A phase 3b study of venetoclax and azacitidine or decitabine in an outpatient setting in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Venetoclax, a highly selective BCL-2 inhibitor, combined with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) azacitidine or decitabine, is approved for the treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (ND AML) in patients who are ineligible to receive intensive chemotherapy. Previous clinical studies initiated venetoclax plus HMA in an inpatient setting owing to concerns of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). This study (NCT03941964) evaluated the efficacy and safety of venetoclax plus HMA in a United States community-based outpatient setting in patients with ND AML (N = 60) who were treatment naïve for AML, ineligible to receive intensive chemotherapy, had no evidence of spontaneous TLS at screening, and were deemed as appropriate candidates for outpatient initiation of venetoclax plus HMA by the investigator. Patients received venetoclax in combination with azacitidine (75 mg/m2) or decitabine (20 mg/m2) for up to 6 cycles during the study. With a median time on study of 18.3 weeks, the best response rate of composite complete remission was 66.7%, and the overall post-baseline red blood cell (RBC) and platelet transfusion independence rate was 55.0%, consistent with results of studies in which treatment was initiated in an inpatient setting. Key adverse events included nausea, anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and white blood cell count decrease of any grade (≥50% of patients). The observed safety profile was generally consistent with that of venetoclax plus HMA observed in inpatient AML studies. With close monitoring, 2 cases of TLS were identified, appropriately managed, and the patients were able to continue study treatment. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The registration identification number is NCT03941964.

Active chiral dynamics and boundary accumulation phenomenon in confined camphor particles.

In this work, we perform experimental and numerical investigations on the dynamics of camphor-infused discs, well-established as active particles in their behavior. Our analysis focuses on examining the individual dynamics of these discs within a confined circular domain, revealing that they exhibit characteristics akin to active chiral particles. To characterize this behavior effectively, we introduce a methodology for estimating key model parameter values from our experiments, including linear velocity, angular velocity, and angular noise intensity. To validate our findings, we compare our experimental results with numerical simulations of the model. Our results demonstrate a striking phenomenon associated with camphor-infused discs: a pronounced accumulation of particles along the boundary. This intriguing observation suggests the occurrence of an attractive interaction between the active particles and the boundary, resulting in a kind of adsorption effect. The latter results in the confinement of the camphor disc along the Petri dish wall, which we refer to as sliding dynamics. We empirically determine the velocity of the particle along the Petri dish wall as well as its fluctuations, properties whose behavior notably deviates from the bulk dynamics.

The dynamic landscapes of RNA architecture.

A wealth of information on RNA folding and ribonucleoprotein assembly has emerged from analyses of structures and from the use of innovative biophysical tools. Although integrating data obtained from static structures with dynamic measurements presents major challenges, such efforts are opening new vistas on the RNA folding landscape.

Expanding on expansus: a new species of Scaphanocephalus from North America and the Caribbean based on molecular and morphological data.

Members of the genus Scaphanocephalus mature in accipitrids, particularly osprey, Pandion haliaetus, with metacercaria causing Black Spot Syndrome in reef fishes. In most of the world, only the type species, Scaphanocephalus expansus (Creplin, 1842) has been reported. Recent molecular studies in the Western Atlantic, Mediterranean and Persian Gulf reveal multiple species of Scaphanocephalus, but have relied on 28S rDNA, mainly from metacercariae, which limits both morphological identification and resolution of closely related species. Here we combine nuclear rDNA with mitochondrial sequences from adult worms collected in osprey across North America and the Caribbean to describe species and elucidate life cycles in Scaphanocephalus. A new species described herein can be distinguished from S. expansus based on overall body shape and size. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole mitochondrial genome of Scaphanocephalus indicates a close relationship with Cryptocotyle. We conclude that at least 3 species of Scaphanocephalus are present in the Americas and 2 others are in the Old World. Specimens in the Americas have similar or identical 28S to those in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, but amphi-Atlantic species are unlikely in light of divergence in cytochrome c oxidase I and the lack of amphi-Atlantic avian and fish hosts. Our results provide insight into the geographic distribution and taxonomy of a little-studied trematode recently linked to an emerging pathology in ecologically important reef fishes.

