Identification of SNPs in crucial starch biosynthesis genes in rice.

Rice is the foremost crop catering to the major calorific requirement of the human population but has the disadvantage of having high glycaemic index (GI). The fine quality rice varieties, BPT and RNR have been recently identified as having low GI in nature and are grown mostly in southern parts of India. Starch (80%) is the major component of rice endosperm attributing to GI. The study aimed to unravel the molecular basis of low GI through targeted pooled amplicon sequencing of major starch biosynthetic genes. A total of 13 candidate genes involved in starch synthesis were amplified and pooled in equimolar proportion for sequencing. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (Indels) were detected in both coding and noncoding regions. Among the genes that are under study, the highest number of variations were identified in starch synthase I (SSI) followed by starch synthase IIIA (SSIIIA) genes. Nonsynonymous SNPs with high probability of effecting gene function were validated by Sanger sequencing and molecular docking. Identified causative SNPs were mapped on 3000 rice genome database and their allele frequencies were obtained. The outcome of this study has a potential to be applied in breeding programmes to obtain low GI rice varieties with added beneficial traits.

Management of adult recurrent respiratory papillomatosis with oral acyclovir following micro laryngeal surgery: a case series.

To demonstrate the role of oral acyclovir in monthly regimes after microdebrider assisted excision in 3 patients with adult recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (ARRP). Three patients with ARRP who presented to a tertiary referral hospital in stridor were initially treated with a tracheostomy in order to secure airway. On further evaluation by videolaryngoscopy extensive bilateral laryngeal papillomatosis was noted with history of similar conditions in the past for which they were repeatedly operated. They were admitted and underwent Microlaryngeal surgery and laryngeal microdebrider assisted surgery under general anesthesia. Post operatively a course of oral acyclovir at 800 mg/5 times/day for 5 days was administered. On repeat assessment with videolaryngoscopy at monthly intervals a complete remission of the disease was noted with no residual disease at the end of 1 year in 2 cases. One case had a recurrence. Renal parameters were monitored periodically. It may be concluded that the action of anti viral drugs at regular intervals in addition to a short course of oral steroids lead to rapid recovery and prevented latent virus activation within the laryngo tracheal system hence maintaining long term improvement. This can avoid multiple laryngeal surgeries, repeated respiratory emergencies and risk for malignant transformation in the future thereby reducing morbidity and effect on quality of life.