Sternal Complications Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Robicsek Repair: Comprehensive Sternal Reconstruction With Sternal Plating and the Use of Novel Biologic Therapies.

Sternal non-union and fractured sternal wires are rare but devastating complications of median sternotomy for cardiac surgery, and these can lead to chronic pain, instability, and impaired quality of life. Patients may present with various symptoms such as clicking sensations, chest wall discomfort, and even respiratory difficulties. The underlying causes are multifactorial, including patient comorbidities, surgical technique, and postoperative management. The treatment options range from conservative measures to complex surgical interventions, such as sternal debridement, rewiring, and reconstruction with rigid fixation systems. Novel therapeutic technologies, including amniotic membranes and platelet-rich plasma, have shown promise in promoting wound healing and reducing complications in these challenging cases. We present the case of a 58-year-old male who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and subsequently developed sternal dehiscence requiring Robicsek repair. Despite undergoing this procedure, the patient experienced poor sternal healing, and hence he was referred to our center, presenting with shortness of breath, pain due to fractured sternal wires, and sternal non-union. The patient underwent a complex sternal reconstruction involving redo full median sternotomy, removal of sternal wires, and sternal plating, along with the application of amniotic membranes and platelet-rich plasma to the sternal wound. The procedure successfully stabilized the sternum. This report highlights the benefits of a multifaceted approach to addressing repeated sternal breakdown following CABG and the potential therapeutic benefits of novel technologies in promoting wound healing.

Epicardial placement of human placental membrane allografts in coronary artery bypass graft surgery is associated with reduced postoperative atrial fibrillation: a pilot study for a future multi-center randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurs in up to 40% of patients following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and is associated with a higher risk of stroke and mortality. This study investigates how POAF may be mitigated by epicardial placement of aseptically processed human placental membrane allografts (HPMAs) before pericardial closure in CABG surgery. This study was conducted as a pilot feasibility study to collect preliminary for a forthcoming multi-center randomized controlled trial. METHODS: This retrospective observational study of patients undergoing CABG surgery excluded patients with pre-operative heart failure, chronic kidney disease, or a history of atrial fibrillation. The "treatment" group (n = 24) had three HPMAs placed epicardially following cardiopulmonary bypass decannulation but before partial pericardial approximation and chest closure. The only difference in clinical protocol for the control group (n = 54) was that they did not receive HPMA. RESULTS: HPMA-treated patients saw a significant, greater than four-fold reduction in POAF incidence compared to controls (35.2-8.3%, p = 0.0136). Univariate analysis demonstrated that HPMA treatment was associated with an 83% reduction in POAF (OR = 0.17, p = 0.0248). Multivariable analysis yielded similar results (OR = 0.07, p = 0.0156) after controlling for other covariates. Overall length of stay (LOS) between groups was similar, but ICU LOS trended lower with HPMA treatment (p = 0.0677). Post-operative inotrope and vasopressor requirements were similar among groups. There was no new-onset post-operative heart failure, stroke, or death reported up to thirty days in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Epicardial HPMA placement can be a simple intervention at the end of CABG surgery that may provide a new approach to reduce post-operative atrial fibrillation by modulating local inflammation, possibly reducing ICU and hospital stay, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Pediatric Trauma Recidivism: A Statewide Risk Factor Analysis of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC).

BACKGROUND: National estimates suggest pediatric trauma recidivism is uncommon but are limited by short follow up and narrow ascertainment. We aimed to quantify the long-term frequency of trauma recidivism in a statewide pediatric population and identify risk factors for re-injury. METHODS: The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission Dataset was queried for 0-19-year-old patients with emergency department or inpatient encounters for traumatic injuries between 2013 and 2019. We measured trauma recidivism by identifying patients with any subsequent presentation for a new traumatic injury. Univariate and multivariable regressions were used to estimate associations of patient and injury characteristics with any recidivism and inpatient recidivism. RESULTS: Of 574,472 patients with at least one injury encounter, 29.6% experienced trauma recidivism. Age ≤2 years, public insurance, and self-inflicted injuries were associated with recidivism regardless of index treatment setting. Of those with index emergency department presentations 0.06% represented with an injury requiring inpatient admission; unique risk factors for ED-to-inpatient recidivism were age >10 years (aOR 1.61), cyclist (aOR 1.31) or burn (aOR 1.39) mechanisms, child abuse (aOR 1.27), and assault (aOR 1.43). Among patients with at least one inpatient encounter, 6.3% experienced another inpatient trauma admission, 3.4% of which were fatal. Unique risk factors for inpatient-to-inpatient recidivism were firearm (aOR 2.48) and motor vehicle/transportation (aOR 1.62) mechanisms of injury (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric trauma recidivism is more common and morbid than previously estimated, and risk factors for repeat injury differ by treatment setting. Demographic and injury characteristics may help develop and target setting-specific interventions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III (Retrospective Comparative Study).

