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Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is synthesized by tumor cells, including metastatic tumors, and circulates in the bloodstream. Evidence suggests that ctDNA is a potential predictive and prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC), but its predictive efficacy in detecting CRC liver metastasis (CLM) remains unclear. Additionally, its utility in the clinical setting needs further investigation. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the utility of ctDNA as a biomarker for predicting the prognosis of CLM and investigate the relationship between CLM and ctDNA positivity. A literature search was performed in electronic databases to identify relevant studies published up to March 19, 2022. We retrieved data on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) for both ctDNA-positive and ctDNA-negative colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) patients from the selected articles. Hazard ratios (HRs) were also calculated for these survival outcomes analysis was also performed. The stability of the combined meta-analysis was verified by sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation. Ten trials were included, and 615 patients were evaluated. In patients with CLM, pooled HRs revealed a substantial link between ctDNA positivity and RFS/DFS. Subgroup analysis revealed that ctDNA had a prospective detection value. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation indicated stable results. Although the results on pooled HR for OS suggested that ctDNA-positive patients had a shorter survival time, their pooled HRs had a relatively evident heterogeneity, and sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation indicated that pooled HRs were extremely unstable. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ctDNA appears to be a prognostic biomarker for resectable CLM patients.

BackgroundsThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented healthy crisis to people worldwide. It is crucial to assess the psychological status of non-frontline nurses. More attention to the mental and physical health of non-frontline nurses during a public health emergency is necessary for a full understanding of the implications. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors that influence the acute stress reaction of non-frontline pediatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis study aimed to explore factors associated with acute stress reactions of non-frontline pediatric nurses in Hunan province during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional design. Five hundred eighteen pediatric nurses from Hunan province, China, completed the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), and Job Withdrawal Behavior Scales (JWB). Multiple linear regression analyses and Pearson’s correlation were used to analyze the results.ResultsThe mean scores of DASS-21, JWB, SASRQ were 1.443 ± 0.500, 1.601 ± 0.544, and 1.858 ± 0.805, respectively. Stress, anxiety, depression (three sub-dimensions of DASS-21), JWB, monthly income and department were the major predictive factors for SASRQ (Adjusted R2 = 0.579, p < 0.001). Pearson’s correlation showed that the mean score of SASRQ was positively correlated with JWB, DASS-21, and all its dimensions (p

There is ample evidence suggesting that restrained eating behaviors are very common during adolescence. In most research, restrained eating is represented by an overall score, limiting our understanding of the latent individual heterogeneity in restrained eating behaviors. The main purpose of current study was to investigate patterns of restrained eating and explore its association with multiple interpersonal factors (family, peer and school) in a sample of 552 adolescents (46% females, aged 11-16 years) from two middle schools in Changsha, China. Latent profile analysis (LPA) revealed that in the best-fitting model, restrained eating formed three profiles of adolescents: 'low restrained eating group' (57.3%), 'moderate restrained eating group' (31.9%), and 'high restrained eating group' (10.8%). The results of multinomial logistic regression showed that these profiles differed on multiple interpersonal factors including parental monitoring, deviant peer affiliation, and peer relationships. The current study is the first to identify patterns of restrained eating in relation to multiple interpersonal contexts, and the results may inform targeted prevention and intervention strategies., Author(s): Sicheng Xiong [sup.1] , Yi Xu [sup.2] , Bin Zhang [sup.1] , Lihui Zhu [sup.3] , Jianhui Xie [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.488482.a, 0000 0004 1765 5169, Department of [...]

