Dietary Changes among the Indian Population during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: After the COVID-19 outbreak, significant changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns were observed. There are many studies indicating lifestyle changes but very few pointing out the intricate changes in consumption of different food groups, so our aim is to analyze the same. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 participants between the age group of 18 and 60 years. A self-developed questionnaire with questions regarding the change in consumption of different food groups during the pandemic was circulated online among the urban population. Results: It was observed that 46% participants turned down their consumption of fish and seafood and 48.2% participants lowered frozen protein consumption. 44.9% respondents increased their milk consumption and 41.8% reduced their intake of ice-creams. It was observed that 42.4% participants turned up their consumption of bread and buns and 47.3% of respondents increased their rice intake. It was further recorded that 39.6% and 40.9% participants raised their intake of sweets and chocolates and biscuits and cookies, respectively. 50% and 61.3% respondents ate more green leafy vegetables and fruits during the pandemic. There was a 53.3%, 46.9%, and 38.7% reduction in the consumption of hamburgers, pizza, and fried foods, respectively. Conclusion: Majority of the participants have increased consumption of healthy foods like milk, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, while reduced the consumption of junk foods, carbonated drinks, and ice-cream. There has been a positive shift in the dietary pattern of the Indian population toward foods that help develop immunity despite its limited availability during the pandemic.

An altmetric analysis of online news on India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Covaxin is the first indigenous vaccine developed in India against COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to analyze the news stories on Covaxin published in the online media between two statements issued by Indian Council for Medical Research on 2nd and 4th July for their content, quality of information, and reporting standards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was performed on Google to identify the news stories related to Covaxin in the English language published between these two statements. The selected news stories were subjected to content analysis and reviewed using the screening points developed through a consultation by two independent experts using ten prevalidated criteria for health news review. The data were analyzed in MS Excel and StataMP14. RESULTS: The final analysis included 24 news stories. The mean and median score of the news stories is 10.71 and 12 (out of 20), respectively, with a score ranging from 2 to 17. The stories did not promote disease or vaccine mongering (100%), adequately mentioned the true novelty of the vaccine (95.8%), and source of the information (83.3%). However, they mostly failed to mention the information on costs, research data related to benefits, and harms and quality of the available evidence. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of reporting of detailed analysis about the methodology of development of the vaccine and limitations in its research design by health journalists. It is important to train journalists on proper reporting of health news to improve its quality in Indian media.

Acute subretinal abscess in Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia with endophthalmitis showcased by multimodal retinal imaging and with 2-year follow-up.

A middle-aged man presented to emergency services with central vision loss in the setting of flu-like illness with fever. A striking subfoveal abscess was observed in the right fundus. Focal acute chorioretinal inflammation was noted in the asymptomatic fellow eye. Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia was subsequently diagnosed. He presented with undiagnosed HIV infection and latent syphilis. Serial high-definition multimodal retinal imaging showcased resolution of the dome-shaped subretinal abscess following treatment with intravenous flucloxacillin. A chorioretinal scar swiftly replaced the subfoveal abscess. Peripheral right vision and full left vision was retained. Vision loss due to endogenous endophthalmitis in systemic sepsis is an emergency requiring prompt multidisciplinary care. Sight and life are at risk-thus this is not a diagnosis to miss! Early recognition is paramount to health and in retaining vision. We briefly review relevant literature and portray how multimodal imaging guided response to treatment of acute subretinal abscess.

Cancer prevalence in a metropolitan HIV clinic.

INTRODUCTION: Morbidity and mortality rates from AIDs defining cancers have fallen significantly since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Patients are now living longer with HIV and are at a greater risk of other HIV- and non-HIV related malignancies. We report what we believe to be the first UK cancer prevalence study in the modern HAART era. METHODS: A retrospective review of electronic clinic letters was performed for all patients currently receiving, and those who had died whilst receiving, their HIV care at our centre. Demographics of patients with pre-cancerous changes, an active or previous cancer were recorded. RESULTS: There were 438 active patients (369 male, 69 female) and 18 deceased patients (12 male, 6 female) in April 2014. Thirty-six out of four hundred fifty-six (8%) cancer diagnoses were found overall. Thirty-one out of four hundred thirty-eight (7%) diagnoses in active patients and 5/18 (28%) in deceased patients. More than half of those diagnosed with cancer were aged 50 or over (17/31 [55%]). In active patients 17/31 (55%) were AIDs defining cancers, with the most common type of cancer diagnosis overall being Kaposi's sarcoma (12/31 [39%]). There were 5/31 (16%) cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The most common non-AIDs defining cancer was basal cell carcinoma of which there were 5/31 (16%) cases, followed by squamous cell carcinoma (3/31 [10%]) and testicular cancer (3/31 [10%]). Other cancers included colorectal (2/31 [6%]) and prostate cancer (1/31 [3%]). In all five deceased patients, cancer was the cause of death. There were four acute presentations with an aggressive glioma, Burkitt's lymphoma, an undiagnosed primary lung malignancy and a late diagnosed cervical cancer. The fifth patient died following the recurrence of a transitional cell cancer of the bladder after an initial diagnosis of seven years earlier. Eighteen out of sixty-nine (26%) of females were found to have at least mild dyskariosis on cervical screening. Anal intraepithelial neoplasia was diagnosed in 4/438 (1%) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Non-AIDS defining malignancies account for almost half of the cancers in our cohort. This number may rise further as patients live longer with HIV. Good communication between oncologists and HIV physicians is paramount to manage the complex interactions of HIV and cancer, increase HIV testing in cancer services and address cancer risk factors in existing HIV patients.