The Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (Spanish: [uniβeɾsiˈðað awˈtonoma ðe ɣwaðalaˈxaɾa] (listen), Autonomous University of Guadalajara), commonly abbreviated to UAG or Autónoma, is a coeducational, independent, private university based in the Mexican city of Guadalajara. Established in 1935, it was the first private university and medical school in Mexico. The creation of the university was a conservative response to a more-left wing direction being taken in Mexico in public higher education at the time. It was first conceived with the name Universidad del Occidente (University of the West), but would later be styled to Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG).Established University in the Community (UNICO) was the first community college in Mexico. It also operates an elementary school, two middle schools, and three high schools and postgraduate studies. The university has become one of the most important educational institutions in Latin America, attracting students from 25 different countries.
Background: The Allium cepa test is a widely used, cost-effective, and versatile model for assessing cytogenotoxicity. Cytotoxicity is determined through changes in root growth and the mitotic index, while genotoxicity is identified through chromosomal aberrations such as breaks, bridges, and micronuclei. Objective: To synthesize the methodological principles, applications, and interpretation of the assay’s endpoints, with emphasis on environmental monitoring, nanotoxicology, and the evaluation of emerging materials. Methods: An exploratory analytical approach was applied to identify and compare studies employing the Allium cepa assay across different contexts. The literature, selected from scientific databases, was organized to highlight methodological diversity and biomarker performance. Conclusions: Compared with other models, Allium cepa stands out for its simplicity, the availability of multiple cytogenotoxic markers, and its minimal ethical constraints, making it especially suitable for research in low-infrastructure settings. Future studies should work toward the international standardization of methodologies, the integration of this model with molecular and omics-based approaches, and its incorporation into predictive frameworks for environmental and human health risk assessment. In an increasingly complex toxicological landscape, Allium cepa emerges as a pivotal tool for enhancing toxicological surveillance and safeguarding biological systems.
Background: Aging exerts a progressive and multifaceted impact on the microcirculatory system, undermining the structural and molecular integrity that sustains endothelial stability across both peripheral and cerebral vascular territories. A sustained shift toward oxidative imbalance, chronic low-grade inflammation, and progressive endothelial exhaustion converges to destabilize microvascular networks, linking peripheral artery disease (PAD) with heightened susceptibility to cerebral microvascular dysfunction and neurovascular decline. As redox homeostasis deteriorates, endothelial cells progressively lose barrier-selective properties, intercellular communication with pericytes weakens, and pro-thrombotic tendencies subtly emerge, creating a permissive environment for early neurovascular injury and impaired cerebrovascular resilience. Methods: This narrative review integrates mechanistic evidence derived from experimental, clinical, and translational studies examining the interplay between oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling cascades, endothelial senescence, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption across peripheral and cerebral microvascular systems. A comparative framework was applied to PAD and cerebral microcirculatory pathology to identify convergent molecular drivers and systemic mechanisms underlying endothelial deterioration. Results: Accumulating evidence demonstrates that oxidative stress disrupts endothelial mitochondrial function, compromises tight junction architecture, and accelerates angiogenic failure. Concurrent inflammatory activation amplifies these alterations through cytokine-mediated endothelial activation, enhanced leukocyte adhesion, and promotion of a pro-thrombotic microenvironment. Progressive endothelial senescence consolidates these insults into a persistent state of microvascular dysfunction characterized by diminished nitric oxide bioavailability, capillary rarefaction, and compromised barrier integrity. Notably, these pathological features are shared between PAD and the aging cerebral circulation, reinforcing the concept of a unified systemic microvascular aging phenotype. Conclusions: Microvascular failure in the aging brain should be understood as an extension of systemic endothelial deterioration driven by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and senescence-associated vascular exhaustion. Recognizing the shared molecular architecture linking peripheral and cerebral microcirculatory dysfunction offers a strategic framework for developing targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring endothelial resilience, stabilizing BBB integrity, and preserving neurovascular homeostasis in aging populations.