Anomalous Right Coronary Artery With Interarterial Course: Risk Stratification and Surgical Decision-Making Using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve.

An anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) takeoff, a rare congenital condition often characterized by an interarterial RCA course between the pulmonary artery and the ascending aorta, can lead to symptoms of angina pectoris (chest pain) or even sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to compression of the RCA, although most patients remain asymptomatic. In this case report, we highlight the utility of computed tomography angiography (CTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR), a minimally invasive technique used to assess the hemodynamic significance of coronary lesions, in the risk stratification and surgical decision-making process for a 46-year-old female patient presenting with exertional dyspnea and an anomalous RCA takeoff with an interarterial course. The information obtained from this imaging modality was instrumental in determining that surgical repair did not need to be performed urgently and could be scheduled as an elective case in the future.

Revolutionizing Atrial Fibrillation Treatment: The Robotic Convergent Plus Procedure.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is widely accepted to be the most common sustained arrhythmia, with an increasing incidence over time. This is thought to be due to the aging population across the world. AF occurs when abnormal electrical foci result in disorganization of atrial depolarization, though the exact pathophysiology leading to these abnormal foci is not well understood. A range of interventions exist for AF - pharmacological therapies (anti-arrhythmic or negative chronotropic medications), cardioversion, or ablations to interrupt the abnormal conduction pathways. Ablation may be via a catheter-based approach, via a surgical approach using the "Maze" procedure (Cox-Maze IV), or more recently, via a hybrid approach. This first involves a surgical epicardial ablation, with catheter-based endocardial ablation following a few weeks later to ensure durable transmural lesion sets via the "Convergent" procedure. We describe the use of the Da Vinci Xi™ robotic platform to improve the procedure, allowing continuous and improved visualization of the anatomy without the need for potentially harmful retraction of the atrial appendage or the back of the left atrium, as well as increased precision with our mapping tools and more complete ablation. Here, we highlight the advantages over a non-robotic (subxiphoid) Convergent procedure, while outlining the key operative steps in undertaking the "Robotic Convergent Plus" procedure using the Da Vinci Xi™ robotic surgical system.

Risk-based lung cancer screening performance in a universal healthcare setting.

Globally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Previous trials demonstrated that low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening of high-risk individuals can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20% or more. Lung cancer screening has been approved by major guidelines in the United States, and over 4,000 sites offer screening. Adoption of lung screening outside the United States has, until recently, been slow. Between June 2017 and May 2019, the Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Pilot successfully recruited 7,768 individuals at high risk identified by using the PLCOm2012noRace lung cancer risk prediction model. In total, 4,451 participants were successfully screened, retained and provided with high-quality follow-up, including appropriate treatment. In the Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Pilot, the lung cancer detection rate and the proportion of early-stage cancers were 2.4% and 79.2%, respectively; serious harms were infrequent; and sensitivity to detect lung cancers was 95.3% or more. With abnormal scans defined as ones leading to diagnostic investigation, specificity was 95.5% (positive predictive value, 35.1%), and adherence to annual recall and early surveillance scans and clinical investigations were high (>85%). The Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Pilot provides insights into how a risk-based organized lung screening program can be implemented in a large, diverse, populous geographic area within a universal healthcare system.

Effectiveness of Community Pharmacy Diabetes and Hypertension Care Program: An Unexplored Opportunity for Community Pharmacists in Pakistan.

