Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious posttraumatic growth in oncology nurses: the mediating role of empathy.

Background: The relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS), empathy, and vicarious post-traumatic growth (VPTG) in oncology nurses is unclear. Understanding these links is crucial for improving nurse well-being and patient care quality. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between STS, empathy, and VPTG among oncology nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a multicentric setting. Data collection involved oncology nurses completing questionnaires assessing STS, empathy, and VPTG levels. Data analysis included correlation analyses, multiple stepwise regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the interrelationships between these variables. The study adhered to the STROBE checklist. Results: A total of 391 oncology nurses participated in the study. They showed moderate to low levels of VPTG and high levels of STS. STS exhibited a negative association with VPTG, while empathy demonstrated a positive direct association with both VPTG and STS. Moreover, SEM indicated that empathy mediated the relationship between STS and VPTG, with a partial mediating effect of 0.127. Factors such as receiving psychological training, educational attainment, STS, and empathy collectively explained 24% of the variance in VPTG. Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the negative correlation between STS and VPTG among oncology nurses. Additionally, empathy was found to mediate the relationship between STS and VPTG, suggesting it plays a significant role in influencing VPTG. Implications for practice: To aid oncology nurses, interventions should focus on reducing STS and enhancing empathy. Strategies like resilience workshops, peer support, and stress management can foster VPTG. Creating a supportive work environment is crucial for nurses' well-being and quality patient care.

Overview of mechanisms and novel therapies on rheumatoid arthritis from a cellular perspective.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation of joints in response to autoimmune disorders. Once triggered, many factors were involved in the development of RA, including both cellular factors like osteoclasts, synovial fibroblasts, T cells, B cells, and soluble factors like interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), etc. The complex interplay of those factors results in such pathological abnormality as synovial hyperplasia, bone injury and multi-joint inflammation. To treat this chronic life-affecting disease, the primary drugs used in easing the patient's symptoms are disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). However, these traditional drugs could cause serious side effects, such as high blood pressure and stomach ulcers. Interestingly, recent discoveries on the pathogenesis of RA have led to various new kinds of drugs or therapeutic strategies. Therefore, we present a timely review of the latest development in this field, focusing on the cellular aspects of RA pathogenesis and new therapeutic methods in clinical application. Hopefully it can provide translational guide to the pre-clinical research and treatment for the autoimmune joint disease.

C/Co3O4/Diatomite Composite for Microwave Absorption.

Transition metal oxides have been widely used in microwave-absorbing materials, but how to improve impedance matching is still an urgent problem. Therefore, we introduced urea as a polymer carbon source into a three-dimensional porous structure modified by Co3O4 nanoparticles and explored the influence of different heat treatment temperatures on the wave absorption properties of the composite. The nanomaterials, when calcined at a temperature of 450 °C, exhibited excellent microwave absorption capabilities. Specifically, at an optimized thickness of 9 mm, they achieved a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -97.3 dB, accompanied by an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 9.83 GHz that comprehensively covered both the S and Ku frequency bands. On the other hand, with a thickness of 3 mm, the RLmin was recorded as -17.9 dB, with an EAB of 5.53 GHz. This excellent performance is attributed to the multi-facial polarization and multiple reflections induced by the magnetic loss capability of Co3O4 nanoparticles, the electrical conductivity of C, and the unique three-dimensional structure of diatomite. For the future development of bio-based microwave absorption, this work provides a methodology and strategy.

Fine mapping and identification of ERF transcription factor ERF017 as a candidate gene for cold tolerance in pumpkin.

KEY MESSAGE: Two major QTLs for cold tolerance in pumpkin were localised, and CmoERF017 was identified as a key candidate gene within these QTLs via RNA-seq. Functional analysis revealed that CmoERF017 was a positive regulator of pumpkin in response to low-temperature stress. Low temperature is a key environmental factor that affects the protected cultivation of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in winter, and the cold tolerance of cucumber/pumpkin-grafted seedlings depends on the rootstock. Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) has a well-developed root system, high resistance and wide adaptation, commonly used as rootstock for cucumber to improve the cold tolerance of grafted seedlings. This study used two high-generation inbred lines of Cucurbita moschata with significant differences in cold tolerance. We identified key candidate genes within the major cold tolerance QTL of rootstocks using QTL-seq and RNA-seq and investigated the function and molecular mechanisms of these genes in response to low-temperature stress. Results showed that QTL-seq located two cold tolerance QTLs, qCII-1 and qCII-2, while RNA-seq located 28 differentially expressed genes within these QTLs. CmoERF017 was finally identified as a key candidate gene. Functional validation results indicated that CmoERF017 is a positive regulator of pumpkin in response to low-temperature stress and affected root ABA synthesis and signalling by directly regulating the expression of SDR7 and ABI5. This study identified a key gene for low-temperature stress tolerance in rootstock pumpkin and clarified its role in the molecular mechanism of hormone-mediated plant cold tolerance. The study findings enrich the theoretical understanding of low-temperature stress tolerance in pumpkin and are valuable for the selection and breeding of cold-tolerant varieties of pumpkin used for rootstocks.

