PDBe: Protein Data Bank in Europe

The Protein Data Bank in Europe (PDBe; pdbe.org) is a partner in the Worldwide PDB organization (wwPDB; wwpdb.org) and as such actively involved in managing the single global archive of biomacromolecular structure data, the PDB. In addition, PDBe develops tools, services and resources to make structure-related data more accessible to the biomedical community. Here we describe recently developed, extended or improved services, including an animated structure-presentation widget (PDBportfolio), a widget to graphically display the coverage of any UniProt sequence in the PDB (UniPDB), chemistry- and taxonomy-based PDB-archive browsers (PDBeXplore), and a tool for interactive visualization of NMR structures, corresponding experimental data as well as validation and analysis results (Vivaldi).

Talking ethics with strangers: a view from Jewish tradition

The work of H. Tristram Engelhardt provides an important set of reflections for bioethics in a secular context. Taking Engelhardt's work as its point of departure this article explores the challenges that Jewish ethicists face in contributing to bioethics in a secular context. The article explores how the Jewish tradition can address issues in bioethics in ways that are true to its tradition and at the same time accessible and relevant to "moral strangers" in a secular society.

Jewish theology and bioethics

This article explores the theological foundations of both classical and contemporary Jewish ethics, with special reference to biomedical issues. Traditional views concerning God's revelation to Israel are shown to underlie the methodological orientation of classical Jewish ethics, which is both legalistic and particularistic. Contemporary Jewish ethicists, by contrast, have tended to embrace more liberal views of revelation which have mitigated both the legalism and the particularism of their approach. Apart from methodological considerations, much of the content of Jewish medical ethics has also been shaped by theological concerns. Specifically, a Jewish theology of creation provides basic norms and values which inform Jewish responses to a range of contemporary biomedical issues. Finally, it is suggested that the theological roots of this ethical tradition do not disqualify it from making a significant contribution to the wider discussion of biomedical issues in our secular, pluralistic society.

Pulmonary edema and hydrothorax in swine produced by fumonisin B1, a toxic metabolite of Fusarium moniliforme

Pulmonary edema and hydrothorax were observed in mature swine that died approximately 5 days after consuming corn screenings. These postmortem observations were reproduced in younger swine (16-24 kg) that died within 1 week when fed the corn screenings under experimental conditions. Additionally, pulmonary edema and hydrothorax occurred in a pig (7.1 kg) that died after receiving 4 daily intravenous injections of fumonisin B1. A fungus was isolated from the corn screenings that is identical to Fusarium moniliforme MRC-826 in colony morphology and under microscopic examination.

Comparison of diagnostic tests for the detection of equine infectious anemia antibody

Two diagnostic tests are approved for detecting antibody to equine infectious anemia virus: the agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test and the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 420 sera from National Veterinary Services Laboratories check sets were tested with the AGID and competitive ELISA. A 100% correlation was obtained. The AGID and competitive ELISA were further used to test difficult samples with low levels of equine infectious anemia antibody (weak positives). A third test (Western blot) was also used with these weak positive samples to resolve any discordant results.

Humoral immune response of the bovine fetus to in utero vaccination with attenuated bovine coronavirus

A fetal response to in utero vaccination with attenuated bovine coronavirus (9 to 49 days before parturition) was determined in 8 calves, 5 vaccinated and 3 controls. Calves were derived by hysterotomy before parturition and were maintained in a closed gnotobiotic environment. The IgA, IgM, and IgG values and coronavirus-neutralizing antibody titers were higher in the sera and intestinal loop fluid from vaccinated calves than in those from control calves. Sections of ileum and ileal lymph nodes from 1-day-old vaccinated calves, when stained with monospecific anti-bovine IgG, IgM, and IgA had numerous positively stained plasma cells. Positive fluorescence was not detected in comparable tissues from controls. When the 8 calves were given virulent coronavirus orally at 6 days of age, vaccinated calves did not become ill, whereas control calves had diarrhea in 19 to 22 hours. All calves were killed at 10 days of age. Control calves had lesions characteristic of coronavirus infection, and intestinal epithelial cells were positive by fluorescent antibody tests. In vaccinated calves, lesions of coronavirus infection were absent, and results of fluorescent antibody tests were negative. Although in utero vaccination with a coronavirus vaccine stimulated immunity in the newborn calf, the frequency of abortions (2 of 14 cows inoculated intra-amniotically) and premature births (4 of 14) precluded practical application.

Gnotobiotic calves: derivation, maintenance, Thiry-Vella loop preparation, and ethylene oxide gas sterilization

Twenty-four pregnant Holstein cows were used to develop techniques and procedures to obtain calves by hysterotomy and to maintain them in a closed gnotobiotic environment (sterile plastic-film isolators) for as long as 10 days for infectious disease research. Thiry-Vella loop preparation for obtaining intestinal loop secretions was done in a surgical isolator and was successful in 12 of 14 gnotobiotic calves. Ethylene oxide gas was effective in sterilizing heat-labile and moisture-sensitive instruments and equipment.

Myodegeneration in Kentucky white-tailed deer

Skeletal or cardiac myodegeneration, or both, was observed in 4 free-ranging female white-tailed deer that were found dead or recumbent and unable to rise. Gross pathologic findings included white or chalky streaks in heart or skeletal musculature. Degeneration, necrosis, and mineralization were observed microscopically in affected striated muscles. Although the precise cause of myodegeneration was not determined, changes were considered compatible with nutritional or exertional myopathy.