Background: The effective management of patients diagnosed with both Diabetes as well as Hypertension is linked with administration of efficacious pharmacological therapy as well as improvement in adherence through counseling and other strategies. Being a part of primary healthcare team, community pharmacists can effectively provide patient care for chronic disease management. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of pharmacist counseling on blood pressure and blood glucose control among patients having both hypertension and diabetes attending community pharmacies in Pakistan. Method: A randomized, controlled, single-blind, pre-post-intervention study design was used. The respondents included patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (Type I or II) and hypertension visiting community pharmacies to purchase their regular medicine. A simple random sampling technique using the lottery method was used to select community pharmacies in groups A (intervention, n = 4) and group B (control, n = 4). The total number of patients was 40 in each group, while estimating a dropout rate of 25%. The patients in the intervention group received special counseling. Blood pressure and blood glucose were checked after every 15 days for 6 months. Prevalidated tools such as the hypertension knowledge level scale, the diabetes knowledge questionnaire 24, and a brief medication questionnaire was used. Data were coded and analyzed using SPSS 21. Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05) was used to compare pre-post intervention knowledge regarding the disease, while the Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05) was used to find differences in medication adherence among control and intervention groups. Results: A significant improvement in mean knowledge scores of patients with diabetes (16.02 ±2.93 vs. 19.97 ±2.66) and hypertension (15.60 ±3.33 vs. 18.35 ±2.31) in the intervention group receiving counseling for 6 months than control group (p < 0.05) was noted. Furthermore, the fasting blood glucose levels (8.25 ±1.45) and systolic BP (130.10 ±6.89) were significantly controlled after 6 months in the intervention group. Conclusion: The current study results concluded that community pharmacists' counselling has a positive impact on blood glucose and blood pressure management among patients suffering with both diabetes and hypertension.

Factors Associated With Repeat Emergency Department Visits in a State-wide Cohort of Pediatric Patients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To describe demographic, injury, and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients treated in the ED for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and to evaluate characteristics associated with mTBI-related return emergency department (ED) visit within 1 month of initial presentation. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study from April 1, 2012, to September 30, 2017, of children 19 years or younger presenting to any Maryland ED for mTBI identified in the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission database using ICD-9/10 codes. Demographic, injury, and clinical characteristics of individuals were collected. The primary outcome was mTBI-related return ED visit within 4 weeks. Multiple logistic regression tested the associated of individual demographic, injury, and clinical characteristics with mTBI-related return ED visit. RESULTS: There were 25,582 individuals who had an ED visit for mTBI, of which 717 (2.8%) returned to the ED within 4 weeks and 468 (1.8%) within 1 week with a mTBI-related diagnosis. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, public insurance (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-1.72) and female sex (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.15-1.56) were associated with increased odds of return to the ED within 4 weeks. Age younger than 2 years (aOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.21-0.72) was associated with decreased odds of return visit. There was a trend toward decreased odds of return patients receiving computed tomography head imaging (aOR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-1.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although return to the ED for mTBI-related complaints is uncommon, girls, older children, and publicly insured individuals may be at increased risk. Future targeted study may identify areas to improve access to appropriate longitudinal care and justify ED programs to better coordinate follow-up for mTBI.

Measuring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on organized cancer screening and diagnostic follow-up care in Ontario, Canada: A provincial, population-based study.

It is essential to quantify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer screening, including for vulnerable sub-populations, to inform the development of evidence-based, targeted pandemic recovery strategies. We undertook a population-based retrospective observational study in Ontario, Canada to assess the impact of the pandemic on organized cancer screening and diagnostic services, and assess whether patterns of cancer screening service use and diagnostic delay differ across population sub-groups during the pandemic. Provincial health databases were used to identify age-eligible individuals who participated in one or more of Ontario's breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer screening programs from January 1, 2019-December 31, 2020. Ontario's screening programs delivered 951,000 (-41%) fewer screening tests in 2020 than in 2019 and volumes for most programs remained more than 20% below historical levels by the end of 2020. A smaller percentage of cervical screening participants were older (50-59 and 60-69 years) during the pandemic when compared with 2019. Individuals in the oldest age groups and in lower-income neighborhoods were significantly more likely to experience diagnostic delay following an abnormal breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer screening test during the pandemic, and individuals with a high probability of living on a First Nation reserve were significantly more likely to experience diagnostic delay following an abnormal fecal test. Ongoing monitoring and management of backlogs must continue. Further evaluation is required to identify populations for whom access to cancer screening and diagnostic care has been disproportionately impacted and quantify impacts of these service disruptions on cancer incidence, stage, and mortality. This information is critical to pandemic recovery efforts that are aimed at achieving equitable and timely access to cancer screening-related care.

