Pre- and post-pandemic seafood purchasing behavior in the U.S.

The global COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented economic shock in current times. Previous literature on consumer shopping behaviors during economic downturns is limited, and studies specific to seafood focused primarily on supply-side shocks. A national survey was conducted using an online platform from February 22 to April 6, 2021 that targeted 100 seafood consumers in each of 20 market areas across the U.S. Following data cleaning, 1908 usable responses were obtained. Results documented significant changes in consumer shopping behaviors. Significantly greater percentages of meals (generally and of seafood) were consumed at home and fewer away from home, as expected. Demographic differences were found in shopping behaviors by age, education, income, and gender, but not by ethnic group. Frequency of shopping decreased in 2020, but the expenditure per shopping trip did not, resulting in less overall spending for groceries as compared to 2019. Respondents were less likely to purchase seafood for takeout or for home delivery of prepared meals as compared to general meals because of concerns over quality, freshness, and safety of seafood. Half of respondents consumed approximately the same amount of seafood as before the pandemic; with 31% reporting decreased seafood consumption, and only 19% increased seafood consumption. Thus, study results provide evidence of a pandemic-imposed shift to consuming greater proportions of seafood meals at-home than away-from-home, and not an overall increase in seafood consumption. The choice of species eaten most often did not differ pre- and post-pandemic. Those respondents who reported decreased seafood consumption in 2020 did so primarily because of: 1) its expense, given reduced incomes from working fewer hours or being laid off; 2) unwillingness to prepare fish at home for the smell and "mess", or being uncomfortable preparing it; or 3) simply not preferring or liking seafood well enough to eat it more frequently. Those who reported increasing seafood consumption did so primarily because it was considered to be a healthy food choice. Additional work is needed to further examine consumption and shopping behaviors throughout the recovery in 2021 and 2022.

Analysis of Deep Learning Techniques for Dental Informatics: A Systematic Literature Review.

Within the ever-growing healthcare industry, dental informatics is a burgeoning field of study. One of the major obstacles to the health care system's transformation is obtaining knowledge and insightful data from complex, high-dimensional, and diverse sources. Modern biomedical research, for instance, has seen an increase in the use of complex, heterogeneous, poorly documented, and generally unstructured electronic health records, imaging, sensor data, and text. There were still certain restrictions even after many current techniques were used to extract more robust and useful elements from the data for analysis. New effective paradigms for building end-to-end learning models from complex data are provided by the most recent deep learning technology breakthroughs. Therefore, the current study aims to examine the most recent research on the use of deep learning techniques for dental informatics problems and recommend creating comprehensive and meaningful interpretable structures that might benefit the healthcare industry. We also draw attention to some drawbacks and the need for better technique development and provide new perspectives about this exciting new development in the field.

Retail market trends for seafood in the United States

Interest in retail seafood sales increased dramatically with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The diversity of species, types of products, product forms, and packaging of the seafood sold at retail, combined with diverse consumer preferences across the United States, requires detailed data and analysis to provide guidance and understanding of emerging trends. Weekly, store-based, Nielsen Scantrack data for the period of September 2016 through August 2021 were used to compare trends in US retail (supermarket) seafood sales across the 5-year study period, in continental regions, cities, and species categories sold. Results showed continuous increases in retail seafood sales over the study period at an average annual growth rate of 8.1%, much of which was fueled by the 21% increase in total sales (19.5% increase in quantity sold) the first year after the onset of the pandemic. The South Atlantic region was found to have the greatest total sales and sales per capita among regions. New York City had the greatest total seafood sales, followed by Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The top five most important species categories in terms of sales were, in declining order, shrimp, salmon, tuna, crab, and tilapia, although regional variability became apparent from the fourth-ranked species. The most important package sizes were 454- and 907-g packs. Frozen and refrigerated categories dominated sales (70% in 2021), with little growth in entrees and a decline in market share of shelf-stable seafood products in 2021. Retail supermarket seafood sales increased dramatically following the onset of the pandemic, with especially notable percentage increases in lobster (77%) and crab sales (70%) and the lowest percentage increases in tuna (1%) and tilapia (13%). Given that US per capita seafood consumption did not show a corresponding increase over the study period, study results likely indicate a shift to greater relative consumption at home and not an overall increase in US seafood sales.

Thromboelastography determined dynamics of blood coagulation and its correlation with complications and outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes abnormalities in the hemostatic system, collectively known as COVID-associated coagulopathy. The dynamics of clot formation are best discerned by whole-blood viscoelastic tests, such as thromboelastography (TEG). We aimed to assess the various abnormalities seen on TEG and explored the predictors of outcomes in these patients. METHODS: Thromboelastography was performed for 28 patients with COVID-19 using an automated thromboelastogram. The hemostatic condition was categorized as hypercoagulable in 17 (63%), hypocoagulable in 2 (7%), and normal in 8 (30%) based on TEG variables, such as reaction time , time until clot reaches a fixed strength, alpha angle, maximum amplitude, and clotting index. Laboratory parameters and clinical outcomes were compared between hypercoagulable and normal groups. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with a median age of 50 years (interquartile range, 40-60 years), male-to-female ratio of 0.9:1, median C-reactive protein of 25.7 (10.9-108.8) mg/L, serum ferritin of 693 (317-1031) µg/L, and albumin 2.9 (2.6-3.3) g/dL were included. The median prothrombin time/international normalized ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time were within normal range in the hypercoagulable and normal groups. The severity of COVID-19 was mild in 6 (22.2%), moderate in 2 (7.4%), and severe in 19 (70.4%) patients. Twenty-eight-day mortality among patients with hypocoagulable and hypercoagulable states was higher than normal coagulation status. (log-rank test, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercoagulable state, together with a severe inflammatory state, is common in patients with COVID-19, despite thromboprophylaxis. TEG assesses coagulation status better than conventional coagulation tests. Coagulation abnormalities are associated with poor outcomes.

