No abstract

No abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with invasive disease aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. The major aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical and immunological responses of male Wistar rats against A. fumigatus experimentally-induced pulmonary fungal infection. Nostril experimental exposure of male Wistar rats to a high dose of A. fumigatus freeze-dried preparation for only 24 hr resulted in a significant increase in levels of catalase, nitric oxide and lipid peroxide in lung homogenates, compared to those of the control animals. However, the oxidative status of the lungs of rats challenged with killed fungus did not change significantly, except for the stimulation in the level of lipid peroxide. IgG level was significantly elevated only in rats that received two low doses of fungus, compared to unexposed animals (p<0.005). Examining the lung of rats exposed to A. fumigatus revealed no abnormal changes, except for pus in bronchial lumen spaces and per bronchial inflammation. Histologically, large numbers of granuloma cells were evident in the lungs of challenged rats, while no granuloma formation was evident in the lungs of rats exposed to killed fungus.

Medical waste management is of a great importance due to its potential impact to environment and consequently to human health. In the recent years, many efforts have been made by environmental regulatory agencies and waste generators to better managing the wastes from healthcare facilities. In the past, medical waste was often mixed with municipal solid waste and disposed in residential waste landfills or improper treatment facilities.

The aim of this study is to determine the phytochemical and total phenolic contents in addition to investigating the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Ocimumbasilicum leaf extracts. The leaves were air-dried and extracted with ethanol, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The contents of phytochemicals and total phenols were determined in addition to determining the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The results showed that ethanol, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts contained flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, tannins, saponins and reducing sugars. The petroleum ether extract had the highest total phenolic content (182.90%), followed by chloroform (171.67%), ethanol (166.03%) and ethyl acetate (106.33%) extracts. DPPH scavenging activity was highest in ethyl acetate extract (46.00%) and lowest in ethanol extract (29.93%). The bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to ethanol, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to all extracts except chloroform, and Bacillus cereus was resistant to ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts. Candida albicans was resistant to all extracts except ethanol. The study concluded that, although O. basilicum was not active against most microorganisms tested, it had appreciable concentrations of phytochemicals, total phenols, in addition to antioxidant activity.