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Kronsteiner B, Carrero-Rojas G, Reissig LF, Moghaddam AS, Schwendt KM, Gerges S, Maierhofer U, Aszmann OC, Pastor AM, Kiss A, Podesser BK, Birkfellner W, Moscato F, Blumer R, Weninger WJ. Characterization, number, and spatial organization of nerve fibers in the human cervical vagus nerve and its superior cardiac branch. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:510-524. [PMID: 38677543 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve (VN) is a therapy for epilepsy, obesity, depression, and heart diseases. However, whole nerve stimulation leads to side effects. We examined the neuroanatomy of the mid-cervical segment of the human VN and its superior cardiac branch to gain insight into the side effects of VN stimulation and aid in developing targeted stimulation strategies. METHODS Nerve specimens were harvested from eight human body donors, then subjected to immunofluorescence and semiautomated quantification to determine the signature, quantity, and spatial distribution of different axonal categories. RESULTS The right and left cervical VN (cVN) contained a total of 25,489 ± 2781 and 23,286 ± 3164 fibers, respectively. Two-thirds of the fibers were unmyelinated and one-third were myelinated. About three-quarters of the fibers in the right and left cVN were sensory (73.9 ± 7.5 % versus 72.4 ± 5.6 %), while 13.2 ± 1.8 % versus 13.3 ± 3.0 % were special visceromotor and parasympathetic, and 13 ± 5.9 % versus 14.3 ± 4.0 % were sympathetic. Special visceromotor and parasympathetic fibers formed clusters. The superior cardiac branches comprised parasympathetic, vagal sensory, and sympathetic fibers with the left cardiac branch containing more sympathetic fibers than the right (62.7 ± 5.4 % versus 19.8 ± 13.3 %), and 50 % of the left branch contained sensory and sympathetic fibers only. CONCLUSION The study indicates that selective stimulation of vagal sensory and motor fibers is possible. However, it also highlights the potential risk of activating sympathetic fibers in the superior cardiac branch, especially on the left side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Kronsteiner
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria; Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Genova Carrero-Rojas
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas F Reissig
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Atieh Seyedian Moghaddam
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karoline M Schwendt
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sylvia Gerges
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Udo Maierhofer
- Clinical Laboratory for Bionic Extremity Reconstruction, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oskar C Aszmann
- Clinical Laboratory for Bionic Extremity Reconstruction, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angel M Pastor
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Attila Kiss
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria; Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Bruno K Podesser
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria; Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Birkfellner
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Francesco Moscato
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Blumer
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Wolfgang J Weninger
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Schunke KJ, Rodriguez J, Dyavanapalli J, Schloen J, Wang X, Escobar J, Kowalik G, Cheung EC, Ribeiro C, Russo R, Alber BR, Dergacheva O, Chen SW, Murillo-Berlioz AE, Lee KB, Trachiotis G, Entcheva E, Brantner CA, Mendelowitz D, Kay MW. Outcomes of hypothalamic oxytocin neuron-driven cardioprotection after acute myocardial infarction. Basic Res Cardiol 2023; 118:43. [PMID: 37801130 PMCID: PMC10558415 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-023-01013-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Altered autonomic balance is a hallmark of numerous cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI). Although device-based vagal stimulation is cardioprotective during chronic disease, a non-invasive approach to selectively stimulate the cardiac parasympathetic system immediately after an infarction does not exist and is desperately needed. Cardiac vagal neurons (CVNs) in the brainstem receive powerful excitation from a population of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus that co-release oxytocin (OXT) and glutamate to excite CVNs. We tested if chemogenetic activation of PVN-OXT neurons following MI would be cardioprotective. The PVN of neonatal rats was transfected with vectors to selectively express DREADDs within OXT neurons. At 6 weeks of age, an MI was induced and DREADDs were activated with clozapine-N-oxide. Seven days following MI, patch-clamp electrophysiology confirmed the augmented excitatory neurotransmission from PVN-OXT neurons to downstream nuclei critical for parasympathetic activity with treatment (43.7 ± 10 vs 86.9 ± 9 pA; MI vs. treatment), resulting in stark improvements in survival (85% vs. 95%; MI vs. treatment), inflammation, fibrosis assessed by trichrome blue staining, mitochondrial function assessed by Seahorse assays, and reduced incidence of arrhythmias (50% vs. 10% cumulative incidence of ventricular fibrillation; MI vs. treatment). Myocardial transcriptomic analysis provided molecular insight into potential cardioprotective mechanisms, which revealed the preservation of beneficial signaling pathways, including muscarinic receptor activation, in treated animals. These comprehensive results demonstrate that the PVN-OXT network could be a promising therapeutic target to quickly activate beneficial parasympathetic-mediated cellular pathways within the heart during the early stages of infarction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn J Schunke
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
- Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo St, Honolulu, HI, BSB 211 96813, USA.
