Objective:To determine differences in metabolic profiles and Intestinal microbial abundance among healthy human individuals and patients in a vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) and to identify metabolites in human plasma that can accurately distinguish VS patients from MCS patients.~Method: Plasma samples and fecal sample were obtained from patients with chronic disorder of consciousness, and healthy volunteers. A comprehensive metabolic profile was obtained with targeted metabolomics analysis and untargeted and targeted lipidomics analysis, as well as intestinal microbial abundance from 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.
Following severe traumatic brain injury, patients may remain unconscious for many years. It is the intestinal microbiome and metabolomics analysis comparing differentially intestinal microflora and metabolites between patients with chronic disorder of consciousness and controls so far. The investigators have mature data analysis technology. The obtained results provide new insight into understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the chronic disorder of consciousness