Draft genome sequence of Coxiella burnetii Dog Utad, a strain isolated from a dog-related outbreak of Q fever

Coxiella burnetii Dog Utad, with a 2 008 938 bp genome is a strain isolated from a parturient dog responsible for a human familial outbreak of acute Q fever in Nova Scotia, Canada. Its genotype, determined by multispacer typing, is 21; the only one found in Canada that includes Q212, which causes endocarditis. Only 107 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 16 INDELs differed from Q212, suggesting a recent clonal radiation.

Functional and symptom impact of trametinib versus chemotherapy in BRAF V600E advanced or metastatic melanoma: quality-of-life analyses of the METRIC study

BACKGROUND

In a randomized phase III study, trametinib prolonged progression-free survival and improved overall survival versus chemotherapy in patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive melanoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients' quality of life (QOL) was assessed at baseline and follow-up visits using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core QOL questionnaire.

RESULTS

In the primary efficacy population (BRAF V600E+, no brain metastases) from baseline to weeks 6 and 12, patients' global health status scores worsened by 4-5 points with chemotherapy but improved by 2-3 points with trametinib. Rapid and substantive reductions in QOL functionality (e.g. role functioning, 8-11 points at weeks 6 and 12) and symptom exacerbation (e.g. fatigue, 4-8 points; nausea and vomiting, 5 points, both at weeks 6 and 12) were observed in chemotherapy-treated patients. In contrast, trametinib-treated patients reported small improvements or slight worsening from baseline at week 12, depending on the functional dimension and symptom. The mean symptom-scale scores for chemotherapy-treated patients increased from baseline (symptoms worsened) for seven of eight symptoms at week 6 (except insomnia) and six of eight symptoms at week 12 (except dyspnea and insomnia). In contrast, at weeks 6 and 12, the mean symptom-scale scores for trametinib decreased from baseline (symptoms improved) for pain (11-12 points), insomnia (10-12 points), and appetite loss (1-5 points), whereas those for diarrhea worsened (15-16 points). Mixed-model repeated-measures analyses showed significant (P < 0.05) and/or clinically meaningful improvements (small to moderate) from baseline in favor of trametinib for global health; physical, role, and social functioning; fatigue; pain; insomnia; nausea and vomiting; constipation; dyspnea; and appetite at weeks 6 and/or 12. QOL results for the intent-to-treat population were consistent.

CONCLUSIONS

This first QOL assessment for a MEK inhibitor in metastatic melanoma demonstrated that trametinib was associated with less functional impairment, smaller declines in health status, and less exacerbation of symptoms versus chemotherapy.

83 VITAMIN K2 SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES BLASTOCYST RATE BY RECOVERY OF MITOCHONDRIA IN IN VITRO-CULTURED BOVINE EMBRYOS

Mitochondria play an important role during early mammalian embryo development through their diverse cellular functions, in particular creating balance between production of ATP by electron transport chain and oxidative stress. Embryonic mitochondria are inherited maternally and independently of the nuclear genome. They show limited activity during the early developmental stages before embryonic genome activation. It has been shown that in vitro culture (IVC) has an adverse effect on mitochondrial function in embryos. So far several attempts have been performed to improve and rescue the impaired mitochondria. It has been shown that vitamin K2 (a membrane-bound electron carrier, similar to ubiquinone) was used to rescue mitochondrial dysfunction and resulted in more efficient ATP production in eukaryotic cells (Vos et al. 2012 Science 336, 1306–1310). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of supplementation of vitamin K2 on mitochondrial activity and blastocyst rate. Cumulus–oocytes complexes (n = 687) recovered from slaughtered animals, were matured and fertilized in vitro according to our standard procedures. After fertilization, zygotes were cultured in SOF media supplemented with 10 mg mL–1 BSA. At 96 h post-fertilization, vitamin K2 was added to the culture media (n = 448 oocytes). On Day 7, treatment embryos were compared with untreated controls (n = 239 oocytes). In vitro culture was carried out at 38.5°C under 5% CO2, 7% O2, and 88% N2. Differences among groups in blastocyst yield were analysed by ANOVA. Mitochondrial activity data was analysed by unpaired 2-tailed t-tests. Results show that the vitamin K2-treated group had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher blastocyst rate (+8.6%), expanded blastocyst rate (+7.8%), as well as better morphological quality compared with the control group. Furthermore, to evaluate mitochondria activity, pools of embryos of each treatment were labelled with a specific dye for active mitochondria (Mitotracker Red). A significantly higher intensity of Mitotracker Red (P < 0.05) was observed in the vitamin K2 treatment versus control group, as measured by fluorescent microscopy. In conclusion, for the first time, our data prove that supplementation of vitamin K2 during IVC of bovine embryos increases blastocyst rates and embryo quality. Future studies will focus on gene expression to identify targets implicated in impaired mitochondrial activity in in vitro bovine embryo production.