| | - Jeannette Rodriguez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Jhansi Dyavanapalli
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Suite 640 Ross Hall, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - John Schloen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Suite 640 Ross Hall, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Joan Escobar
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Suite 640 Ross Hall, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Grant Kowalik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Emily C Cheung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Caitlin Ribeiro
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Suite 640 Ross Hall, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Rebekah Russo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Bridget R Alber
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Olga Dergacheva
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Suite 640 Ross Hall, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Sheena W Chen
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiothoracic Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 50 Irving St. NW, Washington, DC, 20422, USA
| | - Alejandro E Murillo-Berlioz
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiothoracic Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 50 Irving St. NW, Washington, DC, 20422, USA
| | - Kyongjune B Lee
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiothoracic Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 50 Irving St. NW, Washington, DC, 20422, USA
| | - Gregory Trachiotis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiothoracic Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 50 Irving St. NW, Washington, DC, 20422, USA
| | - Emilia Entcheva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Christine A Brantner
- The GWU Nanofabrication and Imaging Center, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - David Mendelowitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Suite 640 Ross Hall, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
| | - Matthew W Kay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Suite 5000 Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
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Fitchett A, Mastitskaya S, Aristovich K. Selective Neuromodulation of the Vagus Nerve. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:685872. [PMID: 34108861 PMCID: PMC8180849 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.685872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective technique for the treatment of refractory epilepsy and shows potential for the treatment of a range of other serious conditions. However, until now stimulation has generally been supramaximal and non-selective, resulting in a range of side effects. Selective VNS (sVNS) aims to mitigate this by targeting specific fiber types within the nerve to produce functionally specific effects. In recent years, several key paradigms of sVNS have been developed-spatially selective, fiber-selective, anodal block, neural titration, and kilohertz electrical stimulation block-as well as various stimulation pulse parameters and electrode array geometries. sVNS can significantly reduce the severity of side effects, and in some cases increase efficacy of the treatment. While most studies have focused on fiber-selective sVNS, spatially selective sVNS has demonstrated comparable mitigation of side-effects. It has the potential to achieve greater specificity and provide crucial information about vagal nerve physiology. Anodal block achieves strong side-effect mitigation too, but is much less specific than fiber- and spatially selective paradigms. The major hurdle to achieving better selectivity of VNS is a limited knowledge of functional anatomical organization of vagus nerve. It is also crucial to optimize electrode array geometry and pulse shape, as well as expand the applications of sVNS beyond the current focus on cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Svetlana Mastitskaya
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kirill Aristovich
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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A Step further-The Role of Trigeminocardiac Reflex in Therapeutic Implications: Hypothesis, Evidence, and Experimental Models. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol 2021; 34:364-371. [PMID: 33538537 DOI: 10.1097/ana.0000000000000760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) is a well-recognized brainstem reflex that represents a unique interaction between the brain and the heart through the Vth and Xth cranial nerves and brainstem nuclei. The TCR has mainly been reported as an intraoperative phenomenon causing cardiovascular changes during skull-base surgeries. However, it is now appreciated that the TCR is implicated during non-neurosurgical procedures and in nonsurgical conditions, and its complex reflex pathways have been explored as potential therapeutic options in various neurological and cardiovascular diseases. This narrative review presents an in-depth overview of hypothetical and experimental models of the TCR phenomenon in relation to the Vth and Xth cranial nerves. In addition, primitive interactions between these 2 cranial nerves and their significance are highlighted. Finally, therapeutic models of the complex interactions of the TCR and areas for further research will be considered.
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Machhada A, Hosford PS, Dyson A, Ackland GL, Mastitskaya S, Gourine AV. Optogenetic Stimulation of Vagal Efferent Activity Preserves Left Ventricular Function in Experimental Heart Failure. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2020; 5:799-810. [PMID: 32875170 PMCID: PMC7452237 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2020.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to determine the effect of selective optogenetic simulation of vagal efferent activity on left ventricular function in an animal (rat) model of MI-induced heart failure. Optogenetic stimulation of dorsal brainstem vagal pre-ganglionic neurons transduced to express light-sensitive channels preserved LV function and exercise capacity in animals with MI. The data suggest that activation of vagal efferents is critically important to deliver the therapeutic benefit of VNS in chronic heart failure.
Large clinical trials designed to test the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with heart failure did not demonstrate benefits with respect to the primary endpoints. The nonselective nature of VNS may account for the failure to translate promising results of preclinical and earlier clinical studies. This study showed that optogenetic stimulation of vagal pre-ganglionic neurons transduced to express light-sensitive channels preserved left ventricular function and exercise capacity in a rat model of myocardial infarction−induced heart failure. These data suggested that stimulation of vagal efferent activity is critically important to deliver the therapeutic benefit of VNS in heart failure.
