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Zheng ZS, Simonian N, Wang J, Rosario ER. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improves Long COVID symptoms in a female cohort: a pilot study. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1393371. [PMID: 38756213 PMCID: PMC11097097 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1393371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Long COVID, also known as Post-COVID-19 syndrome, is characterized by multisystemic symptoms that persists for weeks to years beyond acute infection. It disproportionately affects women and those with pre-existing anxiety/depression, conditions more prevalent in females. The vagus nerve, with its extensive innervation and regulation of critical bodily functions, has become a focal point for therapeutic interventions. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive treatment for COVID-19 conditions. Methods This pilot study assessed the efficacy of t-VNS in 24 female Long COVID patients (45.8 ± 11.7 years old; 20.2 ± 7.1 months since infection), who underwent a 10-day t-VNS intervention at home (30 min/session, twice a day). Cognition was considered the primary outcome, with anxiety, depression, sleep, fatigue, and smell as secondary outcomes. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Results Significant improvements were observed in various cognitive functions, anxiety, depression, and sleep at post-intervention, with benefits remaining or progressing at 1-month follow-up. Improvements in fatigue were delayed, reaching statistical significance at 1-month follow-up compared to baseline. No significant changes were noted in olfactory performance. Conclusion This pilot study provides preliminary evidence supporting the potential of t-VNS as a therapeutic intervention for female Long COVID patients. The encouraging results justify further rigorous investigation through larger, randomized controlled trials to confirm the efficacy of t-VNS, assess its generalizability to male cohorts, and explore biological markers to inform personalized treatment approaches. Our findings support the allocation of resources to conduct such trials and advance the understanding of t-VNS as a potential treatment for Long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Sheng Zheng
- Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Ninette Simonian
- Institute of Advanced Consciousness Studies, Santa Monica, CA, United States
| | - Jing Wang
- Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Emily R. Rosario
- Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA, United States
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2
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Bottari SA, Lamb DG, Porges EC, Murphy AJ, Tran AB, Ferri R, Jaffee MS, Davila MI, Hartmann S, Baumert M, Williamson JB. Preliminary evidence of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation effects on sleep in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. J Sleep Res 2024; 33:e13891. [PMID: 37039398 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Sleep problems are common among veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and closely associated with hyperarousal symptoms. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) may have potential to improve sleep quality in veterans with PTSD through effects on brain systems relevant to hyperarousal and sleep-wake regulation. The current pilot study examines the effect of 1 h of tVNS administered at "lights out" on sleep architecture, microstructure, and autonomic activity. Thirteen veterans with PTSD completed two nights of laboratory-based polysomnography during which they received 1 h of either active tVNS (tragus) or sham stimulation (earlobe) at "lights out" with randomised order. Sleep staging and stability metrics were derived from polysomnography data. Autonomic activity during sleep was assessed using the Porges-Bohrer method for calculating respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSAP-B ). Paired t-tests revealed a small decrease in the total sleep time (d = -0.31), increase in N3 sleep (d = 0.23), and a small-to-moderate decrease in REM sleep (d = -0.48) on nights of active tVNS relative to sham stimulation. tVNS was also associated with a moderate reduction in cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) rate (d = -0.65) and small-to-moderate increase in RSAP-B during NREM sleep. Greater NREM RSAP-B was associated with a reduced CAP rate and NREM alpha power. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that tVNS may improve sleep depth and stability in veterans with PTSD, as well as increase parasympathetically mediated nocturnal autonomic activity. These results warrant continued investigation into tVNS as a potential tool for treating sleep disturbance in veterans with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Bottari
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Damon G Lamb
- Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Eric C Porges
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Aidan J Murphy
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amy B Tran
- College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Raffaele Ferri
- Sleep Research Center, Oasi Research Institute - IRCCS, Troina, Italy
| | - Michael S Jaffee
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Maria I Davila
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Simon Hartmann
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mathias Baumert
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - John B Williamson
