measured and the nutritional status was obtained. Results: the CFPQ is a useful questionnaire to identify child feeding practices, since the model's goodness of fit indices were acceptable (CFI = 0.943, TLI = 0.937, NFI = 0.874 and RMSEA = 0.042), as was the internal consistency of the CFPQ. Conclusion: the CFPQ version that was translated into Spanish and adapted to Mexican mothers demonstrated significant internal reliability, and therefore is useful to identify and describe maternal child-feeding practices.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: identificar las actitudes y comportamientos de las madres en relación con la alimentación infantil puede resultar difícil ya que los constructos subyacentes son abstractos y complejos. Para identificar estos constructos se han utilizado diferentes cuestionarios: uno de los más utilizados es el Cuestionario Integral de Prácticas de Alimentación (CIPA), que se ha validado en diferentes poblaciones. Sin embargo, ningún estudio previo ha validado el CIPA en madres mexicanas. Material y métodos: se realizó un proceso de adaptación transcultural para adecuar el CIPA a las madres mexicanas y, posteriormente, se ejecutó un análisis factorial confirmatorio. Participaron 300 diadas madre-hijo/a en edad preescolar. Se realizaron mediciones del peso y la talla del preescolar y se obtuvo el estado nutricio. Resultados: el CIPA es un cuestionario útil para identificar las prácticas de alimentación infantil dado que los índices de bondad de ajuste del modelo fueron aceptables (CFI = 0,943, TLI = 0,937, NFI = 0,874 y RMSEA = 0,042), así como la consistencia interna. Conclusión: la versión del CIPA traducida al español y adaptada a las madres mexicanas demostró una fiabilidad interna significativa, por lo cual resulta útil para identificar y describir las prácticas maternas de alimentación infantil.

[Analysis of the psychometric properties of the Eating Behavior Self-efficacy Scale in Mexican adolescents]. / Análisis de las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Autoeficacia de la Conducta Alimentaria en adolescentes mexicanos.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: self-efficacy plays an important role in eating behaviors; for example, excess weight is associated with low EC and poor nutrition. The Eating Behavior Self-Efficacy Scale (EACA) identifies the ability to control the intake of healthy, and of high-calorie foods. Objective: to evaluate the psychometric properties of EACA in adolescents residing in northeast Mexico, and to analyze the relationship of self-efficacy with sex, age, and nutritional status of participants. Methods: confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed, and both reliability (internal consistency) and convergent validity of EACA were analyzed. A total of 467 adolescents who were studying the 7th to 9th grade of basic education, and who were residents in northeast Mexico were enrolled. Results: the goodness-of-fit indices of the proposed model were acceptable: CMIN/DF = 2.831; CFI = 0.952; GFI = 0.931; AGFI = 0.905; SRMS = 0.318, and RMSEA = 0.063), as was internal consistency (α = 0.90). Mean age was 13.54 years (SD = 0.93), and weight ranged from 30.9 to 130.4 kg (SD = 13.33). Conclusions: the CFA of the proposed model has a high internal consistency, and the four-factor structure has an adequate fit. It can be used to measure self-efficacy in relation to eating behavior in Mexican adolescents. It is recommended to test this model in similar populations.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: la autoeficacia (AE) desempeña un rol importante en las conductas relacionadas con la alimentación; por ejemplo, el exceso de peso se asocia con una baja AE y una alimentación inadecuada. La Escala de Autoeficacia de la Conducta de Alimentación (EACA) permite identificar la capacidad de control de la ingesta de alimentos saludables y de alimentos altamente calóricos. Objetivo: evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la EACA en adolescentes residentes en el noreste de México y analizar la relación de la AE con el sexo, la edad y el estado nutricional de los participantes. Métodos: se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) y se analizaron la fiabilidad (consistencia interna) y la validez convergente de la EACA. Participaron 467 adolescentes que cursaban entre el 7º y el 9º grado de educación básica, residentes en el noreste de México. Resultados: los índices de bondad del ajuste del modelo propuesto fueron aceptables: (CMIN/DF = 2,831; CFI = 0,952; GFI = 0,931; AGFI = 0,905; SRMS = 0,318 y RMSEA = 0,063), así como la consistencia interna (α = 0,90). La edad promedio era de 13,54 años (DE = 0,93) y el peso oscilaba entre 30,9 y 130,4 kg (DE = 13,33). Conclusiones: el AFC del modelo propuesto tiene una consistencia interna alta y la estructura factorial de cuatro factores tiene un ajuste adecuado. Puede utilizarse para medir la AE en relación con la conducta de alimentación de los adolescentes mexicanos. Se recomienda contrastar este modelo en poblaciones similares.