scholarly journals Effect of Yoga Pranayama (Breathing Techniques) on the Vagus Nerve in Countering Major Depression and Related Ailments; A Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Namal Bandara ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Skin Resistance ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Disturbed Sleep ◽  
Breathing Techniques ◽  
Literature Evidence ◽  
Fight Or Flight Response

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a major psychiatric condition associated with functional impairment and high levels of morbidity and mortality (M. Li, 2015) (Lohoff, 2010). It is characterized by mode alterations, diminished interests, impaired cognitive function and vegetative symptoms such as disturbed sleep and appetite changes (Christian Otte, 2016) are common patients suffering from MDD. Our nervous system is built around the balance and harmony of two opposing activities (Laurie Kelly McCorry, 2007). 1. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is associated with the fight or flight response. 2. The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is associated with relaxation, digestion, and regeneration. These two systems are meant to work in rhythmic alternation, a process that supports healthy rhythms of alertness and restfulness that facilitate physical and mental health (Shah, 2018). In order to treat ailments such as MDD, many techniques are used to stimulate the vagus nerve for better functioning (Bruno Bonaz, 2018). Different forms of pranayama tends to activate different branches of the autonomic nervous system, this causes positive changes to the oxygen consumption, metabolism and skin resistance. The literature evidence gathered states that the mechanisms of the vagul nerve stimulation helps in the parasympathetic activation in an event of stress depression and major depression. When the pranayam is mixed with certain yogic asana’s while controlling the breath, it seems to have a better countering of MDD and related disorders.

scholarly journals Pupillary Light Reflex is Altered in Adolescent Depression

2017 ◽  
pp. S277-S284 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. MESTANIKOVA ◽  
I. ONDREJKA ◽  
M. MESTANIK ◽  
D. CESNEKOVA ◽  
Z. VISNOVCOVA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Pupillary Light Reflex ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Light Reflex ◽  
Pupillary Light ◽  
Adolescent Patients ◽  
Depressive Group

Major depressive disorder is associated with abnormal autonomic regulation which could be noninvasively studied using pupillometry. However, the studies in adolescent patients are rare. Therefore, we aimed to study the pupillary light reflex (PLR), which could provide novel important information about dynamic balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system in adolescent patients suffering from major depression. We have examined 25 depressive adolescent girls (age 15.2±0.3 year) prior to pharmacotherapy and 25 age/gender-matched healthy subjects. PLR parameters were measured separately for both eyes after 5 min of rest using Pupillometer PLR-2000 (NeurOptics, USA). The constriction percentual change for the left eye was significantly lower in depressive group compared to control group (-24.12±0.87 % vs. –28.04±0.96%, p˂0.01). Furthermore, average constriction velocity and maximum constriction velocity for the left eye were significantly lower in depressive group compared to control group (p˂0.05, p˂0.01, respectively). In contrast, no significant between-groups differences were found for the right eye. Concluding, this study revealed altered PLR for left eye indicating a deficient parasympathetic activity already in adolescent major depression. Additionally, the differences between left and right eye could be related to functional lateralization of autonomic control in the central nervous system.

Direct effect of CNS on insulin hypersecretion in obese Zucker rats: involvement of vagus nerve

1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (3) ◽  
pp. E439-E444 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Lee ◽  
D. L. Curry ◽  
J. S. Stern
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Insulin Secretion ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Parasympathetic Innervation ◽  
Pancreas Perfusion ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Obese Rats ◽  
Obese Zucker Rats

