The Mitochondrial Genome of the Lycophyte Huperzia squarrosa: The Most Archaic Form in Vascular Plants

Mitochondrial genomes have maintained some bacterial features despite their residence within eukaryotic cells for approximately two billion years. One of these features is the frequent presence of polycistronic operons. In land plants, however, it has been shown that all sequenced vascular plant chondromes lack large polycistronic operons while bryophyte chondromes have many of them. In this study, we provide the completely sequenced mitochondrial genome of a lycophyte, from Huperzia squarrosa, which is a member of the sister group to all other vascular plants. The genome, at a size of 413,530 base pairs, contains 66 genes and 32 group II introns. In addition, it has 69 pseudogene fragments for 24 of the 40 protein- and rRNA-coding genes. It represents the most archaic form of mitochondrial genomes of all vascular plants. In particular, it has one large conserved gene cluster containing up to 10 ribosomal protein genes, which likely represents a polycistronic operon but has been disrupted and greatly reduced in the chondromes of other vascular plants. It also has the least rearranged gene order in comparison to the chondromes of other vascular plants. The genome is ancestral in vascular plants in several other aspects: the gene content resembling those of charophytes and most bryophytes, all introns being cis-spliced, a low level of RNA editing, and lack of foreign DNA of chloroplast or nuclear origin

The Lycopodiaceae of Panama

The present paper provides keys to the genera and species of Lycopodiaceae for 6 genera and 40 species recorded from Panama. The treatment includes nomenclature, descriptions of species and information about distribution and habitats, and notes on problems of species delimitation and infraspecific variation. All species are illustrated, and representative specimens are cited

Assessment of patient performance of the HandiHaler® compared with the metered dose inhaler four weeks after instruction

AbstractThe HandiHaler® is a novel breath-actuated dry powder system designed for the delivery of tiotropium 18μg daily in the treatment of COPD. We compared patient ability to use the HandiHaler® or metered dose inhaler (MDI) device correctly 4 weeks after receiving brief instructions and device demonstration. A single-blind study was conducted in COPD patients in two centers in Denmark. All patients (n=151) received one placebo capsule via the HandiHaler® daily and ipratropium (20μg) two actuations via the MDI q.i.d. Mean FEV1 for all patients was 1.25+0.54 (46% predicted). Twelve instructions establishing proper device use were evaluated for the MDI and Handihaler. Error scores were analyzed by number of patients with less, equal or more errors when using HandiHaler® compared to MDI in the total efficacy population (n=139) and according to those who had not previously used an MDI for at least 12 months (MDI beginners) (n=74) and those who had used an MDI (MDI experienced) (n=65). Four weeks after device instruction, a higher proportion of patients in the total population (P<0.01) had fewer errors with the HandiHaler® (35.3%) compared to the MDI (15.1%). The number of errors was equal in 50% of patients. Similar findings were observed in the subgroup of patients who were MDI beginners (42% vs. 11%, P<0.01) with non-significant trends in favor of the HandiHaler® in those patients who were MDI experienced (29.7% vs. 18.9%, P=0.096). Similar results in favor of HandiHaler® were noted across different age and sex strata. The proportion of patients correctly using the device on the first of three attempts was 59.7% and 54.7% for the HandiHaler® and MDI, respectively (P=0.399). In summary, use of the HandiHaler® can be easily taught with fewer errors compared to the MDI. Furthermore, patient performance using the HandiHaler® was superior to that with an MDI despite prior MDI experience and more frequent usage