Higher sensitivity of pericardial fluid cytology than biopsy in malignant effusions with potential explanation of false-negative cytology: A multi-institutional analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Malignant pericardial effusions are associated with a poor prognosis. Pericardial fluid cytology and pericardial biopsy are the primary methods for diagnosis. This study aimed to conduct a multi-institutional analysis to compare the diagnostic sensitivity of cytology and biopsy, and to investigate potential explanations for false-negative results in cytology. METHODS: A retrospective review of pericardial fluid cytology cases with concurrent biopsy was conducted across four different institutions. Results were compared using standard statistical methods with attention to sensitivity and histologic distribution. False-negative cytology cases were investigated for further exploration. RESULTS: A total of 309 cases were collected, of which 99 (32.0%) were confirmed malignant through repeat sampling or clinical history. Pericardial fluid cytology and biopsy identified 84 and 64 malignant cases, respectively. Our findings confirmed significantly higher sensitivity of cytology compared to biopsy (84.8% vs 65.7%). The most common sites of origin were lung, breast, and gastrointestinal, with adenocarcinoma being the most prevalent histologic subtype. Histologic review of 12 false-negative cytology cases revealed three key explanations; lymphoma was the most common missed diagnosis (33.3%); fibrinous pericarditis obscures neoplastic cells on the pericardial surface; and pericardial involvement can be seen without extension into the pericardial space. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated diagnostic superiority of pericardial fluid cytology over biopsy in the evaluation of malignant pericardial effusions. We identified several limitations in fluid cytology causing false negatives. In the context of an underlying malignancy with pericardial effusion, pathologists should consider immunohistochemistry studies to aid on the diagnosis.

High-generation tetracyclines shifted microbial community composition and induced the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in soil.

Tetracyclines (TCs) have been widely detected in agricultural soil due to their widespread use in animal husbandry. The impact of low-generation TCs, i.e., the first- and second- generations, on soil ecosystem has attracted widespread attention. However, the dynamic response of soil microbial community to high-generation TCs, i.e., the third- and fourth- generations, remains largely unknown. Herein, we characterized the variations in the composition, diversity and succession of microbial community and the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) under the stress of four generations of TCs in brown soil and red soil. The results demonstrated that the exposure of low- and high- generation TCs consistently decreased the alpha diversity and stimulated the succession rate of microbial community in soil. High-generation TCs strongly shifted microbial community composition by reducing community resilience. The complexity of microbial networks and cross-module associations were strengthened to cope with the stress of high-generation TCs in soil. The abundance of ARGs was exacerbated by 1.75 times in response to the fourth-generation TCs compared to control in brown soil. The potential bacterial hosts of ARGs were more diverse in brown soil exposed to high-generation TCs, but the dominant hosts were not changed. These results highlight the potential ecological risk of the newly developed antibiotics, which is helpful for a comprehensive risk assessment of emerging contaminants.

Global tendency and frontiers of research on pertussis from 2000 to 2023: A bibliometric and visual analysis.

Pertussis has reemerged globally, with rising incidence in China. Controlling this disease remains a significant public health challenge worldwide. This study applies bibliometric methods to analyze global and Chinese research on pertussis, assessing current trends, identifying hot topics, predicting future research directions, and providing guidance for scientific research and clinical practice. Pertussis-related articles from 2000 to 2023 were retrieved from four major Chinese databases and three English databases. COOC and CiteSpace software were used to analyze publication trends, geographic distribution, institutions, disciplines, and keywords, to visualize through network maps. The study analyzed 2,580 Chinese and 5,311 foreign articles and reviews. Pertussis research publications have increased globally, with foreign research peaking earlier than in China. The United States leads in publication volume, while China showed the highest burst of activity from 2019 to 2023. Research mainly focuses on animal experiments, vaccine development and safety, clinical characteristics and treatment, and pertussis toxin. Pertussis research is thriving globally and in China. Future research should emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration across molecular biology, immunology, and epidemiology to innovate vaccines and control strategies. Additionally, continued development of treatment drugs remains crucial as current vaccines do not fully control pertussis.