Novel Management of Ocular Surface Inflammation in Patients With Ocular Graft-Versus-Host Disease in the Setting of Cataract Surgery.

PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of cataract surgery in patients with ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) using a novel preoperative immunomodulatory regimen in a collaborative subspecialty care setting. METHODS: Retrospective case series of patients with oGVHD who underwent cataract surgery using a novel preoperative immunomodulatory regimen in a collaborative care setting. A preoperative regimen consisting of pooled human immune globulin 1%, autologous serum 50%, and methylprednisolone 1% eye drops was prescribed. Outcome measures included visual acuity (VA), ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, lissamine green staining, and complications with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-five eyes from 20 patients with oGVHD were studied. The mean age was 59 years (range 30-70 years). A healthy comparison group included 35 eyes from 24 patients with a mean age of 63 years (range 44-74 years). At the 2-year follow-up, the mean corneal staining score was 2.3/15, the mean OSDI score was 37.5, and the mean VA was 20/30 (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution 0.17). The global complication rate was 2.8% at the last follow-up with no difference versus a healthy comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: A collaborative care model improving ocular surface health before cataract surgery with dry eye and cataract subspecialists can optimize outcomes in patients with oGVHD.

Social innovation in health training to engage researchers in resource-limited settings: process description and evaluation.

Research on social innovations in health has increased in recent years. However, little training is geared toward enhancing social innovation research capacity. Most health training for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is developed by individuals in high-income countries, disregarding LMIC researchers' wisdom and insights and the communities' needs. Our team organized a multi-phase investigation involving a series of surveys and co-creation group discussions to assess individuals' training needs that directly informed a subsequent co-created training workshop series. We conducted a Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Assessment among the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) network and formed a co-creation group comprising SIHI fellows to design related training workshops. We ran a final evaluation survey and analyzed the workshop series' strengths, weaknesses and threats. Descriptive and thematic analysis were employed to analyze survey data and open-ended responses. The final evaluation survey captured data from 165 learners in 35 countries, including 26 LMICs. Most participants (67.3%, 111/165) rated the training workshop series as excellent, and 30.3% (50/165) rated it as good on a five-point scale. The need for writing research grants and manuscripts was rated the highest priority. Learners were interested in community-engaged research and diversity, equity and inclusion. This workshop illustrated how co-creation could be an effective tool for developing training materials tailored for LMIC researchers. We also offer a template for conducting a needs assessment and subsequent training workshops for LMICs. The ground-up, locally developed courses may be more effective than externally developed training programs intended for LMICs.

Impact of previous percutaneous coronary intervention on angiographic and clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if previous PCI in patients with STEMI increases the risk of major cardiovascular events, and if final epicardial blood flow differs according to the reperfusion strategy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, longitudinal, comparative sub-study of the PHASE-MX trial that included patients with STEMI and reperfusion within 12 hours of symptom onset, who were classified according to their history of PCI. The occurrence of the composite primary endpoint (cardiovascular death, re-infarction, congestive heart failure and cardiogenic shock) within 30 days was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier estimates, log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. Epicardial blood flow was assessed using the TIMI grading system after reperfusion. RESULTS: A total of 935 patients were included; 85.6% were males and 6.9% had a history of PCI; 53% underwent pharmacoinvasive therapy, and 47%, primary PCI. The incidence of the composite primary endpoint at 30 days in patients with a history of PCI was 9.8% vs 13.3% in those with no previous PCI (p = 0.06). Among the patients with previous PCI, 87.1% reached a final TIMI grade 3 flow after primary PCI vs. 75% in the group with pharmacoinvasive strategy (p = 0.235). CONCLUSIONS: A history of PCI does not increase the risk of major cardiovascular events at 30 days; however, it impacted negatively on the final angiographic blood flow of patients that received pharmacoinvasive therapy (compared to primary PCI).

