Radiofrequency Cingulotomy as a Treatment for Incoercible Pain: Follow-Up for 6 Months.

Incoercible or intractable pain is defined as pain that is refractory to pharmacological treatment to such an extent that opioid and analgesic adverse effects outweigh the therapeutic effects. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is involved in the perception of pain, especially emotional pain, so it is logical that cingulotomy has an effective therapeutic effect. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of cingulotomy for the treatment of incoercible pain. An observational, longitudinal, retrospective, and analytical study was carried out on a series of cases in which bilateral cingulotomy was performed for incoercible pain, and follow-up was performed 6 months after neurosurgery in the outpatient clinic at the Neurotraumatology Clinic. A positive correlation was observed between pain intensity and medication use, indicating that an increase in pain was associated with a greater requirement for analgesics. The result was a significant reduction in pain, as measured by the visual analog scale of pain, and decreased drug use after cingulotomy. We concluded that cingulotomy reduces incoercible pain and the need for medication.

Skin wound healing improvement in diabetic mice through FTIR microspectroscopy after implanting pluripotent stem cells.

Diabetes is a chronic degenerative disease that carries multiple complications. One of the most important complications is the diabetic cutaneous complications, such as skin lesions, ulcerations, and diabetic foot, which are present in 30%-70% of the patients. Currently, the treatments for wound healing include growth factors and cytokines, skin substitutes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and skin grafts. However, these treatments are ineffective due to the complex mechanisms involved in developing unhealed wounds. Considering the aforementioned complications, regenerative medicine has focused on this pathology using stem cells to improve these complications. However, it is essential to mention that there is a poor biomolecular understanding of diabetic skin and the effects of treating it with stem cells. For this reason, herein, we investigated the employment of pluripotent stem cells (PSC) in the wound healing process by carrying out morphometric, histological, and Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) analysis. The morphometric analysis was done through a photographic follow-up, measuring the lesion areas. For the histological analysis, hematoxylin & eosin and picrosirius red stains were used to examine the thickness of the epidermis and the cellularity index in the dermis as well as the content and arrangement of collagen type I and III fibers. Finally, for the FTIRM analysis, skin cryosections were obtained and analyzed by employing a Cassegrain objective of 16× of an FTIR microscope coupled to an FTIR spectrometer. For this purpose, 20 mice were divided into two groups according to the treatment they received: the Isotonic Salt Solution (ISS) group and the PSCs group (n = 10). Both groups were induced to diabetes, and six days after diabetes induction, an excisional lesion was made in the dorsal area. Furthermore, using microscopy and FTIRM analysis, the skin healing process on days 7 and 15 post-skin lesion excision was examined. The results showed that the wound healing process over time, considering the lesion size, was similar in both groups; however, the PSCs group evidenced hair follicles in the wound. Moreover, the histological analysis evidenced that the PSCs group exhibited granulation tissue, new vessels, and better polarity of the keratinocytes. In addition, the amount of collagen increased with a good deposition and orientation, highlighting that type III collagen fibers were more abundant in the PSCs. Finally, the FTIR analysis evidenced that the PSCs group exhibited a faster wound healing process. In conclusion, the wounds treated with PSCs showed a more rapid wound healing process, less inflammatory cellular infiltration, and more ordered structures than the ISS group.

Cancer Progression Is not Different in Mice of Different Gender Inoculated With Cells of the Triple-Negative 4T1 Breast Cancer Model.

Background: Breast cancer in men is a rare and poorly studied disease, and its treatment is based on women breast cancer studies. However, clinical outcome is not the same in men and women. Basic studies and clinical trials in animal models provide detailed information on cancer, origin, development, cell signaling pathways, sites of metastasis, and target molecules. It is necessary to explore the biology of breast cancer in male animal models that allow observing their similarity. Methods: The triple-negative 4T1 breast cancer model was developed in both male and female mice and studied weekly during 4 weeks. For that, twenty 8-week-old female and male BALB/c mice were used. Sixteen mice (eight males and eight females) were inoculated into the second left thoracic mammary pad with 20,000 4T1 cells, resuspended in 20 µL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). All samples were processed for immunodetection, characterized histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Results: In this work, we describe the development of a triple-negative 4T1 breast cancer model in male BALB/c mice. Breast tumors were characterized histopathologically at different time points and corresponded to a moderately differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen receptor ER-/progesterone receptor PR-/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 HER2-/Ki67+, with histological grade II (moderately differentiated; a solid mass with occasional duct formation and moderate to severe nuclear pleomorphism), infiltrating the adipose and muscular tissue, and metastasis to lungs. From the results, we did not observe differences in the time of tumor development, necrosis, color change of tumor tissue, and lung metastasis between male and female mice. Even though we did not find histological differences, response to treatment and molecular signaling may be different. Conclusions: The histogenesis of male breast tumors was similar to that of female BALB/c mice. The histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of male tumors also match the features reported for stage IV human breast cancer of men and women. The murine male breast cancer model described here can be a significant tool to explore the molecular mechanisms involved in male breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis and may bring new approaches for clinical treatment of triple-negative breast cancer in men.