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Krone LB, Fehér KD, Rivero T, Omlin X. Brain stimulation techniques as novel treatment options for insomnia: A systematic review. J Sleep Res 2023; 32:e13927. [PMID: 37202368 PMCID: PMC10909439 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Despite the success of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia and recent advances in pharmacotherapy, many patients with insomnia do not sufficiently respond to available treatments. This systematic review aims to present the state of science regarding the use of brain stimulation approaches in treating insomnia. To this end, we searched MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO from inception to 24 March 2023. We evaluated studies that compared conditions of active stimulation with a control condition or group. Outcome measures included standardized insomnia questionnaires and/or polysomnography in adults with a clinical diagnosis of insomnia. Our search identified 17 controlled trials that met inclusion criteria, and assessed a total of 967 participants using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial electric stimulation, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation or forehead cooling. No trials using other techniques such as deep brain stimulation, vestibular stimulation or auditory stimulation met the inclusion criteria. While several studies report improvements of subjective and objective sleep parameters for different repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electric stimulation protocols, important methodological limitations and risk of bias limit their interpretability. A forehead cooling study found no significant group differences in the primary endpoints, but better sleep initiation in the active condition. Two transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation trials found no superiority of active stimulation for most outcome measures. Although modulating sleep through brain stimulation appears feasible, gaps in the prevailing models of sleep physiology and insomnia pathophysiology remain to be filled. Optimized stimulation protocols and proof of superiority over reliable sham conditions are indispensable before brain stimulation becomes a viable treatment option for insomnia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas B. Krone
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Centre for Experimental NeurologyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience DiscoveryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Kristoffer D. Fehér
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Division of Psychiatric SpecialtiesUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Tania Rivero
- Medical LibraryUniversity Library of Bern, University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Ximena Omlin
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Division of Psychiatric SpecialtiesUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
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Yıldız R, Özden AV, Nişancı OS, Yıldız Kızkın Z, Demirkıran BC. The effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on visual memory performance and fatigue. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil 2023; 69:327-333. [PMID: 37674794 PMCID: PMC10478543 DOI: 10.5606/tftrd.2023.11174] [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: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aims to investigate the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on visual memory performance and fatigue in healthy individuals. Patients and methods Between April 10, 2022 and May 25, 2022, a total of 60 physical therapy and rehabilitation students (27 males, 33 females; mean age: 20.6±1.6 years; range, 18 to 24 years) were included in the study. The individuals were divided into two groups as the experimental group (n=30) and the control group (n=30). The experimental group received taVNS, mobile device supported games, and low-medium intensity aerobic exercises, while the control group received mobile device supported games and aerobic exercises. The personal information form was applied to all participants. The level of fatigue was measured using a computer-based evaluation and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) to analyze the visual memory performance. Results All parameters used to evaluate visual memory performance showed a significant difference, while the FSS scores showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Only one sub-parameter in the control group was significantly different, while none of the other sub-parameters or FSS scores were significantly different (p>0.05). There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of two of the visual memory sub-parameters, although no significant difference was found for the results of one parameter and the FSS (p>0.05). Conclusion Our study results show that taVNS can produce positive effects on visual memory performance, although it does not apparently affect fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rıdvan Yıldız
- Artvin Çoruh University, Artvin Vocational School, Artvin, Türkiye
| | - Ali Veysel Özden
- Bahçeşehir University, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Onur Seçgin Nişancı
- Artvin Çoruh University, Vocational School of Health Services, Artvin, Türkiye
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Xie X, Zhang N, Fu J, Wang Z, Ye Z, Liu Z. The potential for traditional Chinese therapy in treating sleep disorders caused by COVID-19 through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1009527. [PMID: 36299906 PMCID: PMC9589290 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1009527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in 2019, it has spread rapidly across the globe. Sleep disorders caused by COVID-19 have become a major concern for COVID-19 patients and recovered patients. So far, there’s no effective therapy on this. Traditional Chinese therapy (TCT) has a great effect on sleep disorders, with rare side effects and no obvious withdrawal symptoms. The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, a neuroregulatory pathway in the central nervous system that uses cholinergic neurons and neurotransmitters to suppress inflammatory responses, has been reported to be associated with sleep disorders and psychiatric symptoms. Many studies have shown that TCT activates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP), inhibits inflammation, and relieves associated symptoms. Therefore, we believe that TCT may be a potential therapeutic strategy to alleviate sleep disorders induced by COVID-19 through CAP. In this review, we analyzed the relationship between cytokine storm induced by Coronavirus and sleep disorders, explained the influence of CAP on sleep disorders, discussed the TCT’s effect on CAP, and summarized the treatment effect of TCT on sleep disorders. Based on these practical researches and theoretical basis, we propose potential strategies to effectively improve the sleep disorders caused by COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Xie
