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Pellow C, Pichardo S, Pike GB. A systematic review of preclinical and clinical transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation and opportunities for functional connectomics. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:734-751. [PMID: 38880207 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.06.005] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound has surged forward as a non-invasive and disruptive tool for neuromodulation with applications in basic neuroscience research and the treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions. OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive overview and update of preclinical and clinical transcranial low intensity ultrasound for neuromodulation and emphasize the emerging role of functional brain mapping to guide, better understand, and predict responses. METHODS A systematic review was conducted by searching the Web of Science and Scopus databases for studies on transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation, both in humans and animals. RESULTS 187 relevant studies were identified and reviewed, including 116 preclinical and 71 clinical reports with subjects belonging to diverse cohorts. Milestones of ultrasound neuromodulation are described within an overview of the broader landscape. General neural readouts and outcome measures are discussed, potential confounds are noted, and the emerging use of functional magnetic resonance imaging is highlighted. CONCLUSION Ultrasound neuromodulation has emerged as a powerful tool to study and treat a range of conditions and its combination with various neural readouts has significantly advanced this platform. In particular, the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging has yielded exciting inferences into ultrasound neuromodulation and has the potential to advance our understanding of brain function, neuromodulatory mechanisms, and ultimately clinical outcomes. It is anticipated that these preclinical and clinical trials are the first of many; that transcranial low intensity focused ultrasound, particularly in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging, has the potential to enhance treatment for a spectrum of neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Pellow
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - G Bruce Pike
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
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Hsieh TH, Chu PC, Nguyen TXD, Kuo CW, Chang PK, Chen KHS, Liu HL. Neuromodulatory Responses Elicited by Intermittent versus Continuous Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation of the Motor Cortex in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5687. [PMID: 38891875 PMCID: PMC11171676 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115687] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS) has emerged as a promising neuromodulation technique that delivers acoustic energy with high spatial resolution for inducing long-term potentiation (LTP)- or depression (LTD)-like plasticity. The variability in the primary effects of tFUS-induced plasticity could be due to different stimulation patterns, such as intermittent versus continuous, and is an aspect that requires further detailed exploration. In this study, we developed a platform to evaluate the neuromodulatory effects of intermittent and continuous tFUS on motor cortical plasticity before and after tFUS application. Three groups of rats were exposed to either intermittent, continuous, or sham tFUS. We analyzed the neuromodulatory effects on motor cortical excitability by examining changes in motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). We also investigated the effects of different stimulation patterns on excitatory and inhibitory neural biomarkers, examining c-Fos and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD-65) expression using immunohistochemistry staining. Additionally, we evaluated the safety of tFUS by analyzing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression. The current results indicated that intermittent tFUS produced a facilitation effect on motor excitability, while continuous tFUS significantly inhibited motor excitability. Furthermore, neither tFUS approach caused injury to the stimulation sites in rats. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed increased c-Fos and decreased GAD-65 expression following intermittent tFUS. Conversely, continuous tFUS downregulated c-Fos and upregulated GAD-65 expression. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that both intermittent and continuous tFUS effectively modulate cortical excitability. The neuromodulatory effects may result from the activation or deactivation of cortical neurons following tFUS intervention. These effects are considered safe and well-tolerated, highlighting the potential for using different patterns of tFUS in future clinical neuromodulatory applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Hsun Hsieh
- School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (T.X.D.N.); (C.-W.K.); (P.-K.C.)
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
- Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chun Chu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
| | - Thi Xuan Dieu Nguyen
- School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (T.X.D.N.); (C.-W.K.); (P.-K.C.)
| | - Chi-Wei Kuo
- School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (T.X.D.N.); (C.-W.K.); (P.-K.C.)
| | - Pi-Kai Chang
- School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (T.X.D.N.); (C.-W.K.); (P.-K.C.)