Designing a Contact Fingertip Sensor Made Using a Soft 3D Printing Technique.

The development of highly compliant materials and actuators has enabled the design of soft robots that can be applied in rescue operations, in secure human-robot interactions, to manipulate fragile devices or objects, and for robot locomotion within complex environments. To develop reliable solutions for soft robotics applications, devices with the ability to deform and change shape are required, which must be equipped with appropriate sensors capable of withstanding large deformations at suitable speeds and respond repeatedly. This work presents a methodology to build strain sensors made of sensitive, thin, and conductive channels printed inside a soft matrix, using three-dimensional printing. As proof of concept, rectangular beams and semispherical caps embedded with sensitive circuits are developed that are designed to deform under applied forces and detect the gradual contact with objects. The rectangular beam with conductive lines separated from the neutral plane exhibits a quasi-linear electrical response as a function of the applied shear strain. Mechanical diodes, which trigger an activated response once a given deformation onset is exceeded, are implemented using circumferential conductive channels that are centered with the spherical body sensor. Sinusoidally shaped conductive channels located at a given distance from the spherical surface produce a monotonic electrical response, which detects deformations over a broad range. Linear sensors, with enhanced sensitivity to compression, are created if the sensitive conductive channels are oriented along the compression direction. Numerical calculations, used to guide the design of the sensor, show the capability of these sensors to measure simultaneous normal and tangential forces, making them suitable for applications involving fragile object manipulation and robot locomotion. An example of application of these sensors in the control of the forces applied by soft gripper lifting an object is given.

Biochemical and histological effects of embryonic stem cells in a mouse model of renal failure.

Kidney diseases are a global public health problem. Despite significant advances in the understanding of renal failure (RF) and replacement therapies, this condition carries a series of complications and the life's quality of patients decreases. Differentiation capability of stem cells and their beneficial effects when they are implanted in animal models have been reported. Therefore, this work aimed to induce a long-term RF in mice, evaluating the biochemical and histological effects after implanting mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC). Mice were subjected to renal failure induction (RFI) employing cisplatin, subsequently received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of salt solution (control group, n=19) or 50 000 mESC (experimental group, n=19) at 24 hours, 7 days, and 13 days post-RFI. Ten animals in each group were used to analyze functional damage through serum biochemical analysis, and the mortality. For histopathological examination, three animals of each group were sacrificed at 5, 10, and 20 days post-RFI, analyzing the tubular system and glomeruli. Both groups showed blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine elevation three days post-RFI. Accumulated mortality was lower in the experimental group, presenting statistical significance. Respect to histopathological effects, the control group showed tubular dilatation, segmental focal glomerulosclerosis data, and collapsed glomeruli, while in the experimental group, glomerulosclerosis or collapsed glomeruli were not observed, evidencing regenerative data as characterized by large nuclei with prominent and binucleate nucleoli. In conclusion, mESC implant in mice with RFI significantly decreased the mortality, avoiding a greater histological deterioration related to the disease.

Long-lived particles at the energy frontier: the MATHUSLA physics case.

