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Zafeiropoulos S, Ahmed U, Bikou A, Mughrabi IT, Stavrakis S, Zanos S. Vagus nerve stimulation for cardiovascular diseases: Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Trends Cardiovasc Med 2024; 34:327-337. [PMID: 37506989 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Autonomic dysfunction and chronic inflammation contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of several cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, atherosclerotic CVD, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. The vagus nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to the heart, vessels, and lungs, and is also implicated in the neural control of inflammation through a neuroimmune pathway involving the spleen. Stimulation of the vagus nerve (VNS) can in principle restore autonomic balance and suppress inflammation, with potential therapeutic benefits in these diseases. Although VNS ameliorated CVD in several animal models, early human studies have demonstrated variable efficacy. The purpose of this review is to discuss the rationale behind the use of VNS in the treatment of CVD, to critically review animal and human studies of VNS in CVD, and to propose possible means to overcome the challenges in the clinical translation of VNS in CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanos Zafeiropoulos
- Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine at Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA; Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Umair Ahmed
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Alexia Bikou
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Ibrahim T Mughrabi
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Stavros Stavrakis
- Heart Rhythm Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Stavros Zanos
- Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine at Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA; Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA.
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Sarikhani P, Hsu HL, Zeydabadinezhad M, Yao Y, Kothare M, Mahmoudi B. Reinforcement learning for closed-loop regulation of cardiovascular system with vagus nerve stimulation: a computational study. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:036027. [PMID: 38718787 PMCID: PMC11145940 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad48bb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Objective. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is being investigated as a potential therapy for cardiovascular diseases including heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, and hypertension. The lack of a systematic approach for controlling and tuning the VNS parameters poses a significant challenge. Closed-loop VNS strategies combined with artificial intelligence (AI) approaches offer a framework for systematically learning and adapting the optimal stimulation parameters. In this study, we presented an interactive AI framework using reinforcement learning (RL) for automated data-driven design of closed-loop VNS control systems in a computational study.Approach.Multiple simulation environments with a standard application programming interface were developed to facilitate the design and evaluation of the automated data-driven closed-loop VNS control systems. These environments simulate the hemodynamic response to multi-location VNS using biophysics-based computational models of healthy and hypertensive rat cardiovascular systems in resting and exercise states. We designed and implemented the RL-based closed-loop VNS control frameworks in the context of controlling the heart rate and the mean arterial pressure for a set point tracking task. Our experimental design included two approaches; a general policy using deep RL algorithms and a sample-efficient adaptive policy using probabilistic inference for learning and control.Main results.Our simulation results demonstrated the capabilities of the closed-loop RL-based approaches to learn optimal VNS control policies and to adapt to variations in the target set points and the underlying dynamics of the cardiovascular system. Our findings highlighted the trade-off between sample-efficiency and generalizability, providing insights for proper algorithm selection. Finally, we demonstrated that transfer learning improves the sample efficiency of deep RL algorithms allowing the development of more efficient and personalized closed-loop VNS systems.Significance.We demonstrated the capability of RL-based closed-loop VNS systems. Our approach provided a systematic adaptable framework for learning control strategies without requiring prior knowledge about the underlying dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Sarikhani
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Hao-Lun Hsu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Mahmoud Zeydabadinezhad
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Yuyu Yao
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States of America
| | - Mayuresh Kothare
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States of America
| | - Babak Mahmoudi
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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González-González MA, Conde SV, Latorre R, Thébault SC, Pratelli M, Spitzer NC, Verkhratsky A, Tremblay MÈ, Akcora CG, Hernández-Reynoso AG, Ecker M, Coates J, Vincent KL, Ma B. Bioelectronic Medicine: a multidisciplinary roadmap from biophysics to precision therapies. Front Integr Neurosci 2024; 18:1321872. [PMID: 38440417 PMCID: PMC10911101 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2024.1321872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioelectronic Medicine stands as an emerging field that rapidly evolves and offers distinctive clinical benefits, alongside unique challenges. It consists of the modulation of the nervous system by precise delivery of electrical current for the treatment of clinical conditions, such as post-stroke movement recovery or drug-resistant disorders. The unquestionable clinical impact of Bioelectronic Medicine is underscored by the successful translation to humans in the last decades, and the long list of preclinical studies. Given the emergency of accelerating the progress in new neuromodulation treatments (i.e., drug-resistant hypertension, autoimmune and degenerative diseases), collaboration between multiple fields is imperative. This work intends to foster multidisciplinary work and bring together different fields to provide the fundamental basis underlying Bioelectronic Medicine. In this review we will go from the biophysics of the cell membrane, which we consider the inner core of neuromodulation, to patient care. We will discuss the recently discovered mechanism of neurotransmission switching and how it will impact neuromodulation design, and we will provide an update on neuronal and glial basis in health and disease. The advances in biomedical technology have facilitated the collection of large amounts of data, thereby introducing new challenges in data analysis. We will discuss the current approaches and challenges in high throughput data analysis, encompassing big data, networks, artificial intelligence, and internet of things. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the electrochemical properties of neural interfaces, along with the integration of biocompatible and reliable materials and compliance with biomedical regulations for translational applications. Preclinical validation is foundational to the translational process, and we will discuss the critical aspects of such animal studies. Finally, we will focus on the patient point-of-care and challenges in neuromodulation as the ultimate goal of bioelectronic medicine. This review is a call to scientists from different fields to work together with a common endeavor: accelerate the decoding and modulation of the nervous system in a new era of therapeutic possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Alejandra González-González
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Silvia V. Conde
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA University, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ramon Latorre
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Stéphanie C. Thébault
- Laboratorio de Investigación Traslacional en salud visual (D-13), Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Marta Pratelli
- Neurobiology Department, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Nicholas C. Spitzer
- Neurobiology Department, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- International Collaborative Center on Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signaling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cuneyt G. Akcora
