Understanding aquaporin regulation defining silicon uptake and role in arsenic, antimony and germanium stress in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan).

Understanding of aquaporins (AQPs) facilitating the transport of water and many other small solutes including metalloids like silicon (Si) and arsenic (As) is important to develop stress tolerant cultivars. In the present study, 40 AQPs were identified in the genome of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), a pulse crop widely grown in semi-arid region and areas known to affected with heavy metals like As. Conserved domains, variation at NPA motifs, aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filters, and pore morphology defined here will be crucial in predicting solute specificity of pigeonpea AQPs. The study identified CcNIP2-1 as an AQP predicted to transporter Si (beneficial element) as well as As (hazardous element). Further Si quantification in different tissues showed about 1.66% Si in leaves which confirmed the predictions. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy showed a higher level of Si accumulation in trichomes on the leaf surface. A significant alleviation in level of As, Sb and Ge stress was also observed when these heavy metals were supplemented with Si. Estimation of relative water content, H2O2, lipid peroxidation, proline, total chlorophyll content and other physiological parameters suggested Si derived stress tolerance. Extensive transcriptome profiling under different developmental stages from germination to senescence was performed to understand the tissue-specific regulation of different AQPs. For instance, high expression of TIP3s was observed only in reproductive tissues. Co-expression network developed using transcriptome data from 30 different conditions and tissues, showed interdependency of AQPs. Expression profiling of pigeonpea performed using real time PCR showed differential expression of AQPs after Si supplementation. The information generated about the phylogeny, distribution, molecular evolution, solute specificity, and gene expression dynamics in article will be helpful to better understand the AQP transport system in pigeonpea and other legumes.

Increasing postpartum IUCD coverage through a QI initiative: a step towards reducing the unmet need of postpartum contraception.

BACKGROUND: Unintended pregnancies have a negative impact on the health and economy of a nation, which can be prevented by effective family planning (FP) services. Postpartum intrauterine device (PPIUCD) is a safe and effective FP method which allows women to obtain long-acting contraception before discharge from the point of delivery. We observed poor coverage of deliveries with PPIUCD at our facility. This was the trigger to initiate a quality improvement (QI) initiative to increase the PPIUCD coverage from current rate of 4.5%-10% in 3-month period. METHOD: A fishbone analysis of the problem was done and the following causes were identified: lack of focused counselling for FP, lack of sensitisation and training of resident doctors and inconsistent supply of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs). A QI team was constituted with representatives from faculty members, residents, interns, nursing officers and FP counsellors. The point of care quality improvement methodology was used. INTERVENTIONS: Daily counselling of antenatal women was started by the counsellors and interns in antenatal wards. A WhatsApp group of residents was made initially to sensitise them; and later for parking of problems and trouble shooting. The residents were provided hands-on training at skills lab. Uninterrupted supply of IUCDs was ensured by provision of buffer stock of IUCDs with respective store keepers. RESULT: The PPIUCD insertion rates improved from 4.5% to 19.2% at 3 months and have been sustained to a current 30%-35% after 1 ½ years of initiation of the project tiding through the turbulence during the COVID-19 pandemic using QI techniques. CONCLUSION: Sensitisation and training of residents as well as creation of awareness among antenatal women through targeted counselling helped improve PPIUCD coverage at the facility. QI initiatives have the potential to facilitate effective implementation of the FP programmes by strategic utilisation of the resources.

Notes from the Field: Dynamic Triaging Using Quality Improvement (QI) Methodology to Prevent the Admission of Asymptomatic COVID Positive Obstetric Patients in New Delhi, India.

