BACKGROUNDPrevious studies demonstrated that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy. Acupuncture is also used to treat epilepsy. This study was designed to examine the safety and effectiveness of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

METHODSA total of 50 volunteer patients with drug-resistant epilepsy were selected for a random clinical trial to observe the therapeutic effect of ta-VNS. The seizure frequency, quality of life, and severity were assessed in weeks 8, 16, and 24 of the treatment according to the percentage of seizure frequency reduction.

RESULTSIn the pilot study, 47 of the 50 epilepsy patients completed the 24-week treatment; three dropped off. After 8-week treatment, six of the 47 patients (12%) were seizure free and 12 (24%) had a reduction in seizure frequency. In week 16 of the continuous treatment, six of the 47 patients (12%) were seizure free; 17 (34%) had a reduction in seizure frequency. After 24 weeks' treatment, eight patients (16%) were seizure free; 19 (38%) had reduced seizure frequency.

CONCLUSIONSimilar to the therapeutic effect of VNS, ta-VNS can suppress epileptic seizures and is a safe, effective, economical, and widely applicable treatment option for drug-resistant epilepsy. (ChiCTR-TRC-10001023).

Adolescent ; Adult ; Epilepsy ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation ; methods ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A recent study demonstrated that tinnitus could be eliminated by vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with notched sounds in a rat tinnitus model. The aims of this clinical study were to investigate the effects and safety of transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) by patch-type electrode paired with notched music for treating chronic tinnitus. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with refractory chronic tinnitus for >12 months were included in this study. A patch-type electrode was attached to the auricular concha of the patient's left ear and tVNS was performed for 30 min (pulse rate 25 Hz, pulse width 200 micros, and amplitude 1-10 mA) using a transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation eco2. During tVNS, the patients listened to notched music cleared of the frequency spectrum corresponding to the tinnitus with a 0.5 octave notch width. RESULTS: After 10 treatment sessions, 15/30 patients (50%) reported symptom relief in terms of a global improvement questionnaire. The mean tinnitus loudness (10-point scale) and the mean tinnitus awareness score (%) improved significantly from 6.32+/-2.06 to 5.16+/-1.52 and from 82.40+/-24.37% to 65.60+/-28.15%, respectively (both p<0.05). None of the patients had any specific side effects, such as changes in heart rate or blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated the feasibility and safety of tVNS paired with notched music therapy in patients with chronic tinnitus, with the use of a pad-type electrode attached to the auricular concha.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Ear ; Electrodes ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Music Therapy* ; Music* ; Rats ; Tinnitus* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation* ; Vagus Nerve*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the brain effect mechanism and the correlation between brain functional imaging and cognitive function in treatment of depressive disorder (DD) with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) based on the resting-state functional magenetic reasonance imaging (rs-fMRI). METHODS: Thirty-two DD patients were included in a depression group and 32 subjects of healthy condition were enrolled in a normal group. In the depression group, the taVNS was applied to bilateral Xin (CO₁₅) and Shen (CO₁₀), at disperse-dense wave, 4 Hz/20 Hz in frequency and current intensity ≤20 mA depending on patient's tolerance, 30 min each time, twice daily. The duration of treatment consisted of 8 weeks. The patients of two groups were undertaken rs-fMRI scanning. The scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) were observed in the normal group at baseline and the depression group before and after treatment separately. The differential brain regions were observed before and after treatment in the two groups and the value of degree centrality (DC) of fMRI was obtained. Their correlation was analyzed in terms of HAMD, HAMA and WCST scores. RESULTS: The scores of HAMD and HAMA in the depression group were all higher than those in the normal group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of HAMD and HAMA were lower than those before treatment in the depression group; the scores of total responses, response errors and perseverative errors of WCST were all lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). The brain regions with significant differences included the left inferior temporal gyrus, the left cerebellar peduncles region 1, the left insula, the right putamen, the bilateral supplementary motor area and the right middle frontal gyrus. After treatment, the value of DC in left supplementary motor area was negatively correlated to HAMD and HAMA scores respectively (r=-0.324, P=0.012; r=-0.310, P=0.015); the value of DC in left cerebellar peduncles region 1 was negatively correlated to the total responses of WCST (r=-0.322, P=0.013), and the left insula was positively correlated to the total responses of WCST (r=0.271, P=0.036). CONCLUSION The taVNS can modulate the intensity of the functional activities of some brain regions so as to relieve depressive symptoms and improve cognitive function.
Humans ; Depression/therapy* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation/methods* ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation/methods* ; Vagus Nerve

Treatment by auricular acupuncture has a long history. Ear-acupoint research has been advancing step by step in China and also in Europe. Auricles are rich in nerves, therefore a close relationship with different functions of the human body has been proved by the research teams of the two main authors of this article from China and Austria. In recent years, great progress has been made in the research of regulating human body functions through electroacupuncture at the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, which is part of auricular acupuncture therapy. It is well known that the auricular branch of the vagus nerve is the only peripheral pathway to the cerebral cortex. Studies of the Chinese team on hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy and depression have shown that the mechanism of auricular vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may be comparable with cervical VNS in terms of pathways. Auricular VNS has a broad clinical application prospect.
Acupuncture, Ear ; Animals ; Austria ; Biomedical Research ; China ; Depression ; therapy ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; therapy ; Humans ; International Cooperation ; Reflex ; physiology ; Vagus Nerve ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) combined dexmedetomidine on hemodynamic of intracranial aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients undergoing intervention, and their protection for brain Injury.