- Department of Computer Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | | | - Melanie Ecker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States
| | | | - Kathleen L. Vincent
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Brandy Ma
- Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
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Jelinek M, Lipkova J, Duris K. Vagus nerve stimulation as immunomodulatory therapy for stroke: A comprehensive review. Exp Neurol 2024; 372:114628. [PMID: 38042360 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114628] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Stroke is a devastating cerebrovascular pathology with high morbidity and mortality. Inflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of stroke. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a promising immunomodulatory method that has shown positive effects in stroke treatment, including neuroprotection, anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, reduced infarct volume, improved neurological scores, and promotion of M2 microglial polarization. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the vagus nerve's immunomodulatory effects through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) and provide a comprehensive assessment of the available experimental literature focusing on the use of VNS in stroke treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matyas Jelinek
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jolana Lipkova
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil Duris
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Neurosurgery, The University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Dirr EW, Jiracek LG, Baekey DM, J Martyniuk C, Otto KJ, Zubcevic J. Subdiaphragmatic vagal nerve stimulation attenuates the development of hypertension and alters nucleus of the solitary tract transcriptional networks in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Physiol Genomics 2023; 55:606-617. [PMID: 37746712 PMCID: PMC11178265 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00016.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Augmented vagal signaling may be therapeutic in hypertension. Most studies to date have used stimulation of the cervical vagal branches. Here, we investigated the effects of chronic intermittent electric stimulation of the ventral subdiaphragmatic vagal nerve branch (sdVNS) on long-term blood pressure, immune markers, and gut microbiota in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), a rodent model of hypertension characterized by vagal dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, and low-grade inflammation. We evaluated the effects of sdVNS on transcriptional networks in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), a major cardioregulatory brain region with direct gut vagal projections. Male juvenile SHRs were implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters and vagal nerve cuffs for chronic intermittent electric sdVNS, applied three times per day for 7 consecutive weeks followed by 1 wk of no stimulation. Blood pressure was measured once a week using telemetry in the sdVNS group as well as age-matched sham-stimulated SHR controls. At the endpoint, colonic and circulating inflammatory markers, corticosterone, and circulating catecholamines were investigated. Bacterial 16 s sequencing measured gut bacterial abundance and composition. RNA sequencing evaluated the effects of sdVNS on transcriptional networks in the NTS. SHRs that received sdVNS exhibited attenuated development of hypertension compared with sham animals. No changes in peripheral inflammatory markers, corticosterone, or catecholamines and no major differences in gut bacterial diversity and composition were observed following sdVNS, apart from decreased abundance of Defluviitaleaceale bacterium detected in sdVNS SHRs compared with sham animals. RNA sequencing revealed significant sdVNS-dependent modulation of select NTS transcriptional networks, including catecholaminergic and corticosteroid networks.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that stimulation of the ventral subdiaphragmatic vagal nerve branch may be a promising potential approach to treating hypertension. The data are especially encouraging given that rodents received only 30 min per day of intermittent stimulation therapy and in view of the potential of long-term blood pressure effects that are not stimulus-locked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott W Dirr
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Ladan G Jiracek
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - David M Baekey
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Kevin J Otto
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Jasenka Zubcevic
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States
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Prabhu S, Rangarajan S, Kothare M. Data-driven discovery of sparse dynamical model of cardiovascular system for model predictive control. Comput Biol Med 2023; 166:107513. [PMID: 37839218 PMCID: PMC10982123 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally. In recent years, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown promising results in the treatment of a number of cardiovascular diseases. In this approach, mild electrical pulses are sent to the brain via the vagus nerve. This open-loop neurostimulation, however, leads to various side effects due to physiological and inter-patient variability and therefore a closed-loop delivery strategy of electrical pulses that accounts for this variability is desired. In this context, we envision data-driven sparse dynamical model parameterized by patient-specific data as appropriate for use in closed loop controller design. In this work, we build a dynamical model for mean arterial pressure and heart rate using the method sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics (SINDy). As a proxy for real datasets or measurements from a patient, we simulate a mechanistic model from the literature and then discover a data-driven model for predicting mean arterial pressure and heart rate in response to neural stimulus. This discovered model is then used to design a controller to be implemented in closed-loop via model predictive control. We observe that this data-driven model is interpretable, consistent with experiments, provides insights on the sensitivity of different stimulation locations and simplifies the formulation of the optimal control problem. Noting the set-point tracking performance of this closed-loop model-based controller that uses this discovered model, we conclude that the model is adequate in capturing the dynamics of a highly nonlinear cardiovascular system for the purpose of optimal predictive controller design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Prabhu
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
| | - Srinivas Rangarajan
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
| | - Mayuresh Kothare
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
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7
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Yao Y, Kothare MV. Nonlinear Closed-Loop Predictive Control of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Using Vagus Nerve Stimulation: An In Silico Study. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2023; 70:2764-2775. [PMID: 37656644 PMCID: PMC11058472 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2023.3261744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
We propose a nonlinear model-based control technique for regulating the heart rate and blood pressure using vagus nerve neuromodulation. The closed-loop framework is based on an in silico model of the rat cardiovascular system for the simulation of the hemodynamic response to multi-location vagal nerve stimulation. The in silico model is derived by compartmentalizing the various physiological components involved in the closed-loop cardiovascular system with intrinsic baroreflex regulation to virtually generate nominal and hypertension-related heart dynamics of rats in rest and exercise states. The controller, using a reduced cycle-averaged model, monitors the outputs from the in silico model, estimates the current state of the reduced model, and computes the optimum stimulation locations and the corresponding parameters using a nonlinear model predictive control algorithm. The results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy is robust with respect to its ability to handle setpoint tracking and disturbance rejection in different simulation scenarios.