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian yang, China
| | - Nana Zhang
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jingya Fu
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian yang, China
| | - Zhenzhi Wang
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian yang, China
| | - Zirun Ye
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhijun Liu
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Zhijun Liu,
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von Wrede R, Bröhl T, Rings T, Pukropski J, Helmstaedter C, Lehnertz K. Modifications of Functional Human Brain Networks by Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Impact of Time of Day. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050546. [PMID: 35624933 PMCID: PMC9139099 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a novel non-invasive treatment option for different diseases and symptoms, such as epilepsy or depression. Its mechanism of action, however, is still not fully understood. We investigated short-term taVNS-induced changes of local and global properties of EEG-derived, evolving functional brain networks from eighteen subjects who underwent two 1 h stimulation phases (morning and afternoon) during continuous EEG-recording. In the majority of subjects, taVNS induced measurable modifications of network properties. Network alterations induced by stimulation in the afternoon were clearly more pronounced than those induced by stimulation in the morning. Alterations mostly affected the networks’ topology and stability properties. On the local network scale, no clear-cut spatial stimulation-related patterns could be discerned. Our findings indicate that the possible impact of diurnal influences on taVNS-induced network modifications would need to be considered for future research and clinical studies of this non-pharmaceutical intervention approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randi von Wrede
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (T.B.); (T.R.); (J.P.); (C.H.); (K.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-228-2871-5727
| | - Timo Bröhl
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (T.B.); (T.R.); (J.P.); (C.H.); (K.L.)
- Helmholtz-Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Thorsten Rings
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (T.B.); (T.R.); (J.P.); (C.H.); (K.L.)
- Helmholtz-Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jan Pukropski
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (T.B.); (T.R.); (J.P.); (C.H.); (K.L.)
| | - Christoph Helmstaedter
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (T.B.); (T.R.); (J.P.); (C.H.); (K.L.)
| | - Klaus Lehnertz
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (T.B.); (T.R.); (J.P.); (C.H.); (K.L.)
- Helmholtz-Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Complex Systems, University of Bonn, 53117 Bonn, Germany
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Wang J, Chen Y, Zhai X, Chu Y, Liu X, Ma X. Visualizing Research Trends and Identifying Hotspots of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Nursing Technology for Insomnia: A 18-Years Bibliometric Analysis of Web of Science Core Collection. Front Neurol 2022; 13:816031. [PMID: 35432182 PMCID: PMC9009417 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.816031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore the research hotspot and frontier direction of TCM nursing of insomnia and provide reference for the follow-up study of the optimal scheme of TCM nursing of insomnia. Background Insomnia is a common sleep-wake disorder, affects 6–10% of adults and was associated with independent higher risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. TCM Nursing Techniques of insomnia has a long history and has shown a definite impact. However, it's still lack of analysis in the field of the most commonly used and effective techniques, as well as the co-morbidities associated with insomnia. Therefore, the database was searched and analyzed to find effective TCM Nursing Techniques for insomnia and related diseases related to insomnia. Method Randomized controlled trials on the intervention of TCM Nursing Techniques in insomnia were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection and imported into CiteSpace 5.6.R5 visualization software. The works of literature were co-cited by keywords authors and institutions for visual analysis, and the co-morbidities associated with insomnia of TCM Nursing Techniques in literature was extracted manually. The symptoms of co-morbidities associated with insomnia were imported into Cytoscape 3.9.0 software and clustered by CytoHubba. Result As of October 20, 2021, the literature published in the last 20 years from Web of Science Core Collection was screened, and the publication period of the included literature was from 2004 to 2021. From 2016 to now, the total number of articles has been increasing. A total of 146 articles were included, and the highest production year was 2020. There is little cooperation between states, institutions, and