We examine the theoretical motivations for long-lived particle (LLP) signals at the LHC in a comprehensive survey of standard model (SM) extensions. LLPs are a common prediction of a wide range of theories that address unsolved fundamental mysteries such as naturalness, dark matter, baryogenesis and neutrino masses, and represent a natural and generic possibility for physics beyond the SM (BSM). In most cases the LLP lifetime can be treated as a free parameter from the [Formula: see text]m scale up to the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis limit of [Formula: see text] m. Neutral LLPs with lifetimes above [Formula: see text]100 m are particularly difficult to probe, as the sensitivity of the LHC main detectors is limited by challenging backgrounds, triggers, and small acceptances. MATHUSLA is a proposal for a minimally instrumented, large-volume surface detector near ATLAS or CMS. It would search for neutral LLPs produced in HL-LHC collisions by reconstructing displaced vertices (DVs) in a low-background environment, extending the sensitivity of the main detectors by orders of magnitude in the long-lifetime regime. We study the LLP physics opportunities afforded by a MATHUSLA-like detector at the HL-LHC, assuming backgrounds can be rejected as expected. We develop a model-independent approach to describe the sensitivity of MATHUSLA to BSM LLP signals, and compare it to DV and missing energy searches at ATLAS or CMS. We then explore the BSM motivations for LLPs in considerable detail, presenting a large number of new sensitivity studies. While our discussion is especially oriented towards the long-lifetime regime at MATHUSLA, this survey underlines the importance of a varied LLP search program at the LHC in general. By synthesizing these results into a general discussion of the top-down and bottom-up motivations for LLP searches, it is our aim to demonstrate the exceptional strength and breadth of the physics case for the construction of the MATHUSLA detector.

Neutrino Masses from Planck-Scale Lepton Number Breaking.

We consider an extension of the standard model by right-handed neutrinos and we argue that, under plausible assumptions, a neutrino mass of O(0.1) eV is naturally generated by the breaking of the lepton number at the Planck scale, possibly by gravitational effects, without the necessity of introducing new mass scales in the model. Some implications of this framework are also briefly discussed.

A Test for the Clinical Evaluation of the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis of the Fifth Finger.

Physical examination is essential in diagnosing tendinous lesions. This is particularly true of the flexor digitorum superficialis of the little finger (FDS5), which is functionally absent in approximately 30% of the population. The objective of our study was to determine the diagnostic value of 3 clinical tests commonly used to assess the function of this tendon. METHODS: Patients with wounds of the FDS5 were included in this study. Under local or regional anesthesia, 3 described clinical tests were performed to assess the function of the FDS5: (i) the classic test; (ii) Stein's modified test, and (iii) Mecott's modified test. We determined sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of all such tests. The integrity of the tendon was assessed surgically. Correlation among blinded observers was also established. RESULTS: A total of 28 subjects with a mean age of 28 years (ranging from 5 to 56) participated in this study. The classic test obtained a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 72%; Stein's test resulted in a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 95%, whereas Mecott's test reached a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95%. CONCLUSIONS: Among the 3 tests described and used in our study, Mecott's modified test proved to be more sensitive and specific than the other two; therefore, we consider this to be the test that should be used in determining the integrity of the FDS5.

Optimal propulsion of an undulating slender body with anisotropic friction.

This study investigates theoretically and numerically the propulsive sliding of a slender body. The body sustains a transverse and propagative wave along its main axis, and undergoes anisotropic friction caused by its surface texture sliding on the floor. A model accounting for the anisotropy of frictional forces acting on the body is implemented. This describes the propulsive force and gives the optimal undulating parameters for efficient forward propulsion. The optimal wave characteristics are effectively compared to the undulating motion of a slithering snakes, as well as with the motion of sandfish lizards swimming through the sand. Furthermore, numerical simulations have indicated the existence of certain specialized segments along the body that are highly efficient for propulsion, explaining why snakes lift parts of their body while slithering. Finally, the inefficiency of slithering as a form of locomotion to ascend a slope is discussed.

Helical Locomotion in a Granular Medium.

The physical mechanisms that bring about the propulsion of a rotating helix in a granular medium are considered. A propulsive motion along the axis of the rotating helix is induced by both symmetry breaking due to the helical shape, and the anisotropic frictional forces undergone by all segments of the helix in the medium. Helix dynamics is studied as a function of helix rotation speed and its geometrical parameters. The effect of the granular pressure and the applied external load were also investigated. A theoretical model is developed based on the anisotropic frictional force experienced by a slender body moving in a granular material, to account for the translation speed of the helix. A good agreement with experimental data is obtained, which allows for predicting the helix design to propel optimally within granular media. These results pave the way for the development of an efficient sand robot operating according to this mode of locomotion.

Low-resistive vibratory penetration in granular media.