ANTECEDENTES: El pronóstico de los pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (IAMCEST) y antecedente de intervención coronaria percutánea (ICP) es incierto. Objetivos: Evaluar si la ICP previa en pacientes con IAMCEST incrementa el riesgo de eventos cardiovasculares mayores y si el flujo final epicárdico varía según la estrategia de reperfusión. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Subestudio de PHASE-MX, observacional, longitudinal y comparativo, de pacientes con IAMCEST reperfundidos en menos de 12 horas de iniciados los síntomas, divididos conforme el antecedente de ICP. El acaecimiento del criterio de valoración principal (muerte cardiovascular, reinfarto, insuficiencia cardíaca y choque cardiogénico) dentro de los 30 días se comparó con estimaciones de Kaplan-Meier, prueba de rangos logarítmicos y modelo de riesgos proporcionales de Cox. El flujo epicárdico final se evaluó con el sistema de clasificación del flujo TIMI después de la reperfusión. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 935 pacientes, 85.6 % del sexo masculino, 6.9 % de los cuales tenía antecedente de ICP; 53 % recibió terapia farmacoinvasiva y 47 %, ICP primaria. La incidencia del criterio de valoración principal en pacientes con ICP previa fue de 9.8 % versus 13.3 % en aquellos sin ese antecedente (p = 0.06); 87.1 % de los pacientes con ICP previa obtuvo flujo final de grado TIMI 3 versus 75 % del grupo con estrategia farmacoinvasiva (p = 0.235). CONCLUSIONES: El antecedente de ICP no incrementa el riesgo de eventos cardiovasculares mayores a los 30 días en pacientes con IAMCEST; sin embargo, impacta negativamente en el flujo sanguíneo angiográfico final de los pacientes que recibieron terapia farmacoinvasiva (en comparación con ICP primaria).

Is immediate weight bearing safe for subtrochanteric femur fractures in elderly patients treated by cephalomedullary nailing? A multicentric study in one hundred eighty-two patients.

PURPOSE: Biomechanical superiority of intramedullary nails over extramedullary implants has been proved for subtrochanteric fractures. Nevertheless, postoperative management of these patients has not changed, with high rates of protected weight-bearing after intramedullary nailing. The purpose of this study is to determine the mechanical complications of immediate postoperative full weigh-bearing for subtrochanteric femur fractures in elderly patients treated with a cephalomedullary nail. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case series study from patients treated with a cephalomedullary nail for subtrochanteric fractures (AO/OTA 31A.3 and 32A-32C) over a nine-year period. Patients in the immediate full weight-bearing (IFWB) group received orders for immediate full weight bear as tolerated on postoperative 48 h. Patients in the non- or limited- weight-bearing (NLWB) group received orders not to full weight bear in the immediate postoperative. RESULTS: There were five (2.7%) cases of implant failure including four cutouts and one nail breakage that needed a reoperation. Of them, one (2.2%) followed the NLWB protocol and four (2.9%) followed the IFWB protocol. Mean length of stay was 7.9 days (median 8, range 3-21) in the NLWB group and 10.7 days (median 8, range 2-60) in the IWBAT group. The NLWB group observed a 2.8-day shorter postoperative length of stay when compared to the IFWB, but the median remained equal. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that geriatric patients with subtrochanteric fractures treated by intramedullary nailing and in which a good fracture reduction was achieved, may be able to tolerate immediate postoperative full weight-bearing, not increasing reoperation rates due to implant failure.

Outcomes of lung and liver transplantation after simultaneous recovery using abdominal normothermic regional perfusion in donors after the circulatory determination of death versus donors after brain death.

Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) in controlled donation after the circulatory determination of death (cDCD) is a growing preservation technique for abdominal organs that coexists with the rapid recovery of lungs. We aimed to describe the outcomes of lung transplantation (LuTx) and liver transplantation (LiTx) when both grafts are simultaneously recovered from cDCD donors using NRP and compare them with grafts recovered from donation after brain death (DBD) donors. All LuTx and LiTx meeting these criteria during January 2015 to December 2020 in Spain were included in the study. Simultaneous recovery of lungs and livers was undertaken in 227 (17%) donors after cDCD with NRP and 1879 (21%) DBD donors (P < .001). Primary graft dysfunction grade-3 within the first 72 hours was similar in both LuTx groups (14.7% cDCD vs. 10.5% DBD; P = .139). LuTx survival at 1 and 3 years was 79.9% and 66.4% in cDCD vs. 81.9% and 69.7% in DBD (P = .403). The incidence of primary nonfunction and ischemic cholangiopathy was similar in both LiTx groups. Graft survival at 1 and 3 years was 89.7% and 80.8% in cDCD vs. 88.2% and 82.1% in DBD LiTx (P = .669). In conclusion, the simultaneous rapid recovery of lungs and preservation of abdominal organs with NRP in cDCD donors is feasible and offers similar outcomes in both LuTx and LiTx recipients to transplants using DBD grafts.