authors. China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) and Hong Kong Polytech University are leading countries and institutions in this area. MYUNGHAENG HUR is the most cited author, and J ALTERN COMPLEM MED is the most cited journal. According to cluster analysis and keyword frequency, auricular therapy, aromatherapy, and acupressure are the three most commonly used techniques. While the top five co-morbidities are fatigue, anxiety, depression, pain and hemodialysis. The three frontier topics and the main research directions are sleep quality, comorbid insomnia and clinical trial design. Conclusion We found that acupressure, aromatherapy, and auricular acupoint therapy are the most commonly used nursing methods of TCM to intervene in insomnia. However, these studies have limitations such as small sample size, lack of objectivity in evaluating sleep quality, and high heterogeneity of intervention measures, which are not conducive to forming TCM clinical nursing guidelines. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt objectified sleep quality evaluation methods, select suitable acupoints according to TCM theories, and design multi-center large-sample clinical trials based on the safety principle of randomized blind control. This study provides an in-depth perspective for insomnia research on TCM Nursing Techniques and includes information for follow-up research on TCM Nursing Techniques of insomnia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxin Wang
- School of Nursing, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yufeng Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Zhai
- School of Management, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yupeng Chu
- School of Management, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangdi Liu
- School of Nursing, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiangdi Liu
| | - Xueling Ma
- School of Nursing, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Xueling Ma
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He JK, Jia BH, Wang Y, Li SY, Zhao B, Zhou ZG, Bi YZ, Wu MZ, Li L, Zhang JL, Fang JL, Rong PJ. Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Modulates the Prefrontal Cortex in Chronic Insomnia Patients: fMRI Study in the First Session. Front Neurol 2022; 13:827749. [PMID: 35401422 PMCID: PMC8987020 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.827749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been reported to be effective for chronic insomnia (CI). However, the appropriate population for taVNS to treat insomnia is unclear. Methods Total twenty-four patients with CI and eighteen health controls (HC) were recruited. Rest-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (Rs-fMRI) was performed before and after 30 min' taVNS at baseline. The activated and deactivated brain regions were revealed by different voxel-based analyses, then the seed-voxel functional connectivity analysis was calculated. In the CI group, 30 min of taVNS were applied twice daily for 4 weeks. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Flinders Fatigue Scale (FFS) were also assessed before and after 4 weeks of treatment in the CI group. The HC group did not receive any treatment. The correlations were estimated between the clinical scales' score and the brain changes. Results The scores of PSQI (p < 0.01) and FFS (p < 0.05) decreased after 4 weeks in the CI group. Compared to the HC group, the first taVNS session up-regulated left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and decreased the functional connectivity (FCs) between dlPFC and bilateral medial prefrontal cortex in the CI group. The CI groups' baseline voxel wised fMRI value in the dlPFC were negatively correlated to the PSQI and the FFS score after 4 weeks treatment. Conclusions It manifests that taVNS has a modulatory effect on the prefrontal cortex in patients with CI. The initial state of dlPFC may predict the efficacy for taVNS on CI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Kai He
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Acupuncture, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bao-Hui Jia
- Department of Acupuncture, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shao-Yuan Li
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Acupuncture, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zeng-Guang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing Information Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Zhi Bi
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mo-Zheng Wu
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Li
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Ling Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Liang Fang
- Department of Radiology, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Ji-Liang Fang
| | - Pei-Jing Rong
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Pei-Jing Rong
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Wang L, Wang Y, Wang Y, Wang F, Zhang J, Li S, Wu M, Li L, Rong P. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulators: a review of past, present and future devices. Expert Rev Med Devices 2021; 19:43-61. [PMID: 34937487 DOI: 10.1080/17434440.2022.2020095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As an emerging neuromodulation therapy, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been proven to be safe and effective for epilepsy, major depressive disorders, insomnia, glucose metabolic disorders, pain, stroke, post stroke rehabilitation, anxiety, fear, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disorders, tinnitus, Prader-Willi Syndrome and COVID-19. AREAS COVERED Although the history of taVNS is only two decades, the devices carrying taVNS technique have been constantly updated. Especially in recent years, the development of taVNS devices has presented a new trend. To conclude, the development of taVNS devices has entered a new era, thus the update speed and quality of taVNS devices will be considerably improved in the future. This article reviewed the history and classification of taVNS devices. EXPERT OPINION The correlation between the effectiveness and stimulation parameters from taVNS devices still remains unclear. There is a lack of standard or harmonization among different taVNS devices. Strategies, including further comparative research and establishment of standard, have been recommended in this article to promote the future development of taVNS devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jinling Zhang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Shaoyuan Li
