Inconel 718 alloy which was prepared using selective laser melting (SLM) forming technology underwent various annealing treatments. Optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, electron backscattered diffraction and MTS testing machine were used to study the microstructure, mechanical and fatigue properties of Inconel 718 alloy melted by selective laser melting under different annealing treatments. The results show that the microstructure of Inconel 718 alloy after homogenization and doubleaging annealing is the most obvious, and the microstructure of the alloy is mainly recrystallized. The microstructure contains a large number of annealing twins and the grain boundaries are flat. The yield strength, tensile strength and microhardness of Inconel 718 alloy formed by selective laser melting after different annealing treatments are greatly increased, while the elongation after fracture is significantly decreased. The fatigue properties of Inconel 718 alloy after double aging annealing and solution dual aging annealing are improved slightly, while the fatigue properties after uniform double aging annealing are decreased slightly.

Abstract Introduction The standard approach to thyroidectomy is a collar incision via the anterior neck, and the neck scar has always been a source of worry for patients. Acceptable wound cosmetology has become a focus for thyroid surgeons. Objective To verify the effectiveness and cosmetic results of thyroidectomy through a lateral supraclavicular incision. Methods 180 patients were randomly divided into two groups: a lateral supraclavicular approach and a conventional transcervical approach. The main outcomes included incision length, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, total drainage volume, hospitalization expense, early postoperative pain measured by visual analog scale, infection, and perceived cosmetic outcome. Results There were no statistical significances between the two groups in terms of age, gender, nodule size, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, total drainage volume, hospital expense and postoperative complications, whereas there were significant differences in terms of incision length (5.2 ± 1.04 cm vs. 6.9 ± 1.14 cm, p < 0.05). Conclusions The lateral supraclavicular incision is a safe and feasible approach for thyroidectomy. Compared with conventional approach, it provides a better cosmetic result.

Resumo Introdução A abordagem padrão para tireoidectomia é uma incisão em colar na face anterior do pescoço; a cicatriz no pescoço sempre foi uma fonte de preocupação para os pacientes; consequentemente, a cosmetologia aceitável da ferida tornou‐se um foco de atenção para os cirurgiões de cabeça e pescoço. Objetivos Verificar a eficácia e os resultados cosméticos da tireoidectomia por meio de incisão supraclavicular lateral. Método Foram divididos aleatoriamente 180 pacientes em dois grupos: um grupo supraclavicular lateral (Grupo LS) e outro transcervical convencional (Grupo TC). Os desfechos principais incluíram comprimento da incisão, perda de sangue intraoperatória, tempo cirúrgico, volume total de drenagem, despesas hospitalares, dor no pós‐operatório imediato medida através de escala visual analógica, infecção e resultado cosmético percebido. Resultados Não houve significância estatística entre os dois grupos em termos de idade, sexo, tamanho do nódulo, perda sanguínea intraoperatória, tempo cirúrgico, volume total de drenagem, custo hospitalar e complicações pós‐operatórias, mas houve diferença significante em termos de comprimento da incisão (5,2 ± 1,04 cm vs. 6,9 ± 1,14 cm, p < 0,05). Conclusão A incisão supraclavicular lateral é uma abordagem segura e viável para tireoidectomia. Em comparação com a abordagem convencional, oferece um melhor resultado cosmético.

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of curcumin on visfatin and zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) expression levels in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Fifty-six male rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=16) and model group (n=40) and were fed on a normal diet or a high-fat diet, respectively. Equal volumes of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were intragastrically administered to the control group for 4 weeks. At the end of the 12th week, visfatin and ZAG protein expression levels were examined by immunohistochemistry. Visfatin mRNA levels were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the model group showed significantly increased expression of visfatin in liver tissue (P < 0.01) and significantly decreased expression of ZAG (P < 0.01). These effects were ameliorated by curcumin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Visfatin and zinc-α2-glycoprotein may be involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Treatment of NAFLD in rats by curcumin may be mediated by the decrease of visfatin and the increase of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

