Necrotic arachnidism of the eyelid due to Loxosceles rufescens spider bite.

A 69-year-old woman was awakened with redness and swelling of the left upper eyelid a few days before her presentation. She also noticed a dead spider on her bed. Ophthalmic examination revealed severe left periorbital hyperemia, edema and a wide necrotic area on the upper eyelid. Systemic condition of the patient was well. She was hospitalized with the diagnosis of necrotic arachnidism of the left upper eyelid. Systemic corticosteroid and antibiotic treatment was commenced. No surgical intervention was carried out. A week later, whole upper eyelid was covered with a black eschar. This black eschar shrank with time, and it detached completely within 8 weeks and the lesion healed without a disfiguring scar. Meanwhile, the offending spider was identified as Loxosceles rufescens. Although rare, eyelid may be a biting site for Loxosceles spiders and a favorable result may be obtained with conservative management.

Fine structural analysis of the stinger in venom apparatus of the scorpion Euscorpius mingrelicus (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

In this study, the morphology, histology and fine structure of the stinger, a part of the venom apparatus of Euscorpius mingrelicus (Kessler, 1874) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) were studied by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The stinger, located at the end section of the telson, is sickle-shaped. The venom is ejected through a pair of venom pores on its subterminal portion. Both venom ducts extend along the stinger without contact with each other since they are separated by connective tissue cells. The stinger cuticle is composed of two layers. Additionally, there are many pore canals and some hemolymph vessels in the cuticle. This work constitutes the first histological and fine structure study on Euscorpius mingrelicus stinger.(AU)

Antimicrobial activity of endemic Digitalis lamarckii Ivan from Turkey.

Antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extracts of leaves and flowers of D. lamarckii Ivan, (Scophulariaceae), an endemic plant species of Turkey, was tested on ten bacterial and four yeast strains. Effective antibacterial activity was observed in four bacterial strains. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was calculated by use of liquid culture tests and in all the four effective bacterial strains, the MIC was found to be > or = 199.5 mg/ml. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of B. subtilis, S. aureus, and L. monocytogenes was calculated to be > or = 199.5 mg/ml, and MBC value for Shigella was calculated as > or = 399 mg/ml.

Antimicrobial activity of endemic Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers and observation of the inhibition effect on bacterial cells.

Up to now an increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been reported and thus new natural therapeutic agents are needed in order to eradicate these pathogens. Through the discovery of plants such as Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers that have antimicrobial activity, it will be possible to discover new natural drugs serving as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of nosocomial pathogens and take these antibiotic-resistant bacteria under control. The objective of the present study was to determine antimicrobial activity and the activity mechanism of C. tanacetifolia plant extract. The leaves of C. tanacetifolia, which is an endemic plant, were extracted using methanol and tested against 10 bacterial and 4 yeast strains by using a drop method. It was observed that the plant extract had antibacterial effects on Bacillus subtilis, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes among the microorganisms that were tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results obtained at the end of an incubation of 24 h were found to be > or =6.16 mg ml(-1) for B. subtilis, < 394 mg ml(-1) for Shigella, and > or =3.08 mg ml(-1) for L. monocytogenes and S. aureus and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were found as > or =24.63 mg ml(-1) for B. subtilis, > or =394 mg ml(-1) for Shigella, > or =6.16 mg ml(-1) for L. monocytogenes, and > or =98.5 mg ml(-1) for S. aureus. According to the MBC results, it was found that the plant extract had bactericidal effects and in order to explain the activity mechanism and cell deformation of bacterial strains treated with plant extract, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used. The results of SEM showed that the treated cells appeared shrunken and there was degradation of the cell walls. This study, in which the antibacterial effect of C. tanacetifolia was demonstrated, will be a base for further investigations on advanced purification and effect mechanism of action of its active compounds.

Antimicrobial activity of various extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. and observation of the inhibition effect on bacterial cells by use of scanning electron microscopy.

The antimicrobial activities of chloroform, acetone and two different concentrations of methanol extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. were studied. These extracts were tested in vitro against 10 bacteria and 4 yeasts strains by the disc diffusion method. The results indicated that the methanol extracts of O. basilucum exhibited the antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms. While the chloroform and acetone extracts had no effect, the methanol extracts showed inhibition zones against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and two different strains of Escherichia coli. The cells of microorganisms, which were treated and untreated with plant extracts, were observed by using the scanning electron microscope. It was observed that the treated cells were damaged.

Screening antimicrobial activity of various extracts of Artemisia dracunculus L.

The antimicrobial activities of chloroform, acetone and two different concentrations of methanol extracts of Artemisia dracunculus L. were studied. These extracts were tested against nine bacteria and four yeasts strains by the disc diffusion method. The results indicated that the methanol extract of A. dracunculus is more effective against tested microorganisms than chloroform or acetone extracts. The chloroform and acetone extracts were inhibitory only towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). While the methanol extract that was diluted with 10 ml distilled water showed inhibition zones against Shigella (RSHI), Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), the methanol extract that was diluted with 5 ml distilled water showed inhibition zones against two different strains of Escherichia coli (RSHI, ATCC 25922), Shigella (RSHI), L. monocytogenes (ATCC 7644), and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853. The cells of microorganisms treated with plant extracts and normal microorganism cells were observed by scanning electron microscope. It was apparent that cells are damaged after treatment with A. dracunculus.

Functional structure of Agelena labyrinthica's (Araneae:Agelenidae) venom gland and electrophoresis of venom.

The funnel-web spider, Agelena labyrinthica, is widely distributed throughout Turkey. The objective of the present study was to describe the histological and functional fine structure of A. labyrinthica's venom gland by using light microscope, scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). We have also preliminarily analyzed venom components by SDS-PAGE. Each venom gland has surrounded by a thin adventitia and gross striated muscular bundles. Basal lamina underlies between muscular bundles and the inner glandular epithelium, and ties up them each other. The striated muscular bundles spirally covered venom gland has been observed by SEM. Intricate relations formed between motor neuron axons and the muscle fibers have been revealed by TEM. The secretory epithelium, which made up of simple columnar cells, formed the secretory region of the venom gland. The secretory surface of the gland was increased by a sort of fringes extended from basal membrane into the gland lumen. The epithelial cells have many rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and different size and shape of secretory granules. These granules have been accumulated in apical portion of the secretory cells. After the gland is emptied, the apical portions of secretory cells deteriorate and the basal epithelial cells regenerate the columnar cells. The analysis of A. labyrinthica venom, which was achieved by SDS-PAGE showed that there have been at least seven components ranging from 10 to 40 kDa molecular weight.