Interfacial Reactions between Sn-Based Solders and n-Type Bi2(Te,Se)3 Thermoelectric Material.

This study investigated the interfacial reactions between n-type Bi2(Te,Se)3 thermoelectric material, characterized by a highly-oriented (110) plane, and pure Sn and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (wt.%) solders, respectively. At 250 °C, the liquid-state Sn/Bi2(Te,Se)3 reactions resulted in the formation of both SnTe and BiTe phases, with Bi-rich particles dispersed within the SnTe phase. The growth of the SnTe phase exhibited diffusion-controlled parabolic behavior over time. In contrast, the growth rate was considerably slower compared to that observed with p-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3. Solid-state Sn/Bi2(Te,Se)3 reactions conducted between 160 °C and 200 °C exhibited similar interfacial microstructures. The SnTe phase remained the primary reaction product, embedded with tiny Bi-rich particles, revealing a diffusion-controlled growth. However, the BiTe layer had no significant growth. Further investigation into growth kinetics of intermetallic compounds and microstructural evolution was conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism. The slower growth rates in Bi2(Te,Se)3, compared to the reactions with (Bi,Sb)2Te3, could be attributed to the strong suppression effect of Se on SnTe growth. Additionally, the interfacial reactions of Bi2(Te,Se)3 with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu were also examined, showing similar growth behavior to those observed with Sn solder. Notably, compared with Ag, Cu tends to diffuse towards the interfacial reaction phases, resulting in a high Cu solubility within the SnTe phase.

Selection of prenatal screening with nuchal translucency > 95th centile and below 99th centile: a 4-year observational study with real-world data.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the genetic outcomes of fetuses with nuchal translucency (NT) > 95th centile, and determine whether prenatal genetic counseling, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) or non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) are truly beneficial for the outcomes of fetuses with increased NT > 95th centile and below 99th centile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 535 pregnant women were included in this study, with a fetal NT > 95th centile at 11-13+6 weeks of gestation from January 2017 to December 2020. 324 pregnant women with fetal NT > 95th centile and below 99th centile combined with other risk factors and NT > 99th centile received prenatal diagnostic karyotype analysis and CMA, and 211 pregnant women with fetal isolated increased NT > 95th centile and below 99th centile were selected to carry out NIPT. RESULTS: A total of 211 pregnant women who underwent NIPT were included in the study, NIPT results showed that 8 high-risk cases were confirmed by prenatal diagnosis. Overall, the detection rate of NIPT was 3.79%. A total of 324 pregnant women with fetal NT > 95th centile and below 99th centile, along with other risk factors, and those with fetal NT > 99th centile, received karyotype analysis and CMA for prenatal diagnosis. Among them, a total of 73 genetic abnormalities were detected, including 45 cases of chromosomal aneuploidy, 7 cases of structural abnormalities, and 21 cases of copy number variations (CNVs) with a size of less than 10 Mb. In addition, the 73 women with genetic abnormalities are divided into three groups based on the NT measurement (Group 1: Fetuses with NT > 95th centile and below 99th centile, Group 2: Fetuses with NT > 99th centile, and Group 3: Fetuses with NT > 99th centile). 13.11% (8/61) of pathogenic genetic abnormalities (6 chromosomal aneuploidy, 1 structural abnormality, and 1 likely pathogenic CNV) will be missed if genetic counseling and prenatal genetic testing were not conducted in fetuses with increased NT > 95th centile and below 99th centile combined with other risks. Pathogenic CNVs were the most common abnormalities in group 3, and one likely pathogenic CNV was detected in group 1 and group 3, respectively, and a total of 14 CNVs of unknown clinical significance (VOUS) were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Through this study, we demonstrated that the critical value of NT > 95th centile for invasive detection or NIPT. Invasive testing combined with CMA may be recommended for fetuses with NT > 95th centile and below 99th centile and with other risks. But when isolated NT > 95th centile and below 99th centile, NIPT would be appropriate.

Pure testicular choriocarcinoma, a rare and highly malignant subtype with challenging treatment: A case report and review of the literature.