METHODSTotally 108 intracranial aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients undergoing intervention were randomly assigned to the electroacupuncture (EA) group and the control group according to random digit table, 54 in each group. All patients were anesthetized with dexmedetomidine. Patients in the EA group were needled at bilateral Neiguan (PC6), Lieque (LU7), and Yunmen (LU2). Parameter setting was as follows: The dilatational wave at 1. 5 Hz, strength 2 - 4 mA, 30 min. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were compared between the two groups immediately after entry into the room (T0), after administration (T1), intubating (T2), resuscitation (T3), extubation (T4), and leaving the operating room (T5). Levels of S100β protein (S100β) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were compared between the two groups at T0, immediately after surgery (T6), 6 h after operation (T7), 12 h after operation (T8), and 24 h after operation (T9).

RESULTSCompared with the same group at T0, SBP, DBP, MAP, and HR were significantly reduced in the two groups at T1-T5(P <0. 05), serum levels of S100β and NSE in the two groups were significantly increased at T6-T9 (P<0. 05). Compared with the control group at T1 - T5, SBP, DBP, MAP, and HR decreased in the EA group (P <0. 05). Compared with the control group at T6-T9, serum levels of S100β and NSE decreased in the EA group (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONTAES combined dexmedetomidine could effectively maintain stable hemodynamics of intracranial aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients undergoing intervention, and regulate their serum levels of S100β and NSE.

Acupuncture Points ; Airway Extubation ; Blood Pressure ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Electric Stimulation ; Electroacupuncture ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Electrophysiological stimulator is widely used in study of biological electrical activities. This electrophysiological stimulator is capable of outputting both biphasic and monophasic waveforms with amplitudes within 0V and 30V. The sequence of the biphasic waveforms is alterable and their widths and interval can be respectively arbitrarily modified by the operator. The machine will inform the operator as soon as the charge completes through the indicator and buzzer. The safety of experimental objects is guaranteed by float ground thanks to battery power supply.
Electric Countershock ; instrumentation ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; instrumentation ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Equipment Design

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of transcutaneous point electric stimulation on periarthritis of shoulder at different stages and compare with electroacupuncture.

METHODSThree hundred and sixty cases of periarthritis of shoulder at different stages were divided into a treatment group (n=186) treated with transcutaneous point electric stimulation, and a control group (n=174) treated with electroacupuncture. Same acupoints were selected in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of transcutaneous point electric stimulation was 96.6% at the adhesion prophase and 96.9% at the adhesive stage, but electroacupuncture stimulation was 93.5% and 97.9%, respectively, with no significant differences between the two groups; transcutaneous point electric stimulation not only could relieve pain, but also significantly improve dysfunction of shoulder joints at the adhesive stage.

CONCLUSIONTranscutaneous point electric stimulation is an effective and convenient therapy for periarthritis of shoulder.

Acupuncture Points ; Electric Stimulation ; Humans ; Periarthritis ; therapy ; Shoulder ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

For those patients with refractory lower urinary tract dysfunction who are not well treated by traditional therapy such as behavior therapy and drug therapy, neuromodulation technologies have gradually become alternative treatments. Several neuromodulation technologies are also used in animal experimental and clinical scientific research by more and more scholars, in order to find more effective methods and mechanisms of treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction. This article introduces the principle and advantages of common neuromodulation technologies, which focuses on the application in lower urinary tract dysfunction treatment, and analyzes the direction and the broad prospect of neuromodulation.
Humans ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; Urologic Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy

Deep brain stimulation has drawn more and more concerns as a method to treat neuropsychological diseases. Compared with surgery and other methods using electrical stimulation, deep brain stimulation has advantages of clear targets, high selectivity, reversibility, titratability and non-ablation. A large body of clinical trials has shown that deep brain stimulation targeting various brain structures is able to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, chronic pain and depression that are intractable with medicines and other methods, with few complications or side effects. Deep brain stimulation is now emerging as a promising approach for the treatment of resistant neuropsychological diseases.
Deep Brain Stimulation ; methods ; trends ; Depressive Disorder ; therapy ; Electric Stimulation ; methods ; Epilepsy ; therapy ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology ; therapy

Neural interface technology researches, which constitute the intercross science relating to neurophysiology, computational science, microelectronic technology and so on, are of important value in rehabilitation engineering. In this paper, the concept and significance of neural interface were introduced. The applications and methods of different kinds of neural interface system were expounded. Related animal experiments were citated. The recent studies and trends in neural interface technology were also discussed.
Activities of Daily Living ; Animals ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Disabled Persons ; rehabilitation ; Electric Stimulation ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Microelectrodes ; Motor Cortex ; physiology ; User-Computer Interface