ABSTRACT Objective Pendred syndrome (PS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by sensorineural hearing loss and thyroid dyshormonogenesis. It is caused by biallelic mutations in the SLC26A4 gene encoding for pendrin. Hypothyroidism in PS can be present from birth and therefore diagnosed by neonatal screening. The aim of this study was to examine the SLC26A4 mutation spectrum and prevalence among congenital hypothyroidism (CH) patients in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China and to establish how frequently PS causes hearing impairment in our patients with CH. Subjects and methods Blood samples were collected from 192 CH patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. All exons of the SLC26A4 gene together with their exon-intron boundaries were screened by next-generation sequencing. Patients with SLC26A4 mutations underwent a complete audiological evaluation including otoscopic examination, audiometry and morphological evaluation of the inner ear. Results Next generation sequencing analysis of SLC26A4 in 192 CH patients revealed five different heterozygous variations in eight individuals (8/192, 4%). The prevalence of SLC26A4 mutations was 4% among studied Chinese CH. Three of the eight were diagnosed as enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct (EVA), no PS were found in our 192 CH patients. The mutations included one novel missense variant p.P469S, as well as four known missense variants, namely p.V233L, p.M147I, p.V609G and p.D661E. Of the eight patients identified with SLC26A4 variations in our study, seven patients showed normal size/location of thyroid gland, and one patients showed a decreased size one. Conclusions The prevalence of SLC26A4 pathogenic variants was 4% among studied Chinese patients with CH. Our study expanded the SLC26A4 mutation spectrum, provided the best estimation of SLC26A4 mutation rate for Chinese CH patients and indicated the rarity of PS as a cause of CH.

The electrochemical behaviour of zinc has been extensively studied in alkaline and acid media, but only a few studies have been reported in neutral solutions, particularly in deaerated media. Zinc passivation in neutral medium and the effect of the ClO4- ion on the nucleation and growth of the passive layer is studied in this paper by a transient technique at different electrolyte concentrations and applied potentials. ZnO growth rate was shown to decrease with increasing electrolyte concentration. Moreover, passive layer growth occurred followed by pitting nucleation and growth. Film growth and pit nucleation are explained by means of the Macdonald and Engell-Stolica models.

Nanotubos de ZnS em forma de X foram sintetizados usando um método hidrotérmico. Uma nova reação hidrotérmica envolvendo hidrólise e oxidação simultâneas do solvente foi desenvolvido usando zinco em pó, água e NH2CSNH2 como reagentes. As imagens de microscopia de transmissão eletrônica mostram que cada segmento dos canais tem cerca de 400 a 500 nm de comprimento. O diâmetro interno é 50 nm e o externo 70 nm e o espaço entre as camadas é cerca de 7 nm. Dados de difração de raios (XRD) mostram que o nanotubo obtido apresenta boa cristalização na fase Esfalerita cúbica. A banda em 293 nm no espectro de absorção no ultravioleta-visível encontra-se deslocado para o azul em cerca de 50 mm em relação ao ZnS bulk. O espectro de fotoluminescência dos nanotubos de ZnS mostra que o pico de emissão ocorre em 409 nm quando excitado a 365 nm.

ZnS nanotubes with crossed-channels have been synthesized successfully using a hydrothermal method. A novel hydrothermal reaction of simultaneous solvent-oxidation-hydrolysis has been developed using Zn powder, H2O and NH2CSNH2 as reagents. TEM images show that each branch of the channels is about 400-500 nm long. The inner diameter is 55 nm, the outer diameter is 70 nm, and the interlayer spacing is about 7 nm. XRD data show that the product is well-crystallized in the cubic Sphalerite phase. The peak appears at 293 nm in the UV-Vis absorption spectrum, which is about 50 nm blue shifted from the bulk counterpart. The photoluminescence spectrum of ZnS nanotubes shows that the emission peak occurs at 409 nm when excited at 365 nm.