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.

Electronic structure, Dirac points and Fermi arc surface states in three-dimensional Dirac semimetal Na_3Bi from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

The three-dimensional（3D） Dirac semimetals have linearly dispersive 3D Dirac nodes where the conduction band and valence band are connected. They have isolated 3D Dirac nodes in the whole Brillouin zone and can be viewed as a 3D counterpart of graphene. Recent theoretical calculations and experimental results indicate that the 3D Dirac semimetal state can be realized in a simple stoichiometric compound A3Bi（A = Na, K, Rb）. Here we report comprehensive high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission（ARPES） measurements on the two cleaved surfaces,（001） and（100）, of Na3Bi. On the（001） surface, by comparison with theoretical calculations, we provide a proper assignment of the observed bands, and in particular, pinpoint the band that is responsible for the formation of the three-dimensional Dirac cones. We observe clear evidence of 3D Dirac cones in the three-dimensional momentum space by directly measuring on the kx–ky plane and by varying the photon energy to get access to different out-of-plane kzs. In addition, we reveal new features around the Brillouin zone corners that may be related with surface reconstruction. On the（100） surface, our ARPES measurements over a large momentum space raise an issue on the selection of the basic Brillouin zone in the（100） plane. We directly observe two isolated 3D Dirac nodes on the（100） surface. We observe the signature of the Fermi-arc surface states connecting the two 3D Dirac nodes that extend to a binding energy of ~150 me V before merging into the bulk band. Our observations constitute strong evidence on the existence of the Dirac semimetal state in Na3Bi that are consistent with previous theoretical and experimental work. In addition, our results provide new information to clarify on the nature of the band that forms the3 D Dirac cones, on the possible formation of surface reconstruction of the（001） surface, and on the issue of basic Brillouin zone selection for the（100） surface.

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.