Myeloid beta-arrestin 2 depletion attenuates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis via the metabolic reprogramming of macrophages.

Macrophage-mediated inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH); however, the immunometabolic program underlying the regulation of macrophage activation remains unclear. Beta-arrestin 2, a multifunctional adaptor protein, is highly expressed in bone marrow tissues and macrophages and is involved in metabolism disorders. Here, we observed that ß-arrestin 2 expression was significantly increased in the liver macrophages and circulating monocytes of patients with MASH compared with healthy controls and positively correlated with the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Global or myeloid Arrb2 deficiency prevented the development of MASH in mice. Further study showed that ß-arrestin 2 acted as an adaptor protein and promoted ubiquitination of immune responsive gene 1 (IRG1) to prevent increased itaconate production in macrophages, which resulted in enhanced succinate dehydrogenase activity, thereby promoting the release of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and M1 polarization. Myeloid ß-arrestin 2 depletion may be a potential approach for MASH.

Computationally-Assisted Discovery and Assignment of a New Class of 6/6/5/5 Fused-Ring Diterpene Acting as Pregnane X Receptor Ligands from Isodon serra.

We report here the orchestration of molecular ion networking (MoIN) and a set of computationally assisted structural elucidation approaches in the discovery and assignment of a new class of rearranged 4,5-seco-abietane diterpenoids including serra A (1), which possesses an unusual 6/6/5/5 fused-ring skeleton system, together with two previously unreported diterpenoids serras B-C (2-3) and five known compounds were isolated from Isodon serra (I. serra). The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis in conjunction with computationally assisted structure elucidation tools. In silico, serras A-C (1-3) bind well to PXR, suggesting their potential role in reducing inflammation. The results of serra A (1) with hPXR demonstrated agonist activity with an EC50 value of 15 µM. Serra A (1), graciliflorin F (4), gerardianin C (5), 11,12,15-trihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-7-one (6), rabdosin D (7), and 15-hydroxysalprionin (8) exhibited promising anti-inflammatory activities in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 267.4 cells, and their inhibition rates on NO production were more than 65% at 10 µM.

TERT promoter mutations and additional molecular alterations in thyroid fine-needle aspiration specimens: A multi-institutional study with histopathologic follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: TERT promoter mutations are not infrequently encountered in thyroid carcinomas; however, it is unclear if additional molecular alterations may play a role in determining tumor behavior. METHODS: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens from 32 patients with TERT promoter mutations detected by ThyroSeq v3 from 4 institutions were included in the study. FNA diagnoses, molecular results, and surgical follow-up were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 5 benign and 27 malignant neoplasms, including 7 high-grade thyroid carcinomas (HGCs) on histopathologic follow-up. Of 4 cases with an isolated TERT mutation, 3 (75%) cases were malignant. Of 17 cases harboring a co-occurring TERT mutation with 1 additional molecular alteration, 13 (76%) displayed malignancy on histopathologic follow-up. All 11 cases with TERT mutations plus 2 or more additional molecular alterations were malignant on follow-up. Furthermore, HGC was not seen in cases with an isolated TERT mutation, while 80% of cases harboring TERT mutations plus 3 additional molecular alterations showed HGC. CONCLUSIONS: TERT promoter mutations are commonly associated with malignancy, particularly HGCs, when multiple co-occurring molecular alterations are present. However, TERT promoter mutations may occasionally be detected in benign thyroid neoplasms when encountered in isolation or with fewer than 2 additional molecular alterations.

TaRLK2.4, a transgressive expression receptor like kinase, improves powdery mildew resistance in wheat.