Penetrating Trauma in Baltimore: An Analysis of the Effect of a Rise in Localized Violence by Age Group.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of firearm mortality in the United States is increasing. Baltimore, MD saw a substantial increase in violence in April 2015. We analyzed the effect of this localized surge in violence on the pediatric population. METHODS: Using the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission database, initial hospital encounters for gunshot wound (GSW) or stab wound (SW) were identified. Baltimore Police Department victim-based crime data and homicide data on GSW and SW assault were used to capture those not seen at hospitals. Changes in incidence rate ratios from before/after April 2015 were analyzed using Poisson regression. RESULTS: No change in mortality was seen in hospital-evaluated GSW patients. The pediatric population showed decreased incidence of SW (P < 0.001) and increase in GSW (P < 0.001) but no change in total penetrating trauma (tPT). The young adult population had decreased SW incidence (P < 0.001) without change in GSW or tPT. The pediatric populations saw no difference in SW/GSW deaths or homicide rate. However, in young adults, there were increased homicides (P < 0.001) and GSW deaths (P < 0.001) with unchanged SW deaths. CONCLUSIONS: After a surge in violence, the shifted mechanism of penetrating trauma in the pediatric population did not increase mortality or tPT. By contrast, GSW incidence is increasing in young adults with more lethal injuries. Intervention could be aimed at gun control and targeted education/intervention in the at-risk younger age group.

Green route to synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles using leaf extracts of Cassia fistula and Melia azadarach and their antibacterial potential.

Development of plant based nanoparticles has many advantages over conventional physico-chemical methods and has various applications in medicine and biology. In present study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using leaf extracts of two medicinal plants Cassia fistula and Melia azadarach. 0.01 M zinc acetate dihydrate was used as a precursor in leaf extracts of respective plants for NPs synthesis. The structural and optical properties of NPs were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The antibacterial potential of ZnO NPs was examined by paper disc diffusion method against two clinical strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) based on the zone of inhibition and minimal inhibitory indices (MIC). Change in color of the reaction mixture from brown to white indicated the formation of ZnO NPs. UV peaks at 320 nm and 324 nm, and XRD pattern matching that of JCPDS card for ZnO confirmed the presence of pure ZnO NPs. FTIR further confirmed the presence of bioactive functional groups involved in the reduction of bulk zinc acetate to ZnO NPs. SEM analysis displayed the shape of NPs to be spherical whereas DLS showed their size range from 3 to 68 nm. The C. fistula and M. azadarach mediated ZnO NPs showed strong antimicrobial activity against clinical pathogens compared to standard drugs, suggesting that plant based synthesis of NPs can be an excellent strategy to develop versatile and eco-friendly biomedical products.

Genetic and Molecular Control of Floral Organ Identity in Cereals.

Grasses represent a major family of monocots comprising mostly cereals. When compared to their eudicot counterparts, cereals show a remarkable morphological diversity. Understanding the molecular basis of floral organ identity and inflorescence development is crucial to gain insight into the grain development for yield improvement purposes in cereals, however, the exact genetic mechanism of floral organogenesis remains elusive due to their complex inflorescence architecture. Extensive molecular analyses of Arabidopsis and other plant genera and species have established the ABCDE floral organ identity model. According to this model, hierarchical combinatorial activities of A, B, C, D, and E classes of homeotic genes regulate the identity of different floral organs with partial conservation and partial diversification between eudicots and cereals. Here, we review the developmental role of A, B, C, D, and E gene classes and explore the recent advances in understanding the floral development and subsequent organ specification in major cereals with reference to model plants. Furthermore, we discuss the evolutionary relationships among known floral organ identity genes. This comparative overview of floral developmental genes and associated regulatory factors, within and between species, will provide a thorough understanding of underlying complex genetic and molecular control of flower development and floral organ identity, which can be helpful to devise innovative strategies for grain yield improvement in cereals.