Non-cohesive materials such as sand, dry snow or cereals are encountered in various common circumstances, from everyday situations to industry. The process of digging into these materials remains a challenge to most animals and machines. Within the animal kingdom, different strategies are employed to overcome this issue, including excavation methods used by ants, the two-anchor strategy employed by soft burrowers such as razor-clams, and undulatory motions exhibited by sandfish lizards. Despite the development of technology to mimic these techniques in diggers and robots, the limitations of animals and machines may differ, and mimicry of natural processes is not necessarily the most efficient technological strategy. This study presents evidence that the resisting force for the penetration of an intruder into a dry granular media can be reduced by one order of magnitude with small amplitude (A ≃ 10 µm) and low frequency (f = 50 - 200 Hz) mechanical vibrations. This observed result is attributed to the local fluidization of the granular bed which induces the rupture of force chains. The drop in resistive force on entering dry granular materials may be relevant in technological development in order to increase the efficiency of diggers and robots.

A facility to search for hidden particles at the CERN SPS: the SHiP physics case.

This paper describes the physics case for a new fixed target facility at CERN SPS. The SHiP (search for hidden particles) experiment is intended to hunt for new physics in the largely unexplored domain of very weakly interacting particles with masses below the Fermi scale, inaccessible to the LHC experiments, and to study tau neutrino physics. The same proton beam setup can be used later to look for decays of tau-leptons with lepton flavour number non-conservation, [Formula: see text] and to search for weakly-interacting sub-GeV dark matter candidates. We discuss the evidence for physics beyond the standard model and describe interactions between new particles and four different portals-scalars, vectors, fermions or axion-like particles. We discuss motivations for different models, manifesting themselves via these interactions, and how they can be probed with the SHiP experiment and present several case studies. The prospects to search for relatively light SUSY and composite particles at SHiP are also discussed. We demonstrate that the SHiP experiment has a unique potential to discover new physics and can directly probe a number of solutions of beyond the standard model puzzles, such as neutrino masses, baryon asymmetry of the Universe, dark matter, and inflation.

Dark Matter Decays from Nonminimal Coupling to Gravity.

We consider the standard model extended with a dark matter particle in curved spacetime, motivated by the fact that the only current evidence for dark matter is through its gravitational interactions, and we investigate the impact on the dark matter stability of terms in the Lagrangian linear in the dark matter field and proportional to the Ricci scalar. We show that this "gravity portal" induces decay even if the dark matter particle only has gravitational interactions, and that the decay branching ratios into standard model particles only depend on one free parameter: the dark matter mass. We study in detail the case of a singlet scalar as a dark matter candidate, which is assumed to be absolutely stable in flat spacetime due to a discrete Z_{2} symmetry, but which may decay in curved spacetimes due to a Z_{2}-breaking nonminimal coupling to gravity. We calculate the dark matter decay widths and we set conservative limits on the nonminimal coupling parameter from experiments. The limits are very stringent and suggest that there must exist an additional mechanism protecting the singlet scalar from decaying via this gravity portal.

The tearing path in a thin anisotropic sheet from two pulling points: Wulff's view.

We study the crack propagation in a thin notched sheet of a polymeric material when two points in the sheet are pulled away. For materials of isotropic fracture energy, we show that an effective tearing vector predicting the direction of fracture propagation can be defined. In the flat sheet state, this vector is the perpendicular bisector of the vectors joining the pulling points and the fracture tip. The tearing vector is then differently oriented than the pulling direction. The "maximum energy released rate" criterion predicts a crack path that is tangential to the instantaneous tearing vector, or equivalently trajectories that are hyperbolas whose focal points are the pulling points. However, experiments indicate that fracture paths rarely follow this prediction because any small anisotropy existing in real thin sheets deviates the crack path from being parallel to the tearing vector. Although these deviations are locally small, as crack progresses a cumulative effect which results in large errors for long crack paths are observed. We therefore introduce the anisotropy effect through the generalization of the "maximum energy released rate" criterion and demonstrate that the crack trajectory and the minimum force to sustain tearing can be found through a Wulff's type geometrical construction. Systematic experiments show that the tearing force and fracture path are in good agreement with this prediction.

Seroprevalence and major antigens recognized by sera from Trypanosoma cruzi-infected dogs from Jalisco, México.

