Clinical Research Directory

Neural Mechanism of Cerebrocardiac Syndrome Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Cerebrocardiac syndrome (CCS), including myocardial injury, arrhythmia or heart failure is one of serious complications of traumatic brain injury (TBI), mostly occurs within seven days after TBI, which directly aggravates the brain damage and affects the prognosis of TBI patients. Accumulative evidences suggest that autonomic nervous system disorder is a key initiation point for CCS, but how TBI affects the specific action patterns is not yet clear. Therefore, elucidating the neural mechanisms of TBI-induced CCS, maintaining the central sympathetic-parasympathetic balance through novel interventions such as noninvasive brain stimulation, may fundamentally block the downstream peripheral mechanism, thus achieving effective prevention and treatment for CCS. Based on the current emerging research in brain connectomics and lesion-symptom mapping, we speculate that cerebral contusions can cause structural or functional disconnection of key nodes in the central autonomic nervous system regulatory network, thereby mediating the occurrence of TBI-induced CCS. In this study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or functional MRI (fMRI) examinations were performed in patients with mild or moderate TBI with aim to explore the association between structural and functional disconnection caused by cerebral contusion and TBI-induced CCS, and to screen out the neural anatomical structures to predict CCS following TBI, providing therapy targets for prevention and treatment of CCS.

Mechanisms of Brain-Heart Injury of Post-Intracranial Hemorrhage

Intracranial hemorrhage is a condition characterized by high mortality rates and suboptimal functional outcomes. It precipitates both direct brain injury and subsequent secondary injuries, including delayed cerebral ischemia, brain edema, and hydrocephalus. Complications such as cardiac injury may also arise, categorizing them within the cerebrocardiac syndrome (CCS). The clinical spectrum of CCS encompasses acute myocardial injury, acute coronary syndrome, left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction, cardiac arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death, all of which are associated with increased mortality and deterioration in patient status. The precise pathophysiological mechanisms underlying both cerebral and cardiac injuries remain enigmatic, and the implications for diagnosis and therapeutic strategies are yet to be fully explored. In this study, we propose to enroll patients with intracranial hemorrhage who will undergo conventional treatment and comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluations. Our observational research is grounded in a multimodal omics and imaging approach, aimed at investigating both local and systemic injuries subsequent to intracranial hemorrhage. This comprehensive strategy is intended to facilitate precise diagnosis, risk stratification, and clinical decision-making, while also shedding light on the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. The primary objectives of this research are to address the following key questions: * \[Question 1\] What are the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiac injury in patients with intracranial hemorrhage? * \[Question 2\] What are the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for early and delayed brain injuries following intracranial hemorrhage?\"