Pulmonary Function, Mental and Physical Health in Recovered COVID-19 Patients Requiring Invasive Versus Non-invasive Oxygen Therapy: A Prospective Follow-Up Study Post-ICU Discharge.

Background Survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia may have residual lung injury and poor physical and mental health even after discharge. We hypothesized that COVID-19 severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients needing mechanical ventilation may be at a greater risk of deterioration in pulmonary function, mental health, and quality of life (QOL). This study analyses the differences in pulmonary function, mental health, and QOL after recovery, in patients having received non-invasive oxygen therapy versus invasive mechanical ventilation during ICU stay. Methods Patients aged >18 years, who had completed 3 months post ICU discharge, with moderate to severe COVID-19 ARDS, were consecutively enrolled from May 1 to July 31, 2021. Patients were allocated into Group A - having required high flow nasal cannula (HFNC)/non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and Group B - having received invasive mechanical ventilation. Pulmonary function tests, 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), and health-related quality of life were compared. Results Of the 145 eligible patients, 31 were lost to follow-up and 21 died. Seventy-four patients were allocated into Groups A (57 patients) and B (17 patients). In Group A, abnormal forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow in mid-half of FVC (FEF25-75), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) values were obtained in 27 (47.37%), 43 (75.44%), 11 (19.3%), and 25 (43.86%) patients, and in Group B, in 13 (76.47%), 17 (100%), 1 (5.88%), and 8 (47%) patients, respectively. No patient had abnormal FEV1/FVC. All Group B patients had a restrictive pattern in spirometry as compared to 77% in Group A. Group B had a lower arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) (p=0.0019), % predicted FVC (p<0.0001), % predicted FEV1 (p=0.001), and 6-MWT distance (p<0.001). The physical component score in the short-form survey 12 questionnaire was higher in group A, p<0.001, whereas the mental component score was comparable. Conclusions Patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) have a greater risk of impaired pulmonary function and reduced QOL post-ICU discharge. This warrants a greater need for following these patients for better rehabilitation.

Tele-Medicine Services in Hematological Practice During Covid Pandemic: Its Feasibility and Difficulties.

In COVID 19 pandemic, delivery and access of health care services have become challenging. Telemedicine services can be considered for management of patients with hematological diseases. This study included all patients who enrolled for telemedicine facility for hematology from May 15 to July 15, 2020. Patient's demographic and disease related parameters were recorded during the teleconsultation call. Overall satisfaction of attending doctor and patients were also recorded. A total of 1187 teleconsultation appointments were taken, of which 944 (79.6%) were successfully attended. Median age of patients was 38 years (range- 0.5-78 years), with 38% females. 55% of successful calls were from patients suffering a malignant hematological disorder. 24% had an active complaint pertaining to their disease or treatment. Of these, 162 (17%) were asked for a physical consultation. A significant association was found between the requirement of physical consultation and diagnosis (p < 0.001), absence of active complaint (< 0.0001) and education level of responder (p = 0.008). Patients understand that teleconsultation is helpful in preventing COVID-19 infection (71.4%) and avoids outpatient department rush (14.5%) associated with physical appointments; and around 80% patients were satisfied with the teleconsult. With the emergence of COVID 19, many localities under partial lockdown with constant fear of contacting virus amongst patients and health care providers, we can clearly see the advantages as well as feasibility of telemedicine services for our patients. The acute surge in telemedicine could be harnessed in the future to provide comprehensive and integrated care to patients of hematological disorders.

An Immunological Outlook on SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and Its Current Clinical Status

The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in China in 2019 and rapidly spread across the globe for which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. This viral disease is extremely contagious and infectious in nature and the general symptoms include fever, cough and pneumonia followed by a loss of taste, diarrhoea, shortness of breath, acute respiratory distress syndrome and even death. The disease has caused unprecedented risk against the global fitness scenario and therefore have altered the socio-economic-political structure of society. There has been no reported cases of any immunity against the virus, however immune-compromised people are extremely vulnerable to this disease. The diagnosis of the disease is usually done by quantitative Real-time PCR but other methods of detection like serological testing is gaining prominence these days. Approaches are directed towards the development of vaccine candidates and a search is on towards the discovery of potential drugs. Needless to say, the genome architecture of the virus and the viral proteins mounting an immune response play a key role in the development of effective therapeutic strategies. The review article presents an overview of the science behind the pandemic along with the structural chemistry of the pathogen, the prognosis and the vaccine candidates in different stages of development. The review would be beneficial to the scientific fraternity and the common men at large in understanding the central role of the immune system towards the development of successful clinical strategies for diagnosis and therapy to avoid the future encounters by the virus.