Chagas disease is a major endemic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasitic disease is widely distributed throughout Latin America, affecting 10 million people. There are also reports of canine infection in the southern part of the United States. Dogs are considered the predominant domestic reservoir for T. cruzi in many areas of endemicity. In México, dog infection by this parasite has been poorly studied. In this work 209 dogs from six villages in Jalisco, México, were assessed to detect anti-T. cruzi antibodies by ELISA and Western blot. Seventeen (17) seropositive dogs (8.1 %) were detected by both tests, representing a seropositive value similar to that found in some southern states of México where the infection is present. No statistical differences were observed concerning the age and sex of infected and non-infected dogs. The major antigens recognized by positive sera were 26, 32, 66 and 80kDa. These proteins are candidates to develop a specific diagnostic method for canine Chagas. No antibodies against HSP16 protein were found in T. cruzi seropositive sera. This is the first report of canine serology of Chagas disease in this central part of México. This report will contribute to the knowledge of the infection status of domestic reservoirs in the state of Jalisco, México.

Seroprevalence and major antigens recognized by sera from Trypanosoma cruzi-infected dogs from Jalisco, México / Seroprevalencia y principales antígenos reconocidos por sueros de perros infectados con Trypanosoma cruzi en el estado de Jalisco, México

Chagas disease is a major endemic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasitic disease is widely distributed throughout Latin America, affecting 10 million people. There are also reports of canine infection in the southern part of the United States. Dogs are considered the predominant domestic reservoir for T. cruzi in many areas of endemicity. In México, dog infection by this parasite has been poorly studied. In this work 209 dogs from six villages in Jalisco, México, were assessed to detect anti-T. cruzi antibodies by ELISA and Western blot. Seventeen (17) seropositive dogs (8.1 %) were detected by both tests, representing a seropositive value similar to that found in some southern states of México where the infection is present. No statistical differences were observed concerning the age and sex of infected and non-infected dogs. The major antigens recognized by positive sera were 26, 32, 66 and 80 kDa. These proteins are candidates to develop a specific diagnostic method for canine Chagas. No antibodies against HSP16 protein were found in T. cruzi seropositive sera. This is the first report of canine serology of Chagas disease in this central part of México. This report will contribute to the knowledge of the infection status of domestic reservoirs in the state of Jalisco, México.(AU)

El mal de Chagas es una enfermedad endémica causada por el parásito protozoario Trypanosoma cruzi. Este padecimiento está ampliamente distribuido en América, donde afecta a alrededor de 10 millones de personas. También existen comunicaciones de la infección canina desde el sur de los Estados Unidos hasta países de Sudamérica. Los perros son considerados los principales reservorios domésticos de T. cruzi en muchas áreas endémicas. En México, la infección canina ha sido estudiada escasamente. En el presente trabajo se evaluó mediante ELISA y Western blot la presencia de anticuerpos anti-T. cruzi en el suero de 209 perros de seis localidades del estado de Jalisco, México. Se encontraron 17 perros seropositivos (8,1 %) a ambas pruebas. No se observaron diferencias de significación estadística en la edad o el sexo de los perros infectados comparados con los no infectados. Los principales antígenos reconocidos por los sueros positivos fueron de 26, 32, 66 y 80 kDa. Estas proteínas son candidatos para desarrollar un método de diagnóstico específico para Chagas canino. No se encontraron anticuerpos contra la proteína HSP16 en los sueros positivos anti-T. cruzi. Este es el primer informe de serología canina en la región central de México y contribuirá al conocimiento de la infección en reservorios domésticos de Jalisco, México.(AU)

Seroprevalence and major antigens recognized by sera from Trypanosoma cruzi-infected dogs from Jalisco, México / Seroprevalencia y principales antígenos reconocidos por sueros de perros infectados con Trypanosoma cruzi en el estado de Jalisco, México

Chagas disease is a major endemic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasitic disease is widely distributed throughout Latin America, affecting 10 million people. There are also reports of canine infection in the southern part of the United States. Dogs are considered the predominant domestic reservoir for T. cruzi in many areas of endemicity. In México, dog infection by this parasite has been poorly studied. In this work 209 dogs from six villages in Jalisco, México, were assessed to detect anti-T. cruzi antibodies by ELISA and Western blot. Seventeen (17) seropositive dogs (8.1 %) were detected by both tests, representing a seropositive value similar to that found in some southern states of México where the infection is present. No statistical differences were observed concerning the age and sex of infected and non-infected dogs. The major antigens recognized by positive sera were 26, 32, 66 and 80 kDa. These proteins are candidates to develop a specific diagnostic method for canine Chagas. No antibodies against HSP16 protein were found in T. cruzi seropositive sera. This is the first report of canine serology of Chagas disease in this central part of México. This report will contribute to the knowledge of the infection status of domestic reservoirs in the state of Jalisco, México.

