Global health diplomacy in Mexico: insights from key actors in the field.

BACKGROUND: Global health diplomacy (GHD) focuses on the actions taken by diverse stakeholders from different nations -governments, multilateral agents, and civil society- to phenomena that can affect population health and its determinants beyond national borders. Although the literature on conceptual advancements of GHD exists, empirical studies about how health becomes an issue of relevance for foreign policy are scarce. We present an analysis of the entry processes of health into the foreign policy and diplomatic domains in Mexico from the perspective of key informants of three different sectors. METHODS: A purposive sample of high-rank representatives of three sectors involved in GHD was designed: Two from Health Sector (HS), four from Foreign Affairs Sector (FAS), and three from Non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted exploring the topics of: (1) Health concerns entering diplomatic and foreign policy; (2) Processes that allow actors to influence foreign policy and negotiation and; (3) Impact of multilateral negotiations on decision-making at the national level. RESULTS: Our analysis suggests that GHD in Mexico is hierarchically driven by the FAS and health concerns only enter foreign policy when they are relevant to national priorities (such as trade or security). HS possesses a lesser degree of influence in GHD, serving as an instance of consultation for the FAS when deciding on health-related issues at global meetings (i.e., World Health Assembly). NGOs resort to lobbying, advocacy, networking, and coalition-working practices with other sectors (academy, think-tanks) to prevent harmful impacts on local health from multilateral decisions and as a mean to compensate its power asymmetry for influencing GHD processes in relation to the government. CONCLUSIONS: GHD in Mexico occurs in a context of asymmetric power relationships where government actors have the strongest influence. However, NGOs' experience in raising awareness of health risks needs to be weighted by government decision-makers. This situation calls for capacity building on intersectoral communication and coordination to create formal mechanisms of GHD practices, including the professionalization and training on GHD among government agencies.

[Assessment of the reliability of food labeling in Chile]. / ¿Podemos confiar en el etiquetado nutricional de los alimentos en Chile?

BACKGROUND: Nutrition labeling is a tool that helps people to make healthy choices when choosing foods and drinks for consumption. Easy to understand information promotes rational choices. However the implementation of this information by industry and their proper use by consumers is complex. A key aspect is the existence of appropriate laws and regulations. Fortunately, Chile has a mandatory guideline for labeling packed food products. Though, the correctness of the information appearing in the label is essential. AIM: To evaluate the veracity of nutritional information appearing on food labels in our country. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We tabulated the information on the labels of over 1,000 packed products and analyzed it using globally accepted tables as reference. We included cereals, vegetables, fruits and juices, nuts, legumes, dairy, fish and shellfish, meat, oils and fats and sweets. RESULTS: Ninety percent of the information appearing in the labels of analyzed products was presumably correct. However, there were great variations among food groups. CONCLUSIONS: This information allowed evaluate the application of the Food Health Regulations reform implemented in 2006, specifically Article 115. The possible improvements to achieve the original aims of the initiative are discussed.

Understanding retort processing: A review.

Retort processing is a food preservation technique to address the challenge posed by Clostridium botulinum for commercial sterility of a food product to get microbiologically safe and stable products by heating. This review aims to explore the journey of retort processing, starting from its early use in single-batch canned foods and progressing to its contemporary applications with different types of containers and heating mediums. Additionally, it will delve into the adaptability of retort equipment, including its ability to operate in stationary and various agitation states, as well as its flexibility in processing speed for both single-batch and continuous operations.

Impacto de la agenesia de incisivos laterales maxilares en la oclusión: revisión bibliográfica

Objetivo: describir el impacto de la agenesia no sindrómica de incisivos laterales maxilares permanentes en la oclusión. Material y método: se realizó una búsqueda de la evidencia disponible de manera electrónica en las bases de datos PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, SciELO y Epistemonikos, con filtro de búsqueda de artículos publicados entre los años 2005 y 2022, y con disponibilidad de texto completo. Resultados: se seleccionaron 9 estudios publicados entre los años 2010 y 2021; 3 estudios genéticos, 4 estudios transversales y 2 revisiones sistemáticas. Conclusión: la agenesia no sindrómica de incisivos laterales maxilares permanentes se relaciona con alteraciones esqueléticas y dentales que inciden en la oclusión dental. Un diagnóstico temprano y un tratamiento oportuno, según las necesidades de cada paciente, son importantes por las repercusiones funcionales y estéticas que genera esta alteración.

Objective: to describe the impact of non-syndromic agenesis of permanent maxillary lateral incisors on occlusion. Material and method: a search of the electronically available evidence was carried out in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, SciELO and Epistemonikos databases, with a search filter for articles published between 2005 and 2022, and with full text availability. Results: 9 studies were selected, published between 2010 and 2021: 3 genetic studies, 4 cross-sectional studies and 2 systematic reviews. Conclusion: Non-syndromic agenesis of permanent maxillary lateral incisors is related to skeletal and dental abnormalities that affect dental occlusion. Because of the functional and aesthetic repercussions of this alteration, early diagnosis and timely treatment, according to the needs of each patient, are essential.

Inverse Associations between a Locally Validated Mediterranean Diet Index, Overweight/Obesity, and Metabolic Syndrome in Chilean Adults.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are key risk factors for chronic disease. Dietary patterns are critical in the incidence and persistence of obesity and MetS, yet there is few data linking diet to obesity and MetS in Chile. Our objective was to use a locally validated diet index to evaluate adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern and its correlations with overweight/obesity (OW/O) and MetS prevalence in Chilean adults. We conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional online survey of Chilean adults with complete self-reported diet and body mass index data (n = 24,882). A subsample of 4348 users (17.5%) had valid MetS data. An inverse association was observed between adherence to Mediterranean diet and OW/O and MetS prevalence. As diet quality decreased from healthy, to moderately-healthy, to unhealthy, prevalence increased from 44.8, 51.1, to 60.9% for OW/O and from 13.4, 18.5, to 28.9% for MetS (p-values < 0.001). Adjusted odds ratios for OW/O and MetS were significantly higher in moderately-healthy (OR = 1.58 and 1.54) and unhealthy (OR = 2.20 and 2.49, respectively) diet groups in comparison to the healthy diet group. This study represents the first report on the relationship between Mediterranean diet and chronic disease risk in Chile. It suggests that the Mediterranean diet may be applied to manage chronic disease risk beyond the Mediterranean basin.