Plants form two immune systems, pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI), to combat Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) infection during the evolutionary process. In PTI, receptor-like kinases (RLKs) play important roles during pathogen infections. Based on our previous reports, there were 280 TaRLKs identified in early response to powdery mildew infection, which were divided into 34 subfamilies in this study. Differences in gene structures, cis-acting elements, and expression levels implied the function diversity of TaRLKs. TaRLK2.4, a member of LRK10L-RLKs subfamily, contained 665 amino acids, and located on the cell membrane. The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of the receptor-like kinase gene TaRLK2.4 in conferring powdery mildew resistance in wheat. Real-time quantitative PCR results indicated that TaRLK2.4 expressed during Bgt infection process, and exhibited a transgressive expression characteristic in disease resistance NILs (BJ-1). To elucidate the function of TaRLK2.4 during Bgt infection, the comprehensive analysis of virus induced gene silence and over-expression demonstrated that TaRLK2.4 promoted powdery mildew resistance positively. In summary, these results contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex and diverse biological functions of RLKs, and provide new genetic resources for wheat molecular breeding.

A supramolecular hydrogel eye-drop alleviates inflammation via clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

The modulation of inflammation is effective to treat many ocular surface diseases. Thus the low bioavailability of common anti-inflammatory eye-drops urges the development of ocular drug delivery systems to extend the ocular retention and enhance the cellular uptake for improving anti-inflammatory effect of eye-drops. Here we covalently conjugate two molecules of clinically anti-inflammatory drug (i.e., dexamethasone) with a small peptide (i.e., Tyr-Glu-Asn-Pro-Thr-Tyr) to generate an anti-inflammatory hydrogel eye-drop. With a self-assembled ability, the designed supramolecular hydrogel achieves gel-sol-gel transition by varying shearing forces which increases the pre-corneal retention of drug. The fluorescent imaging reveals the efficient cellular uptake of designed conjugate via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. A rodent model of endotoxin-induced uveitis verifies that the supramolecular hydrogel eye-drop suppresses inflammation responses without ocular irritation. As a rational approach to design anti-inflammatory drugs as eye-drops, this work overcomes the frequent instillation of clinical eye-drops and further improves the bioavailability of anti-inflammatory drugs, which may provide an effective and household way to fight ocular surface inflammation.

Butyric acid reduced lipid deposition in immortalized chicken preadipocyte by inhibiting cell proliferation and differentiation.

The hyperplasia and hypertrophy of preadipocytes were closely related to lipid deposition in animals. Butyric acid was reported to be involved in lipid metabolism. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of butyric acid on the proliferation and differentiation of the immortalized chicken preadipocyte 2 (ICP2). ICP2 were treated respectively with 12mM butyric acid for 48h in proliferation trial and 4mM butyric acid plus 200 µM oleic acid for 3 d in differentiation trial. For the proliferation trial, RNA-seq analysis revealed that 2039 genes were significantly up-regulated and 780 genes were significantly down-regulated with 12 mM butyric acid after 48 h treatment. Concurrently, Cell cycle, DNA replication and p53 signaling pathways were down-regulated in Butyric acid group. More importantly, 12 mM butyric acid restrained the expression of cell proliferation genes such as PCNA, CDK1 and CDK2 in Butyric acid group (P < 0.05), and the protein expression levels of PCNA and CDK1 were also significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The Oil red staining revealed a fewer presence of red fat droplets in ICP2 following treatment with 4 mM butyric acid, accompanied by decreased levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG). RNA-seq analysis shown that the number of up and down-regulated genes were 2095 and 1042 respectively in OAB group (oleic acid+butyric acid) when compared with OA group (oleic acid). Meanwhile the AMPK signaling pathway, FOXO signaling pathway and focal adhesion were significantly enriched in OAB group. Additionally, 4 mM butyric acid inhibited the expression of lipid differentiation genes including FABP4, C/EBPα, PPARγ and LPL in OAB group (P < 0.05), as well as lipogenesis proteins such as FABP4, C/EBP-α and PPARγ (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 12 mM butyric acid effectively inhibited the proliferation of ICP2 by slowing down cell cycle progression, while 4 mM butyric acid alleviated lipid deposition by reducing the production of lipid droplets through inhibiting the expression of lipid differentiation marker genes and proteins.