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Sun T, Tsaava T, Peragine J, Crosfield C, Lopez MF, Modi R, Sharma R, Li C, Sohal H, Chang EH, Rieth L. Flexible IrO x neural electrode for mouse vagus nerve stimulation. Acta Biomater 2023; 159:394-409. [PMID: 36669547 PMCID: PMC10823593 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is being actively explored as a treatment for multiple conditions as part of bioelectronic medicine research. Reliable and safe VNS in mouse models is a critical need for understanding mechanisms of these. We report on the development and evaluation of a microfabricated cuff electrode (MouseFlex) constructed of polyimide (PI) and with iridium oxide (IrOx) electrodes that is thermoformed to 86 µm ± 12 µm radius to interface the mouse cervical vagus nerve (r ≈ 50 µm). Innovative bench-top methods were used to evaluate the stimulation stability and electrochemical properties of electrodes. Our aggressive stimulation stability (Stim-Stab) test utilized 1 billion pulses at a 1000 Hz with a current density of 6.28 A/cm2 (1.51 mC/cm2/phase) delivering 3023 × 103 C/cm2 to evaluate electrode lifetimes, and all electrodes remained functional. We also investigated the effects of thermoforming on their impedance, charge storage capacity (CSC), and charge injection capacity (CIC). The modest changes in electrochemical properties indicate that the thermoforming process was well tolerated. Thermoformed electrode safety and efficacy were evaluated in-vivo by performing acute VNS in mice and monitoring their heart and respiration rate as biomarkers. Their electrochemical properties were also measured before, during and after VNS. Bradycardia and bradypnea were reliably induced at stimulation currents of 100 to 200 µA, well below the in-vivo CIC of ∼1250 µA (∼0.5 mC/cm2), supporting their safety and efficacy. The electrode impedance increased and CIC decreased during in-vivo use, but largely reversed these changes in in-vitro testing after enzymatic cleaning, supporting their tolerance for surgical use. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a rapidly growing aspect of healthcare and bioelectronic medicine research. Reliable and safe VNS in mice with small diameter (d ≈ 100 µm) nerves has been a challenge due to achieving intimate contact with the nerve, and the stimulation stability of commonly used electrodes. We demonstrate a microfabricated (MouseFlex) cuff electrode constructed of polyimide with IrOx electrodes that is thermoformed to contact the mouse cervical vagus. Bench studies highlight the stimulation stability exceeded 109 pulses at 6.28 A/cm2 and their electrochemical properties were measured before, during, and after bench and nerve stimulation. Nerve stimulation induced bradycardia and bradypnea at currents below the in-vivo charge injection capacity, supporting their safety, efficacy, and tolerance for surgical handling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Sun
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering & Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States
| | - Téa Tsaava
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York 11030, United States
| | - Joanne Peragine
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York 11030, United States
| | - Christine Crosfield
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York 11030, United States
| | | | - Romil Modi
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York 11030, United States
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States; Applied Biosensors, Salt Lake City, UT 84115, United States
| | - Chunyan Li
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York 11030, United States
| | | | - Eric H Chang
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York 11030, United States
| | - Loren Rieth
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering & Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States.
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Kronsteiner B, Haberbusch M, Aigner P, Kramer AM, Pilz PM, Podesser BK, Kiss A, Moscato F. A novel ex-vivo isolated rabbit heart preparation to explore the cardiac effects of cervical and cardiac vagus nerve stimulation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4214. [PMID: 36918673 PMCID: PMC10014867 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31135-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The cardiac responses to vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are still not fully understood, partly due to uncontrollable confounders in the in-vivo experimental condition. Therefore, an ex-vivo Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart with intact vagal innervation is proposed to study VNS in absence of cofounding anesthetic or autonomic influences. The feasibility to evoke chronotropic responses through electrical stimulation ex-vivo was studied in innervated isolated rabbit hearts (n = 6). The general nerve excitability was assessed through the ability to evoke a heart rate (HR) reduction of at least 5 bpm (physiological threshold). The excitability was quantified as the charge needed for a 10-bpm HR reduction. The results were compared to a series of in-vivo experiments rabbits (n = 5). In the ex-vivo isolated heart, the baseline HR was about 20 bpm lower than in-vivo (158 ± 11 bpm vs 181 ± 19 bpm). Overall, the nerve remained excitable for about 5 h ex-vivo. The charges required to reduce HR by 5 bpm were 9 ± 6 µC and 549 ± 370 µC, ex-vivo and in-vivo, respectively. The charges needed for a 10-bpm HR reduction, normalized to the physiological threshold were 1.78 ± 0.8 and 1.22 ± 0.1, in-vivo and ex-vivo, respectively. Overall, the viability of this ex-vivo model to study the acute cardiac effects of VNS was demonstrated.
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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.
| | - Max Haberbusch
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Aigner
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne-Margarethe Kramer
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick M Pilz
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bruno K Podesser
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Attila Kiss
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research, 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 Engineering, Vienna, Austria
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10
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Ji N, Li Y, Wei J, Chen F, Xu L, Li G, Lin WH. Autonomic modulation by low-intensity focused ultrasound stimulation of the vagus nerve. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 36541473 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aca8cd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective.Our previous study has shown that low-intensity focused ultrasound stimulation (FUS) of the vagus nerve could modulate blood pressure (BP), but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that low-intensity FUS of the vagus nerve would regulate autonomic function and thus BP.Approach.17 anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats were treated with low-intensity FUS of the left vagus nerve for 15 min each trial. Continuous BP, heart rate, respiration rate (RR), and core body temperature were simultaneously recorded to evaluate the effects on BP and other physiological parameters. Heart rate variability (HRV), systolic BP variability, and baroreflex sensitivity were computed to evaluate the autonomic modulation function. A Control-sham group without stimulation and another Control-FUS group with non-target stimulation were also examined to exclude the influence of potential confounding factors on autonomic modulation.Main results.A prolonged significant decrease in BP, pulse pressure, RR, the normalized low-frequency power of HRV, and the low-to-high frequency power ratio of HRV were found after the low-intensity FUS of the left vagus nerve in comparison with the baseline and those of the control groups, demonstrating that activities of the sympathetic nervous system were inhibited. The prolonged significant increase of the normalized high-frequency power of HRV suggested the activation of parasympathetic activity.Significance.Low-intensity FUS of the left vagus nerve effectively improved the autonomic function by activating parasympathetic efferent and inhibiting sympathetic efferent, which contributes to BP reduction. The findings shed light on the hypotensive mechanism underlying FUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ji
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, People's Republic of China.,CAS Key Lab of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems and Research Center for Neural Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanheng Li
- CAS Key Lab of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems and Research Center for Neural Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Wei
- CAS Key Lab of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems and Research Center for Neural Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China.,Department of Human Anatomy, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai 519041, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Lisheng Xu
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanglin Li
- CAS Key Lab of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems and Research Center for Neural Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Wan-Hua Lin
- CAS Key Lab of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems and Research Center for Neural Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
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11
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Ahmed U, Chang YC, Zafeiropoulos S, Nassrallah Z, Miller L, Zanos S. Strategies for precision vagus neuromodulation. Bioelectron Med 2022; 8:9. [PMID: 35637543 PMCID: PMC9150383 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-022-00091-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The vagus nerve is involved in the autonomic regulation of physiological homeostasis, through vast innervation of cervical, thoracic and abdominal visceral organs. Stimulation of the vagus with bioelectronic devices represents a therapeutic opportunity for several disorders implicating the autonomic nervous system and affecting different organs. During clinical translation, vagus stimulation therapies may benefit from a precision medicine approach, in which stimulation accommodates individual variability due to nerve anatomy, nerve-electrode interface or disease state and aims at eliciting therapeutic effects in targeted organs, while minimally affecting non-targeted organs. In this review, we discuss the anatomical and physiological basis for precision neuromodulation of the vagus at the level of nerve fibers, fascicles, branches and innervated organs. We then discuss different strategies for precision vagus neuromodulation, including fascicle- or fiber-selective cervical vagus nerve stimulation, stimulation of vagal branches near the end-organs, and ultrasound stimulation of vagus terminals at the end-organs themselves. Finally, we summarize targets for vagus neuromodulation in neurological, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders and suggest potential precision neuromodulation strategies that could form the basis for effective and safe therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umair Ahmed
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Yao-Chuan Chang
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Stefanos Zafeiropoulos
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Zeinab Nassrallah
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York, USA
| | - Larry Miller
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Stavros Zanos
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, USA.
