Browse publications by year: 2022

  1. Fulltext Automatic COVID-19 Lung Infection Segmentation through Modified Unet Model
    Shamim S, Awan MJ, Mohd Zain A, Naseem U, Mohammed MA, Garcia-Zapirain B
    J Healthc Eng, 2022;2022:6566982.
    PMID: 35422980 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6566982
    The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a terrible impact on human lives globally, with far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of many people around the world. Statistically, 305.9 million people worldwide tested positive for COVID-19, and 5.48 million people died due to COVID-19 up to 10 January 2022. CT scans can be used as an alternative to time-consuming RT-PCR testing for COVID-19. This research work proposes a segmentation approach to identifying ground glass opacity or ROI in CT images developed by coronavirus, with a modified structure of the Unet model having been used to classify the region of interest at the pixel level. The problem with segmentation is that the GGO often appears indistinguishable from a healthy lung in the initial stages of COVID-19, and so, to cope with this, the increased set of weights in contracting and expanding the Unet path and an improved convolutional module is added in order to establish the connection between the encoder and decoder pipeline. This has a major capacity to segment the GGO in the case of COVID-19, with the proposed model being referred to as "convUnet." The experiment was performed on the Medseg1 dataset, and the addition of a set of weights at each layer of the model and modification in the connected module in Unet led to an improvement in overall segmentation results. The quantitative results obtained using accuracy, recall, precision, dice-coefficient, F1score, and IOU were 93.29%, 93.01%, 93.67%, 92.46%, 93.34%, 86.96%, respectively, which is better than that obtained using Unet and other state-of-the-art models. Therefore, this segmentation approach proved to be more accurate, fast, and reliable in helping doctors to diagnose COVID-19 quickly and efficiently.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods
  2. Fulltext Patients' Survival with Astrocytoma After Treatment: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical Trial Studies
    Salari N, Fatahian R, Kazeminia M, Hosseinian-Far A, Shohaimi S, Mohammadi M
    Indian J Surg Oncol, 2022 Jun;13(2):329-342.
    PMID: 35782798 DOI: 10.1007/s13193-022-01533-7
    About half of the brain tumours are primary and the rest are metastatic. The impact of each of these treatments alone or together on the prognosis of patients with astrocytoma tumours, especially low-grade astrocytoma, is unclear which may pose many challenges in the decision-making of surgeons and patients. Considering the importance of patient's outcomes with astrocytoma and lack of general statistics, this study aimed to determine the survival of patients with high-grade astrocytoma and low-grade astrocytoma after treatments. This study follows a systematic review and a meta-analysis approach. Following a systematic review and meta-analysis method, articles dated from 1982 to March 2020 were extracted from Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science (WoS) international databases. Random effects model was used for analysis, and heterogeneity of studies was investigated considering the I 2 index. Data were analysed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 2). According to a meta-analysis of studies, the mean overall survival in patients with high-grade astrocytoma was 31.9 ± 2.7 months, for 2-year survival, 38.1% (95% CI: 27.5-50.1%) and for 5-year survival was 28.6% (95% CI: 24.1-33.4%). Mean overall survival in patients with low-grade astrocytoma was 64.8 ± 7.4 months, for 2-year survival was 74.3% (95% CI: 32.6-94.5%) and for 5-year survival was 74.4% (95% CI: 57.9-86%). The highest mean for survival in patients with high-grade astrocytoma and in chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments was 45.2 ± 5.2 months, and also the highest mean for survival in patients with low-grade astrocytoma in surgical treatment was 71.4 ± 8.8 months. The results of this study show that the average survival in patients with low-grade astrocytoma is high following the treatment, and in high-grade astrocytoma, there will be the highest survival rate, if the surgical treatment is combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This study summarizes retrospective studies up to 2020 to evaluate the prognosis and survival of patients with brain astrocytoma tumours, and the results of this meta-analysis can be of interest to surgeons and specialists in this field.
  3. Fulltext Development and Evaluation of an Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Module for the Tracheostomy Procedure for Improved Patient Care
    Bhargava A, Sahoo S, Mahdi F, Ali Mohammed C, Dandekar S, Rege N, et al.
    Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2022 Jun;74(2):225-233.
