Using extended growth of cattle embryos in culture to gain insights into bovine developmental events on embryonic days 8 to 10.

We have previously described an extended embryo culture system, based on uterine composition, growth factors and the cell culture additive B27, for growing cattle embryos in vitro beyond embryonic day 7. Here, extended in vitro embryos are compared to embryos developed in the uterus and are used to establish a developmental staging framework useful for understanding developmental events occurring until Day 10. Immunofluorescence or mRNA expression of the ICM/epiblast markers OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG, hypoblast markers GATA6, SOX17 and GATA4 and trophoblast genes CDX2, GATA3, ASCL2 and IFNT revealed the presence of four stages during this period that can be molecularly distinguished.

Metabolomic evolution of the postpartum dairy cow uterus.

High rates of early pregnancy loss are a critical issue in dairy herds, particularly in seasonal, grazing systems. Components of the uterine luminal fluid (ULF), on which the early embryo depends for sustenance and growth, partly determine early pregnancy losses. Here, changes in ULF from early to mid-postpartum in crossbred dairy cows were explored, linking them with divergent embryo development.

Proteomic determinants of uterine receptivity for pregnancy in early and mid-postpartum dairy cows†.

Dairy cow subfertility is a worldwide issue arising from multiple factors. It manifests in >30% early pregnancy losses in seasonal pasture-grazed herds, especially when cows are inseminated in the early post-partum period. Most losses occur before implantation, when embryo growth depends on factors present in maternal tract fluids.

Proteomics and metabolomics in cow fertility: a systematic review.

Cow subfertility is a multi-factorial problem in many countries which is only starting to be unravelled. Molecular biology can provide a substantial source of insight into its causes and potential solutions, particularly through large scale, untargeted omics approaches. In this systematic review, we set out to compile, assess and integrate the latest proteomic and metabolomic research on cow reproduction, specifically that on the female reproductive tract and early embryo.

On the enigmatic disappearance of Rauber's layer.

The polar trophoblast overlays the epiblast in eutherian mammals and, depending on the species, has one of two different fates. It either remains a single-layered, thinning epithelium called "Rauber's layer," which soon disintegrates, or, alternatively, it keeps proliferating, contributing heavily to the population of differentiating, invasive trophoblast cells and, at least in mice, to the induction of gastrulation. While loss of the persistent polar trophoblast in mice leads to reduced induction of gastrulation, we show here that prevention of the loss of the polar trophoblast in cattle results in ectopic domains of the gastrulation marker, This phenotype, and increased epiblast proliferation, arose when Rauber's layer was maintained for a day longer by countering apoptosis through BCL2 overexpression.

Survey data on the quality of life of consumers fitted with osseointegrated fixation and bone-anchored limb prostheses provided by government organization.

The data in this paper are related to the research article entitled "Development of a government continuous quality improvement procedure for assessing the provision of bone anchored limb prosthesis: A process re-design descriptive study" (Frossard et al., Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal, 2018. 1(2).

In Vitro Culture of Deer Embryos.

In vitro embryo production of deer species has the potential to increase valuable traits for the agricultural sector, and from a conservation perspective, it is a propagation tool which can improve genetic diversity in small captive populations. In vitro embryo production is a multistep process consisting of oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo culture. These techniques provide the backbone for more advanced assisted reproductive technologies such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), a source of embryonic stem cells, and embryos for gene editing.

Q fever: A rural disease with potential urban consequences.

Background: Q fever often presents as an undifferentiated febrile illness. Cases occur throughout Australia, with higher rates occurring in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Objective: This article aims to provide clinicians with an overview of Q fever, and covers epidemiology, clinical features, laboratory diagnosis, sequelae, management and prevention.

Leptospirosis: An important zoonosis acquired through work, play and travel.

Background: Leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide. Infection occurs through contact with infected animals, or soil or water that has been contaminated by the urine of infected animals. Risk factors include occupational and recreational exposures, contact with floodwaters, and travel to areas with a high risk of leptospirosis, particularly tropical, developing countries.

Development of a Procedure for the Government Provision of Bone-Anchored Prosthesis Using Osseointegration in Australia.

Background: Governmental organizations are facing challenges in adjusting procedures providing equitable assistance to consumers with amputation choosing newly available osseointegrated fixations for bone-anchored prostheses (BAPs) over socket-suspended prostheses.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to (1) present a procedure focusing on tasks, documents and costs of prosthetic care, and (2) share observed obstacles and facilitators to implementation.

Methods: This research aimed at developing a governmental procedure for the provision of BAPs was designed as an action research study.

Cost-effectiveness of bone-anchored prostheses using osseointegrated fixation: Myth or reality?

Background: In principle, lower limb bone-anchored prostheses could alleviate expenditure associated with typical socket manufacturing and residuum treatments due to socket-suspended prostheses.

Objective: This study reports (a) the incremental costs and (b) heath gain as well as (c) cost-effectiveness of bone-anchored prostheses compared to socket-suspended prostheses.

Study Design: Retrospective individual case-controlled observations and systematic review.

A mathematical model of the interaction between bovine blastocyst developmental stage and progesterone-stimulated uterine factors on differential embryonic development observed on Day 15 of gestation.