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Mozheng Wu
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Liang Li
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Peijing Rong
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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Ezeokafor I, Upadhya A, Shetty S. Neurosensory Prosthetics: An Integral Neuromodulation Part of Bioelectronic Device. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:671767. [PMID: 34867141 PMCID: PMC8637173 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.671767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioelectronic medicines (BEMs) constitute a branch of bioelectronic devices (BEDs), which are a class of therapeutics that combine neuroscience with molecular biology, immunology, and engineering technologies. Thus, BEMs are the culmination of thought processes of scientists of varied fields and herald a new era in the treatment of chronic diseases. BEMs work on the principle of neuromodulation of nerve stimulation. Examples of BEMs based on neuromodulation are those that modify neural circuits through deep brain stimulation, vagal nerve stimulation, spinal nerve stimulation, and retinal and auditory implants. BEDs may also serve as diagnostic tools by mimicking human sensory systems. Two examples of in vitro BEDs used as diagnostic agents in biomedical applications based on in vivo neurosensory circuits are the bioelectronic nose and bioelectronic tongue. The review discusses the ever-growing application of BEDs to a wide variety of health conditions and practices to improve the quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Archana Upadhya
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM) Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMiMS) (SVKM’S NMiMS), Mumbai, India
| | - Saritha Shetty
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM) Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMiMS) (SVKM’S NMiMS), Mumbai, India
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11
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Zhang J, Qin Z, So TH, Chen H, Lam WL, Yam LL, Yan Chan P, Lao L, Zhang ZJ. Electroacupuncture Plus Auricular Acupressure for Chemotherapy-Associated Insomnia in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Integr Cancer Ther 2021; 20:15347354211019103. [PMID: 34036813 PMCID: PMC8161840 DOI: 10.1177/15347354211019103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Chemotherapy-associated insomnia is a highly prevalent complaint in breast cancer patients. This study was undertaken to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of electroacupuncture plus auricular acupressure for chemotherapy-associated insomnia in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In this randomized, wait-list controlled trial, thirty breast cancer patients under or post chemotherapy with insomnia were randomly allocated to the acupuncture or wait-list control group. Participants in acupuncture group received electroacupuncture plus auricular acupressure treatment twice weekly for 6 weeks. Participants in wait-list group received the same regimen of treatment after 6-week of waiting period. Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) served as the primary outcome measurement. Secondary outcomes were sleep parameters recorded with sleep diary and actiwatch, as well as the scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (FACT-B). Results: Twenty-eight participants completed study (13 in the acupuncture group vs 15 in the wait-list control group). At week-6 post-intervention, ISI score change from baseline showed significant between-group difference favoring acupuncture group of −2.9 points (95% CI: −5.2 to −0.6, P = .014). The acupuncture group showed greater improvements in the total sleep time recorded by sleep diary (P = .026), scores of PSQI (P = .012), HADS-depression (P = .020), and FACT-B (P < .001) compared with the control group. Improvements were maintained at week-10 and week-14 follow-ups. Conclusions: Acupuncture is safe, feasible, and effective for chemotherapy-associated insomnia in breast cancer patients under or post chemotherapy. A larger sample size randomized clinical trial is warranted to confirm the present findings. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03762694.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialing Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zongshi Qin
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz Him So
- Department of Clinical Oncology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Haiyong Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing Lok Lam
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lo Lo Yam
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pui Yan Chan
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lixing Lao
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Zhang-Jin Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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12
