scholarly journals Altered Intestinal Microbiomes and Lipid Metabolism in Patients With Chronic Disorders of Consciousness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benyan Luo ◽  
Jie Yu ◽  
Qisheng Cheng ◽  
Fangping He ◽  
Fanxia Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Function ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
The Other ◽  
Intestinal Microbiome ◽  
Chronic Disorders ◽  
Minimally Conscious ◽  
Chronic Disorders Of Consciousness

Abstract Intestinal microbiotas regulate brain function of the host through the production of a myriad of metabolites and are associated with various neurological diseases. Understanding intestinal microbiome of patients in chronic disorders of consciousness (DoC) is important for the evaluation and treatment of the disease. To investigate the difference of intestinal microbiome and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) among the patients in vegetative state (VS), minimally conscious state (MCS) and emerged from minimally conscious state (EMCS), as well as the influence of antibiotics on these patients, 16S rRNA sequencing and targeted lipidomics were performed on their fecal samples and EEG signals analysis were used to evaluate their brain function. Our results showed that intestinal microbiome among the three groups differed greatly and some microbial community with its production of SCFAs were reduced in VS patients compared to the other two groups. Moreover, reduced microbial communities and five major SCFAs along with attenuated brain functional connectivity were observed in MCS patients treated with antibiotics compared to those received no antibiotic treatment, but not in the other pairwise comparisons. Finally, three genera level of microbiota, Faecailbacterium, Enterococcus and Methanobrevibacter, were considered as potential biomarkers to distinguish patients in MCS from VS with high accuracy both in the discovery cohorts and validation cohorts. Together, our findings improved the understanding of patients with chronic DoC from intestinal microbiome and provided a new reference for therapeutic targets exploration.

Evaluation of structural variations in the pituitary gland, hormonal status and laboratory markers of the central nervous system functioning in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 23-36
Author(s):  
Ekaterina A. Kondratyeva ◽  
Alina O. Ivanova ◽  
Maria I. Yarmolinskaya ◽  
Elena G. Potyomkina ◽  
Natalya V. Dryagina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Blood Serum ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Chronic Disorders ◽  
Minimally Conscious ◽  
Chronic Disorders Of Consciousness

BACKGROUND: Consciousness is the state of being awake and aware of oneself and the environment. The disorders of consciousness result from pathologies that impair awareness. The development of effective comprehensive personalized interventions contributing to the recovery of consciousness in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness is one of the most pressing and challenging tasks in modern rehabilitation. AIM: The aim of this study was to understand structural problems of the pituitary gland, blood levels of gonadotropins and melatonin as well as brain damage markers in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness and to analyze the levels of the above markers among different groups of patients depending on the level of impaired consciousness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 61 chronic disorders of consciousness patients and identified three groups depending on the level of consciousness including 24 patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, 24 patients with a minus minimally conscious state, and 13 patients with minimally conscious state plus. We performed magnetic resonance imaging of chiasmatic-sellar region and determined blood serum levels of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones and melatonin, as well as urinary level of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin and the content of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), apoptosis antigen (APO-1), FasL, glutamate, and S100 protein in the blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid. RESULTS: The patients were examined in the age ranging from 15 to 61 years old. Patient groups were homogeneous by the level of consciousness in terms of age and duration of chronic disorders of consciousness by the time of examination. The patients did not differ in the pituitary volume regardless of the level of consciousness. No significant differences were found between the groups with different levels of consciousness when studying the levels of melatonin in the blood serum and its metabolite in the urine. A peak in melatonin secretion was detected at 3 a.m. in 54.5 % of the patients, which can be considered as a favorable prognostic marker for further recovery of consciousness. Hypogonadotropic ovarian failure was found in 34 % of the patients, with normogonadotropic ovarian failure in the remaining patients. Serum APO-1 and BDNF levels were significantly higher in patients with minimally conscious state relative to those with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome. Significantly lower levels of glutamate in the cerebrospinal fluid were detected in women with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome compared to patients with minimally conscious state. CONCLUSIONS: Further in-depth examination and accumulation of data on patients with chronic disorders of consciousness may provide an opportunity to identify highly informative markers for predicting outcomes and to develop new effective approaches to rehabilitation of consciousness in this category of patients.