A single undiagnosed COVID-19 positive patient admitted in the green zone has the potential to infect many Health Care Workers (HCWs) and other patients at any given time with resultant spread of infection and reduction in the available workforce. Despite the existing triaging strategy at the Obstetric unit of a tertiary hospital in New Delhi, where all COVID-19 suspects obstetric patients were tested and admitted in orange zone and non-suspects in green zone, asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients were found admitted in the green zone. This was the trigger to undertake a quality improvement (QI) initiative to prevent the admission of asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients in green zones. The QI project aimed at reducing the admission of COVID-19 positive patients in the green zone of the unit from 20% to 10% in 4 weeks' time starting 13/6/2020 by means of dynamic triaging. A COVID-19 action team was made and after an initial analysis of the problem multiple Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were run to test the change ideas. The main change ideas were revised testing strategies and creating gray Zones for patients awaiting COVID-19 test results. The admission of unsuspected COVID-19 positive cases in the green zone of the unit reduced from 20% to 0% during the stipulated period. There was a significant reduction in the number of HCWs, posted in the green zone, being quarantined or test positive for COVID-19 infection as well. The authors conclude that Quality Improvement methods have the potential to develop effective strategies to prevent spread of the deadly Corona virus.

Bio-inspired nanomaterials in agriculture and food: Current status, foreseen applications and challenges.

Nanotechnology is a potential area that revolutionizes almost every sector of life and is predicted to become a major economic force in the near future. Recently, nanomaterials have received great attention for their properties at nanoscale regime and their applications in many areas primarily, agriculture and food sectors. The Nanomaterials are dispersed or solid particles, with a size range of 1-100 nm. In recent times, there has been an increased research work in this area to synthesize nanomaterials using various approaches. The use of natural biomolecules using 'green' approach play key role in the synthesis of nanomaterials having different shapes and sizes. Further this 'green synthesis' approach not only minimize the cost but also limit the need of hazardous chemicals and stimulates synthesis of greener, safe and environmentally friendly nanoparticles. The present review focus on studies based on the biosynthesis of nanoparticles using biomolecules such as plants, bacteria, fungi, etc. The text summarizes the recent work done globally by renowned researchers in area of biosynthesis of nanomaterials. It also discusses the potential applications of biologically mediated nanomaterials in the areas of agriculture and food and a critical evaluation of challenges within this field.

Refraining maternal health role of ayurveda in public health care.

Anuradha Singh is a scientist with National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (CSIR) doing research on the theory and practice of Ayurveda. She has authored a book and several research papers on crossroads of Science and Indian Medical Traditions, Philosophical Foundations of Classical Medical Theories and Maternal Health & Ayurveda. She is also a founder member of Lok Swasthya Parampara Samvardhana Samiti (LSPSS) a network of individuals and NGOs working for the development and revitalization of Indian systems of health care. She was a resource person for MATRIKA and also an active member of its Advisory Board. She shares with her fellow contributors (of this issue) the conviction that Ayurveda, as a preventive and curative health system, can be a panacea to all that ails the humans, animals and the plant kingdom.

Postictal laughter following absence status epilepticus.

Acute pathologic neurologic laughter has been described as an ictal phenomenon in epilepsy, as a result of electrical brain stimulation to the cortex and to deep brain structures, in brain tumors, and in stroke. We report what is, to our knowledge, the first report of a case of postictal pathologic laughter. Previously diagnosed with medically refractory complex partial seizures, our patient was admitted to the hospital with phenytoin toxicity. During video-EEG monitoring she experienced multiple brief absence seizures as well as a prolonged episode of absence status epilepticus. Immediately following cessation of the seizure she began to laugh. Her laughter was mirthful and infectious. This lasted several minutes and was followed immediately by several minutes of crying and then a return to normal. We propose that diffuse cortical inhibition led to release of subcortical structures involved in emotional expression. Possible neural substrates of laughter are discussed.

Tantra yukti method of theorization in ayurveda.

Method of theorization (Tantra Yukti-s given in Ayurvedic texts) is analyzed in the backdrop of scientific method. Thirty six methodic devices are singled out from texts for analysis in terms of truth specific, theory specific and discourse specific issues. The paper also points out exact problems in conception of method in Ayurveda and Science.