    PMID: 35813773 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-021-03041-6
    The Interprofesional collaborative practice (IPCP) is the need of the hour for improved patient care. The procedure of tracheotomy is a life saving procedure and the implementation of the Interprofessional collaborative practice module for the same comprising of the ENT surgeon, Physiotherapist, Nursing staff, OT and Trauma technician decreases the number of complications. This study was carried out to develop and evaluate the Interprofessional collaborative practice module for Tracheostomy. The project has been carried out as a prospective before and after study with the departments of ENT, nursing and Allied health sciences. The facilitators were from the above departments.They were sensitized and developed the Interprofessional education (IPE team),which then collaborated to develop the IPCP module.This IPE team after faculty meetings developed the module with learning objectives, teaching learning methods and methods of assessment. Standardized Readiness scale for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS), was adopted for the module. The questionnaires for assessment and the module were structured and validated.The template of reflection was compiled for the execution of the module. The students training comprised of the demonstration session, baseline Team OSCE, practice sessions and the final Team OSCE. The baseline and final Team OSCE scores,reflections and RIPLS scores were compared. Team OSCE scores baseline vs Final for IPCP competencies i.e. Competency 1-Values and Ethics for Interprofessional Practice, Competency 2-Roles and Responsibilities, Competency 3-Interprofessional Communication, Competency 4-Teams and Teamwork during Pretracheostomy (PreT),Tracheostomy(T) and PostTracheostomy (PostT) were calculated. Faculty observations: TOSCE scores (pre T/T/postT) significantly improved for all the four IPCP competencies (p 
  4. Fulltext Bone Changes in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Pathological or Physiological?
    Pokharel M, Khadilkar MN, Sreedharan S, Pai R, Shenoy V, Bhojwani K, et al.
    Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2022 Jun;74(2):178-184.
    PMID: 35813780 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-020-02076-5
    Bone remodelling is a normal physiological process which occurs in all bones. Hence bone changes should also be detected in undiseased or minimally diseased ethmoids as well as in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. To test this hypothesis, we compared ethmoid bone histology between two groups of patients; a study group of CRS patients and a group of patients whose radiological, endoscopic and symptom scores were significantly less when compared to the CRS group. The study group had 75 patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery for CRS. The control group included 16 patients who had significantly different endoscopic and radiological scores from the study group. On histopathology, the bone harvested from the ethmoid sinuses were grouped as no remodelling activity (Score 1), mild activity (Score 2) and marked activity (Score 3). Thirty-six percent of patients in the study group and 37.5% of patients in the control group had Score 2 and 3 bone changes and the difference was not statistically significant (χ2 = 1.824, p = 0.402). Correlation of bone changes in CRS done with parameters like Lund-Mackay radiological, surgical and symptom scores and Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scores showed no statistical significance. Similar bone changes were detected in CRS patients and the control group. The bone changes seen in histopathology in CRS patients could partly be due to the normal physiological remodelling occurring in all bones.
  5. Fulltext Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT) Into the World: A Multidisciplinary Approach and Outcomes in a Malaysia Tertiary Centre
    Oon A, Zulkifli S, Foong YK, Azhar AS, Abdul Ghafar MH, Soo MY
    Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2022 Jun;74(2):190-195.
    PMID: 35813785 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-021-02851-y
    Fetal airway obstruction that present during birth are challenging to manage. Cervical and thoracic mass may cause significant airway compression that leads to irreversible fetal morbidity and mortality. With the current advancement in prenatal diagnosis and assessment for surgical planning, EXIT has become an accepted, recognized and preferred option for safe delivery in complex head and neck masses. Ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) is a life-saving procedure that provides time to establish an airway while maintaining uteroplacental circulation. It requires flawless coordination amongst multidisciplinary team to ensure immediate and safe baby deliveries. Retrospective review of EXIT procedures performed from the initial establishment of pediatric otolaryngology service in this centre starting from January 2019 to December 2020. Based on the prenatal diagnosis, five EXIT cases were performed in this centre within 2 years. 4 cases were diagnosed as lymphatic malformation and 1 immature teratoma with cervical and thoracic compression. 4 babies successfully delivered to airway without any complications with 1 death resulting from disseminated intravascular coagulopathy after EXIT. This review of five EXIT procedures aims to bring forth the different outcomes, preoperative planning and sharing our experience as a tertiary and newly established centre. Early prenatal diagnosis, good collaboration and experience among multidisciplinary team ensures good long term outcomes.
