Tall gastrodis tuber combined with antiepileptic drugs repairs abnormal perfusion foci in focal epilepsy

One hundred patients with focal epilepsy were recruited for the present study and their seizures controlled with antiepileptic drugs. The patients then orally received a capsule of tall gastrodis tuber powder, a traditional Chinese drug, and underwent single photon emission computed tomography, long-term electroencephalogram, and CT/MRI. Blood drug levels were monitored throughout the study. Before treatment with tall gastrodis tuber, 35 of the 100 cases had abnormal CT/MRI scans; 79 cases had abnormal single photon emission computed tomography images; 86 cases had abnormal electroencephalogram; and a total of 146 abnormal perfusion foci were observed across the 100 subjects. After treatment, the number of patients with normal single photon emission computed tomography images increased by 12; normal electroencephalogram was observed in an additional 27 cases and the number of patients with epileptiform discharge decreased by 29 （34% of 86）; the total number of abnormal perfusion foci decreased by 52 （36%） and changes in abnormal loci were visible in 65 patients. These changes indicate that the administration of tall gastrodis tuber in combination with antiepileptic drugs repairs abnormal perfusion foci in patients with focal epilepsy Our results demonstrate that traditional Chinese drugs can repair abnormal perfusion foci and, as such, are a promising new pathway in the treatment of focal epilepsy.

Calculation of Coronary Angiographic Total Blush in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and its Prognostic Implication

Background： Myocardial perfusion grade （MPG） is an accepted method of evaluating myocardial perfilsion. However, it does not take into the account, the extent of the perfusion. We hypothesized that myocardial blush area times MPG （total blush） would be more accurate than simple MPG, and yield better prognostic information. Methods： About 34 patients were recruited alter they had consented to both coronary angiography （CAG） and single photon emission computed tomography （SPECT）, and divided into two groups. A special dedicated computer was employed to calculate the total blush. The CAG was performed as a conventional way. Scintigraphic technetium 99m methoxyisobutyl-isonitrile rest and stress images were evaluated quantitatively. The comparison was made between stenosis versus chronic total occlusion （CTO）, MPG 1, 2 versus MPG 3, percutaneous intervention （PC1） successful versus failure. A correlation was made between ejection traction （EF） and myocardial perfusion by MPG, total blush, SPECT, and syntax score. Results： The perfusion indices of total blush, summed difference score （SDS） and syntax score were insignificant between the two groups （P 〉 0.05）. However, the left ventricular end diastolic volume was significantly larger in CTO （P 〈 0.05）. The patients with stenosis had better MPG than with CTO （P 〈 0.05）. The increased MPG was associated with increased total blush, higher syntax score, and EF （P 〈 0.05）. Successful PCI resulted in better perfusion indicated by increased total blush, and MPG （P 〈 0.05） but successful PC1 did not change syntax score. EF and SDS significantly. Multivariate linear analysis with EF as the dependent factor and syntax score, SDS, total blush, blush area, and MPG as the independent factors showed a significantly higher degree of correlation （R = 0.87, P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： Alter PCI the total blush and EF improved significantly indicating its potential application in the thture.