Jacoby Creek Site Inventory Assessment and Management Recommendations for Parcel 502-052-022

Jacoby Creek is a 16.6 mi2 watershed that discharges into Humboldt Bay in Humboldt County, California. Legacy use of this watershed consisted of unmanaged logging and diking to create pastureland for agriculture until the 1970’s. Currently, 187 acres of the Jacoby Creek watershed is owned by the Jacoby Creek Land Trust (JCLT). JCLT focuses on creating a space for recreation and conservation within the Jacoby Creek watershed. The parcel (parcel 502-052-022) was assessed to identify social trails, invasive species, tree density, and upland understory vegetation to provide restoration recommendations. Non-native invasive species, such as Hedera helix (English ivy) and Rubus armeniacus (Himalayan Blackberry), without proper management have the potential to grow and outcompete native flora. A system of social trails were found, most of which lead to less accessible routes. It is recommended that JCLT discourage the use of social trails by covering trail entrances and with online notices and other forms of outreach. A tree density assessment was conducted on the previously logged, second growth forest, showing it is of high density. A variable density thinning treatment is recommended to allow for healthier trees similar to old growth redwood forest conditions

A Survey on Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Teaching Hospital in Iran: A Survey on Total Parenteral Nutrition

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has a vital role in controlling nutritional deficiencies especially in patients with critical conditions who are confined to bed in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Complete evaluation of the nutritional status of these patients is necessary to achieve their nutritional goal. The aim of this investigation was to study the Complete Blood Count (CBC), coagulation parameters, renal function and electrolyte status of patients hospitalized in ICU of a teaching hospital in Iran. A retrospective study was designed in which adult patients hospitalized in the ICU of Ayatollah Taleghani general hospital in Tehran, Iran, during March 2006 to September 2008, were enrolled in the study. The medical records of 203 patients admitted in the ICU were reviewed. 22 (10.8%) patients had received TPN. Hospitalization days were 12±8 (mean±SD) and the days of TPN were 8±6 ( mean±SD). CBC results, coagulation parameters, renal function tests, electrolyte status, mortality rate and duration of hospitalization of patients were extracted from their hospital records. Data relevant to baseline (before starting TPN), 1st, 2nd and the last day of TPN was analyzed/compared by Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS, version 19.0). CBC and coagulation status did not significantly change during TPN. Serum sodium did not also change significantly during TPN, however serum potassium in the last day (4.71±1.44 mg/dl) was higher than the 1st day (3.77±1.04 mg/dl), (P=0.02), and 2nd day (3.84±0.81 mg/dl), (P=0.04), of TPN. Not surprisingly, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) in the last day (58.00±35.90 mg/dl) was more than the baseline (32.27±22.59 mg/dl), the 1st day (34.50±21.40 mg/dl) (p<0.01) and the 2nd day after starting TPN (36.55±19.80 mg/dl), (P=0.04).Our results showed that TPN in ICU patients can be associated with changes in potassium and BUN levels. However, further studies with higher sample size are required leading to more comprehensive Conclusion

Effect of pretransplant depression on neutrophil recovery following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Maria Tavakoli-Ardakani,1,2 Narges Beyraghi,3 Mahtabalsadat Mirjalili,4 Ehsan Mirzaei,4 Maryam Mehrpooya51Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Neurofunctional and Neurology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 5Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranPurpose: Pre-transplantation depression is known to exert negative effects on clinical outcomes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Accumulating evidence shows a bidirectional association between inflammation and depression. Systemic inflammation can affect clinical outcomes after transplantation, such as time to engraftment. This study evaluated the effect of pre-transplantation depression and serum level of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines on clinical outcomes such as neutrophil recovery time and mortality in patients undergoing HSCT.Patients and methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 73 patients who were autologous or allogeneic HSCT candidates. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire was used to assess depression in the first 2 days after their hospital admission. Serum levels of IL-10, IL-6, and hs-CRP were measured at the same time. Neutrophil engraftment time, length of hospitalization, rate of mortality, relapses, readmissions, and occurrence of major complications following HSCT in a 1-year follow-up period were recorded as comparative outcomes.Results: Thirty-five patients with depression and 38 patients without depression participated in the study. Among the related outcomes, time of engraftment (P=0.020) and mortality rate (P=0.059) were statistically different between the two groups. Depressed patients had longer neutrophil engraftment time and higher mortality rate 1 year following transplantation (14.14±3.95 days and 31.43%) in comparison to non-depressed patients (12.21±2.81 days and 13.16%). Depressed patients showed significantly higher serum levels of IL-6 and IL-6-to-IL-10 ratio compared to non-depressed participants (P<0.001 and P=0.004).Conclusion: According to the results, pre-transplant depression can negatively impact neutrophil recovery time and mortality rate following HSCT. Higher levels of inflammatory factors in depressed patients might be one of the mechanisms that negatively affect clinical outcomes after HSCT.Keywords: depression, inflammation, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, neutrophil recovery tim