Taxus baccata L., yew, is dioecious, small to medium-sized evergreen tree, native to Europe, Africa and Asia, but it is cultivated worldwide because of its ornamental features. It is long known that all parts of yew (except for aril) are toxic, due to the alkaloid taxine. Nevertheless, some parts of yew tree can be used to treat cancer and as antimicrobial agents. Unlike its antibacterial properties, antifungal activity of T. baccata is poorly investigated. In this research, antifungal activity of yew methanolic and aqueous extracts was tested against Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404, and Ascosphaera apis MUCL 30769, through the agar well diffusion method. Leaves, bark and reproductive structures extracts were prepared separately for male and female plants. Unlike the aqueous, methanolic extracts caused variable degree of fungal growth inhibition. The strongest inhibition was observed in the activity of the aril extract against A. brasiliensis and C. albicans, with the activity of the male bark extract against A. apis following close. Considering the emerging multidrug resistance in C. albicans, an interesting finding is the inhibition of this species by all tested methanolic extracts, which is significantly stronger in comparison to the inhibition by standard antimycotic solution. According to the available data, male reproductive structures of this species were not tested earlier for their antifungal activity, and our study showed high level of antifungal activity of methanolic microstrobili extract.           

Bites of laboratory animals are treated as the bites of any other animals since the possibility of existence of pathogenic microorganisms, unfavorable for human health, in the rooms where these animals reside, is not excluded. A rare case of a laboratory rat bite, used for scientific research and previously infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa , is presented here. The patient's wound was located on the forefinger of his hand and was 1 cm long and up to 0.2 cm deep. The antitetanus prophylaxis was administered in an ambulance, including antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin-clavulanate per os. There exists a need for checks and special guidelines for the handling and retention of laboratory animals. The patient has successfully remedied the wound, thanks to consistent antibiotic therapy and antitetanus prophylaxis, and possible inflammatory complications were prevented .

in broiler’s small intestine. Investigation were carried out on isolated smooth muscle of the circular and longitudinal layer of the broilers small intestine (strip dimension 3-4 mm x 2 cm). The muscle strips were placed in an isolated organ bath. The mechanical activity of the preparations were recorded via an isotonic force transducer coupled to a pen recorder. This was done following the addition of serotonin (nonselective 5-HT agonist), 2-Me-5HT (5-HT3B agonist) and Y-25130-hydrochloride (selective 5-HT3B antagonist). The research established a presence of serotonergic 5HT3B type receptors within the smooth musculature of the small intestines of broilers (COBB 500). The 5HT3B type receptors were present in smooth muscles of duodenum, jejunum and ileum, especially in longitudinal smooth muscles since this layer reacted even to low serotonin concentration (10-6). Statistical tests of obtained results showed significant differences (p< 0.001) in responses related to muscle layers, applied concentrations and intestinal parts which were observed. In the light of these findings, we suggest that investigated substances may have considerable physiological and therapeutic implications in disturbed function of small intestine of broiler’s.

Propolis is a resinous substance made by the bees that collect resin from the buds of plants and exudates of trees, enriching it with the salivary enzymes, pollen and wax. Beside of biological activities, propolis also has an antifungal activity. Candida albicans is a commensal yeast that may cause candidiasis in humans and animals, too. Ascosphaera apis is a heterothalic fungus and represents an agent of chalkbrood larval disease (cystic mycosis) of honeybees, Apis mellifera. Propolis from Bosnia and Herzegovina has shown an inhibitory effect on C. albicans and A. apis. 30% concentration of ethanol extracts of propolis has shown the strongest average inhibition zone with the disc diffusion method, with inhibition diameter of 7.56 mm for C. albicans and 14.5 mm for A. apis, as well as 8 mm for the reference strain of C. albicans ATCC 10231 and 12,2 mm for the reference strain of A. apis MUCL 30764. Key word: propolis, antifungal activity, Candida albicans, Ascosphaera apis