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Phytother Res 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.

Amelioration of neuroinflammation via modulating microglia is a promising approach for cerebral ischemia therapy. The aim of the present study was to explore gut-brain axis signals in berberine-modulating microglia polarization following cerebral ischemia. The potential pathway was determined through analyzing the activation of the vagus nerve, hydrogen sulfide (H S) metabolism, and cysteine persulfides of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor. Read More

World J Psychiatry 2022 Apr 19;12(4):580-587. Epub 2022 Apr 19.

Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing 400016, China.

Forced normalization (FN) is a unique phenomenon that is often seen in the treatment of epilepsy. FN is characterized by abnormal mental behavior and disordered emotions in epilepsy patients despite a significantly improved electroencephalogram and successful seizure control; the occurrence of FN seriously affects patients' quality of life. The causes of FN include antiseizure medications (ASMs), epilepsy surgery and vagus nerve stimulation, with ASMs being the most common cause. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 May 17;12(1):8184. Epub 2022 May 17.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Neuromodulation of peripheral nerves has been clinically used for a wide range of indications. Wireless and batteryless stimulators offer important capabilities such as no need for reoperation, and extended life compared to their wired counterparts. However, there are challenging trade-offs between the device size and its operating range, which can limit their use. Read More

Neuroimmunomodulation 2022 May 16:1-10. Epub 2022 May 16.

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany.

Objective: The vagus nerve constitutes the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays an important role in the regulation of neuro-immune responses. Invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve produces anti-inflammatory effects; however, data on humoral immune responses of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) are rare. Therefore, the present study investigated changes in serum cytokine concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) following a short-term, non-invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve. Read More

Front Hum Neurosci 2022 29;16:866434. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

ElectronRx, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by disturbances in neuronal circuits of the brain underpinned by synapse loss, neuronal dysfunction and neuronal death. Amyloid beta and tau protein cause these pathological changes and enhance neuroinflammation, which in turn modifies disease progression and severity. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), activation of the locus coeruleus (LC), results in the release of catecholamines in the hippocampus and neocortex, which can enhance synaptic plasticity and reduce inflammatory signalling. Read More

Analog Integr Circuits Signal Process 2022 May 10:1-10. Epub 2022 May 10.

Institute of Electrodynamics, Microwave and Circuit Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.

Auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) is a novel neuromodulatory therapy used for treatment of various chronic systemic disorders. Currently, aVNS is non-individualized, disregarding the physiological state of the patient and therefore making it difficult to reach optimum therapeutic outcomes. A closed-loop aVNS system is required to avoid over-stimulation and under-stimulation of patients, leading to personalized and thus improved therapy. Read More

Neuroscience 2022 May 10. Epub 2022 May 10.

Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands.

The vagus nerve is a key physical constituent of the gut-brain axis. Increasing attention has recently been paid to the role that the gut, and the microorganisms inhabiting it, play in emotion and cognition. Animal studies have revealed the importance of the vagus nerve in mediating communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system, resulting in changes in emotional behaviour. Read More

Front Cell Neurosci 2022 25;16:856855. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.

Brain electrical stimulation techniques take advantage of the intrinsic plasticity of the nervous system, opening a wide range of therapeutic applications. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an approved adjuvant for drug-resistant epilepsy and depression. Its non-invasive form, auricular transcutaneous VNS (atVNS), is under investigation for applications, including cognitive improvement. Read More

Clin Sci (Lond) 2022 May;136(9):695-709

Division of Nephrology and Endocrinology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

The vagus nerve, the great wanderer, is involved in numerous processes throughout the body and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has the potential to modulate many of these functions. This wide-reaching capability has generated much interest across a range of disciplines resulting in several clinical trials and studies into the mechanistic basis of VNS. This review discusses current preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of VNS in different diseases and highlights recent advancements. Read More

J Neural Eng 2022 May 9. Epub 2022 May 9.

National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400293, ROMANIA.

Presently, large groups of patients with various diseases are either intolerant, or irresponsive to drug therapies and also intractable by surgery. For several diseases, one option which is available for such patients is the implantable neurostimulation therapy. However, lacking closed-loop control and selective stimulation capabilities, the present neurostimulation therapies are not optimal and are therefore used as only "third" therapeutic options when a disease cannot be treated by drugs or surgery. Read More

Front Physiol 2022 21;13:857538. Epub 2022 Apr 21.

Section of Cardiology, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.