scholarly journals Disrupted Pallido-Thalamo-Cortical Functional Connectivity in Chronic Disorders of Consciousness

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 356
Author(s):  
Anna Sontheimer ◽  
Bénédicte Pontier ◽  
Béatrice Claise ◽  
Carine Chassain ◽  
Jérôme Coste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Subcortical Structures ◽  
Cortical Networks ◽  
Chronic Disorders ◽  
Minimally Conscious ◽  
Chronic Disorders Of Consciousness

Chronic disorders of consciousness (DOC) encompass unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and minimally conscious state. Their anatomo-functional correlates are not clearly defined yet, although impairments of functional cortical networks have been reported, as well as the implication of the thalamus and deep brain structures. However, the pallidal functional connectivity with the thalamus and the cortical networks has not been studied so far. Using resting-state functional MRI, we conducted a functional connectivity study between the pallidum, the thalamus and the cortical networks in 13 patients with chronic DOC and 19 healthy subjects. We observed in chronic DOC patients that the thalami were no longer connected to the cortical networks, nor to the pallidums. Concerning the functional connectivity of pallidums, we reported an abolition of the negative correlation with the default mode network, and of the positive correlation with the salience network. The disrupted functional connectivity observed in chronic DOC patients between subcortical structures and cortical networks could be related to the mesocircuit model. A better understanding of the DOC underlying physiopathology could provide food for thought for future therapeutic proposals.

scholarly journals Feasibility of Non-Gaussian Diffusion Metrics in Chronic Disorders of Consciousness

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Elena I. Kremneva ◽  
Liudmila A. Legostaeva ◽  
Sofya N. Morozova ◽  
Dmitry V. Sergeev ◽  
Dmitry O. Sinitsyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetative State ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging ◽  
Brain State ◽  
Chronic Disorders ◽  
Non Gaussian ◽  
Chronic Disorders Of Consciousness

Diagnostic accuracy of different chronic disorders of consciousness (DOC) can be affected by the false negative errors in up to 40% cases. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of a non-Gaussian diffusion approach in chronic DOC and to estimate a sensitivity of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics for the differentiation of vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) from a healthy brain state. We acquired diffusion MRI data from 18 patients in chronic DOC (11 VS/UWS, 7 MCS) and 14 healthy controls. A quantitative comparison of the diffusion metrics for grey (GM) and white (WM) matter between the controls and patient group showed a significant (p < 0.05) difference in supratentorial WM and GM for all evaluated diffusion metrics, as well as for brainstem, corpus callosum, and thalamus. An intra-subject VS/UWS and MCS group comparison showed only kurtosis metrics and fractional anisotropy differences using tract-based spatial statistics, owing mainly to macrostructural differences on most severely lesioned hemispheres. As a result, we demonstrated an ability of DKI metrics to localise and detect changes in both WM and GM and showed their capability in order to distinguish patients with a different level of consciousness.

The experience of family caregivers caring for a patient with chronic disorders of consciousness: a qualitative content analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 301-309
Author(s):  
Zahra Imani-Goghary ◽  
Mahnaz Ghaljeh
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Stressful Situation ◽  
Chronic Disorders ◽  
Chronic Disorders Of Consciousness

Background: Management of a patient with chronic disorders of consciousness is a long-term and stressful situation for family caregivers. Aims: The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of family caregivers of patients with chronic disorders of consciousness. Methods: Purposeful sampling was used, data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews at participants' homes. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Results indicated that family caregivers of patients with chronic disorders of consciousness face many difficulties in providing care to vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) patients; they experience it as a challenging type of care, which influences their mental health. Conclusion: Family caregivers are faced with many challenges because of the high burden of care, round-the-clock concern, taking care of an alive but unresponsive patient without receiving enough support. They experience mental and inner turmoil because of social isolation and dealing with contradictory feelings in their daily life.

