Checklist of the Vascular Flora of Lyon and Sioux Counties, Iowa

The combined vascular flora of Lyon and Sioux counties, Iowa, based upon field and herbarium study, is composed of 612 species, of which 454 species (74%) occur in both counties. The Lyon County vascular flora consists of 561 species, including 13 state endangered, 9 state threatened species, and 102 non-native species. The Sioux County vascular flora consists of 506 species, including 2 state threatened species and 106 non-native species. The floras are most notable for the presence of plants with floristic affinities to the Great Plains to the west of Iowa. They also have a very high percentage (18%-20%) of their floras comprised of non-native species, reflecting the intensity of human activities on the landscape

Monte Carlo simulation of light propagation in adult brain: influence of tissue blood content and indocyanine green

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), applied to a human head, is a noninvasive method in neurointensive care to monitor cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation. The method is particularly powerful when it is applied in combination with indocyanine green (ICG) as a tracer substance. In order to assess contributions to the measured optical density (OD) which are due to extracerebral circulation and disturb the clinically significant intracerebral signals, we simulated the light propagation in an anatomically representative model of the adult head derived from MRI measurements with the aid of Monte Carlo methods. Since the measured OD signal depends largely on the relative blood content in various transilluminated tissues, we weighted the calculated densities of the photon distribution under baseline conditions within the tissues with the changes and aberrations of the relative blood volumes which we expect to prevail under physiological conditions. Furthermore, the influence of the IGC dye as a tracer substance was assessed. We conclude that up to about different 70% of the measured OD signal may have its origin in the tissues of interest under optimal conditions, which is mainly due to the extrapolated high relative blood content of brain tissue along with the influence of ICG

Pharmacogenetics, the next challenge for pharmacy?

This commentary draws attention to and raises awareness of forthcoming pharmacogenetic technologies amongst the pharmacy profession. It aims to stimulate debate around the potential role that the pharmacy profession can play in the introduction of pharmacogenetic technologies into primary healthcare. This commentary discusses potential new roles for pharmacists involving pharmacogenetic technologies, giving attention to the way the profession may need to adapt to accommodate these

Detection of hydroxyl and carbon-centred radicals by EPR spectroscopy after ischaemia and reperfusion of the rat kidney

Recent studies suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals are involved in mediating renal reperfusion injury. EPR spectroscopy and spin trapping with the spin traps DMPO and PBN, were used to detect and quantitate the formation of hydroxyl radicals in rat kidney after ischaemia-reperfusion in vivo and in vitro in the isolated rat kidney perfused in the absence of leucocytes. EPR analysis of homogenised kidneys and of venous samples did not detect radical adducts with either spin trap. With PBN, radical adducts were not detected in vitro. When DMPO was used as the spin trap in kidneys perfused without albumin in the perfusate, EPR signals characteristic of hydroxyl and carbon-centred radical adducts were detected during early reperfusion following ischaemia. These studies confirm the generation of hydroxyl radicals during ischaemia-reperfusion in kidney. During reperfusion the total DMPO adduct concentration reached 4.35 +/- 1.05 nmol/g kidney/3 min, p < 0.05. In control kidneys total adduct were present at lower concentration (2.55 +/- 1.1 nmol/g kidney/3 min). Addition of 15 mM dimethylthiourea abolished formation of these adducts following ischaemia-reperfusion but did not prevent a reduction in glomerular filtration rate. These results indicate that significant levels of hydroxyl and carbon-centred radicals are formed in the absence of circulating neutrophils during early renal reperfusion following ischaemia