  6. Fulltext Role of ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi in meeting established and emerging sustainability opportunities: a review
    Wan Mohtar WHM, Wan-Mohtar WAAQI, Zahuri AA, Ibrahim MF, Show PL, Ilham Z, et al.
    Bioengineered, 2022;13(7-12):14903-14935.
    PMID: 37105672 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2023.2184785
    Fungal biomass is the future's feedstock. Non-septate Ascomycetes and septate Basidiomycetes, famously known as mushrooms, are sources of fungal biomass. Fungal biomass, which on averagely comprises about 34% protein and 45% carbohydrate, can be cultivated in bioreactors to produce affordable, safe, nontoxic, and consistent biomass quality. Fungal-based technologies are seen as attractive, safer alternatives, either substituting or complementing the existing standard technology. Water and wastewater treatment, food and feed, green technology, innovative designs in buildings, enzyme technology, potential health benefits, and wealth production are the key sectors that successfully reported high-efficiency performances of fungal applications. This paper reviews the latest technical know-how, methods, and performance of fungal adaptation in those sectors. Excellent performance was reported indicating high potential for fungi utilization, particularly in the sectors, yet to be utilized and improved on the existing fungal-based applications. The expansion of fungal biomass in the industrial-scale application for the sustainability of earth and human well-being is in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
    MeSH terms: Agaricales*; Ascomycota*; Basidiomycota*; Carbohydrates; Fungi/metabolism; Humans; Biomass; Bioreactors
  7. Fulltext Rates and Factors Associated With Serious Outcomes of Patient Safety Incidents in Malaysia: An Observational Study
    Khalid KH, Yamamoto E, Hamajima N, Kariya T
    Glob J Qual Saf Healthc, 2022 May;5(2):31-38.
    PMID: 37260835 DOI: 10.36401/JQSH-21-19
    INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine the reporting rate and the factors associated with serious outcomes of patient safety incidents at public hospitals in Malaysia.

    METHODS: All patient safety incidents reported in the e-Incident-Reporting System from January to December 2019 were included in the study. A descriptive study was used to describe the characteristics of incidents, and logistic models were used to identify factors associated with low reporting rates and severe harm or death outcomes of incidents.

    RESULTS: There were 9431 patient safety incidents reported in the system in 2019. The mean reporting rate was 2.1/1000 patient bed-days or 1.5% of hospital admissions. The major category of incidents was drug-related incidents (32.4%). No-harm incidents contributed to 56.1% of all the incidents, while 1.1% resulted in death. More hospitals in the eastern (odds ratio [OR], 12.1) and southern regions (OR, 6.1) had low reporting rates compared to the central region. Incidents with severe harm or death outcomes were associated with more males (OR, 1.4) than females and with the emergency department (OR, 10.6), internal medicine (OR, 5.7), obstetrics and gynecology (OR, 2.4), and surgical department (OR, 5.0) more than the pharmacy department. Compared to drug-related incidents, operation-related (OR, 3.0), procedure-related (OR, 3.5), and therapeutic-related (OR, 4.8) incidents had significantly more severe harm or death outcomes, and patient falls (OR, 0.4) had less severe harm or death outcomes.

    CONCLUSION: The mean reporting rate was 2.1/1000 patient bed-days or 1.5% of hospital admissions. More hospitals in the eastern and southern regions had low reporting rates. Certain categories of incidents had significantly more severe outcomes.

  8. Fulltext Mathematical model based on fractional trace operator for COVID-19 image enhancement
    Karim FK, Jalab HA, Ibrahim RW, Al-Shamasneh AR
    J King Saud Univ Sci, 2022 Oct;34(7):102254.
    PMID: 35957965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jksus.2022.102254
    The medical image enhancement is major class in the image processing which aims for improving the medical diagnosis results. The improving of the quality of the captured medical images is considered as a challenging task in medical image. In this study, a trace operator in fractional calculus linked with the derivative of fractional Rényi entropy is proposed to enhance the low contrast COVID-19 images. The pixel probability values of the input image are obtained first in the proposed image enhancement model. Then the covariance matrix between the input image and the probability of a pixel intensity of the input image to be calculated. Finally, the image enhancement is performed by using the convolution of covariance matrix result with the input image. The proposed enhanced image algorithm is tested against three medical image datasets with different qualities. The experimental results show that the proposed medical image enhancement algorithm achieves the good image quality assessments using both the BRISQUE, and PIQE quality measures. Moreover, the experimental results indicated that the final enhancement of medical images using the proposed algorithm has outperformed other methods. Overall, the proposed algorithm has significantly improved the image which can be useful for medical diagnosis process.