scholarly journals CIRCADIAN RHYTHM AND CHRONIC DISORDERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihail Kanarskii ◽  
Julia Yu. Nekrasova ◽  
Irina Vorob'eva ◽  
Il'ya Borisov
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Activity Cycle ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Exogenous Factors ◽  
Chronic Disorders ◽  
Chronic Disorders Of Consciousness

Among the possible points of therapeutic action and predicting the outcome in patients in a vegetative state and minimally conscious state, the analysis of circadian rhythms, such as the sleep-wake cycle, melatonin secretion, temperature trends, heart rate, and blood pressure, attracts more and more attention. In this review, we analyzed studies on circadian rhythms in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness, assessed the possible limitations of standard methods, proposed a concept for the development of an assessment of the sleep-wake cycle, and assessed the role of exogenous factors that are likely to be involved in the disturbance of circadian rhythms in intensive care units. Based on the results of the study, we came to the conclusion that for the full realization of the rehabilitation potential, it is necessary to develop methods for assessing circadian rhythms based on a multicomponent approach, including 24-hour monitoring using actigraphy for more accurate identification of the rest -activity cycle, video monitoring of the orofascial area to increase the reliability of oculographic assessment and revealing hidden patterns, analysis of the temperature curve, the level of melatonin, TSH, cortisol, as well as exogenous factors. It is necessary to use the information obtained for therapeutic, prognostic, diagnostic and rehabilitation purposes

scholarly journals Covert Cognition in Disorders of Consciousness: A Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 930
Author(s):  
Caroline Schnakers ◽  
Michaela Hirsch ◽  
Enrique Noé ◽  
Roberto Llorens ◽  
Nicolas Lejeune ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Studies ◽  
Functional Neuroimaging ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Minimally Conscious ◽  
Increase Sample Size

Covert cognition in patients with disorders of consciousness represents a real diagnostic conundrum for clinicians. In this meta-analysis, our main objective was to identify clinical and demographic variables that are more likely to be associated with responding to an active paradigm. Among 2018 citations found on PubMed, 60 observational studies were found relevant. Based on the QUADAS-2, 49 studies were considered. Data from 25 publications were extracted and included in the meta-analysis. Most of these studies used electrophysiology as well as counting tasks or mental imagery. According to our statistical analysis, patients clinically diagnosed as being in a vegetative state and in a minimally conscious state minus (MCS−) show similar likelihood in responding to active paradigm and responders are most likely suffering from a traumatic brain injury. In the future, multi-centric studies should be performed in order to increase sample size, with similar methodologies and include structural and functional neuroimaging in order to identify cerebral markers related to such a challenging diagnosis.

All things considered: Surrogate decision-making on behalf of patients in the minimally conscious state

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-119
Author(s):  
L Syd M Johnson ◽  
Kathy L Cerminara
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Medical Decision Making ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Surrogate Decision Making ◽  
Surrogate Decision ◽  
Minimally Conscious

The minimally conscious state presents unique ethical, legal, and decision-making challenges because of the combination of diminished awareness, phenomenal experience, and diminished or absent communication. As medical expertise develops and technology advances, it is likely that more and more patients with disorders of consciousness will be recognized as being in the minimally conscious state, with minimal to no ability to participate in medical decision-making. Here we provide guidance useful for surrogates and medical professionals at any medical decision point, not merely for end-of-life decision-making. We first consider the legal landscape: precedent abounds regarding unconscious patients in coma or the vegetative state/Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (VS/UWS), but there is little legal precedent involving patients in the minimally conscious state. Next we consider surrogates’ ethical authority to make medical decisions on behalf of patients with disorders of consciousness. In everyday medical decision-making, surrogates generally encounter few, if any, restrictions so long as they adhere to an idealized hierarchy of decision-making standards designed to honor patient autonomy as much as possible while ceding to the reality of what may or may not be known about a patient’s wishes. We conclude by proposing an ethically informed, practical guide for surrogate decision-making on behalf of patients in the minimally conscious state.