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York, USA.
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12
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Sevcencu C. Single-interface bioelectronic medicines - concept, clinical applications and preclinical data. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 35533654 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac6e08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
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. Addressing those limitations, a next generation class of closed-loop controlled and selective neurostimulators generically named bioelectronic medicines seems within reach. A sub-class of such devices is meant to monitor and treat impaired functions by intercepting, analyzing and modulating neural signals involved in the regulation of such functions using just one neural interface for those purposes. The primary objective of this review is to provide a first broad perspective on this type of single-interface devices for bioelectronic therapies. For this purpose, the concept, clinical applications and preclinical studies for further developments with such devices are here analyzed in a narrative manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Sevcencu
- National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400293, ROMANIA
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13
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Kim H, Jung HR, Kim JB, Kim DJ. Autonomic Dysfunction in Sleep Disorders: From Neurobiological Basis to Potential Therapeutic Approaches. J Clin Neurol 2022; 18:140-151. [PMID: 35274834 PMCID: PMC8926769 DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2022.18.2.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep disorder has been portrayed as merely a common dissatisfaction with sleep quality and quantity. However, sleep disorder is actually a medical condition characterized by inconsistent sleep patterns that interfere with emotional dynamics, cognitive functioning, and even physical performance. This is consistent with sleep abnormalities being more common in patients with autonomic dysfunction than in the general population. The autonomic nervous system coordinates various visceral functions ranging from respiration to neuroendocrine secretion in order to maintain homeostasis of the body. Because the cell population and efferent signals involved in autonomic regulation are spatially adjacent to those that regulate the sleep-wake system, sleep architecture and autonomic coordination exert effects on each other, suggesting the presence of a bidirectional relationship in addition to shared pathology. The primary goal of this review is to highlight the bidirectional and shared relationship between sleep and autonomic regulation. It also introduces the effects of autonomic dysfunction on insomnia, breathing disorders, central disorders of hypersomnolence, parasomnias, and movement disorders. This information will assist clinicians in determining how neuromodulation can have the greatest therapeutic effects in patients with sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakseung Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Ra Jung
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jung Bin Kim
- Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dong-Joo Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Artificial Intelligence, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
- NeuroTx, Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea
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14
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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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15
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Sabetian P, Sadat-Nejad Y, Yoo PB. Classification of directionally specific vagus nerve activity using an upper airway obstruction model in anesthetized rodents. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10682. [PMID: 34021186 PMCID: PMC8139989 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89624-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical signals from the peripheral nervous system have the potential to provide the necessary motor, sensory or autonomic information for implementing closed-loop control of neuroprosthetic or neuromodulatory systems. However, developing methods to recover information encoded in these signals is a significant challenge. Our goal was to test the feasibility of measuring physiologically generated nerve action potentials that can be classified as sensory or motor signals. A tetrapolar recording nerve cuff electrode was used to measure vagal nerve (VN) activity in a rodent model of upper airway obstruction. The effect of upper airway occlusions on VN activity related to respiration (RnP) was calculated and compared for 4 different cases: (1) intact VN, (2) VN transection only proximal to recording electrode, (3) VN transection only distal to the recording electrode, and (4) transection of VN proximal and distal to electrode. We employed a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model with Gaussian Kernel to learn a model capable of classifying efferent and afferent waveforms obtained from the tetrapolar electrode. In vivo results showed that the RnP values decreased significantly during obstruction by 91.7% ± 3.1%, and 78.2% ± 3.4% for cases of intact VN or proximal transection, respectively. In contrast, there were no significant changes for cases of VN transection at the distal end or both ends of the electrode. The SVM model yielded an 85.8% accuracy in distinguishing motor and sensory signals. The feasibility of measuring low-noise directionally-sensitive neural activity using a tetrapolar nerve cuff electrode along with the use of an SVM classifier was shown. Future experimental work in chronic implant studies is needed to support clinical translatability.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Sabetian
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College St Room 407, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Y Sadat-Nejad
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Rd, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Paul B Yoo
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College St Room 407, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada. .,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Rd, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada. .,Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, University of Toronto, 550 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 2A2, Canada.
