Clinical Study on Evaluation of Autonomic Nervous Dysfunction Based on Imaging Urodynamic Examination with Slow Filling and Synchronous Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Patients with Cervicothoracic Spinal Cord Injury

Objective: Explore the rule of autonomic nervous dysfunction in the patients with urination disorder after high level spinal cord injury, and seek a safe, objective and accurate method to evaluate autonomic nervous function. Patients and Method: 48 patients with dysuria after cervicothoracic SCI were selected. Before, during and after imaging urodynamic examination with slow filling in supine position, blood pressure and ECG were monitored simultaneously. The symptoms of sweating, shivering, headache, flushing and chills were observed and recorded. The study of the relationship among the changes of blood pressure, heart rate and urodynamic indexes and the above symptoms was analyzed. Results: They were divided into three groups: group A (no obvious abnormality), group B (hyperactivity) and group C (hypoactivity) according to their BP, HR and existing the symptoms or not. Conclusion: The incidence of autonomic dysfunction in the high level SCI patients with dysuria was very high (79.17%), most of them were hyperactivity, and a few were low function. The changes of SBP and DBP in the hypoactivity group all appeared an increasing and then declining trend, while the change of HR in the low function one was lower than normal and decreased continuously. The main inducements of AD are neurogenic detrusor overactivity, detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, elevated abdominal pressure and abnormal bladder sensitivity. The asymptomatic patients had a higher occurrence rate (43.75%). Only by imaging urodynamic examination with slow filling and synchronous blood pressure monitoring, can autonomic nervous function of the patients be evaluated safely, objectively, early and accurately.

Exogenous Melatonin Improves Physiological Characteristics and Promotes Growth of Strawberry Seedlings Under Cadmium Stress

Melatonin,as a plant growth regulator,is involved in plant stress resistance.We studied the effects of different concentrations(0,10,50,100,150,and 200μmol·L−1)of melatonin on the growth and physiological characteristics of strawberry under cadmium(Cd)stress.The results represented that the growth of strawberry seedlings was inhibited under Cd stress,and the seedling biomass,chlorophyll content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD),catalase(CAT),and ascorbate peroxidase(APX)decreased.These toxic effects were,however,effectively remediated by exogenous melatonin pretreatment.Melatonin treatment slowed the inhibitory effect of seedling growth and significantly increased seedling biomass,chlorophyll content,antioxidant enzyme activities,and soluble protein levels in leaves and roots compared with the control.Melatonin treatment also reduced the malondialdehyde(MDA)content and the oxidative stress reactions,increased the anthocyanin content,and slowed the senescence rate,thereby reducing the toxic effects of Cd on strawberries.This indicates that foliar application of melatonin can effectively remediate the adverse effects of Cd on strawberry seedlings;the greatest effect was obtained with melatonin concentration of 100μmol·L−1.

Far-field coseismic gravity changes related to the 2015 MW7.8 Nepal(Gorkha)earthquake observed by superconducting gravimeters in Chinese mainland

Using data from five SGs at four stations in Chinese mainland,obvious permanent gravity changes caused by the 2015 MW7.8 Nepal(Gorkha)earthquake were detected.We analyzed the gravity effects from ground vertical deformation(VD)using co-site continuous GPS(cGPS)data collocated at the Lijiang and the Wuhan station,and hydrological effects using GLDAS models and groundwater level records.After removing these effects,SG observations before and after the earthquake revealed obvious permanent gravity changes:−3.0μGal,7.3μGal and 8.0μGal at Lhasa,Lijiang and Wuhan station,respectively.We found that the gravity changes cannot be explained by the results of dislocation theory.

Calibration of the superconducting gravimeter based on a cold atom absolute gravimeter at NIM

The scale factor of a superconducting gravimeter（SG） is usually calibrated by using simultaneous and co-located gravity measurements with the FG5-type absolute gravimeter（AG）. In this paper, another new kind of absolute gravimetercold atom gravimeter（CAG） is first reported to calibrate the SG. Five-day side-by-side gravity measurements have been carried out by using our CAG（NIM-AGRb-1） to calibrate the SG（iGrav-012） located at Changping Campus of the National Institute of Metrology（NIM） of China. A weighted least-squares method is applied to determine the scale factor and the result is given as（-928.01 ± 0.73） nm·s;·V;with a precision of 0.79‰. We have demonstrated that a calibration precision of 1‰ level can be achieved after 3 days of parallel observations at spring tide. The obtained calibration results are then compared with the previous calibration by FG5 X-249, which shows that the calibration precision obtained by using NIM-AGRb-1 was slightly higher than FG5 X-249 with the same time interval. The factors affecting the calibration precision are analyzed in the calibrations by means of different AGs. Finally, several calibration experiments for SG iGrav-012 are discussed. The final scale factor is estimated as（-927.58 ± 0.36） nm·s;·V;with an accuracy of 0.39‰. Our main results demonstrate that the CAGs can be used for high-precision calibrations of SGs.

Catgut Implantation at Baliao and Xingfu One Acupuncture Point to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Patients with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Three Cases Report

Objective: To explore the effect of catgut implantation at Baliao and Xingfu One Acupuncture point for patients with urinary incontinence secondary to spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Three SCI patients received catgut embedding at Baliao and Xingfu One Acupuncture point. The data of intermittent catheterization (IC) volume, intermittent catheterization frequency and the amount of using urine pad (urethral condom) were corrected. Results: Compared to the baseline data, IC volume increased and the leakage volume decreased. Conclusions: Catgut Implantation at Baliao and Xingfu One Acupuncture point is effective for patients with urinary incontinence secondary to incomplete SCI.

Catgut Implantation at Baliao and Xingfu One Acupuncture Point to Treat Dysdefecation in Patients with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Three Cases Report

Objective: To probe into the effect of catgut implantation at Baliao and Xingfu One Acupuncture Point on dysdefecation in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Three SCI patients voluntarily accepted catgut embedding at Baliao and Xingfu One Acupuncture point. Before and after treatment, they were filled out the self-rating scale of defecation, including the data of defecation frequency, total defecation time, defecation effort, fecal texture, fecal characteristics and fecal incontinence, etc. Results: Compared with the baseline data, constipation was improved and fecal incontinence was disappeared. Conclusions: Catgut implantation at Baliao and Xingfu One Acupuncture Point is effectual for patients with neurogenic dysporia secondary to incomplete SCI.