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Wu X, Zhang Y, Luo WT, Mai RR, Hou XY, Xia ZQ, Xu BY, Liu B. Brain Functional Mechanisms Determining the Efficacy of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Primary Insomnia. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:609640. [PMID: 33776631 PMCID: PMC7994340 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.609640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been reported to be effective in the treatment of primary insomnia (PI); however, its efficacy varies considerably across individuals for reasons that are unclear. In order to clarify the underlying mechanisms, this study investigated the effects of taVNS on spontaneous neuronal activity and autonomic nervous system function by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and measurement of heart rate variability (HRV), respectively, in patients with PI. Forty patients with PI were divided into effective (group A) and ineffective (group B) groups based on their response to taVNS as determined by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score reduction rate (group A ≥ 25% and group B < 25%). Spontaneous neuronal activity was measured by fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and HRV values and was compared between the two groups as well as before vs after taVNS. We then analyzed the correlations among efficacy of taVNS for 4 weeks, the fALFF and HRV values during continuous taVNS state. The results showed that the HRV parameter values (i.e., root mean square of successive differences, percentage of adjacent NN intervals differing by >50 ms, and high frequency) of group A were higher than those of group B during continuous taVNS state. In the fMRI scan, the fALFF values of the right cerebellum, right medial superior frontal gyrus, and bilateral supplementary motor area—which belong to the sensorimotor network (SMN)—were lower in group A than in group B during continuous taVNS state. The correlation analysis revealed that the efficacy of continuous taVNS and HRV and fALFF values were interrelated. These findings demonstrate that differential regulation of the SMN by the autonomic nervous system may be responsible for inter-individual variations in the efficacy of taVNS and suggest that HRV and fALFF are potential biomarkers for predicting PI patients’ response to taVNS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Ting Luo
- The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Run-Ru Mai
- Department of Sleep Disorder, Fangcun Branch, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Hou
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zi-Qiang Xia
- The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bi-Yun Xu
- Department of Sleep Disorder, Fangcun Branch, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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13
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Wang YM, Xu YY, Zhai Y, Wu QQ, Huang W, Liang Y, Sun YH, Xu LY. Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Protracted Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms in Male Alcohol-Dependent Patients. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:678594. [PMID: 34526917 PMCID: PMC8437143 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.678594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Protracted alcohol withdrawal symptoms (PAWS), characterized by the presence of substance-specific signs and symptoms (including anxiety, irritability, mood instability, insomnia, and cravings), make alcohol abstinence difficult and increase the risk of relapse in recovering alcoholics. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on PAWS and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and leptin levels in patients with alcohol dependency. A total of 114 patients with alcohol dependence were randomly divided into two groups: the treatment group and the control group. The patients in the treatment group were treated with taVNS of the bilateral auricular concha using an ear vagus nerve stimulator. The Pennsylvania Alcohol Craving Scale was used to evaluate the extent of craving for alcohol. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the extent of anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure plasma BDNF, IL-6, TNF-α, and leptin levels. The results showed that the SDS and PSQI scores were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group. Moreover, compared with the control group, the average BDNF levels in the treatment group were significantly increased. These results suggest that taVNS could improve the depression symptoms and sleep quality in alcohol-dependent patients after withdrawal, which might be related to the upregulation of plasma BDNF levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Mei Wang
- Department of Nursing, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
| | - Ya-Yun Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi Zhai
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China.,Hefei Medical Research Centre on Alcohol Addiction, Hefei, China
| | - Qian-Qian Wu
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China.,Hefei Medical Research Centre on Alcohol Addiction, Hefei, China
| | - Wen Huang
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China.,Hefei Medical Research Centre on Alcohol Addiction, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Liang
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China.,Hefei Medical Research Centre on Alcohol Addiction, Hefei, China
| | - Yan-Hong Sun
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Lian-Yin Xu
- Department of Nursing, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
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14
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Corrigendum to "Effect of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation at Auricular Concha for Insomnia: A Randomized Clinical Trial". EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:2536573. [PMID: 33335555 PMCID: PMC7723490 DOI: 10.1155/2020/2536573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/6049891.].
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