The hornwort genome and early land plant evolution.

Hornworts, liverworts and mosses are three early diverging clades of land plants, and together comprise the bryophytes. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the hornwort Anthoceros angustus. Phylogenomic inferences confirm the monophyly of bryophytes, with hornworts sister to liverworts and mosses. The simple morphology of hornworts correlates with low genetic redundancy in plant body plan, while the basic transcriptional regulation toolkit for plant development has already been established in this early land plant lineage. Although the Anthoceros genome is small and characterized by minimal redundancy, expansions are observed in gene families related to RNA editing, UV protection and desiccation tolerance. The genome of A. angustus bears the signatures of horizontally transferred genes from bacteria and fungi, in particular of genes operating in stress-response and metabolic pathways. Our study provides insight into the unique features of hornworts and their molecular adaptations to live on land.

The complete chloroplast genome of Magnolia sinostellata (Magnoliaceae), a rare and endangered species of China.

Magnolia sinostellata Chiu & Chen is a rare and endangered species endemic to subtropical China. Here we assembled and annotated the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of M. sinostellata. The chloroplast genome of M. sinostellata is 160,076 bp in length and encodes 79 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and four ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis result reveals that M. sinostellata is most closely related to M. biondii.

[Diagnosis and treatment of abdominal cocoon].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics and the methods of diagnosis and treatment for abdominal cocoon. METHODS: The clinical data of 9 patients with abdominal cocoon treated from July 2000 to February 2004 were analyzed. RESULTS: The clinical manifestations included abdominal pain, abdominal distention, nausea, vomiting, partial or complete intestinal obstruction in 4 cases among 9 cases, abdominal mass in 5 cases. Abdominal plain X-ray and computed tomography suggested partial intestinal obstruction in 8 cases. Computed tomography suggested thickening and rigidity in peritoneum and intestinal wall even a part of calcification in 4 cases. The intestinal loops seemed to be encapsulated in a thickened capsule. Contrast study was negative in 1 case, partial intestinal obstruction in 1 case and intestinal loops fixed at middle abdomen in 1 case among 3 cases. All the cases underwent operations, which showed that part or all the small bowel were encapsulated in a dense white membrane. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal cocoon is rare. It is more difficult to make right diagnosis preoperatively. A better awareness of this disease and the combination of clinic and radiology may be facilitated in preoperative diagnosis. Abdominal cocoon may be considered when recurrent acute or chronic intestinal obstruction. Surgery was the first choice of therapy.

Effect of somatostatin versus octreotide on portal haemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: Elevated portal inflow is part of the pathogenesis of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis. Vasoactive substances appear to play a primary role in the regulation of portal flow. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of somatostatin and octreotide on portal pressure and plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and glucagon (GLU). METHODS: Portal pressures of 14 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) were directly measured via a catheter placed in the portal vein. Portal pressure and IGF-1, NO, ET-1 and GLU plasma levels were determined at baseline, and at 8 h and 24 h after administration of somatostatin or octreotide via portal vein catheter in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design. RESULTS: The average decrease in portal pressure after intravenous infusion of somatostatin and octreotide was 9.4 +/- 1.0 cmH2O and 5.0 +/- 1.0 cmH2O, respectively (P < 0.01). Plasma levels of GLU and IGF-1 decreased significantly 8 and 24 h after somatostatin and octreotide infusion (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant decreases in plasma NO or ET-1 levels. There was a significant difference between somatostatin and octreotide groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Both somatostatin and octreotide can significantly reduce portal pressure, although somatostatin is more potent than octreotide. The underlying mechanisms may involve inhibition of the secretion of GLU, IGF-1 and other hormones as well as a decrease in hepatic metabolism and portal inflow leading to a reduction in portal pressure.