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Objective. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in obese individuals and identify the related factors affecting its efficacy. Methods. The clinical and follow-up data of 37 obese patients with OSAHS who underwent LSG in the Laparoscopic Surgery Department of Zibo Central Hospital from January 2017 to July 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The effect of this operation on patients’ weight and OSAHS was studied, and the factors affecting weight and OSAHS were examined through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results. Over 12 months of regular postoperative follow-up with the 37 patients, their body mass index (BMI) decreased, and the percentage of excess weight loss (EWL%) reached 73.2%. Additionally, the rate of successful OSAHS treatment reached 91.89%, and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest arterial oxygen saturation (LSaO2) increased significantly. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender, weight, EWL%, and smoking affected the efficacy of LSG against OSAHS ( P < 0.05 ). EWL% and smoking were independent factors that helped determine the efficacy of LSG against morbid obesity ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. LSG can effectively help obese patients lose weight and show medium-term efficacy against OSAHS in obese people. Smoking and EWL% were found to be the factors determining the efficacy of LSG.

The characteristics of static functional network connectivity (sFNC) and dynamic FNC (dFNC) in neurologically asymptomatic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis are unknown. Elucidating these characteristics may improve our understanding of the mechanisms of neuropathological damage in these patients.To explore the static and dynamic characteristics of FNC in neurologically asymptomatic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and the relationship between FNC-related parameters with the neuropsychological scores and blood biomarkers.Retrospective.A total of 23 neurologically asymptomatic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and 25 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and years of education.A 3.0 T MRI/functional MRI and three-dimensional-T1 structural imaging ASSESSMENT: Independent components; spatial map intensity; sFNC and dFNC strengths; and time attribute parameters (mean dwell time, fractional window, and number of transitions) were determined. Neuropsychological tests were performed. Blood biochemical tests were performed for the patients but not healthy controls.Chi-squared test, one-sample t-test, two-sample t-test, partial correlation analysis, and family-wise error and false discovery rate correction. P 0.05 denoted statistical significance.Significant group differences in the strengths of sFNC and dFNC between networks were found. The sFNC strength between the visual and sensorimotor networks was significantly associated with the global cognitive function score (i.e. the Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]) (r = 0.606). The sFNC strength between the salience and default mode networks was significantly associated with anxiety scores (r = 0.458). In state 1, positive correlations were found between the mean dwell time and backward digital span task score (r = 0.562), fractional window and MoCA score (r = 0.576), and fractional window and backward digital span task score (r = 0.592).Neurologically asymptomatic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis had defective sFNC and dFNC. Our results provide a new perspective on the mechanism of neuropathological damage in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

Thermoelectric technology is an effective strategy to convert low–grade waste heat to electrical energy directly. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have been extensively studied in various waste heat scenarios, such as vehicle exhaust, metal casting processes and more. However, industrial pipelines also possess high levels of heat and wide distribution, yet there is limited research on TEGs for use in these pipes. The challenge in designing a TEG lies in the heat collector, which is complicated by the distinct structural differences between pipe and plate–shaped TEMs. Ultimately, we propose an arch bridge–shaped heat collector for the pipe to recover wasted thermal energy. The effects of some key factors, such as topology of TEMs, heat source temperature, cooling water temperature and velocity, on the generating performance are studied. The TEG achieved a temperature difference of 65.98 °C across the two ends of the TEM, resulting in an output power of 17.89 W at an open–circuit voltage of 133.35 V. This provides evidence that the designed heat collector is a feasible solution for recovering waste heat from pipes using TEG technology. This work provides reliable experimental data and efficient design for the application of TEGs in industrial pipes.

PurposeThis research explores the influence of authoritarian leadership on employee creativity as mediated by employee creative self-efficacy, moderated by benevolent leadership and power distance.Design/methodology/approachA survey sample of 325 employees was collected from Chinese companies in different industries. The hypotheses were tested adopting a hierarchical regression and a bootstrapping test.FindingsEmployee creative self-efficacy partially mediated the association between authoritarian leadership and employee creativity. The negative impacts of authoritarian leadership on employee creative self-efficacy can be moderated by benevolent leadership. Additionally, the moderation effects of benevolent leadership can be moderated by power distance, which means that these moderation effects of benevolent leadership are significant only in subordinates with low levels of power distance.Practical implicationsAn organization should be conscious of the perniciousness of an authoritarian leader and is better for leaders not to show contradictory behaviors to employees. Moreover, when leaders exhibit inconsistent behaviors, they should be sensitive to employee power distance.Originality/valuePrevious studies have been done to explore the predictors of employee creativity. Yet, studies for the impacts of destructive leadership styles on employee creativity are lacking. This study introduces employee creative self-efficacy as a mediator of the relationship between authoritarian leadership and employee creativity. In addition, benevolent leadership and power distance are identified as two boundary conditions to explore the impacts of authoritarian leadership.