Intersphincteric proctectomy for rectal mucocele in a Crohn's patient with anal stenosis. A case report and review of literature.

In patients who have undergone a colonic resection with creation of an end colostomy, drainage of mucus secreted by the mucosa of the rectal stump may not be possible if there is an outlet obstruction. With an outlet obstruction, formation of a rectal mucocele occurs. A rectal mucocele is a rare condition which has only been reported sporadically in case reports. We present here the utility of an intersphincteric proctectomy for treatment of a rectal mucocele in a 47 year old male Crohn's patient resulting in negligible post-operative or long-term morbidities.

A virus-derived short hairpin RNA confers resistance against sugarcane mosaic virus in transgenic sugarcane.

RNA interference (RNAi) is commonly used to produce virus tolerant transgenic plants. The objective of the current study was to generate transgenic sugarcane plants expressing a short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) targeting the coat protein (CP) gene of sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). Based on multiple sequence alignment, including genomic sequences of four SCMV strains, a conserved region of ~ 456 bp coat protein (CP) gene was selected as target gene and amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subsequently, siRNAs2 and siRNA4 were engineered as stable short hairpin (shRNA) transgenes of 110 bp with stem and loop sequences derived from microRNA (sof-MIR168a; an active regulatory miRNA in sugarcane). These transgenes were cloned in independent RNAi constructs under the control of the polyubiquitin promoter. The RNAi constructs were delivered into two sugarcane cultivars 'SPF-234 and NSG-311 in independent experiments using particle bombardment. Molecular identification through PCR and Southern blot revealed anti-SCMV positive transgenic lines. Upon mechanical inoculation of transgenic and non-transgenic sugarcane lines with SCMV, the degree of resistance was found variable among the two sugarcane cultivars. For sugarcane cultivar NSG-311, the mRNA expression of the CP-SCMV was reduced to 10% in shRNA2-transgenic lines and 80% in shRNA4-transgenic lines. In sugarcane cultivar SPF-234, the mRNA expression of the CP-SCMV was reduced to 20% in shRNA2-transgenic lines and 90% in shRNA4 transgenic lines, revealing that transgenic plants expressing shRNA4 were almost immune to SCMV infection.

The impact of unfractionated heparin or bivalirudin on patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To compare bleeding and clinical events of patients with stable angina or silent ischemia undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treated with unfractionated heparin (UFH) or bivalirudin. BACKGROUND: Few direct comparisons between UFH monotherapy versus bivalirudin exist for patients with stable ischemic heart disease undergoing PCI. METHODS: A prospective, investigator-initiated, single-center, single-blinded, randomized trial of UFH versus bivalirudin was conducted. The primary endpoint was all bleeding (major and minor) from index-hospitalization to 30 days post discharge. Secondary endpoints included major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events (MACCE) and net adverse clinical events (NACE). RESULTS: Two-hundred-sixty patients were randomized for treatment with either UFH (n = 123) (47%) or bivalirudin (n = 137) (53%) There were no significant differences in baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics between the two groups. Primary endpoint was similar in both groups (10.9% with bivalirudin vs 7.3% with UFH [P = 0.31]). Major bleeding rates were 5.8% and 2.4%, respectively (P = 0.17). There was a higher MACCE (3.5% vs 0%, P = 0.03) and NACE (8.8% vs 2.4%, P = 0.03) rate with bivalirudin compared to UFH, respectively. Bivalirudin had increased odds of NACE (OR = 3.65, 95% CI: 1.00-13.3.6). Death and stent thrombosis rates were low and similar in both groups. Radial access was associated with fewer bleeding events compared to femoral access but not statistically significant (P = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with stable angina or silent ischemia, there was no difference between UFH and bivalirudin in bleeding rates up to 30-days post-PCI. MACCE and NACE were higher among the bivalirudin group. Radial access was associated with a numerically lower rate of bleeding compared with femoral access.

COTIP: Cotton TILLING Platform, a Resource for Plant Improvement and Reverse Genetic Studies.