Dietary betaine supplementation improved egg quality and gut microbes of laying hens under dexamethasone-induced oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is a frequent concern in the breeding of laying hens, and limit the healthy development of poultry. Dexamethasone (DXM) has been demonstrated to induce oxidative stress. Conversely, betaine is an alkaloid with a potent antioxidant activity. The study was designed to investigate the ameliorative effect of betaine on DXM-induced oxidative stress in laying hens. The results revealed that DXM treatment significantly decreased laying rate, shell strength, albumen height, Haugh unit, egg weight, folk weight and albumen weight, alongside increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum and liver (P < 0.05). In contrast, dietary betaine addition reversed those parameters mentioned above (P < 0.05). Hepatic RNA-seq analysis showed that there existed 110 up- and 88 down-regulated genes in DXM group when compared with the control. Meanwhile there were 117 upregulation and 169 downregulation genes in BT group when compared with DXM group. Besides, we found that dietary betaine addition significantly down-regulated cell adhesion molecules, glycerolipid metabolism and glycolysis gluconeogenesis pathways. In addition, a total of 44 and 94 differential metabolites were identified respectively from Con vs. DXM and DXM vs BT. More importantly, dietary betaine addition significantly increased the levels of pantothenic acid, gamma-Aminobutyric acid, equol and choline, all of which were related to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, gut microbiota analysis indicated that the Chao and Observed_species indexes were remarkably higher in BT group (P<0.05). Heatmap analysis revealed that Subdoligranulum, Prevotella, Blautia, YRC22, Bacteroides, Ruminococcus and Coprococcus were notably restored in BT group (P<0.05). Taken together, our findings collectively illustrate that dietary betaine addition could attenuate DXM-induced oxidative stress, improve egg quality and gut microbes of laying hens.

Comprehensive analysis of single-cell transcriptomics and genetic factors reveals the mechanisms and preventive strategies for the progression from pulmonary fibrosis to lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) leads to excessive deposition of fibrous connective tissue in the lungs, increasing the risk of lung cancer due to the enhanced activity of fibroblasts (FBs). Fibroblast-mediated collagen fiber deposition creates a tumor-like microenvironment, laying the foundation for tumorigenesis. Clinically, numerous cases of lung cancer induced by pulmonary fibrosis have been observed. In recent years, the study of nucleotide point mutations, which provide more detailed insights than gene expression, has made significant advancements, offering new perspectives for clinical research. METHODS: We initially employed Mendelian randomization to ascertain that the initial stage of lung cancer induced by PF belongs to small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Subsequently, pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) were identified by using pseudo-time series analysis as cell clusters with carcinogenic potential. We categorized FBs into four groups according to their cellular metabolism, and then analyzed the cellular communication between FBs and PNECs, as well as changes in intracellular pathways of PNECs. Additionally, we examined the characteristic genome of FBs which is significantly associated with PF and investigated the impact of FBs on immune cells in the PF microenvironment. Finally, we explored strategies for preventing the progression from PF to lung cancer. RESULTS: The genetic features of cells with carcinogenic potential in PF tissues were revealed, characterized by upregulation of Achaete-Scute Family BHLH Transcription Factor 1 (ASCL1), Homeobox B2 (HOXB2), Teashirt Zinc Finger Homeobox 2 (TSHZ2), Insulinoma-associated 1 (INSM1), and reduced activity of RE1 Silencing Transcription Factor (REST). FBs characterized by high glycolysis and low tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycling played a key role in the progression of PF. The microenvironment of PF resembles the tumor microenvironment, providing a conducive immunosuppressive environment for the occurrence of cancer cells. In dendritic cells, rs9265808 is a susceptibility locus for progression from pulmonary fibrosis to lung cancer, mutations at this locus increase the expression of Complement Factor B (CFB), and excessive activation of the complement pathway is a crucial factor leading to lung cancer development in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. Ensuring adequate nutritional supply and physical function is one of the effective measures to prevent progression from pulmonary fibrosis to lung cancer. CONCLUSION: CFB promotes lung cancer occurrence by inducing the accumulation and polarization of a large number of monocytes/macrophages in the lungs, driving disease progression by reducing the physical fitness of patients with pulmonary fibrosis.

Resolving plasmon-mediated high-order multiphoton excitation pathways in dolmen nanostructures using ultrafast nonlinear optical interferometry.