Arrhythmias induced by dextrose-insulin challenge test in nondiagnostic Brugada ECG patterns.

INTRODUCTION: Dynamic ECG changes in Brugada syndrome (BrS) are influenced by several factors, may not be apparent, and can be unmasked by a drug test. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four of six patients with nondiagnostic Brugada ECG index patterns underwent a dextrose-insulin challenge test that resulted in J-ST segment elevation and triggered arrhythmias. CONCLUSION: Insulin action may be due in part to an outward shift in the K+ current at the end of action potential phase 1 and the dispersion of repolarization, leading to local re-entry with arrhythmogenicity. This effect is likely a phenomenon-specific to BrS.

Dynamic Invasive Hemodynamic Congestion Profile Impacts Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock Outcomes: A Real-World Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock (CS) commonly complicates the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and it results in high mortality rates. Pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) monitoring can be valuable for personalizing critical-care interventions. We hypothesized that patients with AMI-CS experiencing persistent congestion measures during the first 24 hours of the PAC installment would exhibit worse in-hospital survival rates. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 295 patients with AMI-CS between January 2006 and December 2021. The first 24-hour PAC-derived hemodynamic measures were divided by the congestion profiling and the proposed 2022 Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) classification. Biventricular congestion was the most common profile and was associated with the highest patient mortality rates at all time points (mean 56.6%). A persistent congestive profile was associated with increased mortality rates (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.85; P = 0.002) compared with patients who achieved decongestive profiles. Patients with SCAI stages D/E had higher levels of right atrial pressure (RAP): 14-15 mmHg) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP): 18-20 mmHg) compared with stage C (RAP, 10-11 mmHg, mean difference 3-5 mmHg; P < 0.001; PCWP 14-17 mmHg; mean difference 1.56-4 mmHg; P = 0.011). In SCAI stages D/E, the pulmonary artery pulsatility index (0.8-1.19) was lower than in those with grade C (1.29-1.63; mean difference 0.21-0.73; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous congestion profiling using the SCAI classification matched the grade of hemodynamic severity and the increased risk of in-hospital death. Early decongestion appears to be an important prognostic and therapeutic goal in patients with AMI-CS and warrants further study.

A Complex Reaction Network Model for Spontaneous Mirror Symmetry Breaking in Viedma Deracemizations.

Attrition-enhanced chiral symmetry breaking in crystals, known as Viedma deracemization, is a promising method for converting racemic solid phases into enantiomerically pure ones under non-equilibrium conditions. However, many aspects of this process remain unclear. In this study, we present a new investigation into Viedma deracemization using a comprehensive kinetic rate equation continuous model based on classical primary nucleation theory, crystal growth, and Ostwald ripening. Our approach employs a fully microreversible kinetic scheme with a size-dependent solubility following the Gibbs-Thomson rule. To validate our model, we use data from a real NaClO3 deracemization experiment. After parametrization, the model shows spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking (SMSB) under grinding. Additionally, we identify a bifurcation scenario with a lower and upper limit of the grinding intensity that leads to deracemization, including a minimum deracemization time within this window. Furthermore, this model uncovers that SMSB is caused by multiple instances of concealed high-order autocatalysis. Our findings provide new insights into attrition-enhanced deracemization and its potential applications in chiral molecule synthesis and understanding biological homochirality.

Zwitterion-neutral form equilibria and binding selectivity of pyridineboronic acids.