| | - Kai-Hsiang Stanley Chen
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu 300195, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Li Liu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
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Dos Santos Alves Maria G, Dias NS, Nicolato R, de Paula JJ, Bicalho MAC, Cunha RS, Silva LC, de Miranda DM, de Mattos Viana B, Romano-Silva MA. Safety and efficacy of repetitive stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex using transcranial focused ultrasound in treatment-resistant depressed patients: A non-inferiority randomized controlled trial protocol. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 95:103994. [PMID: 38547573 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.103994] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND About 30% of patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder fail with the mainstream pharmacological treatment. Patients who do not achieve clinical remission of symptoms, even with two different antidepressants, are classified with treatment-resistant depression (TDR). This condition imposes an additional burden with increased Disability Adjusted Life Years. Therefore, complementary treatments, such as neuromodulation, are necessary. The transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) has emerged in the past few years as a reliable method for non-invasive neuromodulation in humans and may help treat TRD. This study aims to propose a research protocol for a non-inferiority randomized clinical trial of TDR with tFUS. METHODS Patients with documented TRD will be screened upon entering the TRD outpatient clinic at UFMG (Brazil). One hundred patients without a clinical history of other psychiatric illness, anatomical abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or treatment with electroconvulsive therapy will be invited to participate. Patients will be randomized (1:1) into two groups: 1) treatment with a previously established protocol of transcranial magnetic stimulation; and 2) treatment with a similar protocol using the stimulation. Besides regular consultations in the outpatient clinic, both groups will attend 7 protocolled spaced days of brain stimulation targeted at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. They will also be submitted to 4 sessions of image studies (2 MRIs, 2 positron-emission tomography), 3 of neuropsychological assessments (at baseline, 1 week and 2 months after treatment), the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale to analyze the severity of depressive symptoms. DISCUSSION This clinical trial intends to verify the safety and clinical efficacy of tFUS stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of patients with TRD, compared with a previously established neuromodulation method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Dos Santos Alves Maria
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; Center of Technology in Molecular Medicine, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil
| | - Natália Silva Dias
- University Hospital of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Nicolato
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; Center of Technology in Molecular Medicine, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; National Institutes of Science and Technology in Responsible Neurotechnology (INCT-NeuroTecR), Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil
| | - Jonas Jardim de Paula
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; Center of Technology in Molecular Medicine, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; National Institutes of Science and Technology in Responsible Neurotechnology (INCT-NeuroTecR), Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil
| | - Maria Aparecida Camargos Bicalho
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil
| | - Renan Souza Cunha
- Center of Technology in Molecular Medicine, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil
| | - Luciana Costa Silva
- Instituto Hermes Pardini (Grupo Fleury), Street Aimorés, 66, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.140-920, Brazil
| | - Débora Marques de Miranda
- Center of Technology in Molecular Medicine, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; National Institutes of Science and Technology in Responsible Neurotechnology (INCT-NeuroTecR), Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil
| | - Bernardo de Mattos Viana
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; Center of Technology in Molecular Medicine, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; National Institutes of Science and Technology in Responsible Neurotechnology (INCT-NeuroTecR), Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurélio Romano-Silva
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; Center of Technology in Molecular Medicine, Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil; National Institutes of Science and Technology in Responsible Neurotechnology (INCT-NeuroTecR), Professor Alfredo Balena Avenue, 190, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30.130-100, Brazil.
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Lee K, Park TY, Lee W, Kim H. A review of functional neuromodulation in humans using low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound. Biomed Eng Lett 2024; 14:407-438. [PMID: 38645585 PMCID: PMC11026350 DOI: 10.1007/s13534-024-00369-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial ultrasonic neuromodulation is a rapidly burgeoning field where low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS), with exquisite spatial resolution and deep tissue penetration, is used to non-invasively activate or suppress neural activity in specific brain regions. Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase of tFUS neuromodulation studies in healthy humans and subjects with central nervous system (CNS) disease conditions, including a recent surge of clinical investigations in patients. This narrative review summarized the findings of human neuromodulation studies using either tFUS or unfocused transcranial ultrasound (TUS) reported from 2013 to 2023. The studies were categorized into two separate sections: healthy human research and clinical studies. A total of 42 healthy human investigations were reviewed as grouped by targeted brain regions, including various cortical, subcortical, and deep brain areas including the thalamus. For clinical research, a total of 22 articles were reviewed for each studied CNS disease condition, including chronic pain, disorder of consciousness, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, substance use disorder, drug-resistant epilepsy, and stroke. Detailed information on subjects/cohorts, target brain regions, sonication parameters, outcome readouts, and stimulatory efficacies were tabulated for each study. In later sections, considerations for planning tFUS neuromodulation in humans were also concisely discussed. With an excellent safety profile to date, the rapid growth of human tFUS research underscores the increasing interest and recognition of its significant potential in the field of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), offering theranostic potential for neurological and psychiatric disease conditions and neuroscientific tools for functional brain mapping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyuheon Lee
