Study Protocol: The Heart and Brain Study

Suri, Sana; Bulte, Daniel P.; Chiesa, Scott T; Ebmeier, Klaus P.; Jezzard, Peter; Rieger, Sebastian Walter; Pitt, Jemma; Griffanti, Ludovica; Okell, Thomas W.; Craig, Martin; Chappell, Michael A.; Blockley, Nicholas P.; Kivimäki, Mika; Singh‐Manoux, Archana; Khir, Ashraf W.; Hughes, Alun D.; Deanfield, John; Jensen, Daria E. A.; Green, Sebastian F.; Sigutova, Veronika; Jansen, Michelle G; Zsoldos, Enikő; Mackay, Clare E.

doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.643725

Cited by 3 publications

References 104 publications

(123 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Stroke–Heart Syndrome: Recent Advances and Challenges

Scheitz

Sposato

Schulz‐Menger

et al. 2022

JAHA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

After ischemic stroke, there is a significant burden of cardiovascular complications, both in the acute and chronic phase. Severe adverse cardiac events occur in 10% to 20% of patients within the first few days after stroke and comprise a continuum of cardiac changes ranging from acute myocardial injury and coronary syndromes to heart failure or arrhythmia. Recently, the term stroke–heart syndrome was introduced to provide an integrated conceptual framework that summarizes neurocardiogenic mechanisms that lead to these cardiac events after stroke. New findings from experimental and clinical studies have further refined our understanding of the clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, and potential long‐term consequences of the stroke–heart syndrome. Local cerebral and systemic mediators, which mainly involve autonomic dysfunction and increased inflammation, may lead to altered cardiomyocyte metabolism, dysregulation of (tissue‐resident) leukocyte populations, and (micro‐) vascular changes. However, at the individual patient level, it remains challenging to differentiate between comorbid cardiovascular conditions and stroke‐induced heart injury. Therefore, further research activities led by joint teams of basic and clinical researchers with backgrounds in both cardiology and neurology are needed to identify the most relevant therapeutic targets that can be tested in clinical trials.

show abstract

Stroke–Heart Syndrome: Recent Advances and Challenges

Scheitz

Sposato

Schulz‐Menger

et al. 2022

JAHA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

On the Role of Vascularization in Pathoconnectomics

Manuello¹,

Vercelli²,

Costa³

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In recent years, pathoconnectomics emerged as an interesting framework for the investigation and better comprehension of disorders affecting the brain. Research in this field has used so far structural, functional, metabolic and genetic data, but limited attention was addressed to the possible role of vascularization. In the present work the following aspects making it a valuable candidate to pathoconnectomics investigation are discussed: i) The vascular system is by its nature a network, endowed with directionality information on the basis of circulation; ii) The current imaging techniques allow in vivo detection of the vascular system to a good level of detail; iii) The information extracted from this kind of data could interact in a meaningful way with the functional profile of the brain, being the BOLD effect in turn based on blood flow; iv) Further evidence could be found in support of the trophic failure hypothesis; v) Data about vascularization could allow to bring in the pathoconnectomics framework cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. We suggest, therefore, that the evaluation of vascular connectivity (which we propose to name “vesselomics”) could enhance the pathoconnectomics paradigm, and provide new elements towards the understanding of brain pathology.

show abstract

Characterising cerebrovascular reactivity and the pupillary light response–a comparative study

Sparks,

Hayes,

Pinto

et al. 2024

Front. Physiol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionSmooth muscle is integral to multiple autonomic systems, including cerebrovascular dynamics through vascular smooth muscle cells and in ocular muscle dynamics, by regulating pupil size. In the brain, smooth muscle function plays a role in cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) that describes changes in blood vessel calibre in response to vasoactive stimuli. Similarly, pupil size regulation can be measured using the pupillary light response (PLR), the pupil’s reaction to changes in light levels. The primary aim of this study was to explore the interplay between cerebral blood flow and pupil dynamics, evaluated using CVR and PLR, respectively.MethodsA total of 20 healthy adults took part in a CVR gas stimulus protocol and a light and dark flash PLR protocol. CVR was calculated as the blood flow velocity change in the middle cerebral artery, measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound in response to a 5% increase in CO2. Multiple PLR metrics were evaluated with a clinical pupillometer.ResultsCVR and PLR metrics were all within the expected physiological ranges for healthy adults. Nine different PLR metrics, assessed through the light and dark flash protocols, were compared against CVR. A significant negative relationship was observed between the latency of the PLR in the dark flash protocol and CVR. No statistically significant relationships were found between CVR and other PLR metrics.ConclusionThis is the first study to investigate the relationship between cerebral blood flow and pupil dynamics. A significant relationship between dark flash latency and CVR was observed. Future work includes evaluating these relationships using more robust CVR and PLR measurement techniques in a larger, more diverse cohort. Notably, more research is warranted into the PLR using a dark flash protocol and its connection to cerebrovascular function.

show abstract

Study Protocol: The Heart and Brain Study

Cited by 3 publications

References 104 publications

Stroke–Heart Syndrome: Recent Advances and Challenges

Stroke–Heart Syndrome: Recent Advances and Challenges

On the Role of Vascularization in Pathoconnectomics

Characterising cerebrovascular reactivity and the pupillary light response–a comparative study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About