Simple Summary: Keel bone damage (KBD) in laying hens represents a significant issue with profound implications for both the welfare and productivity of these birds. This review systematically investigates the etiological factors, consequences, and assessment modalities of KBD, and further proposes corresponding management strategies. The occurrence of KBD can be ascribed to multiple factors, including insufficient calcium supply, genetic determinants, and physical stressors, which may give rise to alterations in egg production, stress responses, and inflammatory states. Assessment methods encompass palpation and imaging techniques. Management strategies comprise nutritional optimization, genetic selection, and environmental adaptation. Comprehending and addressing KBD is of substantial importance for the sustainable development of the poultry industry and the safeguarding of laying hen welfare. Keel bone damage (KBD) is a prominent concern within the realm of the egg-laying industry, exerting substantial impacts on the welfare and productivity of laying hens. This comprehensive review undertakes a detailed exploration of the diverse factors contributing to KBD, such as inadequate calcium sources in the medullary bone, genetic factors, nutritional deficiencies, and physical stressors. The consequences of KBD on production performance, stress and inflammation levels, and the physical and chemical properties of the keel are meticulously examined. Additionally, the review evaluates the existing methods for assessing KBD, including keel curvature scoring, imaging techniques, palpation, biomechanical testing, behavioral observations, and biochemical markers. Finally, management strategies, including nutritional adjustments, genetic selection, and environmental modifications, are proposed to potentially mitigate the prevalence and severity of KBD, thereby aiming to enhance the welfare and productivity of laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Federated learning, as a novel distributed machine learning mode, enables the training of machine learning models on multiple devices while ensuring data privacy. However, the existence of single-point-of-failure bottlenecks, malicious threats, scalability of federated learning implementation, and lack of incentive mechanisms have seriously hindered the development of federated learning technology. In recent years, as a distributed ledger, blockchain has the characteristics of decentralization, tamper-proof, transparency, security, etc., which can solve the issues encountered in the above-mentioned federated learning. Particularly, the integration of federated learning and blockchain leads to a new paradigm, called blockchain-based federated learning (BFL), which has been successfully applied in many application scenarios. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of recent efforts on blockchain-based federated learning. More concretely, we propose and design a taxonomy of blockchain-based federated learning models, along with providing a comprehensive summary of the state of the art. Various applications of federated learning based on blockchain are introduced. Finally, we expand on current trends and provide new perspectives pertaining to this new and exciting development in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: After approximately two decades of controlled breeding at the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China, Luchuan (LC) pigs have developed two distinct phenotypes: one with obesity (FLC) and the other with leanness (LLC). Since recent research suggests a link between microorganisms and the development of these different phenotypes, this study investigated the fecal microbiota profiles and serum metabolites of FLC and LLC pigs. We found significant changes in the microbiota and metabolites between the two groups. The correlation studies showed a significant link between the modified microbiota, metabolites, and the observed phenotypic differences in the LC pigs. Notably, Jeotgalicoccus was positively correlated with the body weight and chest circumference, but negatively correlated with certain metabolites like 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and N1-pyrazin-2-yl-4-chlorobenzamide, which were positively associated with Bacteroides. These findings provide strong evidence for a new connection between the gut microbiome, metabolome, and phenotypic variation in LC pigs. Luchuan (LC) pigs are a Chinese breed renowned for their distinctive black and white coloring, superior meat quality and rapid reproduction, but their growth rate is slow. Over the course of approximately two decades of controlled breeding, the LC pigs maintained at the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Shanghai, China) have diverged into two phenotypes: one characterized by obesity (FLC) and the other by leanness (LLC). Recent studies indicate a correlation between microorganisms and the differentiation of host phenotypes. In this study, we examined the fecal microbiota profiles and serum metabolites of FLC and LLC pigs. The body weight, chest circumference, and alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase enzyme activities were increased in the FLC pigs compared to the LLC pigs. Conversely, the levels of the Fusobacterium and Streptococcus genera were lower in the FLC pigs, while the number of Firmicutes, Lactobacillus, Phascolartobacterium, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group members were higher. A total of 52 metabolites were altered between the two groups, with many playing crucial roles in prolactin signaling, oocyte meiosis, and aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption pathways. The correlation analyses demonstrated a significant association between the modified microbiota and metabolites and the phenotypic variations observed in the LC pigs. Specifically, Jeotgalicoccus was positively correlated with the body weight and chest circumference, but was negatively correlated with metabolites such as 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and N1-pyrazin-2-yl-4-chlorobenzamide, which were positively associated with Bacteroides. These results provide compelling evidence for a novel relationship between the gut microbiome and metabolome in the phenotypic differentiation of LC pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]