1
|
Bonaz B. Enteric neuropathy and the vagus nerve: Therapeutic implications. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2024:e14842. [PMID: 38873822 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Enteric neuropathies are characterized by abnormalities of gut innervation, which includes the enteric nervous system, inducing severe gut dysmotility among other dysfunctions. Most of the gastrointestinal tract is innervated by the vagus nerve, the efferent branches of which have close interconnections with the enteric nervous system and whose afferents are distributed throughout the different layers of the digestive wall. The vagus nerve is a key element of the autonomic nervous system, involved in the stress response, at the interface of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, has anti-inflammatory and prokinetic properties, modulates intestinal permeability, and has a significant capacity of plasticity and regeneration. Targeting these properties of the vagus nerve, with vagus nerve stimulation (or non-stimulation/ pharmacological methods), could be of interest in the therapeutic management of enteric neuropathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Bonaz
- Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences, Université Grenoble Alpes-Faculté de Médecine, Grenoble, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kang J, Lee M, Park M, Lee J, Lee S, Park J, Koyanagi A, Smith L, Nehs CJ, Yon DK, Kim T. Slow gut transit increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease: An integrated study of the bi-national cohort in South Korea and Japan and Alzheimer's disease model mice. J Adv Res 2023:S2090-1232(23)00397-1. [PMID: 38097171 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although the association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and constipation is controversial, its causality and underlying mechanisms remain unknown. OBJECTIVES To investigate the potential association between slow gut transit and AD using epidemiological data and a murine model. METHODS We conducted a bi-national cohort study in South Korea (discovery cohort, N=3,130,193) and Japan (validation cohort, N=4,379,285) during the pre-observation period to determine the previous diagnostic history (2009-2010) and the follow-up period (2011-2021). To evaluate the causality, we induced slow gut transit using loperamide in 5xFAD transgenic mice. Changes in amyloid-beta (Aβ) and other markers were examined using ELISA, qRT-PCR, RNA-seq, and behavioral tests. RESULTS Constipation was associated with an increased risk of AD in the discovery cohort (hazard ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01-2.07) and the validation cohort (hazard ratio; 2.82; 95% CI, 2.61-3.05). We found that loperamide induced slower gut transit in 5xFAD mice, increased Aβ and microglia levels in the brain, increased transcription of genes related to norepinephrine secretion and immune responses, and decreased the transcription of defense against bacteria in the colonic tissue. CONCLUSION Impaired gut transit may contribute to AD pathogenesis via the gut-brain axis, thus suggesting a cyclical relationship between intestinal barrier disruption and Aβ accumulation in the brain. We propose that gut transit or motility may be a modifiable lifestyle factor in the prevention of AD, and further clinical investigations are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiseung Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Myeongcheol Lee
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mincheol Park
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jibeom Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunjae Lee
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeyu Park
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lee Smith
- Centre for Health, Performance and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christa J Nehs
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dong Keon Yon
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Tae Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hussain A, Zhang Z, Yu J, Wei R, Arshad H, Lew J, Jagan C, Wang Y, Chen JH, Huizinga JD. Haustral rhythmic motor patterns of the human large bowel revealed by ultrasound. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2023; 325:G295-G305. [PMID: 37461842 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00068.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Effective and widely available strategies are needed to diagnose colonic motility dysfunction. We investigated whether ultrasonography could generate spatiotemporal maps combined with motor pattern frequency analysis, to become a noninvasive method to characterize human colon motor patterns. Abdominal colonic ultrasonography was performed on healthy subjects (N = 7), focusing on the detailed recording of spontaneous haustral activities. We developed image segmentation and frequency analysis software to analyze the motor patterns captured. Ultrasonography recordings of the ascending, transverse, and descending colon identified three distinct rhythmic motor patterns: the 1 cycle/min and the 3 cycles/min cyclic motor pattern were seen throughout the whole colon, whereas the 12 cycles/min cyclic motor pattern was identified in the ascending colon. The rhythmic motor patterns of the human colon that are associated with interstitial cells of Cajal-associated pacemaking activity can be accurately identified and quantified using ultrasound.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Ultrasonography in the clinical field is an underutilized tool for assessing colonic motility; however, with the addition of frequency analysis techniques, it provides a method to identify human colonic motor patterns. Here we report on the 1, 3, and 12 cpm rhythmic motor patterns. Ultrasound has the potential to become a bedside assessment for colonic dysmotility and may reveal the health of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) pacemaker activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amer Hussain