It is hypothesized that the vagus nerve makes a major contribution to pancreatic insulin hypersecretion in the genetically obese rat (fa/fa) via direct pancreatic innervation. An in situ brain-pancreas perfusion model with intact pancreatic central nervous system (CNS) innervation was used in these studies. The dynamics of insulin secretion in response to a 40-min glucose stimulus (200 mg/dl) was investigated in CNS intact (INT), bilateral cervical vagotomized (VGX), and CNS functionally ablated (ABL) 11- to 12-wk-old homozygous lean (Fa/Fa) and obese (fa/fa) female Zucker rats. The overall pattern of insulin secretory dynamics from obese and lean rats was similar. However, insulin released during the entire 40-min perfusion period by pancreata from obese rats was significantly greater than in lean rats. In lean rats, there was no significant difference in insulin secretion from pancreata of CNS-INT, VGX, and ABL rats. In obese rats, CNS-INT pancreata secreted almost twice as much insulin as pancreata from obese ABL rats and four times as much insulin as CNS-INT lean rats. This demonstrates that hypersecretion of insulin in obese Zucker rats is comprised of a significant direct CNS component. Although vagotomy had little effect on CNS-INT lean rats, it reversed the CNS component of hypersecretion present in CNS-INT obese rats. Because insulin secretion in CNS-INT obese rats was lowered by vagotomy to that equivalent to values of CNS-ABL obese rats, this demonstrates a significant contribution by the parasympathetic nervous system to the hyperinsulinemia seen in the Zucker obese rat that is attributed to direct parasympathetic innervation of the pancreas.

scholarly journals Atypical patterns of respiratory sinus arrhythmia index an endophenotype for depression

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4pt2) ◽  
pp. 1337-1352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilya Yaroslavsky ◽  
Jonathan Rottenberg ◽  
Maria Kovacs
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Sinus Arrhythmia ◽  
Sibling Pairs ◽  
Depressive Episodes ◽  
Risk For Depression

AbstractCan atypical patterns of parasympathetic nervous system activity serve as endophenotypes for depression? Using respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) as an index of parasympathetic nervous system function, we examined this question in two studies: one involving mothers with and without depression histories and their offspring (at high and low risk for depression, respectively), and a further study of adolescent sibling pairs concordant and discordant for major depression. In both studies, subjects were exposed to sad mood induction; subjects' RSA was monitored during rest periods and in response to the mood induction. We used Gottesman and Gould's (2003) criteria for an endophenotype and a priori defined “atypical” and “normative” RSA patterns (combinations of resting RSA and RSA reactivity). We found that atypical RSA patterns (a) predicted current depressive episodes and remission status among women with histories of juvenile onset depression and healthy controls, (b) predicted longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms among high- and low-risk young offspring, (c) were concordant across mothers and their juvenile offspring, (d) were more prevalent among never-depressed youth at high risk for depression than their low-risk peers, and (e) were more concordant across adolescent sibling pairs in which both versus only one had a history of major depression. Thus, the results support atypical RSA patterns as an endophenotype for depression. Possible mechanisms by which RSA patterns increase depression risk and their genetic contributors are discussed.

scholarly journals Vagal control of pancreatic β-cell proliferation

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (5) ◽  
pp. E786-E793 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Lausier ◽  
William C. Diaz ◽  
Violet Roskens ◽  
Kyla LaRock ◽  
Kristi Herzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cell ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Insulin Requirements

The physiological mechanisms that preserve pancreatic β-cell mass (BCM) are not fully understood. Although the regulation of islet function by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is well established, its potential roles in BCM homeostasis and compensatory growth have not been adequately explored. The parasympathetic vagal branch of the ANS serves to facilitate gastrointestinal function, metabolism, and pancreatic islet regulation of glucose homeostasis, including insulin secretion. Given the functional importance of the vagus nerve and its branches to the liver, gut, and pancreas in control of digestion, motility, feeding behavior, and glucose metabolism, it may also play a role in BCM regulation. We have begun to examine the potential roles of the parasympathetic nervous system in short-term BCM maintenance by performing a selective bilateral celiac branch-vagus nerve transection (CVX) in normal Sprague-Dawley rats. CVX resulted in no detectable effects on basic metabolic parameters or food intake through 1 wk postsurgery. Although there were no differences in BCM or apoptosis in this 1-wk time frame, β-cell proliferation was reduced 50% in the CVX rats, correlating with a marked reduction in activated protein kinase B/Akt. Unexpectedly, acinar proliferation was increased 50% in these rats. These data suggest that the ANS, via the vagus nerve, contributes to the regulation of BCM maintenance at the level of cell proliferation and may also mediate the drive for enhanced growth under physiological conditions when insulin requirements have increased. Furthermore, the disparate effects of CVX on β-cell and acinar cells suggest that the endocrine and exocrine pancreas respond to different neural signals in regard to mass homeostasis.