scholarly journals Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-15
Author(s):  
Daeyoung Kim
Keyword(s):  
Vegetative State ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Impaired Consciousness ◽  
Transitional State ◽  
Impaired Awareness ◽  
Minimally Conscious ◽  
Recovery Of Consciousness

Prolonged disorders of consciousness comprise a spectrum of impaired consciousness where arousal is preserved with impaired awareness, which last more than 4 weeks. Vegetative state is a prototype of the prolonged disorders of consciousness. A patient in the vegetative state has no signs of awareness. The minimally conscious state is characterized by inconsistent but reproducible signs of awareness and is regarded as a transitional state of recovery of consciousness. Differentiating patients in minimally conscious state from those in vegetative state is still challenging. Utilizing standardized neurobehavioral assessment tools could improve diagnostic accuracy. Recent advances in neuroimaging and electrophysiologic tools may aid the diagnosis and prognostication. Treatment for recovery of consciousness is still limited. More research on the diagnosis and treatment of prolonged disorders of consciousness is needed not only for improved care of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness but also a greater understanding of human consciousness.

scholarly journals Zolpidem Action During Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness (Case Report)

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 44-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Kondratyeva ◽  
M. V. Sinkin ◽  
E. V. Sharova ◽  
S. Laureys ◽  
A. N. Kondratyev
Keyword(s):  
Vegetative State ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Eeg Monitoring ◽  
Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome ◽  
Favorable Prognosis ◽  
Eeg Activation ◽  
Minimally Conscious ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg

The paper describes two patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDC) because of non-traumatic brain injury, in whom a clear neurodynamic response to Zolpidem was observed.In order to illustrate systemic cerebral responses to administration of this drug in LIC patients, an analysis of clinical and electrophysiological changes has been undertaken.It has been shown that the result of Zolpidem applications in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDC) should be assessed not only by consciousness dynamics, but with the help of electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring, too. Distinct response to Zolpidem during different periods of recovery in one patients was found.Zolpidem can render various effects in patients in vegetative state/with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS) and in minimally conscious state (MCS). In one patient, sedation with EEG activation was observed, which was a sign of favorable prognosis. The other patient developed more than once local convulsions after Zolpidem administration followed by contact augmentation on the next day.The mechanism of action, necessary doses of drugs, and markers of forecasting the successful effect of that drug are yet to be further studied.

scholarly journals Judicial oversight of life-ending withdrawal of assisted nutrition and hydration in disorders of consciousness in the United Kingdom: A matter of life and death

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Y Rady ◽  
Joseph L. Verheijde
Keyword(s):  
Vegetative State ◽  
Minimally Conscious State ◽  
Conscious State ◽  
Disabled Persons ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Decision Making Capacity ◽  
Nutrition And Hydration ◽  
Minimally Conscious

Mr Justice Baker delivered the Oxford Shrieval Lecture ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ on 11 October 2016. The lecture created public controversies about who can authorise withdrawal of assisted nutrition and hydration (ANH) in disorders of consciousness (DOC). The law requires court permission in ‘best interests’ decisions before ANH withdrawal only in permanent vegetative state and minimally conscious state. Some clinicians favour abandoning the need for court approval on the basis that clinicians are already empowered to withdraw ANH in other common conditions of DOC (e.g. coma, neurological disorders, etc.) based on their best interests assessment without court oversight. We set out a rationale in support of court oversight of best interests decisions in ANH withdrawal intended to end life in any person with DOC (who will lack relevant decision-making capacity). This ensures the safety of the general public and the protection of vulnerable disabled persons in society.

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