A 11B NMR study of 3-pyridineboronic acid at variable pH in water and 50 vol% aqueous dioxane confirms that the tautomeric equilibrium of the acid is shifted to the zwitterionic form in water, but to the molecular form in the mixed organic solvent. Interactions of 3- and 4-pyridineboronic acids with sialic acid, fructose and several other diols were studied by potentiometric titrations in a wide range of pH in water and water-organic mixtures. In all reaction media the stability of boronate complexes increases upon an increase in pH for neutral low acidic diols such as fructose and glucose but has the opposite trend for highly acidic sialic and lactic acids occurring as anionic species. The selectivity of pyridineboronic acids to sialate anions in an acidic medium is interpreted quantitatively by combining the pH-profiles with Brønsted type correlations for binding constants. In addition, mathematical expressions allowing one to predict the optimum pKa value of a boronic acid for the strongest binding of a given diol (sialic acid or fructose) at a given pH are suggested. The shifts in the tautomeric equilibrium induced by changing the solvent polarity in aqueous-organic mixtures are manifested in the magnitude of relative shifts of pKa of pyridineboronic acids induced by diol complexation.

Evidence of natural selection and dominance of SARS-CoV-2 variant Lambda (C.37) over variants of concern in Cusco, Peru.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineage C.37 (Lambda) has spread rapidly in Peru and other Latin American countries. However, most studies in Peru have focused on Lima, the capital city, without knowing the dynamics of the spread of the variant in other departments. Cusco, Peru, is one of the most popular departments in the country for tourists, so the introduction of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 might occur despite closure of the borders. Therefore, in this work, we analyzed the variants circulating in Cusco. The aim of this work was to better understand the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Cusco and to characterize the genomes of these strains. To this end, 46 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from vaccinated and unvaccinated patients were sequenced in the first half of 2021. The genomes were analyzed using phylogenetic and natural selection methods. Phylogenetic trees from Cusco showed dominance of the Lambda lineage over the variants of concern (VOCs), and there was no clustering of variants by district. Natural selection analysis revealed mutations, mainly in the spike protein, at positions 75, 246, 247, 707, 769, and 1020. In addition, we found that unvaccinated patients accumulated more new mutations than did vaccinated patients, and these included the F101Y mutation in ORF7a, E419A in NSP3, a deletion in S (21,618-22,501), and a deletion in ORF3a (25,437-26,122).

Spontaneous Deracemizations.

Spontaneous deracemizations is a challenging, multidisciplinary subject in current chirality research. In the absence of any chiral inductors, an achiral substance or a racemic composition is driven into an enantioenriched or even homochiral state through a selective energy input, e.g., chemical potential, photoirradiation, mechanical grinding, ultrasound waves, thermal gradients, etc. The most prominent examples of such transformations are the Soai reaction and the Viedma deracemization. In this review, we track the most recent developments in this topic and recall that many other deracemizations have been reported for solutions from mesophases to conglomerate crystallizations. A compiled set of simply available achiral organic, inorganic, organometallic, and MOF compounds, yielding conglomerate crystals, should give the impetus to realize new experiments on spontaneous deracemizations. Taking into account thermodynamic constraints, modeling efforts have shown that structural features alone are not sufficient to describe spontaneous deracemizations. As a guideline of this review, particular attention is paid to the physicochemical origin and symmetry requirements of such processes.

Treatment of salt from hides curing stage by electrocoagulation for use in the pickling stage of the tanning industry.

The raw materials for the tanning industry, namely hides and skins, are preserved (curing stage) and carried with common salt, i.e., sodium chloride (NaCl). Proceeding to conversion into leather, pickling is a key stage of the tannery process, which entails high demand of water and salt. In this work, the salt-derived brine (SdB) generated from the curing of hides was treated by iron-driven electrocoagulation (EC), aiming at its later application in the pickling stage of the tanning industry, promoting a transition to zero waste emission policy. Focusing on reducing the brine's total organic carbon (TOC), central composite rotational design and response surface methodology were adopted to study the effect of electrolysis time (6.2-14.2 min) and current density (74-431 A·m-2) on the treatment of the SdB (≅ 7.5 % wt. NaCl). The quality of the treated brines was then assessed in pickling trials and compared with virgin brine. 68-83 % removal of TOC from the SdB were achieved under electrolysis time ranging 6.2-14.2 min and current density ranging 126-252 A·m-2. Under these operating ranges the quality of the wet-blue leathers was guaranteed. Lowest power consumption (0.44 kWh·m-3) was achieved under electrolysis time of 6 min and current density of 126 A·m-2, yielding 68 % removal of TOC. Moreover, the shrinkage temperature of the hides was improved with treated brine (103.5 °C-110.5 °C) compared to virgin brine (103.0 °C). The present study provides strong evidence that contaminated salt from the curing stage can be valorised within the tanning industry through electrocoagulation treatment and then used in another production stage, instead of being landfilled.