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 South Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Tae Young Park
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Wonhye Lee
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 South Korea
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Hyungmin Kim
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea
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5
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Chang H, Wang Q, Liu T, Chen L, Hong J, Liu K, Li Y, Yang N, Han D, Mi X, Li X, Guo X, Li Y, Li Z. A Bibliometric Analysis for Low-Intensity Ultrasound Study Over the Past Three Decades. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2023; 42:2215-2232. [PMID: 37129170 DOI: 10.1002/jum.16245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Low-intensity ultrasound (LI-US) is a non-invasive stimulation technique that has emerged in recent years and has been shown to have positive effects on neuromodulation, fracture healing, inflammation improvement, and metabolic regulation. This study reports the conclusions of a bibliometric analysis of LI-US. Input data for the period between 1995 and 2022, including 7209 related articles in the field of LI-US, were collected from the core library of the Web of Science (WOS) database. Using these data, a set of bibliometric indicators was obtained to gain knowledge on different aspects: global production, research areas, and sources analysis, contributions of countries and institutions, author analysis, citation analysis, and keyword analysis. This study combined the data analysis capabilities provided by the WOS database, making use of two bibliometric software tools: R software and VOS viewer to achieve analysis and data exploration visualization, and predicted the further development trends of LI-US. It turns out that the United States and China are co-leaders while Zhang ZG is the most significant author in LI-US. In the future, the hot spots of LI-US will continue to focus on parameter research, mechanism discussion, safety regulations, and neuromodulation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huixian Chang
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Taotao Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jingshu Hong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Kaixi Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yitong Li
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Ning Yang
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Dengyang Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xinning Mi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyang Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Center of Quality Control and Improvement on Clinical Anesthesia, Beijing, China
| | - Yingwei Li
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Zhengqian Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Center of Quality Control and Improvement on Clinical Anesthesia, Beijing, China
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6
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Sigona MK, Manuel TJ, Anthony Phipps M, Boroujeni KB, Treuting RL, Womelsdorf T, Caskey CF. Generating Patient-Specific Acoustic Simulations for Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Procedures Based on Optical Tracking Information. IEEE OPEN JOURNAL OF ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2023; 3:146-156. [PMID: 38222464 PMCID: PMC10785958 DOI: 10.1109/ojuffc.2023.3318560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Optical tracking is a real-time transducer positioning method for transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) procedures, but the predicted focus from optical tracking typically does not incorporate subject-specific skull information. Acoustic simulations can estimate the pressure field when propagating through the cranium but rely on accurately replicating the positioning of the transducer and skull in a simulated space. Here, we develop and characterize the accuracy of a workflow that creates simulation grids based on optical tracking information in a neuronavigated phantom with and without transmission through an ex vivo skull cap. The software pipeline could replicate the geometry of the tFUS procedure within the limits of the optical tracking system (transcranial target registration error (TRE): 3.9 ± 0.7 mm). The simulated focus and the free-field focus predicted by optical tracking had low Euclidean distance errors of 0.5±0.1 and 1.2±0.4 mm for phantom and skull cap, respectively, and some skull-specific effects were captured by the simulation. However, the TRE of simulation informed by optical tracking was 4.6±0.2, which is as large or greater than the focal spot size used by many tFUS systems. By updating the position of the transducer using the original TRE offset, we reduced the simulated TRE to 1.1 ± 0.4 mm. Our study describes a software pipeline for treatment planning, evaluates its accuracy, and demonstrates an approach using MR-acoustic radiation force imaging as a method to improve dosimetry. Overall, our software pipeline helps estimate acoustic exposure, and our study highlights the need for image feedback to increase the accuracy of tFUS dosimetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle K Sigona
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Thomas J Manuel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - M Anthony Phipps
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | | | - Robert Louie Treuting
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Thilo Womelsdorf
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA
| | - Charles F Caskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
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7
