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Rice bran, a by-product after milling, is a rich source of phytonutrients like oryzanols, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols, and dietary fibers. Moreover, exceptional properties of the rice bran oil make it unparalleled to other vegetable oils. However, a lipolytic enzyme Phospholipase D alpha1 (OsPLDα1) causes rancidity and ‘stale flavor’ in the oil, and thus limits the rice bran usage for human consumption. To improve the rice bran quality, sequence based allele mining at OsPLDα1 locus (3.6 Kb) was performed across 48 accessions representing 11 wild Oryza species, 8 accessions of African cultivated rice, and 7 Oryza sativa cultivars. From comparative sequence analysis, 216 SNPs and 30 InDels were detected at the OsPLDα1 locus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 20 OsPLDα1 cDNA variants which further translated into 12 protein variants. The O. officinalis protein variant, when compared to Nipponbare, showed maximum variability comprising 22 amino acid substitutions and absence of two peptides and two β-sheets. Further, expression profiling indicated significant differences in transcript abundance within as well as between the OsPLDα1 variants. Also, a new OsPLDα1 transcript variant having third exon missing in it, Os01t0172400-06, has been revealed. An O. officinalis accession (IRGC101152) had lowest gene expression which suggests the presence of novel allele, named as OsPLDα1-1a (GenBank accession no. MF966931). The identified novel allele could be further deployed in the breeding programs to overcome rice bran rancidity in elite cultivars.

We evaluated automated OCT-derived drusen volume measures in a population-based study (n = 4,512) aged ≥40 years, and its correlation with conventional color fundus photographs (CFP)-derived early AMD features. Participants had protocol-based assessment to capture medical and ocular history, genotyping for SNPs in CFH, ARMS2, and CETP, CFP-based AMD grading and automated drusen volume based on SD-OCT using built-in software (Cirrus OCT advanced RPE analysis software). Significantly fewer eyes with early AMD features (drusen, hyperpigmentation, soft or reticular drusen) had drusen volume = 0 mm3 (p 0 mm3, increasing AMD severity was associated with increase in drusen volume (correlation coefficient 0.17, p 3. Factors associated with drusen volume included age (OR 1.42 per 5 years, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.76, 4.48), systolic blood pressure (OR1.00, 95% CI 1.00, 1.01), ethnic Malay (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.29, 1.83) and Chinese (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.37, 2.01) compared to Indian. The ARMS2 rs10490924 T allele was associated with increased drusen volume in subjects with AMD (multivariable adjusted OR1.54, 95% CI 1.08, 2.19). Automated OCT-derived drusen volume is correlated with CFP-based AMD grading in many, but not all subjects. However the agreement is not good. These two modalities provide complementary information and should be incorporated into future studies.

We aimed to determine the 6-year incidence and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in first and second generations of Singaporean Indians. Baseline examination was conducted in 2007–9 and 6-year propsective follow-up examination of this Indian population in 2013–5. All participants underwent interviews with questionnaires and comprehensive medical and eye examinations. Incidence was age-standardized to Singaporean 2010 census. Risk factors associated with AMD incidence were assessed and compared between first and second generations of immigrants. Among 2200 persons who participated in the follow-up examination (75.5% response rate), gradable fundus photographs were available in 2105. The 6-year age-standardized incidences of early and late AMD were 5.26% and 0.51% respectively. Incident early AMD was associated with cardiovascular disease history (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.04–2.45), underweight body mass index (BMI) (HR 3.12, 95% CI 1.37–7.14) (BMI of