scholarly journals Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation acutely modulates brain connectivity in mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Brambilla Pisoni ◽  
Emma Munoz Moreno ◽  
Ianire Gallego Amaro ◽  
Rafael Maldonado ◽  
Antoni Ivorra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Familiarization Phase ◽  
Functional Connections ◽  
Cognitive Improvement ◽  
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Wide Range

Background: 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. Objective: We aimed to study the effects of atVNS on brain connectivity, under conditions that improved memory persistence in CD-1 male mice. Methods: Acute atVNS in the cymba conchae of the left ear was performed using a standard stimulation protocol under light isoflurane anesthesia, immediately or 3 h after the training/familiarization phase of the novel object-recognition memory test (NORT). Another cohort of mice was used for bilateral c-Fos analysis after atVNS administration. Spearman correlation of c-Fos density between each pair of the thirty brain regions analyzed allowed obtaining the network of significant functional connections in stimulated and non-stimulated control brains. Results: NORT performance was enhanced when atVNS was delivered just after, but not 3 h after, the familiarization phase of the task. No alterations in c-Fos density were associated to electrostimulation, but a significant effect of atVNS was observed on c-Fos- based functional connectivity. atVNS induced a clear reorganization of the network, increasing the inter-hemisphere connections and the connectivity of locus coeruleus. Conclusion: Our results provide new insights in the effects of atVNS on memory performance and brain connectivity extending our knowledge of the biological mechanisms of bioelectronics in medicine.

scholarly journals Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation is Associated with Lower Mechanical Ventilation and Mortality in COVID-19 Patients: An interim Safety Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Interim Analysis ◽  
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Wide Range

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in preventing respiratory failure and improving survival in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Design, Setting, and Participants: Interim analysis of an ongoing single-arm, uncontrolled open-label, observational trial to assess the transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects. Eligible subjects are 18 years old or older requiring hospitalization for COVID-19pneumonia. Results: The 25 subjects enrolled with a mean age of 52.2 (22-80). Mechanical ventilation was required in only 2 (8%) cases. One survived and 1 one died. Although 4 (16%) of the 25 hospitalized subjects died, only 1 (4%) was attributed to respiratory failure. Relative to other reported COVID-19 hospitalization outcomes data, our mortality rate of 16% (4 of 25) is lower than many other reported cohorts 10.2% – 50%. Only 8% (2 of 25) of subjects required mechanical ventilation comparing favorably to 7.4%-79% of subjects requiring mechanical ventilation in other cohorts. Adverse events associated with tVNS occurred in only 2 subjects (8%) and consisted of reversible oral paresthesia and orthostatic hypotension. Conclusion and Relevance: In this interim report of tVNS in COVID-19 pneumonia, patients had a low rate of adverse events, infrequent use of mechanical ventilation, and a high rate of survival. Several other studies have shown a wide range of in hospital mortality (14-50%) and the requirement of mechanical ventilation (7-79%). The interim analysis found the mortality rate and the frequency of mechanical ventilation to be less than almost all other large COVID-19 cohorts. Only mild and self-limiting adverse events tVNS occurred in 2 subjects highlighting the safety of vagus stimulation. The study is slated to enroll a minimum of 50 subjects. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NTC04379037.

Effect of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Dysphagia After Lateral Medullary Infarction: A Case Report

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1381-1387
Author(s):  
Ying Yuan ◽  
Jie Wang ◽  
Dongyu Wu ◽  
Dahua Zhang ◽  
Weiqun Song
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Tube Feeding ◽  
Nasogastric Feeding ◽  
Lateral Medullary Infarction ◽  
Severe Dysphagia ◽  
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Medullary Infarction

Purpose Severe dysphagia with weak pharyngeal peristalsis after dorsal lateral medullary infarction (LMI) requires long-term tube feeding. However, no study is currently available on therapeutic effectiveness in severe dysphagia caused by nuclear damage of vagus nerve after dorsal LMI. The purpose of the present investigation was to explore the potential of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) to improve severe dysphagia with weak pharyngeal peristalsis after dorsal LMI. Method We assessed the efficacy of 6-week tVNS in a 28-year-old woman presented with persisting severe dysphagia after dorsal LMI who had been on nasogastric feeding for 6 months. tVNS was applied for 20 min twice a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. The outcome measures included saliva spitted, Swallow Function Scoring System, Functional Oral Intake Scale, Clinical Assessment of Dysphagia With Wallenberg Syndrome, Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale, and upper esophagus X-ray examination. Results After tVNS, the patient was advanced to a full oral diet without head rotation or spitting. No saliva residue was found in the valleculae and pyriform sinuses. Contrast medium freely passed through the upper esophageal sphincter. Conclusion Our findings suggest that tVNS might provide a useful means for recovery of severe dysphagia with weak pharyngeal peristalsis after dorsal LMI. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9755438

scholarly journals Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation is Associated with Lower Mechanical Ventilation and Mortality in COVID-19 Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nemechek P ◽  
Antonelli G ◽  
Braida A
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Safety And Efficacy ◽  
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Objective: Evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in preventing respiratory failure and improving survival in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

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