Decreasing X-ray tube voltage is an effective way to reduce radiation and contrast dose, especially in non-obese patients. The current study focuses on CTA in non-obese patients to evaluate image quality and feasibility of 80-kV acquisition protocols with varying iodine delivery rates (IDR) and contrast concentrations in routine clinical practice.A prospective observational study in patients ≥ 18 years and ≤ 90 kg referred for coronary or craniocervical CTA at 10 centers in China (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02840903). Patients were divided into four groups: a standard 100-kV protocol (370 mgI/ml, IDR 1.48 gI/s), and three 80-kV protocols (370 mgI/ml, IDR 1.2 gI/s; 300 mgI/ml, IDR 1.2 gI/s; 300 mgI/ml, IDR 0.96gI/s). The primary outcome was contrast opacification of target vascular segments. Secondary outcomes were image quality (contrast-to-noise ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, visual image quality, and diagnostic confidence assessment), radiation, and iodine dose.From July 2016 to July 2017, 1213 patients were enrolled: 614 coronary and 599 craniocervical CTA. The mean contrast opacification was ≥ 300 HU for 80-kV 1.2 gI/s IDR scanned segments; IDR 0.96 gI/s led to lower opacification. Image quality and diagnostic confidence were fair to excellent (≥ 98% of images), despite lower contrast-to-noise ratios and signal-to-noise ratios in 80-kV images. Compared to the standard protocol, 80-kV protocols led to 44-52% radiation dose reductions (p 0.001) and 19% iodine dose reductions (p 0.001).Eighty-kilovolt 1.2 gI/s IDR protocols can be recommended for coronary and craniocervical CTA in non-obese patients, reducing radiation and iodine dose without compromising image quality.• Using low-voltage scanning CTA protocols, in which tube voltage and iodine delivery rate are reduced proportionally (voltage: 80 kV, IDR: 1.2 gI/s), reduces radiation and contrast dose without compromising image quality in routine clinical practice. • Reducing iodine delivery rate beyond direct proportionality to tube voltage is not beneficial.

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD), a mental disorder that affects interpersonal relationships and work, is frequently neglected during diagnosis and evaluation at the individual-level. This preliminary study aimed to investigate whether connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) can predict paranoia scores of young men with PPD using whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC). College students with paranoid tendencies were screened using paranoia scores ≥60 derived from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory; 18 participants were ultimately diagnosed with PPD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and subsequently underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Whole-brain rs-FC was constructed, and the ability of this rs-FC to predict paranoia scores was evaluated using CPM. The significance of the models was assessed using permutation tests. The model constructed based on the negative prediction network involving the limbic system-temporal lobe was observed to have significant predictive ability for paranoia scores, whereas the model constructed using the positive and combined prediction network had no significant predictive ability. In conclusion, using CPM, whole-brain rs-FC predicted the paranoia score of patients with PPD. The limbic system-temporal lobe FC pattern is expected to become an important neurological marker for evaluating paranoid ideation.

While the End Tuberculosis (TB) Strategy has been implemented worldwide, the cause of TB epidemic is multifactorial and has been not fully understood.To investigate the risk factors of TB and incorporate these factors to forecast the incidence of TB infection across different age groups in Sichuan, China.Correlation and linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationships between TB cases and ecological factors, including environmental, economic, and social factors in Sichuan Province from 2006 to 2017. The transfer function-noise (TFN) model was used to forecast trends, considering both time and multi-factors effects.From 2006 to 2017, Sichuan Province had a reported cumulative incidence rate of 1321.08 cases/100,000 in males and 583.04 cases/100,000 in females. There were significant sex differences in the distribution of cases among age groups (trend χ2=12,544.416, P.001). Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture had the highest incidence rates of TB in both males and females in Sichuan. Correlation and regression analyses shown that the total illiteracy rate and average pressure at each measuring station (for individuals aged 15-24) were risk factors for TB. The protective factors follows: the number of families with the minimum living standard guarantee in urban areas, average wind speed, number of discharged patients with invasive TB, number of people with the minimum living standard guarantee in rural areas, total health expenditure as a percentage of regional GDP, being a single male (for individuals aged 0-14), number of hospitals, number of health workers in infectious disease hospitals (for individuals aged 25-64), amount of daily morning and evening exercise, number of people with the urban minimum living standard guarantee, and being married (for females aged64 years). The TFN model indicated that the incidence of TB in males aged 0-14 and 15-24 will continue to rise, and the incidence of TB in females aged 0-14 and64 will continue to increase rapidly in Sichuan, by 2035.The End TB Strategy in Sichuan should take into account environmental, educational, medical, social, personal and other conditions, and further substantial efforts are needed especially in aged 0-24 males, aged 0-14 females, and 64 years elder females.Data collection of TB was required by the Law of the People's Republic of China on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. The ethical approval in this study was granted by the Ethics Committee of Sichuan CDC (SCCDCIRB2022-001).

Immune environment plays an important role in the management of liver cancer. The current study aimed to explore the change of NK and NKT cells, IL-17A, CD4