Testicular choriocarcinoma (CC) is the rarest subtype of germ cell tumours (GCTs) of the testis, with a high malignant potential and early haematogenous metastasis. Radical surgical resection should be performed primarily for histological diagnosis, while chemotherapy remains the mainstay of therapy for advanced disease. In the present study, the case of a 65-year-old male patient diagnosed with metastatic testicular CC, who did not fully respond to chemotherapy is reported. This patient underwent surgical removal of the testicular tumour, chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin, and radiotherapy of the intracranial lesions. Although the serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels of the patient and most of the metastases continued decreasing during chemotherapy, complete response was not achieved after six cycles of chemotherapy. The patient refused high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation due to severe side effects, and eventually developed respiratory failure on maintenance therapy with oral etoposide. A literature review was then performed, aiming to summarize the characteristics and therapeutic principles of testicular CC. In addition, the emerging therapeutic agents that could be used in maintenance therapy for GCTs, particularly for testicular CC, were also discussed. The limited clinical trials of targeted treatments showed potential benefit for long survival of patients with selected GCTs with fewer side effects. In particular, immunotherapy showed unique potential for testicular CC in preclinical studies, offering new approaches of maintenance therapy for advanced disease. Further studies should shed light on the identification of prognostic factors that predict the response to immune-based therapy in GCTs.

Evaluation of the asynchronization and function of the left ventricle in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension by velocity vector imaging.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a set of pathophysiological syndromes characterized by increased pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, resulting in increased right ventricular afterload. The left and right ventricles interact through hemodynamics. What impact will PH have on synchronization and function of the left ventricle (LV)? The aim of this study was to evaluate the synchronization of the left ventricular wall motion and left ventricular function in patients with varying degrees of PH using velocity vector imaging (VVI) technology. METHODS: Sixty patients with chronic PH served as the experimental group, and 20 healthy volunteers served as the control group. According to the different degrees of pulmonary artery systolic pressure, the experimental group was divided into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe PH groups. The time to peak systolic longitudinal velocity (Tvl), the peak systolic longitudinal velocity (Vsl), the peak diastolic longitudinal velocity (Vel), the peak systolic longitudinal strain (Sl), and strain rate (SRl) in 18 segments were measured in each group. RESULTS: Tvl in the control group and each group with PH was reduced from basal to apical segment, and in control group Tvl in various segments of the same wall and in different walls showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). With increase in pulmonary artery pressure, Tvl values measured showed an increasing trend in groups with PH. In groups with PH, Vsl and Vel of each wall were reduced sequentially from basal to apical segments, showing gradient change; Vsl and Vel values measured showed a decreasing trend with increase in pulmonary artery pressure, in which the differences of Vel values measured in the control group and the mild PH group were statistically significant (P < 0.01), and the differences between other groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01). In groups with PH, Sl and SRl in basal segment and the middle segment of each wall were decreased; the difference between groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Asynchronization of the LV and decreased left ventricular function were present in patients with chronic PH; VVI technology can accurately evaluate left ventricular function in patients with PH, and indicators such as Tvl, Vsl, and Vel are valuable.

Deformation of the left and right ventricular longitudinal myocardium in fetuses with umbilical cord around neck.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord around neck, a common obstetric complication, affects fetal hemodynamics. Does it influence fetal cardiac functions? The purpose of this study was to investigate the left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions of fetuses with umbilical cord around neck in the third trimester by applying velocity vector imaging (VVI). METHODS: Thirty-five cases of fetuses with umbilical cord around neck whose gestational ages from 35 to 40 weeks were selected, including 20 cases of umbilical artery ratio of the highest systolic velocity (S) to the lowest diastolic velocity (D) (S/D) < 3.0 and 15 cases of umbilical artery S/D ≥ 3.0, while 20 cases of normal fetuses of 35 - 40 gestational weeks were selected as the control group. The changes in longitudinal velocity, strain, and strain rate of fetal left and right ventricle in systole and diastole in two groups, and the changes in fetal cardiac function under the situation of umbilical cord around neck were analyzed. RESULTS: Longitudinal strain and strain rate overall of fetal left and right ventricle in systole and diastole were less in fetuses with umbilical artery S/D (3)3.0 and umbilical cord around neck than those in fetuses with umbilical artery S/D < 3.0 and those in control group (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in longitudinal strain and strain rate overall of fetal left and right ventricle in systole and diastole between fetuses with umbilical artery S/D < 3.0 and those in control group. CONCLUSIONS: Left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction was detected in fetuses with umbilical cord around neck and umbilical artery S/D (3)3.0. VVI could sensitively respond to cardiac function changes in fetuses with umbilical cord around neck, which provides another valuable method in the evaluation of fetal cardiac function.