Assessing the functional diversity of rhizobacteria from cacao by partitioning root and shoot biomasses.

Plant-microbe interactions are critical for the sustainability of agricultural production. In this study, our aims were to characterize the genetic and functional diversity of the culturable bacterial community associated with the cacao rhizosphere and access their potential for growth promotion of cacao seedling. Culture-dependent and molecular methods were used to characterize the population densities and diversity of bacterial communities from soil and cacao plants at two locations and two plant ages. A total of 63 strains were identified through hsp60 sequencing. Pseudomonas and Enterobacter were the most abundant genera in association with the cacao rhizosphere, whereas Bacillus was more numerous in soil. Parameters of seedling growth promotion were evaluated 60 days after inoculation of seeds, with partition of the assessments into root and shoot weight. Each isolate showed beneficial, neutral or deleterious effects on plant growth, depending on the isolate and on the parts of plant assessed. Interestingly, although an apparent overall decrease in total biomass of seedlings (roots + shoots dry matters) was observed for the majority of isolates (89%), 94% of all isolates, in fact, revealed an increase in plant roots/shoots dry biomass ratio. Despite that part of the isolates (35%) appeared to significantly decrease plant height, and that 65% did not influence plant height (neutral effect), 18 had significantly increased root dry biomass; nevertheless, seven of these root growth-increasing isolates simultaneously decreased shoots-related growth parameters. The results of this study evidentiated the functional diversity of culturable cacao rhizobacteria and how the partitioning of roots and shoots in the assessment of plant growth parameters could reveal the biotechnological potential of these isolates for promoting growth of clones for rehabilitation of commercial cacao plantations. KEY POINTS: • The most common culturable bacteria in cacao roots were Pseudomonas and Enterobacter • Most culturable bacteria from cacao roots increased the root/shoot ratio • Roots and shoots should be examined separately to detect cacao beneficial bacteria.

Aerial release of Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes using an unmanned aerial vehicle: a novel control strategy.

OBJECTIVE: To development of a methodology for the chilling, handling, transport, and release of male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, reared in insectary conditions to release in the field with unmanned vehicles to compete sexually with wild males in the field. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population of Ae. aegypti from different areas in Tapachula, Chiapas, was used. Laboratory tests were conducted: Effect of temperature and cooling time on the knockdown, recovery of males, and copulatory success. RESULTS: The chilling temperature of 3 ± 1ºC for 30 min, was used as a knockdown temperature before handling, packing, transportation, and aerial release. The males subjected to the entire process, including the semi-field aerial release test, showed normal sexual behavior activity, obtaining 100% of females inseminated. CONCLUSION: These results present the feasibility of applying a new control methodology using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as support for the sterile insect release technique (SIT), use of Wolbachia or both, in male Ae. aegypti, for the design of strategies to control their populations.

Trypanosoma cruzi in Mexican Neotropical vectors and mammals: wildlife, livestock, pets, and human population.

OBJECTIVE: To provide primary evidence of Trypanosoma cruzi landscape genetics in the Mexican Neotropics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trypanosoma cruzi and discrete typing units (DTU) prevalence were analyzed in landscape communities of vectors, wildlife, livestock, pets, and sympatric human populations using endpoint PCR and sequencing of all relevant amplicons from mitochondrial (kDNA) and nuclear (ME, 18S, 24Sα) gene markers. RESULTS: Although 98% of the infected sample-set (N=2 963) contained single or mixed infections of DTUI (TcI, 96.2%) and TcVI (22.6%), TcIV and TcII were also identified. Sensitivity of individual markers varied and was dependent on host taxon; kDNA, ME and 18S combined identified 95% of infections. ME genotyped 90% of vector infections, but 60% of mammals (36% wildlife), while neither 18S nor 24Sα typed more than 20% of mammal infections. CONCLUSION: Available gene fragments to identify or genotype T. cruzi are not universally sensitive for all landscape parasite populations, highlighting important T. cruzi heteroge- neity among mammal reservoir taxa and triatomine species.