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer Yu
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruihan Wei
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hamza Arshad
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jinhwan Lew
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cierra Jagan
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yongdong Wang
- Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ji-Hong Chen
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jan D Huizinga
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ali MK, Liu L, Hussain A, Zheng D, Alam M, Chen JH, Huizinga JD. Root mean square of successive differences is not a valid measure of parasympathetic reactivity during slow deep breathing. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2023; 324:R446-R456. [PMID: 36717167 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00272.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Deep breathing exercises are the second most used complementary health approach in the United States. Two heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), are used to assess parasympathetic reactivity to deep breathing, but they are often not in agreement. Our purpose was to determine the cause of the disagreement. We investigated HRV parameters in 38 subjects during baseline, deep breathing, and recovery. Here we show that RMSSD as a measure of parasympathetic reactivity is unreliable; it does not reflect the increase in HRV during deep breathing as determined by RSA. We observed a decrease in RMSSD values despite a marked increase in HRV as determined by RSA and the standard deviation of normal heartbeat interval (SDNN) in healthy subjects and patients with functional bowel disorders. We show that RSA captures all aspects of HRV, whereas successive differences in heart rate intervals are only a small part of HRV, with decreasing variability during deep breathing in most subjects. We present a new measure of calculating RSA during deep breathing that may become an essential tool for researchers and clinicians. We also provide a unique visualization of the increased heart rate variability during deep breathing. Hence, RMSSD cannot be used to assess parasympathetic reactivity during deep breathing; using RSA is recommended. The use of RMSSD in previous influential studies may have led to erroneous conclusions about parasympathetic reactivity during deep breathing. Its continued use may undervalue the effects of the autonomic nervous system in slow deep breathing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Khawar Ali
- Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Engineering, McMaster School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lijun Liu
- Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amer Hussain
- Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Difei Zheng
- Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Honours Biology Pharmacology Co-Op Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marzia Alam
- Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ji-Hong Chen
- Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jan D Huizinga
- Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Engineering, McMaster School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Roles of Heart Rate Variability in Assessing Autonomic Nervous System in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Systematic Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13020293. [PMID: 36673103 PMCID: PMC9857852 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13020293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) disease affect a large global population and incur substantial health care costs. Impairment in gut-brain communication is one of the main causes of these disorders. The central nervous system (CNS) provides its inputs to the enteric nervous system (ENS) by modulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to control the gastrointestinal functions. Therefore, GERD and FGID's might be associated with autonomic dysfunction, which can be identified via heart rate variability (HRV). FGIDs may be treated by restoring the autonomic dysfunction via neuromodulation. This article reviews the roles of HRV in the assessment of autonomic function and dysfunction in (i) gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), and the following FGIDs: (ii) functional dyspepsia (FD) and gastroparesis, (iii) irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and (iv) constipation. The roles of HRV in the assessment of autonomic responses to various interventions were also reviewed. We used PUBMED, Web of Science, Elsevier/Science direct and Scopus to search the eligible studies for each disorder, which also included the keyword 'heart rate variability'. The retrieved studies were screened and filtered to identify the most suitable studies using HRV parameters to associate the autonomic function with any of the above disorders. Studies involving both human and animal models were included. Based on analyses of HRV, GERD as well as the FGIDs were found to be associated with decreased parasympathetic activity and increased sympathetic nervous system activity with the autonomic balance shifted towards the sympathetic nervous system. In addition, the HRV methods were also reported to be able to assess the autonomic responses to various interventions (mostly neuromodulation), typically the enhancement of parasympathetic activity. In summary, GERD and FGIDs are associated with impaired autonomic dysfunction, mainly due to suppressed vagal and overactive sympathetic tone, which can be assessed noninvasively using HRV.
