Pineal cells enhance choline acetyltransferase activity in sympathetic neurons.

Cells derived from the neonatal rat pineal gland were cocultured with cells derived from neonatal rat superior cervical ganglia (SCG) in an attempt to determine whether a sympathetic target organ with only adrenergic properties could enhance the development of adrenergic transmitter properties in sympathetic neurons in tissue culture. Choline acetyltransferase was measured as an index of cholinergic differentiation, and tyrosine hydroxylase was measured as an index of adrenergic differentiation. As indices of total cell number and cellular volume, DNA and protein, respectively, were also measured.

Biochemical differentiation in large colonies of Enterobacter cloacae.

Large colonies of Enterobacter cloacae which were about 700 micrometer thick were frozen in liquid nitrogen and sectioned horizontally. The sections were disrupted and several oxidative enzymes were assayed in the crude unfractionated homogenates. In the top 120 micrometer of the colonies the specific activities of the enzymes were high and characteristic of aerobically adapted cells.

Cerebellar form of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

A case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) with selective involvement of cerebellum and brain stem is compared with nine other published cases. Recognition of PML presenting with ataxia before cerebral manifestations is stressed especially, since promising results with some antiviral drugs have been claimed.

Occurrence of Aspergillus fumigatus during composting of sewage sludge.

Aspergillus fumigatus, a medically important fungal opportunist and respiratory allergen, was isolated from woodchips and sewage sludge used in the production of compost at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's composting research facility in Beltsville, Md.