A complex interaction between the developing bovine embryo and the growth potential of the uterine milieu it inhabits results in an embryo capable of developing past the maternal recognition stage and on to a successful pregnancy. Previously, we observed variation in the lengths of embryos recovered 8 d after bulk transfer of Day 7 in vitro-produced (IVP) blastocysts into the same uterus. Potential causes of the differential embryonic growth were examined and modeled using 2 rounds of bulk (n = 4-6) IVP transfers and recovery of these embryos 8 d later.

MicroRNA expression in bovine preimplantation embryos.

We profiled 98 mature microRNAs (miRNAs) using a stem-loop reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay array based on human miRNAs. We demonstrated that one, but not two, base-pair changes in the miRNA recognition sequence at the 3' end only marginally affected copy number estimates. Absolute levels of miRNAs were measured in matured cattle oocytes, eight-cell embryos and normal and parthenogenetic blastocysts and Day-14 trophoblast.

Clinical diagnosis and chemical confirmation of ciguatera fish poisoning in New South Wales, Australia.

Ciguatera fish poisoning is common in tropical and sub-tropical areas and larger fish (> 10 kg) are more susceptible to toxin accumulation with age. Although the coastal climate of northern New South Wales is considered sub-tropical, prior to 2014 there has only been 1 documented outbreak of ciguatera fish poisoning from fish caught in the region. During February and March 2014, 2 outbreaks of ciguatera fish poisoning involved 4 and 9 individuals, respectively, both following consumption of Spanish mackerel from northern New South Wales coastal waters (Evans Head and Scotts Head).

Outbreak-related Hendra virus infection in a NSW pet dog.

Hendra virus (HeV) infection is a zoonosis of importance in Australia. An outbreak of HeV occurred on the mid-north coast region of New South Wales (NSW) in June and July 2013. Four unvaccinated horses on four separate properties were confirmed to have HeV infection.

Morphological and Gene Expression Changes in Cattle Embryos from Hatched Blastocyst to Early Gastrulation Stages after Transfer of In Vitro Produced Embryos.

A detailed morphological staging system for cattle embryos at stages following blastocyst hatching and preceding gastrulation is presented here together with spatiotemporal mapping of gene expression for BMP4, BRACHYURY, CERBERUS1 (CER1), CRIPTO, EOMESODERMIN, FURIN and NODAL. Five stages are defined based on distinct developmental events. The first of these is the differentiation of the visceral hypoblast underlying the epiblast, from the parietal hypoblast underlying the mural trophoblast.

A field study of household attack rates and the effectiveness of macrolide antibiotics in reducing household transmission of pertussis.

Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) is an endemic, highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection, which is notifiable to Australian state and territory health departments. Between 2008 and 2011 there was a substantial outbreak in New South Wales with an initial increase in cases occurring in North Coast New South Wales from late 2007. During September and October 2011 the North Coast Public Health Unit conducted a household study of secondary attack rates to assess the effectiveness of pertussis vaccination as well as the timely use of antibiotics in preventing household transmission.

Sperm distribution and fertilization after unilateral and bilateral laparoscopic artificial insemination with frozen-thawed goat semen.

Generally, laparoscopic artificial insemination (LAI) provides a higher success rate than of cervical insemination in goats. However, the sperm distribution after LAI in goats remains unknown, particularly when frozen-thawed semen is used. This study evaluated the distribution of frozen-thawed goat spermatozoa after LAI and compared the effects of sperm numbers and deposition sites (unilateral and bilateral sites) on pregnancy rate.

Specific epiblast loss and hypoblast impairment in cattle embryos sensitized to survival signalling by ubiquitous overexpression of the proapoptotic gene BAD.

Early embryonic lethality is common, particularly in dairy cattle. We made cattle embryos more sensitive to environmental stressors by raising the threshold of embryo survival signaling required to overcome the deleterious effects of overexpressing the proapoptotic protein BAD. Two primary fibroblast cell lines expressing BAD and exhibiting increased sensitivity to stress-induced apoptosis were used to generate transgenic Day 13/14 BAD embryos.

Evaluation of hospital mass screening and infection control practices in a pandemic influenza full-scale exercise.

Objective: Nonpharmacologic interventions such as limiting nosocomial spread have been suggested for mitigation of respiratory epidemics at health care facilities. This observational study tested the efficacy of a mass screening, isolation, and triage protocol in correctly identifying and placing in a cohort exercise subjects according to case status in the emergency departments at 3 acute care hospitals in Brooklyn, New York, during a simulated pandemic influenza outbreak.

Methods: During a 1-day, full-scale exercise using 354 volunteer victims, variables assessing adherence to the mass screening protocol and infection control recommendations were evaluated using standardized forms.

Trophectoderm lineage determination in cattle.

The trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM) are committed and marked by reciprocal expression of Cdx2 and Oct4 in mouse late blastocysts. We find that the TE is not committed at equivalent stages in cattle, and that bovine Cdx2 is required later, for TE maintenance, but does not repress Oct4 expression. A mouse Oct4 (mOct4) reporter, repressed in mouse TE, remained active in the cattle TE; bovine Oct4 constructs were not repressed in the mouse TE.

Nuclear transfer-specific defects are not apparent during the second week of embryogenesis in cattle.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT)-specific effects on postblastocyst early cattle embryogenesis were investigated by comparison to in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos grown under identical conditions to embryonic days (E) 14 and 15. Recipient effects were excluded by transferring mixed batches of NT and IVP embryos into each cow. Embryo recovery rates, proportions with an epiblast and embryo, as well as epiblast dimensions did not differ between NT and IVP embryos.