Abstract The objective of this work is to investigate the conversion of spent coffee grounds (SCG) into biochar (BSC) and the ecotoxicological effects of the product obtained. The SCG and BSC were characterized by characterized by different techniques (TGA/DTG, FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDS, and EDXRF). Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) was used to characterize the aqueous extract of BSC. The inhibitory effect on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) germination was investigated. Besides, antimicrobial activity evaluation trials were conducted with Azospirillum brasilense and Trichoderma spp. The results showed that in the BSC production process, the extractives and lignocellulosic components in the SCG were partly decomposed. Tests conducted with microorganisms did not reveal any toxic effect of BSC. However, high phytotoxicity against lettuce was recorded for rate 100 t/ha of BSC. This effect was associated with the presence of carboxylic acids identified by 1H NMR in the BSC extract aqueous.

ABSTRACT Background: This study evaluated the distribution of pine mistletoe in Scots pine ecosystems in relation to topographic variables and land uses. A total of 109 sample plots were selected from pure Scots pine forests in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. The 6-class dwarf mistletoe rating was used for infection severity. Pearson correlation analysis results showed significant relationships between mistletoe infection severity and topographic variables in 30 m buffer and land use in 500 m buffer. Results: Of the sample plots, 69 (63%) were mistletoe infected, and 40 (37%) were uninfected. The t-test results showed that there was a significant difference between mean topographic variables and land use in mistletoe infected and uninfected sample plots. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis showed that altitude, productive forest, slope, and road distance were the most significant predictors of the distribution of pine mistletoe as topographic variables and land uses. Conclusion: The common direction of mistletoe infected areas, in addition to Scots pine ecosystems, was low altitudes, sheltered valleys, more humid areas and different land use (agriculture, road and stream).

RESUMO OBJETIVO: O papel das interleucinas, como IL-17 e IL-34, na patogênese da doença auto-imune foi estabelecido na literatura. No presente estudo, objetivamos identificar as concentrações de IL-17 (IL-17A, IL-17F) e IL-34 no líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) de pacientes com polineuropatia desmielinizante inflamatória crônica (CIDP) e neuropatia desmielinizante inflamatória aguda (AIDN). MÉTODOS: incluímos neste estudo 8 pacientes com CIDP (nenhum deles recebendo terapia imunomoduladora ou imunossupressora), 7 pacientes com síndrome de Guillain-Barre (GBS, AIDN) e 7 indivíduos controle. Os diagnósticos CIDP e AIDN foram feitos por avaliação clínica e investigações eletrofisiológicas de acordo com critérios internacionais. As amostras de LCR foram obtidas adequadamente e os níveis de IL-17A, IL-17F e IL-34 foram medidos através de kits ELISA. RESULTADOS: As concentrações de IL-17A, IL-17F e IL-34 foram maiores naqueles com CIDP e AIDN em comparação aos controles (p = 0,005, p = 0,01 ep = 0,001, respectivamente). Enquanto os níveis de IL-34 foram significativamente mais altos nos pacientes com AIDN do que nos pacientes com CIDP (p = 0,04), não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos com AIDN e CIDP em relação aos níveis de IL-17A e IL-17F (p = 0,4 ep = 0,2, respectivamente) CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados indicam que os níveis de IL-17A, IL-17F e IL-34 podem ter um papel no CIDP e no AIDN. Além disso, a diferença nos níveis de IL-34 de pacientes com AIDN e CIDP pode indicar uma diferença importante entre a patogênese desses dois conjuntos de doenças.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The role of interleukins, such as IL-17 and IL-34, in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases has been established in the literature. In the current study, we aimed to identify the concentrations of IL-17 (IL-17A, IL-17F) and IL-34 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (AIDN). METHODS: We included in this study 8 patients with CIDP (none of them receiving immunomodulatory or immunosuppressant therapy), 7 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS, AIDN), and 7 control subjects. The CIDP and AIDN diagnoses were made by clinical evaluation and electrophysiological investigations according to international criteria. CSF samples were obtained appropriately, and the levels of IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-34 were measured by ELISA kits. RESULTS: The concentrations of IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-34 were higher in those with CIDP and AIDN compared to the controls (p=0.005, p=0.01, and p=0.001, respectively). While IL-34 levels were significantly higher in AIDN patients than in CIDP patients (p=0.04), there were no significant differences between the AIDN and CIDP groups with regard to the levels of IL-17A and IL-17F (p=0.4 and p=0.2, respectively) CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-34 levels may have a role in CIDP and AIDN. Furthermore, the difference in the IL-34 levels of patients with AIDN and CIDP may indicate an important difference between the pathogenesis of these two sets of the disease.