scholarly journals Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress and Prevalence of Major Depression and Its Predictors in Female University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5845
Author(s):  
Vanessa Blanco ◽  
Mar Salmerón ◽  
Patricia Otero ◽  
Fernando L. Vázquez
Keyword(s):  
Major Depression ◽  
University Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Academic Characteristics ◽  
Santiago De Compostela ◽  
University Women ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Life Engagement

Depression, anxiety and stress are increasingly concerning phenomena in our society, with serious consequences on physical and mental health. The repercussions may be particularly devastating in particular population subgroups, such as female university students. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and the prevalence of depression and associated factors, in Spanish university women. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of 871 students from the Santiago de Compostela University (mean age 20.7 years, SD = 2.8). Information was collected on sociodemographic and academic characteristics; symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; diagnosis of major depression; optimism, resilience, social support, life engagement, and five personality domains, using validated instruments. Of the participants, 18.1%, 22.8% and 13.5% presented with severe/very severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. A total of 12.9% had major depression. Higher life engagement was associated with lower risk of depression (OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.87–0.98), while higher levels of neuroticism (OR = 1.20, 95% CI, 1.12–1.28) and openness to experience (OR = 1.08, 95% CI, 1.02–1.14) were associated with greater risk. These findings reveal an alarming percentage of female university students who experience major depression and severe/very severe stress.

scholarly journals Daily inhalation of hydrogen gas has a blood pressure-lowering effect in a rat model of hypertension

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhisa Sugai ◽  
Tomoyoshi Tamura ◽  
Motoaki Sano ◽  
Shizuka Uemura ◽  
Masahiko Fujisawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Hydrogen Gas ◽  
Blood Pressure Lowering ◽  
Blood Pressure Lowering Effect ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Lowering Effect ◽  
Pressure Lowering

AbstractA recent clinical study demonstrated that haemodialysis with a dialysate containing hydrogen (H2) improves blood pressure control in end-stage kidney disease. Herein, we examined whether H2 has a salutary effect on hypertension in animal models. We subjected 5/6 nephrectomised rats to inhalation of either H2 (1.3% H2 + 21% O2 + 77.7% N2) or control (21% O2 + 79% N2) gas mixture for 1 h per day. H2 significantly suppressed increases in blood pressure after 5/6 nephrectomy. The anti-hypertensive effect of H2 was also confirmed in rats in a stable hypertensive state 3 weeks after nephrectomy. To examine the detailed effects of H2 on hypertension, we used an implanted telemetry system to continuously monitor blood pressure. H2 exerted an anti-hypertensive effect not only during daytime rest, but also during night-time activities. Spectral analysis of blood pressure variability revealed that H2 improved autonomic imbalance, namely by suppressing the overly active sympathetic nervous system and augmenting parasympathetic nervous system activity; these effects co-occurred with the blood pressure-lowering effect. In conclusion, 1-h daily exposure to H2 exerts an anti-hypertensive effect in an animal model of hypertension.

Fast Detoxification of Heroin Addicts by Acupuncture and Electrical Stimulation (AES) in Combination with Naloxone

1977 ◽  
Vol 05 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 257-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. L. WEN
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
The Other ◽  
Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Rehabilitation Centre ◽  
Heroin Addicts ◽  
Social Rehabilitation ◽  
Receptor Sites ◽  
Long Acting

Detoxification can be accomplished more rapidly by first "flushing" the opiates from the receptor sites. Naloxone, a short antagonist displaces opiates from the receptor sites and such displacement precipitates an abstinence syndrome. Recently, a method of using acupuncture and electrical stimulation (AES) in combination with naloxone for fast detoxification was reported. This technique was applied to 50 cases of heroin addicts. Forty-one were detoxified. There were nine failures. Of the 41 cases, 18 patients were sent to rehabilitation centres and did not experience abstinence symptoms. Six were sent out of Hong Kong where heroin is not available, and two others did not go to a rehabilitation centre but still abstained. The other 15 were presumed to be on the drug. It is advocated that AES increases endorphin and relieves abstinence syndrome, but also at the same time inhibits the autonomic nervous system, mainly the parasympathetic nervous system. The technique does not stop the craving, therefore after detoxification, the patients should be sent for psycho-social rehabilitation, or alternatively be put on long acting antagonist.

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