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16
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Scridon A, Halaţiu VB, Balan AI, Cozac DA, Moldovan V, Bănescu C, Perian M, Şerban RC. Long-Term Effects of Ivabradine on Cardiac Vagal Parasympathetic Function in Normal Rats. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:596956. [PMID: 33897414 PMCID: PMC8061748 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.596956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The complex interactions that exist between the pacemaker current, I f, and the parasympathetic nervous system could significantly influence the course of patients undergoing chronic therapy with the I f blocker ivabradine. We thus aimed to assess the effects of chronic ivabradine therapy on autonomic modulation and on the cardiovascular response to in situ and in vitro parasympathetic stimulation. The right atrial expression of HCN genes, encoding proteins for I f, was also evaluated. Methods: Sympathetic and parasympathetic heart rate variability parameters and right atrial HCN(1-4) RNA levels were analyzed in 6 Control and 10 ivabradine-treated male Wistar rats (IVA; 3 weeks, 10 mg/kg/day). The heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) responses to in situ electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve (2-20 Hz) were assessed in 6 additional Control and 10 IVA rats. The spontaneous sinus node discharge rate (SNDR) response to in vitro cholinergic receptors stimulation using carbamylcholine (10-9-10-6 mol/L) was also assessed in these later rats. Results: Ivabradine significantly increased vagal modulation and shifted the sympatho-vagal balance toward vagal dominance. In Control, in situ vagus nerve stimulation induced progressive decrease in both the SBP (p = 0.0001) and the HR (p< 0.0001). Meanwhile, in IVA, vagal stimulation had no effect on the HR (p = 0.16) and induced a significantly lower drop in SBP (p< 0.05). IVA also displayed a significantly lower SNDR drop in response to carbamylcholine (p< 0.01) and significantly higher right atrial HCN4 expression (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Chronic ivabradine administration enhanced vagal modulation in healthy rats. In addition, ivabradine reduced the HR response to direct muscarinic receptors stimulation, canceled the cardioinhibitory response and blunted the hemodynamic response to in situ vagal stimulation. These data bring new insights into the mechanisms of ivabradine-related atrial proarrhythmia and suggest that long-term I f blockade may protect against excessive bradycardia induced by acute vagal activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Scridon
- University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania.,Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Târgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Vasile Bogdan Halaţiu
- University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Alkora Ioana Balan
- University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Dan Alexandru Cozac
- University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania.,Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Valeriu Moldovan
- University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania.,Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Târgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Claudia Bănescu
- University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania.,Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Târgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Marcel Perian
- University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania.,Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Târgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Răzvan Constantin Şerban
- Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania
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17
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Yang F, Chen H, Gao Y, An N, Li X, Pan X, Yang X, Tian L, Sun J, Xiong X, Xing Y. Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids and hypertension: Mechanism and treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 130:110503. [PMID: 34321175 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertension (HTN) is an growing emerging health issue around across the world. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the role of dysbacteriosis in HTN and its underlying mechanism. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are novel metabolites of intestinal flora, exert substantial regulatory effects on HTN, providing an exciting avenue for novel therapies for this disease. They function primarily by activating transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors and inhibiting histone acetylation. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms underlying the complex interaction between SCFAs and gut microbiota composition to lower blood pressure by regulating the brain-gut and kidney-gut axes, and the role of high-salt diet, immune system, oxidative stress, and inflammatory mechanism in the development of HTN. Furthermore, we also discuss the various treatment strategies for HTN, including diet, antibiotics, probiotics, fecal microflora transplantation, and traditional Chinese medicine. In conclusion, manipulation of SCFAs opens new avenues to improve treatment of HTN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Hengwen Chen
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yonghong Gao
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Na An
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xinye Li
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiandu Pan
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Li Tian
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahao Sun
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xingjiang Xiong
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
| | - Yanwei Xing
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
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18
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Domingos-Souza G, Santos-Almeida FM, Meschiari CA, Ferreira NS, Pereira CA, Martinez D, Dias DPM, Silva LEV, Castania JA, Tostes RC, Fazan R. Electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus lowers arterial pressure and improves heart rate variability in L-NAME hypertensive conscious rats. Hypertens Res 2020; 43:1057-1067. [PMID: 32358534 DOI: 10.1038/s41440-020-0448-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the effects of long-term (48 h) electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus (CS) in hypertensive rats. L-NAME-treated (10 days) Wistar rats were implanted with a catheter in the femoral artery and a miniaturized electrical stimulator attached to electrodes positioned around the left CS, encompassing the CS nerve. One day after implantation, arterial pressure (AP) was directly recorded in conscious animals for 60 min. Square pulses (1 ms, 3 V, 30 Hz) were applied intermittently (20/20 s ON/OFF) to the CS for 48 h. After the end of stimulation, AP was recorded again. Nonstimulated rats (control group) and rats without electrodes around the CS (sham-operated) were also studied. Next, the animals were decapitated, and segments of mesenteric resistance arteries were removed to study vascular function. After the stimulation period, AP was 16 ± 5 mmHg lower in the stimulated group, whereas sham-operated and control rats showed similar AP between the first and second recording periods. Heart rate variability (HRV) evaluated using time and frequency domain tools and a nonlinear approach (symbolic analysis) suggested that hypertensive rats with electrodes around the CS, stimulated or not, exhibited a shift in cardiac sympathovagal balance towards parasympathetic tone. The relaxation response to acetylcholine in endothelium-intact mesenteric arteries was enhanced in rats that underwent CS stimulation for 48 h. In conclusion, long-term CS stimulation is effective in reducing AP levels, improving HRV and increasing mesenteric vascular relaxation in L-NAME hypertensive rats. Moreover, only the presence of electrodes around the CS is effective in eliciting changes in HRV similar to those observed in stimulated rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gean Domingos-Souza
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| | | | - César Arruda Meschiari
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.,Health and Sports Science Center, Federal University of Acre, Rio Branco, AC, Brazil
| | - Nathanne S Ferreira
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila A Pereira
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Diana Martinez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | | | - Luiz Eduardo Virgílio Silva
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Jaci Airton Castania
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Rita C Tostes
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Rubens Fazan
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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19
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To give an overview on recent developments in permanent implant-based therapy of resistant hypertension. RECENT FINDINGS The American Heart Association (AHA) recently updated their guidelines to treat high blood pressure (BP). As elevated BP now is defined as a systolic BP above 120 mmHg, the prevalence of hypertension in the USA has increased from 32% (old definition of hypertension) to 46%. In the past years, device- and implant-mediated therapies have evolved and extensively studied in various patient populations. Despite an initial drawback in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of bilateral carotid sinus stimulation (CSS), new and less invasive and unilateral systems for baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) with the BAROSTIM NEO® have been developed which show promising results in small non-randomized controlled (RCT) studies. Selective vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has been successfully evaluated in rodents, but has not yet been tested in humans. A new endovascular approach to reshape the carotid sinus to lower BP (MobiusHD™) has been introduced (baroreflex amplification therapy) with favorable results in non-RCT trials. However, long-term results are not yet available for this treatment option. A specific subgroup of patients, those with indication for a 2-chamber cardiac pacemaker, may benefit from a new stimulation paradigm which reduces the AV latency and therefore limits the filling time of the left ventricle. The most invasive approach for resistant hypertension still is the neuromodulation by deep brain stimulation (DBS), which has been shown to significantly lower BP in single cases. Implant-mediated therapy remains a promising approach for the treatment of resistant hypertension. Due to their invasiveness, such treatment options must prove superiority over conventional therapies with regard to safety and efficacy before they can be generally offered to a wider patient population. Overall, BAROSTIM NEO® and MobiusHD™, for which large RCTs will soon be available, are likely to meet those criteria and may represent the first implant-mediated therapeutical options for hypertension, while the use of DBS probably will be reserved for individual cases. The utility of VNS awaits appropriate assessment.