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Yüksel MM, Sun S, Latchoumane C, Bloch J, Courtine G, Raffin EE, Hummel FC. Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation for Stroke Recovery: A Novel Deep Brain Stimulation Approach for Neurorehabilitation? IEEE OPEN JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 4:300-318. [PMID: 38196977 PMCID: PMC10776095 DOI: 10.1109/ojemb.2023.3263690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Stroke as the leading cause of adult long-term disability and has a significant impact on patients, society and socio-economics. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) approaches such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) are considered as potential therapeutic options to enhance functional reorganization and augment the effects of neurorehabilitation. However, non-invasive electrical and magnetic stimulation paradigms are limited by their depth focality trade-off function that does not allow to target deep key brain structures critically important for recovery processes. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging approach for non-invasive deep brain neuromodulation. Using non-ionizing, ultrasonic waves with millimeter-accuracy spatial resolution, excellent steering capacity and long penetration depth, TUS has the potential to serve as a novel non-invasive deep brain stimulation method to establish unprecedented neuromodulation and novel neurorehabilitation protocols. The purpose of the present review is to provide an overview on the current knowledge about the neuromodulatory effects of TUS while discussing the potential of TUS in the field of stroke recovery, with respect to existing NIBS methods. We will address and discuss critically crucial open questions and remaining challenges that need to be addressed before establishing TUS as a new clinical neurorehabilitation approach for motor stroke recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmut Martin Yüksel
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute and Brain Mind InstituteÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneGeneva1201Switzerland
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute and Brain Mind InstituteÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation Sion1951Switzerland
| | - Shiqi Sun
- Neuro-X Institute and Brain Mind Institute, School of Life SciencesSwiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL)Lausanne1015Switzerland
- Department of Clinical NeuroscienceLausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and the University of Lausanne (UNIL)Lausanne1011Switzerland
- Defitech Center for Interventional Neurotherapies (NeuroRestore)EPFL/CHUV/UNILLausanne1011Switzerland
| | - Charles Latchoumane
- Neuro-X Institute and Brain Mind Institute, School of Life SciencesSwiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL)Lausanne1015Switzerland
- Department of Clinical NeuroscienceLausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and the University of Lausanne (UNIL)Lausanne1011Switzerland
- Defitech Center for Interventional Neurotherapies (NeuroRestore)EPFL/CHUV/UNILLausanne1011Switzerland
| | - Jocelyne Bloch
- Neuro-X Institute and Brain Mind Institute, School of Life SciencesSwiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL)Lausanne1015Switzerland
- Department of Clinical NeuroscienceLausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and the University of Lausanne (UNIL)Lausanne1015Switzerland
- Defitech Center for Interventional Neurotherapies (NeuroRestore)EPFL/CHUV/UNILLausanne1015Switzerland
- Department of NeurosurgeryLausanne University HospitalLausanne1011Switzerland
| | - Gregoire Courtine
- Department of Clinical NeuroscienceLausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and the University of Lausanne (UNIL)Lausanne1015Switzerland
- Defitech Center for Interventional Neurotherapies (NeuroRestore)EPFL/CHUV/UNILLausanne1015Switzerland
- Department of NeurosurgeryLausanne University HospitalLausanne1011Switzerland
| | - Estelle Emeline Raffin
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute and Brain Mind InstituteÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneGeneva1201Switzerland
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute and Brain Mind InstituteÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation Sion1951Switzerland
| | - Friedhelm Christoph Hummel
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute and Brain Mind InstituteÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneGeneva1202Switzerland
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute and Brain Mind InstituteÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation Sion1951Switzerland
- Clinical NeuroscienceUniversity of Geneva Medical SchoolGeneva1211Switzerland
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8
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Kim E, Van Reet J, Kim HC, Kowsari K, Yoo SS. High Incidence of Intracerebral Hemorrhaging Associated with the Application of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Following Acute Cerebrovascular Injury by Intracortical Injection. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2120. [PMID: 36297554 PMCID: PMC9609794 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) has gained momentum as a non-/minimally-invasive modality that facilitates the delivery of various pharmaceutical agents to the brain. With the additional ability to modulate regional brain tissue excitability, FUS is anticipated to confer potential neurotherapeutic applications whereby a deeper insight of its safety is warranted. We investigated the effects of FUS applied to the rat brain (Sprague-Dawley) shortly after an intracortical injection of fluorescent interstitial solutes, a widely used convection-enhanced delivery technique that directly (i.e., bypassing the blood-brain-barrier (BBB)) introduces drugs or interstitial tracers to the brain parenchyma. Texas Red ovalbumin (OA) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-d) were used as the interstitial tracers. Rats that did not receive sonication showed an expected interstitial distribution of OA and FITC-d around the injection site, with a wider volume distribution of OA (21.8 ± 4.0 µL) compared to that of FITC-d (7.8 ± 2.7 µL). Remarkably, nearly half of the rats exposed to the FUS developed intracerebral hemorrhaging (ICH), with a significantly higher volume of bleeding compared to a minor red blood cell extravasation from the animals that were not exposed to sonication. This finding suggests that the local cerebrovascular injury inflicted by the micro-injection was further exacerbated by the application of sonication, particularly during the acute stage of injury. Smaller tracer volume distributions and weaker fluorescent intensities, compared to the unsonicated animals, were observed for the sonicated rats that did not manifest hemorrhaging, which may indicate an enhanced degree of clearance of the injected tracers. Our results call for careful safety precautions when ultrasound sonication is desired among groups under elevated risks associated with a weakened or damaged vascular integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenii Kim
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA or
| | - Jared Van Reet
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA or
| | - Hyun-Chul Kim
- Department of Artificial Intelligence, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 37224, Korea
| | - Kavin Kowsari
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA or
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Seung-Schik Yoo
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA or
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