93 SEX-SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMING OF THE BOVINE EMBRYO BY COLONY STIMULATING FACTOR 2 (CSF2)

Competence of the bovine embryo to establish pregnancy can be enhanced by treatment with colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) from Days 5 to 7 post-insemination. The mechanism is unknown but could involve developmental reprogramming. Here, we questioned whether treatment with CSF2 from Days 5 to 7 alters growth, interferon-τ (IFNT) secretion, and the methylome of extra-embryonic membranes (EEM) at Day 15. In vitro-produced embryos were treated with either 0 or 10 ng mL–1 bovine CSF2 from Days 5 to 7. Expanded blastocysts were transferred into synchronized recipients. On Day 15, conceptuses were recovered by flushing the uterus and sex determined by PCR (n = 4 males and 4 females per treatment). Statistical analysis of IFNT and length was performed using analysis of variance with the general linear models procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). There was a sex × treatment interaction for conceptus length (P < 0.003) and IFNT in uterine flushing (P < 0.05) (as determined by antiviral activity). CSF2 increased length in males (least squares means ± s.e.m.: 93 ± 19 mm v. 20 ± 19 mm) and decreased length in females (22 ± 19 mm v. 103 ± 19). Similarly, CSF2 increased IFNT in males (45 483 ± 22 615 IU mL–1 v. –2536.27 ± 13 385 IU mL–1) and decreased IFNT in females (–14 012 ± 13 642 IU mL–1 v. 35 404 ± 7514.91 IU mL–1). The EmbryoGENE DNA Methylation Array (Edmonton, AB, Canada) was used to assess CSF2 effects at 418 805 positions across the genome in a subset of EEM (n = 2 for vehicle and 4 for CSF2 in males; n = 3 for vehicle and n = 3 for CSF2 in females). CSF2 caused hypermethylation for 9842 probes in males and 6227 probes in females and hypomethylation for 9322 probes in males and 3292 probes in females. An analysis was conducted to evaluate if clusters of differentially-methylated probes were non-randomly distributed spatially in 5 Mb regions of individual chromosomes using a 500-kb moving window. Statistical significance was determined using chi-squared tests for each 500-kb window. Differential methylation was not uniformly distributed but rather there were regions or hyper- and hypomethylation that varied with sex. The most common situation was where a region was differentially methylated in one sex but not the other. In some cases, a region was differentially methylated in opposite directions for males and females. For example, a region of BTA1 between positions 67 Mb–77.5 Mb contained 1632 probes, of which 59 probes were hypo-methylated in males and 35 were hypermethylated in females. In conclusion, changes in developmental programming of the bovine embryo caused by CSF2 occur in a sex-specific manner. This result suggests a possible mechanism by which environmental effects on the female affect male embryos differently than female embryos. Support was provided by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant 2011-67015-30688.

Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthrosis: clinical results and sonographic evaluation of the interposed tissue after trapeziectomy and first metacarpal suspension by external minifixation at a minimal two-year follow-up

Among the surgical options to treat trapeziometacarpal osteoarthrosis, trapeziectomy has been criticized as unable to prevent postoperative collapse of the thumb, causing painful scapho-metacarpal impingement. The implantation of an external minifixator between the first and the second metacarpals for sufficient time has been proposed to maintain the postoperative space created by the bone resection to allow the development of a resistant interposed fibrous tissue. Nineteen patients (16 women, 3 men, mean age 64.5 years) were evaluated at 3.3 years of follow-up after an unilateral trapeziectomy and first metacarpal suspension by external minifixation. Eighty-four percent of the patients were very satisfied with the operation. The mean DASH score was 27.7%, the pain 1.7/10 (Visual Analogue Scale), the opening angle of the first web 58.3° and the Kapandji opposition score 9.5/10. Sonography demonstrated the existence of a strong fibrotic interposed tissue, preventing scapho-metacarpal impingement. The mean height of the trapeziectomy space (8.4mm) was maintained upon active pinch and maximal traction on the thumb. A significant atrophy of thenar muscles was also demonstrated, except for the Abductor pollicis brevis. In conclusion, total trapeziectomy with external minifixation provides acceptable clinical results, stabilizes the base of the thumb and prevents scapho-metacarpal impingement. The study brings also important new information about the nature of the interposed tissue in the trapezial space and about the state of the thenar muscles after trapeziectomy.

Longitudinal development of equine forelimb conformation from birth to weaning in three different horse breeds

There is limited published data on conformational changes in the forelimbs of growing foals. This study was designed to describe the changes in conformation of the carpus and distal forelimb from birth to weaning in foals of three different breeds. Evaluation of the conformation of the carpus, fetlock, pastern and foot was carried out in 134 Thoroughbreds, 162 French Trotters and 98 Selle Français (French Warmblood) within 1 month of age and then at approximately 2 month intervals until weaning at approximately 6 months of age. The prevalence of limb deviations decreased from birth to weaning. Angular limb deformities were the predominant conditions in the first month (63.6% of all observed limb deviations) and flexural limb deformities were the most common abnormalities at weaning. The most frequent congenital abnormalities were carpal valgus (42.1% of the foals), fetlock valgus (31.2%), over-at-the-knee (30.8%) and dropped fetlocks (13.0%), with French Trotters and Thoroughbred foals being more affected than Selle Français foals. During the study period, the carpal and fetlock conformation became less valgus. The predominant abnormalities at weaning were fetlock valgus (19.1%), club feet (13.0%) and fetlock varus (11.2%). These observations show that carpal, fetlock and foot conformations changed substantially from birth and weaning. There were significant conformational differences between the three breeds, especially in the first months of life. An understanding of the peculiarities of specific breeds may be useful for the evaluation of individual foal conformation.