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20
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Capilupi MJ, Kerath SM, Becker LB. Vagus Nerve Stimulation and the Cardiovascular System. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:cshperspect.a034173. [PMID: 31109966 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a034173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The vagus nerve plays an important role in maintaining physiological homeostasis, which includes reflex pathways that regulate cardiac function. The link between vagus nerve activity and the high-frequency component of heart rate variability (HRV) has been well established, correlating with vagal tone. Recently, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been investigated as a therapeutic for a multitude of diseases, such as treatment-resistant epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and asthma. Because of the vagus nerve's innervation of the heart, VNS has been identified as a potential therapy for cardiovascular disorders, such as cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke. Here, we review the current state of preclinical and clinical studies, as well as the potential application of VNS in relation to the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Capilupi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York 11030
| | - Samantha M Kerath
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York 11030
| | - Lance B Becker
- Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York 11030.,Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York 11030.,Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York 11549
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21
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Zanos TP. Recording and Decoding of Vagal Neural Signals Related to Changes in Physiological Parameters and Biomarkers of Disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2019; 9:a034157. [PMID: 30670469 PMCID: PMC6886457 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a034157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Our bodies have built-in neural reflexes that continuously monitor organ function and maintain physiological homeostasis. Whereas the field of bioelectronic medicine has mainly focused on the stimulation of neural circuits to treat various conditions, recent studies have started to investigate the possibility of leveraging the sensory arm of these reflexes to diagnose disease states. To accomplish this, neural signals emanating from the body's built-in biosensors and propagating through peripheral nerves must be recorded and decoded to identify the presence or levels of relevant biomarkers of disease. The process of acquiring these signals poses several technical challenges related to the neural interfaces, surgical techniques, and data-processing framework needed to record and analyze them. However, these challenges can be addressed with a rigorous experimental approach and new advances in implantable electrodes, signal processing, and machine learning methods. Outlined in this review are studies decoding vagus nerve activity as it related to inflammatory, metabolic, and cardiopulmonary biomarkers. Successfully decoding peripheral nerve activity related to disease states will not only enable the development of real-time diagnostic devices, but also help advancing truly closed-loop neuromodulation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodoros P Zanos
- Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Manhasset, New York 11030
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22
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Dickie DA, Kimberley TJ, Pierce D, Engineer N, Tarver WB, Dawson J. An Exploratory Study of Predictors of Response to Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired with Upper-Limb Rehabilitation After Ischemic Stroke. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15902. [PMID: 31685853 PMCID: PMC6828969 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52092-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown the safety and feasibility of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with upper-limb rehabilitation after ischemic stroke. In this exploratory study, we assessed whether clinical and brain MRI variables predict response to treatment. We used data from two completed randomised and blinded clinical trials (N = 35). All participants had moderate to severe upper-limb weakness and were randomised to 6-weeks intensive physiotherapy with or without VNS. Participants had 3 T brain MRI at baseline. The primary outcome was change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment, upper-extremity score (FMA-UE) from baseline to the first day after therapy completion. We used general linear regression to identify clinical and brain MRI predictors of change in FMA-UE. VNS-treated participants had greater improvement in FMA-UE at day-1 post therapy than controls (8.63 ± 5.02 versus 3.79 ± 5.04 points, t = 2.83, Cohen's d = 0.96, P = 0.008). Higher cerebrospinal fluid volume was associated with less improvement in FMA-UE in the control but not VNS group. This was also true for white matter hyperintensity volume but not after removal of an outlying participant from the control group. Responders in the VNS group had more severe arm impairment at baseline than responders to control. A phase III trial is now underway to formally determine whether VNS improves outcomes and will explore whether these differ in people with more severe baseline upper-limb disability and cerebrovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Alexander Dickie
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, G51 4TF, United Kingdom.
| | - Teresa Jacobson Kimberley
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Charlestown Navy Yard, 36 1st Avenue, Boston, MA, 02129, United States
| | - David Pierce
- MicroTransponder, Inc., Austin, TX, United States
| | | | | | - Jesse Dawson
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, G51 4TF, United Kingdom
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Mashaqi S, Gozal D. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Systemic Hypertension: Gut Dysbiosis as the Mediator? J Clin Sleep Med 2019; 15:1517-1527. [PMID: 31596218 PMCID: PMC6778338 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.7990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and systemic hypertension (SH) are common and interrelated diseases. It is estimated that approximately 75% of treatment-resistant hypertension cases have an underlying OSA. Exploration of the gut microbiome is a new advance in medicine that has been linked to many comorbid illnesses, including SH and OSA. Here, we will review the literature in SH and gut dysbiosis, OSA and gut dysbiosis, and whether gut dysbiosis is common in both conditions. METHODS We reviewed the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, including PubMed and PubMed Central. We identified a total of 230 articles. The literature search was conducted using the phrase "obstructive sleep apnea and gut dysbiosis." Only original research articles were included. This yielded a total of 12 articles. RESULTS Most of the research conducted in this field was on animal models, and almost all trials confirmed that intermittent hypoxia models resulted in gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis, however, can cause a state of low-grade inflammation through damage to the gut wall barrier resulting in "leaky gut." Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of the pathophysiology of OSA-induced SH. CONCLUSIONS Gut dysbiosis seems to be an important factor in the pathophysiology of OSA-induced hypertension. Reversing gut dysbiosis at an early stage through prebiotics and probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation combined with positive airway pressure therapy may open new horizons of treatment to prevent SH. More studies are needed in humans to elicit the effect of positive airway pressure therapy on gut dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saif Mashaqi
- Division of Sleep Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine – Sanford Health, Fargo, North Dakota
| | - David Gozal
- Department of Child Health and the Child Health Research Institute, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
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24