The ANTHEM-HF, INOVATE-HF, and NECTAR-HF clinical studies of autonomic regulation therapy (ART) using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) systems have collectively provided dose-ranging information enabling the development of several working hypotheses on how stimulation frequency can be utilized during VNS for tolerability and improving cardiovascular outcomes in patients living with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Changes in heart rate dynamics, comprising reduced heart rate (HR) and increased HR variability, are a biomarker of autonomic nerve system engagement and cardiac control, and appear to be sensitive to VNS that is delivered using a stimulation frequency that is similar to the natural operating frequency of the vagus nerve. Among prior studies, the ANTHEM-HF Pilot Study has provided the clearest evidence of autonomic engagement with VNS that was delivered using a stimulation frequency that was within the operating range of the vagus nerve. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2022 May 6. Epub 2022 May 6.

Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

Background: Substantial evidence from recent research suggests an influential and underappreciated force in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis: the pathological signals originate from outside the brain. Pathogenic bacteria produce amyloid-like proteins "curli" that form biofilms and show functional similarities to human amyloid-β (Aβ). These proteins may contribute to neurological disease progression via signaling cascade from the gut to the brain. Read More

Front Psychol 2022 18;13:858938. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Department of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.

Inhibitory control training (ICT) is a promising method to improve individual performance of inhibitory control (IC). Recent studies have suggested transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) as a novel approach to affect cognitive function owing to its ability to modulate the locus coeruleus-noradrenaline system. To examine the synergistic effects of combining ICT with tVNS, 58 young males in college were randomly assigned to four groups: ICT + tVNS, ICT + sham tVNS, sham ICT + tVNS, and sham ICT + sham tVNS. Read More

Sisli Etfal Hastan Tip Bul 2022 28;56(1):145-153. Epub 2022 Mar 28.

Department of General Surgery, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objectives: We observed significant contractions in the cricothyroid muscle (CTM) after recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) stimulation in some patients. We aimed to evaluate whether these contractions resulted from the laryngeal-muscle movement due to the contraction of other intrinsic muscles or actual CTM contraction, with objective real-time intraoperative electromyography (EMG) recordings.

Methods: This study was performed prospectively in 106 consecutive patients who underwent intraoperative neural monitoring-guided primary thyroid surgery due to various thyroid diseases between February-2015 and February-2016. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2022 8;13:131. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, United States.

Background: Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is a Food and Drug Administration approved therapy for seizures with a suggested mechanism of action consisting of cortical desynchronization, facilitated through broad release of inhibitory neurotransmitters in the cortex and brainstem. The vagus nerve contains visceral afferents that transmit sensory signals centrally, from locations that include the heart and the aorta. Although the vagus nerve serves a role in cardiac function, electrical stimulation with VNS has rarely resulted in adverse cardiac events. Read More

Front Hum Neurosci 2022 14;16:862443. Epub 2022 Apr 14.

Center for Functional MRI, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a non-invasive alternative to vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with implantable devices, has shown promise in treating disorders such as depression, migraine, and insomnia. Studies of these disorders with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (rsfMRI) have found sustained changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in patients treated with low frequency (1-20 Hz) taVNS. A recent study has reported reductions in pain scores in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after a 12-week treatment of high-frequency (20 kHz) sub-threshold taVNS. Read More

Front Behav Neurosci 2022 4;16:811419. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Background: Clinical and animal studies have shown that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) exerts neuroprotection following cerebral ischemia. Studies have revealed that white matter damage after ischemia is related to swallowing defects, and the degree of white matter damage is related to the severity of dysphagia. However, the effect of ta-VNS on dysphagia symptoms and white matter damage in dysphagic animals after an ischemic stroke has not been investigated. Read More

Front Neurol 2022 13;13:843975. Epub 2022 Apr 13.

Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, The Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.

Background: Dravet syndrome (DS) is a refractory developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (EE) with a variety of comorbidities, including cognitive impairment, autism-like behavior, speech dysfunction, and ataxia, which can seriously affect the quality of life of patients and impose a great burden on society and their families. Currently, the pharmacological therapy is patient dependent and may work or not. Neuromodulation techniques, including vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), responsive neurostimulation (RNS), and chronic subthreshold cortical stimulation (CSCS), have become common adjuvant therapies for neurological diseases, but their efficacy in the treatment of DS is unknown. Read More

Neurosciences (Riyadh) 2022 Apr;27(2):59-64

From the Department of Adult Neurology (Al-Attas), Pediatric Neurology Department (Alanazi, Al Osaimi, Alwadei, Al-Otaibi, Jad), National Neuroscience Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of corpus callosotomy versus vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) as long-term adjunctive therapies in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in King Fahad Medical City between 2010 and 2019. The authors identified and followed 9 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) who underwent corpus callosotomy or VNS implantation for at least 12 months; seizure frequency and major complications were monitored. Read More

Front Neurosci 2022 7;16:813472. Epub 2022 Apr 7.