The multiphoton excitation pathways of plasmonic nanorod assemblies are described. By using dolmen structures formed from the directed assembly of three gold nanorods, plasmon-mediated three-photon excitation is resolved. These high-order multiphoton excitation channels were accessed by resonantly exciting a hybrid mode of the dolmen structure that was resonant with the 800-nm carrier wavelength of an ultrafast laser system. Rotation of the exciting field polarization to a non-resonant configuration did not generate third-order responses. Hence, the multiphoton excitation and resultant non-equilibrium electron distributions were generated by structure- and mode-selective excitation. Correlation between high-order and resonant plasmon excitation was achieved through sub-cycle time-resolved interferometric detection of incoherent nonlinear emission signals. The results illustrate the advantages of nonlinear optical interferometry and Fourier analysis for distinguishing plasmon-mediated processes from those that do not require plasmon excitation.

The aroma formation from fresh tea leaves of Longjing 43 to finished Enshi Yulu tea at an industrial scale.

BACKGROUND: Enshi Yulu tea (ESYL) is the most representative of steamed green tea in China, but its aroma formation in processing is unclear. Thus, the ESYL volatiles during the whole industrial processing were investigated using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: A total of 134 volatiles were identified. Among these, 31 differential volatiles [P < 0.05 and variable importance in projection (VIP) > 1] and 25 key volatiles [relative odor activity value (rOAV) and/or the ratio of each rOAV to the maximum rOAV (ROAV) > 1.0] were screened out, wherein ß-ionone and nonanal were the most key odorants. Besides, the sensory evaluation combined with multivariate statistical analysis of volatiles pinpointed spreading, fixation, first drying, and second drying as the key processing steps that have a pronounced influence on the aroma quality of ESYL. Furthermore, the oxidative degradation of unsaturated fatty acids, synthesis of monoterpenes, and degradation of carotenoids were the main metabolic pathway for the formation of key odorants. CONCLUSION: The study provides comprehensive insights into the volatile characteristics during the industrial processing of ESYL and promote our understanding of the aroma formation in steamed green teas. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Diffusion Barrier Performance of Ni-W Layer at Sn/Cu Interfacial Reaction.

As the integration of chips in 3D integrated circuits (ICs) increases and the size of micro-bumps reduces, issues with the reliability of service due to electromigration and thermomigration are becoming more prevalent. In the practical application of solder joints, an increase in the grain size of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) has been observed during the reflow process. This phenomenon results in an increased thickness of the IMC layer, accompanied by a proportional increase in the volume of the IMC layer within the joint. The brittle nature of IMC renders it susceptible to excessive growth in small-sized joints, which has the potential to negatively impact the reliability of the welded joint. It is therefore of the utmost importance to regulate the formation and growth of IMCs. The following paper presents the electrodeposition of a Ni-W layer on a Cu substrate, forming a barrier layer. Subsequently, the barrier properties between the Sn/Cu reactive couples were subjected to a comprehensive and systematic investigation. The study indicates that the Ni-W layer has the capacity to impede the diffusion of Sn atoms into Cu. Furthermore, the Ni-W layer is a viable diffusion barrier at the Sn/Cu interface. The "bright layer" Ni2WSn4 can be observed in all Ni-W coatings during the soldering reflow process, and its growth was almost linear. The structure of the Ni-W layer is such that it reduces the barrier properties that would otherwise be inherent to it. This is due to the "bright layer" Ni2WSn4 that covers the original Ni-W barrier layer. At a temperature of 300 °C for a duration of 600 s, the Ni-W barrier layer loses its blocking function. Once the "bright layer" Ni2WSn4 has completely covered the original Ni-W barrier layer, the diffusion activation energy for Sn diffusion into the Cu substrate side will be significantly reduced, particularly in areas where the distortion energy is concentrated due to electroplating tension. Both the "bright layer" Ni2WSn4 and Sn will grow rapidly, with the formation of Cu-Sn intermetallic compounds (IMCs). At temperatures of 250 °C, the growth of Ni3Sn4-based IMCs is controlled by grain boundaries. Conversely, the growth of the Ni2WSn4 layer (consumption of Ni-W layer) is influenced by a combination of grain boundary diffusion and bulk diffusion. At temperatures of 275 °C and 300 °C, the growth of Ni3Sn4-based IMCs and the Ni2WSn4 layer (consumption of Ni-W layer) are both controlled by grain boundaries. The findings of this study can inform the theoretical design of solder joints with barrier layers as well as the selection of Ni-W diffusion barrier layers for use in different soldering processes. This can, in turn, enhance the reliability of microelectronic devices, offering significant theoretical and practical value.