  9. Fulltext Provision of renal-specific nutrition knowledge for changing dietary practice in Bangladeshi hemodialysis patients
    Rahman T, Ahmed S, Kabir MR, Akhtaruzzaman M, Mitali EJ, Rashid HU, et al.
    PEC Innov, 2022 Dec;1:100028.
    PMID: 37213733 DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2022.100028
    OBJECTIVE: Studies show that provision of nutrition knowledge help renal patients make informed food choices. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nutrition knowledge for changing dietary practice among Bangladeshi dialysis patients.

    METHODS: Following development of a renal-specific nutrition booklet, a pilot study was conducted among 50 hemodialysis patients from a single dialysis setting. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, dietary data, and a 10-item MCQ on renal-specific nutrition information were collected before and 3 months after the provision of the booklet.

    RESULTS: 52% of the participants were male, 54% had twice weekly dialysis, age 53 ± 12 years, and dialysis vintage was 46 ± 25 months. Serum potassium and phosphorous, dietary potassium, phosphorous, and phosphorous to protein ratio were significantly reduced after the provision of the booklet. Additionally, patients consuming >3 meals/day increased to 66% while adherence to renal-specific cooking method and vegetable preference were significantly increased to 70% and 62%, respectively.

    CONCLUSION: Provision of knowledge via renal-specific nutrition booklet was able to improve patients' dietary practice and enhance their dietary adherence to renal specific recommendations.

    INNOVATION: The booklet was developed using locally available food items in local language and was found beneficial in low-resource settings where overall health care facilities, including nutrition support are limited.

  10. Fulltext An EPQ Model for Delayed Deteriorating Items with Two-Phase Production Period, Exponential Demand Rate and Linear Holding Cost
    Malumfashi ML, Ismail MT, Ali MKM
    Bull Malays Math Sci Soc, 2022;45(Suppl 1):395-424.
    PMID: 35698582 DOI: 10.1007/s40840-022-01316-x
    The economic production quantity (EPQ) model for delayed deteriorating items considering two-phase production periods, exponential demand rate and linearly increasing function of time holding cost is proposed to solve a production problem similar to the one caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Without shortages, the necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality of this model are characterized through a theorem and lemmas while a solution methodology based on differential calculus is adopted. This paper determines the best replenishment cycle length corresponding to the optimal total variable cost and production quantity of imperfect production industry. To illustrate this model, a numerical experiment is conducted. The results demonstrate that a higher carrying charge decreases the production quantity and a longer demanding period decreases the total variable cost of an industry with a distracted production period. Finally, managerial insights are discussed using sensitivity analysis and future research directions are exposed.
  11. Evaluation of taste active peptides and amino acids from anchovy proteins in fish sauce by in silico approach
    Hakimi S, Kari NM, Ismail N, Ismail MN, Ahmad F
    Food Sci Biotechnol, 2022 Jul;31(7):767-785.
    PMID: 35720460 DOI: 10.1007/s10068-022-01097-w
    Enzymatic activity and microbial fermentation play a prominent role in the bioconversion of complex muscle tissue into smaller units of peptides and amino acids, possibly contribute to sensory properties. Thus, this study screens and evaluate anchovy proteins with taste-active peptides and amino acids by the reaction of multiple enzymes using an in silico approach. Information about sensory components was provided based on an in silico analysis using tools available in the BIOPEP-UWM database. Proteins from anchovy, namely myosin heavy chain 6 alpha, myosin light chain 1, cytochrome B, and NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase, were subjected to in silico digestion with the combination of 23 enzymes. This led to the release of taste-active peptides and amino acids, including umami, sweet, salty, sour, and bitter sensory properties. The combination of multiple enzymes released a more significant number of taste-active peptides and amino acids for both myosins compared to other proteins.