Department of Rehabilitation, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disease that lacks effective treatment. Interestingly, recent studies indicated that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), neuromodulation that is widely used in a variety of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, improved motor function recovery after SCI. But the exact underlying mechanism of how VNS ameliorates SCI is unclear. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2022 7;9:866957. Epub 2022 Apr 7.

Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.

The autonomic nervous system exerts a fine beat-to-beat regulation of cardiovascular functions and is consequently involved in the onset and progression of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Selective neuromodulation of the brain-heart axis with advanced neurotechnologies is an emerging approach to corroborate CVDs treatment when classical pharmacological agents show limited effectiveness. The vagus nerve is a major component of the cardiac neuroaxis, and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a promising application to restore autonomic function under various pathological conditions. Read More

Front Neurol 2022 8;13:820864. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

electroCore, Inc., Rockaway, NJ, United States.

Background: Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized, in part, by an excessive inflammatory response. Evidence from animal and human studies suggests that vagus nerve stimulation can lead to reduced levels of various biomarkers of inflammation. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study (SAVIOR-I) to assess the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for the treatment of respiratory symptoms and inflammatory markers among patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 (ClinicalTrials. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2022 Apr 22. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Department of Cardiology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Grochowski Hospital, Warsaw, Poland.

Background: Fluoroscopy-guided extracardiac vagal stimulation (ECVS) from the internal right and left jugular veins (RIJV and LIJV) is routinely used to document vagal response (sinus arrest and/or atrioventricular block) during cardioneuroablation. Ultrasound-guided ECVS allows direct visualization and selective stimulation of the vagus nerve (VN).

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of ultrasound-guided ECVS and to compare it with fluoroscopy-guided ECVS. Read More

Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2022 Apr 23. Epub 2022 Apr 23.

Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Atypical sensory features are frequently observed in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as uncontrollable and less predictable sensory stimuli are thought to be stressful for them. To quantify distal indicators of cardiac vagus nerve activity, which is associated with top-down self-regulatory capacity, during sensory tasks as a stress state in children with ASD, we conducted an exploratory study to measure phasic high-frequency components of heart rate variability (phasic HF-HRV) during less controllable tactile/auditory sensory tasks in 37 children with ASD (aged 6-12 years) and 37 typically developing (TD) children. Only children with ASD showed increased HF-HRV values from the resting state to the task (i. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 04 16;19(8). Epub 2022 Apr 16.

Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains one of the most prevalent diagnoses of World Trade Center (WTC) 9/11 responders. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a potential treatment for PTSD, as it can downregulate activity in the brain, which is known to be related to stress responses and hyperarousal. To understand barriers and facilitators to engagement in mental health care and the feasibility and acceptability of using the taVNS device as a treatment for PTSD symptoms, a focus group was conducted among patients from the Queens WTC Health Program who had elevated symptoms of PTSD. Read More

JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2022 Apr 30;8(4):513-525. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Neurocardiology Program of Excellence, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA. Electronic address:

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate whether intermittent VNS reduces electrical heterogeneities and arrhythmia inducibility during sympathoexcitation.

Background: Sympathoexcitation increases the risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT). Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has been antiarrhythmic in the setting of ischemia-driven arrhythmias, but it is unclear if it can overcome the electrophysiological effects of sympathoexcitation in the setting of chronic myocardial infarction (MI). Read More

Physiol Rep 2022 04;10(8):e15253

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) facilitates weight loss in animals and patients treated with VNS for depression or epilepsy. Likewise, chronic transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) reduces weight gain and improves glucose tolerance in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. If these metabolic effects of taVNS observed in rats translate to humans is unknown. Read More

Physiol Rep 2022 04;10(8):e15257

Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Vagus nerve stimulation is emerging as a promising treatment for type 2 diabetes. Here, we evaluated the ability of stimulation of the vagus nerve to reduce glycemia in awake, freely moving metabolically compromised rats. A model of type 2 diabetes (n = 10) was induced using a high-fat diet and low doses of streptozotocin. Read More

Front Physiol 2022 30;13:855756. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

LivaNova USA, Inc., Houston, TX, United States.

Heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction is a progressive disease that claims > 352,000 lives annually in the United States alone. Despite the development of an extensive array of pharmacologic and device therapies, prognosis remains poor. Disruption in autonomic balance in the form of heightened sympathetic nerve activity and reduced vagal tone have been established as major causes of heart failure progression. Read More

Sleep Med 2022 May 26;93:56-62. Epub 2022 Mar 26.

Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology Department, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: Leptin, a hormone related to satiety, has been studied because of its association with obesity and sleep apnea. The distribution of leptin receptors in the brain stem, and in the hypoglossal nucleus, has not yet been described. The stimulation of these muscles has been studied in the treatment of sleep apnea. Read More