El mal de Chagas es una enfermedad endémica causada por el parásito protozoario Trypanosoma cruzi. Este padecimiento está ampliamente distribuido en América, donde afecta a alrededor de 10 millones de personas. También existen comunicaciones de la infección canina desde el sur de los Estados Unidos hasta países de Sudamérica. Los perros son considerados los principales reservorios domésticos de T. cruzi en muchas áreas endémicas. En México, la infección canina ha sido estudiada escasamente. En el presente trabajo se evaluó mediante ELISA y Western blot la presencia de anticuerpos anti-T. cruzi en el suero de 209 perros de seis localidades del estado de Jalisco, México. Se encontraron 17 perros seropositivos (8,1 %) a ambas pruebas. No se observaron diferencias de significación estadística en la edad o el sexo de los perros infectados comparados con los no infectados. Los principales antígenos reconocidos por los sueros positivos fueron de 26, 32, 66 y 80 kDa. Estas proteínas son candidatos para desarrollar un método de diagnóstico específico para Chagas canino. No se encontraron anticuerpos contra la proteína HSP16 en los sueros positivos anti-T. cruzi. Este es el primer informe de serología canina en la región central de México y contribuirá al conocimiento de la infección en reservorios domésticos de Jalisco, México.

Seroprevalence and major antigens recognized by sera from Trypanosoma cruzi-infected dogs from Jalisco, México. / Seroprevalence and major antigens recognized by sera from Trypanosoma cruzi-infected dogs from Jalisco, México.

Chagas disease is a major endemic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasitic disease is widely distributed throughout Latin America, affecting 10 million people. There are also reports of canine infection in the southern part of the United States. Dogs are considered the predominant domestic reservoir for T. cruzi in many areas of endemicity. In México, dog infection by this parasite has been poorly studied. In this work 209 dogs from six villages in Jalisco, México, were assessed to detect anti-T. cruzi antibodies by ELISA and Western blot. Seventeen (17) seropositive dogs (8.1

) were detected by both tests, representing a seropositive value similar to that found in some southern states of México where the infection is present. No statistical differences were observed concerning the age and sex of infected and non-infected dogs. The major antigens recognized by positive sera were 26, 32, 66 and 80kDa. These proteins are candidates to develop a specific diagnostic method for canine Chagas. No antibodies against HSP16 protein were found in T. cruzi seropositive sera. This is the first report of canine serology of Chagas disease in this central part of México. This report will contribute to the knowledge of the infection status of domestic reservoirs in the state of Jalisco, México.

Morphological study of eggs from five Mexican species and two morphotypes in the genus Triatoma (Laporte, 1832).

We describe and compare the morphology and morphometry of the egg exochorion for five species and two morphotypes of Mexican triatomines with scanning electron microscopy. The results show differences in egg ornamentation for each species, including between morphotypes. Polygonal ornamentation was observed in each species, including pentagons, octagons and, in certain cases, a majority of hexagons. We observed small perforations in T. protracta protracta, small spheres on the T. lecticularia polygons, a crown with festoons in T. barberi, and less complex ornamentation in T. mexicana. Through morphometric analysis, significant differences in egg dimensions were determined for the studied species.

Identification by Q-PCR of Trypanosoma cruzi lineage and determination of blood meal sources in triatomine gut samples in México.

Triatomine vectors were collected on human dwellings in Michoacán México. Blood meal sources were identified by real time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) using DNA extracted from triatomine guts. The assay was performed with one only specific primer set to amplify a fragment of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal gene from vertebrate species. Also Trypanosoma cruzi parasites were detected in triatomine gut samples by microscopy and the positive infection was tested in mice. In addition T. cruzi discrete taxonomic units (DTUs) were identified by Q-PCR with two sets of primers that amplify the mini-circle region (miniexon) and 18S ribosomal mitochondrial gene. The sequences obtained from 18S ribosomal gene amplifications confirmed the presence of T. cruzi I and II lineages, and provide evidence of the presence of lineage TcIII and TcIV.