  12. Fulltext Solar energy optimization in solar-HVAC using Sutterby hybrid nanofluid with Smoluchowski temperature conditions: a solar thermal application
    Jamshed W, Eid MR, Safdar R, Pasha AA, Mohamed Isa SSP, Adil M, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2022 Jul 07;12(1):11484.
    PMID: 35798787 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15685-7
    In solar heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), communications are designed to create new 3D mathematical models that address the flow of rotating Sutterby hybrid nanofluids exposed to slippery and expandable seats. The heat transmission investigation included effects such as copper and graphene oxide nanoparticles, as well as thermal radiative fluxing. The activation energy effect was used to investigate mass transfer with fluid concentration. The boundary constraints utilized were Maxwell speed and Smoluchowksi temperature slippage. With the utilization of fitting changes, partial differential equations (PDEs) for impetus, energy, and concentricity can be decreased to ordinary differential equations (ODEs). To address dimensionless ODEs, MATLAB's Keller box numerical technique was employed. Graphene oxide Copper/engine oil (GO-Cu/EO) is taken into consideration to address the performance analysis of the current study. Physical attributes, for example, surface drag coefficient, heat move, and mass exchange are mathematically processed and shown as tables and figures when numerous diverse factors are varied. The temperature field is enhanced by an increase in the volume fraction of copper and graphene oxide nanoparticles, while the mass fraction field is enhanced by an increase in activation energy.
  13. On-Farm Experimentation to transform global agriculture
    Lacoste M, Cook S, McNee M, Gale D, Ingram J, Bellon-Maurel V, et al.
    Nat Food, 2022 Jan;3(1):11-18.
    PMID: 37118482 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-021-00424-4
    Restructuring farmer-researcher relationships and addressing complexity and uncertainty through joint exploration are at the heart of On-Farm Experimentation (OFE). OFE describes new approaches to agricultural research and innovation that are embedded in real-world farm management, and reflects new demands for decentralized and inclusive research that bridges sources of knowledge and fosters open innovation. Here we propose that OFE research could help to transform agriculture globally. We highlight the role of digitalization, which motivates and enables OFE by dramatically increasing scales and complexity when investigating agricultural challenges.
  14. Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy in the Management of Oral Cancers
    Dutta S, Singhal S, Shah RB, Haque M
    Crit Rev Oncog, 2022;27(4):23-37.
    PMID: 37199300 DOI: 10.1615/CritRevOncog.2022046361
    Oral cancers (OCs), being one of the frequent malignancies in the head and neck region, need prompt diagnosis and treatment. Apart from basic therapeutic modalities, immunotherapy has now been utilized as a novel approach to combat the disease. With the comprehension of the strategies adopted by cancer cells to evade the immune elimination by the body's immune system, targeted immunotherapies have now become the core area of research. The immune expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PDL-1), etc., are enhanced in OC and have been associated with evasion of the immune system. Targeted immunotherapies now include monoclonal antibodies targeting EGFR like cetuximab and panitumumab, programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors like pembrolizumab, cemiplimab, and nivolumab, and PD-L1 inhibitors like atezolizumab, avelumab, and durvalumab. Targeted immunotherapies like chimeric antigen receptor T-cell treatment and small molecule inhibitors are in several clinical trials tried as monotherapy and adjuvant immunotherapy and have shown promising results. Other immunothera-peutic approaches such as cytokines like interferons or interleukins, vaccines, and gene therapy have also been an area of research for the management of OC. However, the cautious selection of appropriate patients with specific immune characteristics as a candidate for immunotherapeutic agents is a crucial component of targeted immunotherapy. This article elaborates on the immune contexture of oral cancer cells, the mechanism of immune evasion by cancer cells, targets for immunotherapies, existent immunotherapeutic agents, and prospects in the field of immunotherapy.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Immunotherapy/methods; ErbB Receptors
  15. Sustainable aquaculture development in sub-Saharan Africa
    Ragasa C, Charo-Karisa H, Rurangwa E, Tran N, Shikuku KM
    Nat Food, 2022 Feb;3(2):92-94.
    PMID: 37117967 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00467-1
  16. Fulltext Retraction notice to "Association between sarcoidosis and cardiovascular Outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis" [IJC Heart Vasculat. 41 (2022) 101073]
    Jaiswal V, Ang SP, Sarfraz Z, Butey S, Khandait HV, Song D, et al.
    Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc, 2022 Aug;41:101112.
    PMID: 36093509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2022.101112
    [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2022.101073.].
  17. Chitin and chitosan derived from crustacean waste valorization streams can support food systems and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
    Amiri H, Aghbashlo M, Sharma M, Gaffey J, Manning L, Moosavi Basri SM, et al.
    Nat Food, 2022 Oct;3(10):822-828.
    PMID: 37117878 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00591-y
    Crustacean waste, consisting of shells and other inedible fractions, represents an underutilized source of chitin. Here, we explore developments in the field of crustacean-waste-derived chitin and chitosan extraction and utilization, evaluating emerging food systems and biotechnological applications associated with this globally abundant waste stream. We consider how improving the efficiency and selectivity of chitin separation from wastes, redesigning its chemical structure to improve biotechnology-derived chitosan, converting it into value-added chemicals, and developing new applications for chitin (such as the fabrication of advanced nanomaterials used in fully biobased electric devices) can contribute towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Finally, we consider how gaps in the research could be filled and future opportunities could be developed to make optimal use of this important waste stream for food systems and beyond.
  18. Rights and representation support justice across aquatic food systems
    Hicks CC, Gephart JA, Koehn JZ, Nakayama S, Payne HJ, Allison EH, et al.
    Nat Food, 2022 Oct;3(10):851-861.
    PMID: 37117898 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00618-4
    Injustices are prevalent in food systems, where the accumulation of vast wealth is possible for a few, yet one in ten people remain hungry. Here, for 194 countries we combine aquatic food production, distribution and consumption data with corresponding national policy documents and, drawing on theories of social justice, explore whether barriers to participation explain unequal distributions of benefits. Using Bayesian models, we find economic and political barriers are associated with lower wealth-based benefits; countries produce and consume less when wealth, formal education and voice and accountability are lacking. In contrast, social barriers are associated with lower welfare-based benefits; aquatic foods are less affordable where gender inequality is greater. Our analyses of policy documents reveal a frequent failure to address political and gender-based barriers. However, policies linked to more just food system outcomes centre principles of human rights, specify inclusive decision-making processes and identify and challenge drivers of injustice.
  19. Small pelagic fish supply abundant and affordable micronutrients to low- and middle-income countries
    Robinson JPW, Mills DJ, Asiedu GA, Byrd K, Mancha Cisneros MDM, Cohen PJ, et al.
    Nat Food, 2022 Dec;3(12):1075-1084.
    PMID: 37118295 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00643-3
    Wild-caught fish provide an irreplaceable source of essential nutrients in food-insecure places. Fishers catch thousands of species, yet the diversity of aquatic foods is often categorized homogeneously as 'fish', obscuring an understanding of which species supply affordable, nutritious and abundant food. Here, we use catch, economic and nutrient data on 2,348 species to identify the most affordable and nutritious fish in 39 low- and middle-income countries. We find that a 100 g portion of fish cost between 10 and 30% of the cheapest daily diet, with small pelagic fish (herring, sardine, anchovy) being the cheapest nutritious fish in 72% of countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, where nutrient deficiencies are rising, <20% of small pelagic catch would meet recommended dietary fish intakes for all children (6 months to 4 years old) living near to water bodies. Nutrition-sensitive policies that ensure local supplies and promote consumption of wild-caught fish could help address nutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations.
  20. Spatial analysis of aquatic food access can inform nutrition-sensitive policy
    Bennett A, Rice E, Muhonda P, Kaunda E, Katengeza S, Liverpool-Tasie LSO, et al.
    Nat Food, 2022 Dec;3(12):1010-1013.
    PMID: 37118314 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00642-4
    Aquatic foods are critical for food and nutrition security in Malawi, but it is unclear which populations benefit from different aquatic foods and what factors shape food access. Spatial analysis of food flows across value chains from Lake Malawi to domestic consumers shows that usipa (Engraulicypris sardella) reaches more consumers than chambo (Oreochromis karongae) across all Malawi districts, particularly rural populations. Higher number of markets, nutrient content, and overall supply coupled with lower retail prices and volumes make usipa more accessible to consumers than chambo. Spatial analysis of food flows can guide policymakers towards supporting fisheries that reach vulnerable populations and designing interventions that enhance physical and economic access to fish.
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