Medical students experience fluctuations in their motivation, influenced by various factors, including curricular rigor, mental health, and institutional factors. Based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the Four Pillars of Academic Engagement (HPEE), this study, conducted at a private Mexican university, examined motivational variation according to academic year, curricular impact, gender differences, and its relationship with mental health. METHODS:A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted using qualitative tools for contextualization (n = 1326). Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, logistic regression, and psychological network analysis were performed. RESULTS:Motivation showed cross-sectional variation: high in preclinical years 1 and 2, decreasing in clinical years 3 and 4 (p < 0.001), and rebounding in year 6. The reformed curriculum (elective subjects, student-centered active learning) resulted in greater motivation (OR = 10.68, p < 0.001). Women tended to have slightly higher motivation (p = 0.050), higher grade point averages (p < 0.001), but also greater stress (p < 0.001). Network analysis revealed that intrinsic achievement (centrality = 1.11) and curiosity about knowledge (predictability = 84.5%) are the main drivers, while demotivation was linked to the later years. The qualitative part of the study showed altruism/curiosity as the main motivators; mistreatment/workload (demotivators). CONCLUSIONS:Motivation is context-sensitive, peaks in the preclinical stage, and recovers with autonomy but is vulnerable during clinical immersion. Autonomy in course selection, active student-centered pedagogies, and gender-sensitive support foster sustained participation. The centrality of intrinsic factors in the network highlights that achievement motivation and knowledge are general and independent motivators. Qualitative data reveal systemic barriers. Stage-specific interventions, such as mentoring, student support programs, and reporting mistreatment, can be crucial for strengthening resilience and performance. Longitudinal and multi-institutional studies are needed to validate the causality and generalizability of this study.
Background: Aging is traditionally characterized by progressive structural and cognitive decline; however, increasing evidence shows that the aging brain retains a remarkable capacity for reorganization. This adaptive neuroplasticity supports cognitive resilience—defined as the ability to maintain efficient cognitive performance despite age-related neural vulnerability. Objective: To synthesize current molecular, cellular, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological neuromarkers that characterize adaptive neuroplasticity and to examine how these mechanisms contribute to cognitive resilience across aging. Methods: This narrative review integrates findings from molecular neuroscience, multimodal neuroimaging (fMRI, DTI, PET), electrophysiology (EEG, MEG, TMS), and behavioral research to outline multiscale biomarkers associated with compensatory and efficient neural reorganization in older adults. Results: Adaptive neuroplasticity emerges from the coordinated interaction of neurotrophic signaling (BDNF, CREB, IGF-1), glial modulation (astrocytic lactate metabolism, regulated microglial activity), synaptic remodeling, and neurovascular support (VEGF, nitric oxide). Multimodal neuromarkers—including preserved frontoparietal connectivity, DMN–FPCN coupling, synaptic density (SV2A-PET), theta–gamma coherence, and LTP-like excitability—consistently correlate with resilience in executive functions, memory, and processing speed. Behavioral enrichment, physical activity, and cognitive training further enhance these biomarkers, creating a bidirectional loop between experience and neural adaptability. Conclusions: Adaptive neuroplasticity represents a fundamental mechanism through which older adults maintain cognitive function despite biological aging. Integrating molecular, imaging, electrophysiological, and behavioral neuromarkers provides a comprehensive framework to identify resilience trajectories and to guide personalized interventions aimed at preserving cognition. Understanding these multilevel adaptive mechanisms reframes aging not as passive decline but as a dynamic continuum of biological compensation and cognitive preservation.
The intensive use of agricultural inputs and the increasing incorporation of nano-materials into crop management practices raise concerns about their ecotoxicological interactions in plant systems. This study evaluated phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity in Allium cepa L. under experimental nano-agrochemical exposure scenarios combining two conventional nitrogen fertilizers-ammonium sulfate (AS) and urea-with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Biological responses were assessed across fertilizer concentrations (0.03-0.5 g/L), applied individually, simultaneously, and sequentially, to identify modulatory effects of AgNPs on plant proliferative activity and genomic stability. Results showed the relative stability of morphophysiological indicators associated with root growth, whereas cytogenetic biomarkers exhibited selective alterations under specific conditions. Significant increases in genetic damage markers were detected at intermediate ammonium sulfate concentrations, suggesting sublethal phytotoxicity windows not reflected by macroscopic growth parameters. In addition, modulation of the mitotic index and absence of generalized genotoxic effects in most combined or sequential treatments indicate that AgNPs primarily acted as modulators of proliferative responses rather than direct cytotoxic agents. Overall, these findings highlight the dynamic and non-linear nature of nano-agrochemical interactions in plant systems and underscore the importance of multibiomarker approaches for the early detection of genomic instability. The results provide experimental evidence relevant to the environmental risk assessment of nano-enabled fertilization strategies under realistic mixed-exposure scenarios. This study contributes to advancing the ecotoxicological understanding of emerging agricultural technologies and supports the need for further mechanistic research and field-based evaluations to guide the safe and sustainable use of nanomaterials in crop production.