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Wang Y, Po SS, Scherlag BJ, Yu L, Jiang H. The role of low-level vagus nerve stimulation in cardiac therapy. Expert Rev Med Devices 2019; 16:675-682. [PMID: 31306049 DOI: 10.1080/17434440.2019.1643234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are accompanied by autonomic nervous system (ANS) imbalance which is characterized by decreased vagal tone. Preclinical and clinical studies have revealed that increasing vagal activity via vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) could protect the heart. Based on these studies, VNS has emerged as a potential non-pharmaceutical treatment strategy. Although it's still difficult to find the optimal stimulus parameters, however, in arrhythmia model, it is reported that low-level VNS (LL-VNS) exacts paradoxical effects from the high-level VNS. Thus, the concept of LL-VNS is introduced. Areas covered: Animal and human studies have discussed the safety and efficacy of VNS and LL-VNS, and this review will discuss the research data in cardiovascular diseases, including atrial arrhythmia, ventricular arrhythmia, ischemia/reperfusion injury, heart failure, and hypertension. Expert opinion: In this regard, various clinical studies have been performed to verify the safety and efficacy of VNS. It is shown that VNS is well-tolerated and safe, but the results of its efficacy are conflicting, which may well block the translational process of VNS. The appearance of LL-VNS brings new idea and inspiration, suggesting an important role of subthreshold stimulation. A better understanding of the LL-VNS will contribute to translational research of VNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhong Wang
- a Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology , Wuhan , Hubei , China.,b Key Laboratory of Myocardial Ischemia, Ministry of Education, Harbin Medical University , Harbin , China
| | - Sunny S Po
- c Heart Rhythm Institute and Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center , Oklahoma City , OK , USA
| | - Benjamin J Scherlag
- c Heart Rhythm Institute and Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center , Oklahoma City , OK , USA
| | - Lilei Yu
- a Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology , Wuhan , Hubei , China
| | - Hong Jiang
- a Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology , Wuhan , Hubei , China
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25
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Hernandez-Reynoso AG, Nandam S, O’Brien JM, Kanneganti A, Cogan SF, Freeman DK, Romero-Ortega MI. Miniature electroparticle-cuff for wireless peripheral neuromodulation. J Neural Eng 2019; 16:046002. [DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ab1c36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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26
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Sevcencu C, Nielsen TN, Struijk JJ. An Intraneural Electrode for Bioelectronic Medicines for Treatment of Hypertension. Neuromodulation 2018; 21:777-786. [DOI: 10.1111/ner.12758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Sevcencu
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Aalborg University; Aalborg Denmark
| | - Thomas N. Nielsen
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Aalborg University; Aalborg Denmark
| | - Johannes J. Struijk
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Medical Informatics; Aalborg University; Aalborg Denmark
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27
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Sevcencu C, Nielsen TN, Struijk JJ. A neural blood pressure marker for bioelectronic medicines for treatment of hypertension. Biosens Bioelectron 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2017.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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28
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Lee S, Peh WYX, Wang J, Yang F, Ho JS, Thakor NV, Yen S, Lee C. Toward Bioelectronic Medicine-Neuromodulation of Small Peripheral Nerves Using Flexible Neural Clip. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2017; 4:1700149. [PMID: 29201608 PMCID: PMC5700646 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201700149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2017] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Neural modulation technology and the capability to affect organ function have spawned the new field of bioelectronic medicine. Therapeutic interventions depend on wireless bioelectronic neural interfaces that can conformally and easily attach to small (few hundred micrometers) nerves located deep in the body without neural damage. Besides size, factors like flexibility and compliance to attach and adapt to visceral nerves associated moving organs are of paramount importance and have not been previously addressed. This study proposes a novel flexible neural clip (FNC) that can be used to interface with a variety of different peripheral nerves. To illustrate the flexibility of the design, this study stimulates the pelvic nerve, the vagus nerve, and branches of the sciatic nerve and evaluates the feasibility of the design in modulating the function of each of these nerves. It is found that this FNC allows fine-tuning of physiological processes such as micturition, heart rate, and muscle contractions. Furthermore, this study also tests the ability of wirelessly powered FNC to enable remote modulation of visceral pelvic nerves located deep in the body. These results show that the FNC can be used with a range of different nerves, providing one of the critical pieces in the field of bioelectronics medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghoon Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117583Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE)National University of Singapore28 Medical Drive, #05‐CORSingapore117456Singapore
- Center for Intelligent Sensors and MEMSNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117576Singapore
- NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI)Industrial ParkSuzhou215123P. R. China
| | - Wendy Yen Xian Peh
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE)National University of Singapore28 Medical Drive, #05‐CORSingapore117456Singapore
| | - Jiahui Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117583Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE)National University of Singapore28 Medical Drive, #05‐CORSingapore117456Singapore
- Center for Intelligent Sensors and MEMSNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117576Singapore
- NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI)Industrial ParkSuzhou215123P. R. China
| | - Fengyuan Yang
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117583Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE)National University of Singapore28 Medical Drive, #05‐CORSingapore117456Singapore
| | - John S. Ho
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117583Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE)National University of Singapore28 Medical Drive, #05‐CORSingapore117456Singapore
| | - Nitish V. Thakor
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117583Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE)National University of Singapore28 Medical Drive, #05‐CORSingapore117456Singapore
- Graduate School for Integrative Science and EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore117456Singapore
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringSchool of MedicineJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD21205USA
| | - Shih‐Cheng Yen
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117583Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE)National University of Singapore28 Medical Drive, #05‐CORSingapore117456Singapore
| | - Chengkuo Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117583Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE)National University of Singapore28 Medical Drive, #05‐CORSingapore117456Singapore
- Center for Intelligent Sensors and MEMSNational University of Singapore4 Engineering Drive 3Singapore117576Singapore
- NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI)Industrial ParkSuzhou215123P. R. China
- Graduate School for Integrative Science and EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore117456Singapore
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29
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Yang T, Zubcevic J. Gut-Brain Axis in Regulation of Blood Pressure. Front Physiol 2017; 8:845. [PMID: 29118721 PMCID: PMC5661004 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertension (HTN) is an escalating health issue worldwide. It is estimated that 1.56 billion people will suffer from high blood pressure (BP) by 2025. Recent studies reported an association between gut dysbiosis and HTN, thus proposing interesting avenues for novel treatments of this condition. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the immune system (IS) play a recognized role in the onset and progression of HTN, while reciprocal communication between gut microbiota and the brain can regulate BP by modulating the interplay between the IS and SNS. This review presents the current state of the science implicating brain-gut connection in HTN, highlighting potential pathways of their interaction in control of BP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jasenka Zubcevic
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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30
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Abstract