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu J, Lv C, Wang W, Huang Y, Wang B, Tian J, Sun C, Yu Y. Slow, deep breathing intervention improved symptoms and altered rectal sensitivity in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1034547. [PMID: 36408402 PMCID: PMC9673479 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1034547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Limited treatment options have been shown to alter the natural course of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Slow, deep breathing (SDB) is a common pain self-management intervention. This pilot study aimed to explore the impact of SDB on measures of autonomic and anorectal functions as well as patient-reported symptoms in constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C). METHODS Eighty-five IBS-C patients were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to the experimental group (Group A, n = 42) and the control group (Group B, n = 43). SDB was conducted at six breathing cycles per minute with an inhalation for 4 s and exhalation for 6 s at a ratio of 2:3 and repeated for 30 min during the intervention. All subjects underwent high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) and completed the standardized IBS symptom severity system (IBS-SSS) questionnaire. Meanwhile, changes in stool consistency, weekly frequency of complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), and weekly frequency of spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) were recorded. All IBS-C patients received electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis at baseline, weeks 3, 6. RESULTS At baseline, no differences were found between Groups A and B. The IBS-SSS score and its five sub-scores of Group B patients were significantly higher at week 6 than those of Group A patients (all p < 0.001). Furthermore, compared with Group B patients, Group A patients had a significantly higher threshold volume for the first sensation (p < 0.001), desire to defecate (p = 0.017), and maximum tolerable volume (p = 0.018) at week 6 of the SDB treatment. We also noted significant improvements in stool consistency (p = 0.002), weekly SBM frequencies (p < 0.001), and weekly CSBM frequencies (p = 0.018) of Group A patients at week 6 when compared with Group B patients. Finally, the corrected high frequency (HF) of Group A patients was significantly higher than the HF of Group B patients at week 3 (p < 0.001) and at week 6 (p < 0.001). Likewise, patients in Group A had a significantly higher root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD) than that of patients in Group B at week 3 (p < 0.001) and at week 6 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION We found that a 6-week SDB intervention improved symptoms and altered rectal sensation in IBS-C patients. Moreover, SDB enhanced vagal activity. These findings suggest that the effect of SDB on IBS-C may be due to mechanisms involving autonomic responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Chaolan Lv
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yizhou Huang
- Graduate School of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Graduate School of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Jiashuang Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chenyu Sun
- AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Yue Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ali MK, Saha S, Milkova N, Liu L, Sharma K, Huizinga JD, Chen JH. Modulation of the autonomic nervous system by one session of spinal low-level laser therapy in patients with chronic colonic motility dysfunction. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:882602. [PMID: 36117615 PMCID: PMC9477245 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.882602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with a defecation disorder may not evoke a normal defecation reflex, or the reflex may be excessive, as a dysfunction of the spinal autonomic nervous system. Treatment with various forms of lumbar and sacral neuromodulation have shown symptom improvement, but potential changes in autonomic functioning are rarely studied. Here we evaluate the effects on autonomic function of a single session of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the lumbar and sacral spine in 41 patients with chronic gastrointestinal motor dysfunction. The LLLT protocol used red LED light at a wavelength of 660 nm for 10 min and infrared LED light at a wavelength of 840 nm for 10 min, followed by infrared laser light at a wavelength of 825 nm for 10 min. Effects on the autonomic nervous system were assessed by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) changes. Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) and Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) were used to quantify parasympathetic reactivity; the Baevsky’s Stress Index (SI) reflected sympathetic activity while the ratios SI/RSA and SI/RMSSD were used to show shifts in autonomic dominance. The results indicate that lumbar and sacral neuromodulation using light arrays reduced, whereas stimulation by the laser probes significantly increased parasympathetic activity. The light arrays increased whereas the laser probes significantly decreased sympathetic activity (SI). The entire protocol shifted the autonomic balance toward parasympathetic activity. The comparison of actual vs. sham neuromodulation proved that the change in HRV parameters was due to actual light stimulation and not due to the arrays and probe touching the skin. In conclusion, a single session of LLLT markedly affects autonomic nervous system activity reflected in changes in HRV which is only possible by generating activity in the spinal autonomic nerves. These results warrant a study into the effects of LLLT on restoring autonomic dysfunction in chronic refractory colonic motility disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. Khawar Ali
- Faculty of Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Shrayasee Saha
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Natalija Milkova
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Lijun Liu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Kartik Sharma
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jan D. Huizinga
- Faculty of Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jan D. Huizinga,
| | - Ji-Hong Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jan D. Huizinga,
| |
Collapse
|