Sarcocystosis in an aborted bovine fetus

Sarcocystosis was diagnosed in an aborted bovine fetus. Immature and mature schizonts of Sarcocystis were disseminated in the vascular endothelium of all organs, but especially the brain. Microscopic granulomas, focal gliosis, and petechial hemorrhages in the neuropil were scattered in the brain. Multifocal collections of mononuclear cells were observed in the kidney, liver and heart. Organisms in sections of frozen tissues were demonstrated by immunofluorescent techniques to be Sarcocystis.

Scanning electron, light, and immunofluorescent microscopy of intestine of gnotobiotic calf infected with reovirus-like agent

Intestinal lesions caused by a calf diarrheal reovirus-like agent were studied by scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and immunofluorescent microscopy in 2 gnotobiotic calves inoculated per orum. The calves were euthanatized 6 hours after the onset of diarrhea. Villi in the cranial and middle parts of the small intestine appeared shortened. In these areas, the epithelium was composed of low columnar and cuboidal cells. Villi in the caudal part of the small intestine were short. By scanning electron microscopy, the villous epithelium in the caudal part of the small intestine of both calves and the ridge epithelium in the ansa spiralis coli of 1 calf were composed of various sized cells which gave the surfaces an irregular appearance. The amount of mucopolysaccharide in the colonic epithelial cells of both calves was greatly reduced. The combined use of scanning electron and light microscopic techniques enabled obtaining a more accurate description of the intestinal lesions than either technique alone.

Lesions of experimentally induced colibacillosis in neonatal gnotobiotic pigs: a scanning electron microscopic study

Scanning electron and light microscopy were used in studies of stomach, duodenum, cranial, and caudal portions of the jejunum, ileum, cecum, and spiral colon from 18 gnotobiotic pigs. Five pigs were raised as controls and 13 were exposed at 6 days of age by oral administration of 1.6 X 10(6) colony-forming units of Escherichia coli O138:K81:NM. Infiltration of leukocytes into the mucosa of the stomach seen with the light microscope has not been previously reported. The irregular pattern of the mucosal surface of the stomach formed by the gastric pits and the mucosal extensions on the individual rugae revealed with scanning electron microscopy was different than anticipated. Sections of the ileum from control and infected pigs contained collapsed cells around the extrusion zone at the tips of the villi. These collapsed cells were more numerous in infected pigs and appeared to have sloughed from the area of the extrusion zone resulting in exposure of the lamina propria. Cecum and spinal colon were free of changes. Alterations of the mucosa of the intestinal tract of gnotobiotic pigs infected with E coli as visualized by scanning electron microscopy were considered too inconsistent to be of diagnostic significance.

Treatment for the parents of feminine boys

Because extreme boyhood femininity is often a precursor of adult transsexualism, transvestism, and homosexuality, the author recommends early intervention for boys who meet specific behavioral criteria of gender disturbance. It is necessary to involve the parents in such treatment and to deal with the resistances they may have to recognizing and working on the problem as well as problems within the marital relationship that may affect the child's behavior. These boys are remarkably responsive to treatment given between the ages of 5 and 12, becoming more masculine in behavior and more comfortable with their identity as males.

Scanning electron, light, and immunofluorescent microscopy of intestine of gnotobiotic calf infected with calf diarrheal coronavirus

Intestinal lesions in 2 gnotobiotic calves given (oral inoculation) calf diarrheal coronavirus were studied by scanning electron, light, and immunofluorescent microscopy. The calves were euthanatized at 34 and 73 hours after the onset of diarrhea. Lesions in the small intestine were similar to those reported in animals affected with transmissible gastroenteritis of swine. Small intestinal villi were shortened, some adjacent villi were fused, and villous epithelium was composed of low cuboidal to squamous cells. In the ansa spiralis coli, there were atrophy of the colonic ridges and marked differences in length and spacing of the microvilli on individual epithelial cells.

Scanning electron, light, and transmission electron microscopy of intestine of gnotobiotic calf

Adjacent areas of upper, middle, and lower parts of the small intestine and spiral colon from a 48-hour-old gnotobiotic calf were compared by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light microscopy (LM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As visualized by all 3 methods, small intestinal histologic features, except for apical location of villous epithelial cell nuclei in sections of upper and middle parts of small intestine, were similar to those described for other species. The colonic surface visualized by SEM was composed of flattened ridges separated by furrows into which opened the crypts of Lieberkühn. The epithelial surfaces of the ridges and the furrows had an extensive microvillous covering and scattered goblet cell openings.

The bisexual identity of transsexuals: Two case examples

Clinical data from two cases of male transsexualism, a child and an adult, illustrate the nature of the bisexuality typical of such patients. The first, an 8-year-old boy whose desire to be a girl is seen in his constant dressing and acting like a girl, confirms in play therapy, story telling, and drawings his fantasies of being a female. However, these fantasies are never free of the knowledge that he has a penis and a male identity as well. That this bisexuality persists into the transsexual's adulthood is exemplified in the fantasy life of the second case, a 30-year-old operated male transsexual. The memory, "I was once a boy" never quite fades away; no matter how successfully the passing as a woman is managed, she cannot rid herself of the secret maleness. The belief in such patients that they are fundamentally female though possessed of an anatomically normal male body will persist through adulthood, unaltered by "sex change," by hormonal or surgical procedures, or by living successfully for years as a woman. This bisexuality is conscious, painful, and not assuaged by symptom formation, forgetting, or other defenses that would remove the conscious sense of having two sexes. In the child the unwanted sense of belonging to the male sex, which causes a disquieting undercurrent, can be used as the base upon which a more solid sense of masculinity can be built. Unfortunately, for the adult transsexual the balance of the "two-sexed" awareness cannot be tipped to a willingness to live as a man; despite treatment aimed at making them more manly, adult transsexuals retain their wish to be female-and their secret knowledge that, after all the operations and female hormones, a male part remains untouched within.