Cotton is cultivated worldwide for its white fiber, of which around 90% is tetraploid upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) carrying both A and D genome. Since centuries, yield increasing efforts for the cotton crop by conventional breeding approaches have caused an extensive erosion of natural genetic variability. Mutation based improvement strategies provide an effective way of creating new allelic variations. Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) provides a mutation based reverse genetic strategy to create and evaluate induced genetic variability at DNA level. Here, we report development and testing of TILLING populations of allotetraploid cotton (G. hirsutum) for functional genomic studies and mutation based enrichment of cotton genetic resources. Seed of two cotton cultivars "PB-899 and PB-900" were mutagenized with 0.3 and 0.2% (v/v) ethyl methanesulfonate, respectively. The phenotyping of M1 and M2 populations presented numerous mutants regarding the branching pattern, leaf morphology, disease resistance, photosynthetic lesions and flower sterility. Molecular screening for point mutations was performed by TILLING PCR aided CEL1 mismatch cleavage. To estimate the mutation frequency in the mutant genomes, five gene classes were TILLed in 8000 M2 plants of each var. "PB-899" and "PB-900." These include actin (GhACT), Pectin Methyl Esterase (GhPME), sucrose synthase (GhSUS), resistance gene analog, and defense response gene (DRGs). The var. PB-899 was harboring 47% higher mutation induction rate than PB-900. The highest rate of mutation frequency was identified for NAC-TF5 (EU706348) of DRGs class, ranging from 1/58 kb in PB-899 to 1/105 kb in PB-900. The mutation screening assay revealed the presence of significant proportion of induced mutations in cotton TILLING populations such as 1/153 kb and 1/326 kb in var. "PB-899" and "PB-900," respectively. The establishment of a cotton TILLING platform (COTIP) and data obtained from the resource TILLING population suggest its effectiveness in widening the genetic bases of cotton for improvement and utilizing it for subsequent reverse genetic studies of various genes.

Improving health equity for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people: Ontario's Aboriginal Cancer Strategy II.

Cancer incidence is increasing more rapidly and cancer survival is worse among Ontario's First Nations, Inuit and Métis (FNIM) populations than among other Ontarians. Cancer Care Ontario's Aboriginal Cancer Strategy II aims to reduce this health inequity and to improve the cancer journey and experience for FNIM people in Ontario. This comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy was developed and is being implemented with and for Aboriginal Peoples in Ontario in a way that honours the Aboriginal Path of Well-being.

Identification and characterization of plasma membrane aquaporins isolated from fiber cells of Calotropis procera.

Calotropis procera, commonly known as "milkweed", possesses long seed trichomes for seed dispersal and has the ability to survive under harsh conditions such as drought and salinity. Aquaporins are water channel proteins expressed in all land plants, divided into five subfamilies plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), NOD26-like proteins (NIPs), small basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs), and the unfamiliar X intrinsic proteins (XIPs). PIPs constitute the largest group of water channel proteins that are involved in different developmental and regulatory mechanisms including water permeability, cell elongation, and stomata opening. Aquaporins are also involved in abiotic stress tolerance and cell expansion mechanisms, but their role in seed trichomes (fiber cells) has never been investigated. A large number of clones isolated from C. procera fiber cDNA library showed sequence homology to PIPs. Both expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies revealed that the transcript abundance of this gene family in fiber cells of C. procera is greater than that of cotton. Full-length cDNAs of CpPIP1 and CpPIP2 were isolated from C. procera fiber cDNA library and used for constructing plant expression vectors under constitutive (2×35S) and trichome-specific (GhLTP3) promoters. Transgenic tobacco plants were developed via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The phenotypic characteristics of the plants were observed after confirming the integration of transgene in plants. It was observed that CpPIP2 expression cassette under 2×35S and GhLTP3 promoter enhanced the numbers of stem and leave trichomes. However, 2×35S::CpPIP2 has a more amplified effect on trichome density and length than GhLTP3::CpPIP2 and other PIP constructs. These findings imply the role of C. procera PIP aquaporins in fiber cell elongation. The PIPs-derived cell expansion mechanism may be exploited through transgenic approaches for improvement of fiber staple length in cotton and boosting of defense against sucking insects by enhancing plant pubescence.