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Key Words
- ABP, arterial blood pressure
- DVMN, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve
- GRK2, G-protein−coupled receptor kinase 2
- LAD, left anterior descending coronary artery
- LV dP/dtMAX, maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure
- LV, left ventricle
- LVEDP, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure
- LVESP, left ventricular end-systolic pressure
- LVP, left ventricular pressure
- LVV, lentiviral vector
- MI, myocardial infarction
- VNS, vagus nerve stimulation
- autonomic nervous system
- eGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein
- heart failure
- myocardial infarction
- neuromodulation
- vagus nerve stimulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Asif Machhada
- Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick S Hosford
- Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Dyson
- Clinical Physiology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth L Ackland
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Svetlana Mastitskaya
- Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander V Gourine
- Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Du X. Post-infarct cardiac injury, protection and repair: roles of non-cardiomyocyte multicellular and acellular components. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2018; 61:266-276. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-017-9223-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Somann JP, Albors GO, Neihouser KV, Lu KH, Liu Z, Ward MP, Durkes A, Robinson JP, Powley TL, Irazoqui PP. Chronic cuffing of cervical vagus nerve inhibits efferent fiber integrity in rat model. J Neural Eng 2017; 15:036018. [PMID: 29219123 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aaa039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Numerous studies of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) have been published showing it to be a potential treatment for chronic inflammation and other related diseases and disorders. Studies in recent years have shown that electrical stimulation of the vagal efferent fibers can artificially modulate cytokine levels and reduce systematic inflammation. Most VNS research in the treatment of inflammation have been acute studies on rodent subjects. Our study tested VNS on freely moving animals by stimulating and recording from the cervical vagus with nerve cuff electrodes over an extended period of time. APPROACH We used methods of electrical stimulation, retrograde tracing (using Fluorogold) and post necropsy histological analysis of nerve tissue, flow cytometry to measure plasma cytokine levels, and MRI scanning of gastric emptying. This novel combination of methods allowed examination of physiological aspects of VNS previously unexplored. MAIN RESULTS Through our study of 53 rat subjects, we found that chronically cuffing the left cervical vagus nerve suppressed efferent Fluorogold transport in 43 of 44 animals (36 showed complete suppression). Measured cytokine levels and gastric emptying rates concurrently showed nominal differences between chronically cuffed rats and those tested with similar acute methods. Meanwhile, results of electrophysiological and histological tests of the cuffed nerves revealed them to be otherwise healthy, consistent with previous literature. SIGNIFICANCE We hypothesize that due to these unforeseen and unexplored physiological consequences of the chronically cuffed vagus nerve in a rat, that inflammatory modulation and other vagal effects by VNS may become unreliable in chronic studies. Given our findings, we submit that it would benefit the VNS community to re-examine methods used in previous literature to verify the efficacy of the rat model for chronic VNS studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse P Somann
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America. Center for Implantable Devices (CID), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
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De Ferrari GM, Stolen C, Tuinenburg AE, Wright DJ, Brugada J, Butter C, Klein H, Neuzil P, Botman C, Castel MA, D'Onofrio A, de Borst GJ, Solomon S, Stein KM, Schubert B, Stalsberg K, Wold N, Ruble S, Zannad F. Long-term vagal stimulation for heart failure: Eighteen month results from the NEural Cardiac TherApy foR Heart Failure (NECTAR-HF) trial. Int J Cardiol 2017; 244:229-234. [PMID: 28663046 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The NECTAR-HF study evaluated safety and feasibility of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of heart failure patients. The first six-month randomized phase of the study did not show improvement in left ventricular remodelling in response to VNS. This study reports the 18-month results and provides novel findings aiming to understand the lack of efficacy of VNS, including a new technique assessing the effects of VNS. METHODS Ninety-six patients were randomized 2:1 to active or inactive VNS for 6months, thereafter VNS was activated for all patients. The primary safety endpoint was 18-month all-cause mortality. RESULTS Ninety-one patients continued in the long-term evaluation with active VNS. The on-therapy survival estimate at 18months was 95% with a 95% one-sided lower confidence limit of 91%, (better than the predefined criterion). Left ventricular systolic volume decreased in the crossover group (VNS OFF→ON; 144±37 to 139±40, p<0.05) after VNS activation; LVESD (5.02±0.77 to 4.96±0.82, p>0.05) and LVEF (33.2±4.9 to 33.3±6.5, p>0.05) did not change. A new technique to detect subtle heart rate changes during Holter recordings, i.e. "heat maps", revealed that VNS evoked heart rate response in only 13/106 studies (12%) at 6 and 12months with active VNS. CONCLUSIONS Although a favourable long-term safety profile was found, improvements in the efficacy endpoints were not seen with VNS. A new technique for detecting acute heart rate responses to VNS suggests that the recruitment of nerve fibres responsible for heart rate changes were substantially lower in NECTAR-HF than in pre-clinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano M De Ferrari
- Coronary Care Unit - Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology - and Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Craig Stolen
- Boston Scientific Corporation, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Anton E Tuinenburg
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - D Jay Wright
- Department of Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | - Helmut Klein
- Division of Cardiology, Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Petr Neuzil
- Department of Cardiology, Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Cornelis Botman
- Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Gert J de Borst
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Scott Solomon
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Nicholas Wold
- Boston Scientific Corporation, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Stephen Ruble
- Boston Scientific Corporation, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Faiez Zannad
- Inserm, CIC 1433, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Department of Cardiology, Nancy University, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
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