Hypertension continues to be a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality, fuelled by an abundance of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure despite the multitude of pharmacological options available. This may occur as a consequence of true resistant hypertension, through an inability to tolerate current pharmacological therapies, or non-adherence to antihypertensive medication. In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion of device-based therapies proposed as novel non-pharmacological approaches to treating resistant hypertension. In this review, we discuss seven novel devices—renal nerve denervation, baroreflex activation therapy, carotid body ablation, central iliac arteriovenous anastomosis, deep brain stimulation, median nerve stimulation, and vagal nerve stimulation. We highlight how the devices differ, the varying degrees of evidence available to date and upcoming trials. This review also considers the possible factors that may enable appropriate device selection for different hypertension phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu L Ng
- Barts BP Centre of Excellence, Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, W Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE, UK.,Barts NIHR Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit, Charterhouse Square, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Manish Saxena
- Barts BP Centre of Excellence, Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, W Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE, UK.,Barts NIHR Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit, Charterhouse Square, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Felix Mahfoud
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Angiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Atul Pathak
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hypertension and Heart Failure Unit, Health Innovation Lab (Hi-Lab) Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse, France
| | - Melvin D Lobo
- Barts BP Centre of Excellence, Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, W Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE, UK. .,Barts NIHR Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit, Charterhouse Square, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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31
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Sevcencu C, Nielsen TN, Kjaergaard B, Struijk JJ. A Respiratory Marker Derived From Left Vagus Nerve Signals Recorded With Implantable Cuff Electrodes. Neuromodulation 2017; 21:269-275. [DOI: 10.1111/ner.12630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Sevcencu
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Aalborg University, Aalborg; Denmark
| | - Thomas N. Nielsen
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI); Aalborg University, Aalborg; Denmark
| | - Benedict Kjaergaard
- Biomedical Research Laboratory and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery; Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg; Denmark
| | - Johannes J. Struijk
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Medical Informatics; Aalborg University, Aalborg; Denmark
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32
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Plachta DTT, Zentner J, Aguirre D, Cota O, Stieglitz T, Gierthmuehlen M. Effect of Cardiac-Cycle-Synchronized Selective Vagal Stimulation on Heart Rate and Blood Pressure in Rats. Adv Ther 2016; 33:1246-61. [PMID: 27220533 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-016-0348-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Activation of the baroreflex system through the selective vagal nerve stimulation (sVNS) may become a treatment option for therapy-resistant hypertension, which is a frequently observed problem in the antihypertensive therapy. In previous studies, we used continuous sVNS to lower blood pressure (BP) without major side effects in a rat model. As continuous stimulation is energy consuming and sVNS could be implemented in an antihypertensive stimulator, it was the aim of this study to investigate the efficacy of pulsatile, cardiac-cycle-synchronized sVNS (cssVNS) on the reduction of BP. METHODS A multichannel cuff electrode was wrapped around the left vagal nerve in six male Wistar rats under Isoflurane anesthesia. BP was recorded in the left carotid artery. An electrocardiogram (ECG) was obtained via subcutaneous needle electrodes. The aortic depressor nerve fibers in the vagal nerve bundle were selectively stimulated with 18 parameter settings within a window of 15-30 ms after the R-peak in the ECG. The stimulation paradigm included every heartbeat, every second heart beat, and every third heart beat. BP and heart rate were initially recorded over 10 min. RESULTS Using cssVNS, BP could be significantly reduced over 30 min and maintained at this level. While the highest BP reduction was seen during cssVNS at every heartbeat with minimal bradycardia, less-yet significant-BP reduction was seen during cssVNS at every second or third heartbeat without causing detectable bradycardia. CONCLUSION cssVNS can chronically reduce BP in rats avoiding measurable bradycardic side effects. This energy-efficient technique might allow the implementation of sVNS using an implantable device to permanently lower BP in patients. FUNDING The study was funded by Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung/German Federal Ministry of Education and Research among the call "Individualisierte Medizintechnik" under the grant number FKZ 13GW0120B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis T T Plachta
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Josef Zentner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Debora Aguirre
- Laboratory for Biomedical Microtechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering-IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 106, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Oscar Cota
- Neuroloop GmbH, Engesserstr. 4, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Stieglitz
- Laboratory for Biomedical Microtechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering-IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 106, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mortimer Gierthmuehlen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
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Guiraud D, Andreu D, Bonnet S, Carrault G, Couderc P, Hagège A, Henry C, Hernandez A, Karam N, Le Rolle V, Mabo P, Maciejasz P, Malbert CH, Marijon E, Maubert S, Picq C, Rossel O, Bonnet JL. Vagus nerve stimulation: state of the art of stimulation and recording strategies to address autonomic function neuromodulation. J Neural Eng 2016; 13:041002. [PMID: 27351347 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2560/13/4/041002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neural signals along the vagus nerve (VN) drive many somatic and autonomic functions. The clinical interest of VN stimulation (VNS) is thus potentially huge and has already been demonstrated in epilepsy. However, side effects are often elicited, in addition to the targeted neuromodulation. APPROACH This review examines the state of the art of VNS applied to two emerging modulations of autonomic function: heart failure and obesity, especially morbid obesity. MAIN RESULTS We report that VNS may benefit from improved stimulation delivery using very advanced technologies. However, most of the results from fundamental animal studies still need to be demonstrated in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Guiraud
- Inria, DEMAR, Montpellier, France. University of Montpellier, DEMAR, Montpellier, France
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34
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Gierthmuehlen M, Aguirre D, Cota O, Zentner J, Stieglitz T, Plachta DTT. Influence of Clonidine on Antihypertensive Selective Afferent Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Rats. Neuromodulation 2016; 19:597-606. [DOI: 10.1111/ner.12463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mortimer Gierthmuehlen
- Department of Neurosurgery; Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg; Germany
| | - Debora Aguirre
- Laboratory for Biomedical Microtechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering-IMTEK; University of Freiburg; Freiburg Germany
- Neuroloop GmbH; Freiburg Germany
| | - Oscar Cota
- Laboratory for Biomedical Microtechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering-IMTEK; University of Freiburg; Freiburg Germany
- Neuroloop GmbH; Freiburg Germany
| | - Josef Zentner
- Department of Neurosurgery; Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg; Germany
| | - Thomas Stieglitz
- Laboratory for Biomedical Microtechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering-IMTEK; University of Freiburg; Freiburg Germany
| | - Dennis T. T. Plachta
- Department of Neurosurgery; Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg; Germany
- Laboratory for Biomedical Microtechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering-IMTEK; University of Freiburg; Freiburg Germany
- Neuroloop GmbH; Freiburg Germany
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