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Cyberonics, Inc - Cyberonics VNS Therapy Programming M250 System - Class 2 RecallEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cyberonics VNS Therapy Programming M250 Programming System, model number 250, version 4.6, 6.1, 7.0 and 7.1. The Model 250 Handheld software is provided on flashcards packaged in software envelopes or pre-installed on handheld computers. (Source: Medical Device Recalls since July 07, 2006)
Source: Medical Device Recalls since July 07, 2006 - November 17, 2009 Category: Medical Equipment Source Type: organizations

Effects of auricular electrical stimulation on vagal activity in healthy men: Evidence from a three-armed randomized trialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The activity of the vagus nerve is negatively associated with risk factors such as stress and smoking, morbidity, and mortality. In contrast it is also a target of therapeutic intervention. Vagus nerve stimulation is used in depression and epilepsy. Due to its high invasivity and exclusive application to therapy-resistant patients, there is interest in less invasive methods affecting the vagus nerve. Several studies examining acupuncture report beneficial effects on vagal activity. However, findings are inconsistent and applied methods are heterogeneous resulting in difficulties in interpretation. The purpose of the presen...
Source: Clinical Science - November 9, 2009 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: R La Marca, M Nedeljkovic, L Yuan, A Maercker, U Ehlert Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation-induced bradyarrhythmias in ratsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: The autonomic consequences of seizures can be severe. Death can follow from autonomic overactivity that causes a parasympathetically mediated bradyarrhythmia. We studied the cardiovascular consequences of unilateral and bilateral stimulation of the distal segments of transected vagus nerve in rats anesthetized with urethane. The range of stimulation rates tested is comparable to the firing rates observed in vagus nerve during seizures. There was a consistent inverse relation between stimulus rate and heart rate with nodal block appearing at 5–10Hz and minimum HR levels (cardiac standstill) occurring at 50Hz. Ca...
Source: Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical - November 2, 2009 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Harumi Hotta, Jason Lazar, Rena Orman, Kiyomi Koizumi, Kanako Shiba, Haroon Kamran, Mark Stewart Tags: Basic Autonomic Neuroscience Source Type: journals

Cholinergic agonists regulate JAK2/STAT3 signaling to suppress endothelial cell activationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is a physiological mechanism that inhibits cytokine production and minimizes tissue injury during inflammation. Previous investigations revealed that cholinergic stimulation (via cholinergic agonists and vagus nerve stimulation) suppresses endothelial cell activation and leukocyte recruitment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which cholinergic agonists (e.g., nicotine and GTS-21) regulate endothelial cell activation. Specifically, we examined the effects of cholinergic agonists on IL-6-mediated endothelial cell activation through the JAK2/STAT3 signali...
Source: AJP: Cell Physiology - October 29, 2009 Category: Cytology Authors: Chatterjee, P. K., Al-Abed, Y., Sherry, B., Metz, C. N. Tags: VASCULAR BIOLOGY Source Type: journals

The efficacy of vagal nerve stimulation in children with pharmacoresistant epilepsy: Practical experience at a Turkish tertiary referral center.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: Although it is an expensive method, VNS is an effective treatment method. This series shows the necessity of long-term follow-up series for understanding the efficacy and advantages of VNS. Prospective, long-term double-blind studies with large samples are needed to confirm the present study's findings. PMID: 19850501 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Paediatric Neurology)
Source: European Journal of Paediatric Neurology - October 20, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Arhan E, Serdaroglu A, Kurt G, Bilir E, Durdağ E, Erdem A, Aksakal FN, Ozcelik A, Baykaner K Tags: Eur J Paediatr Neurol Source Type: journals

Is neuroimmunomodulation a future therapeutic approach for sepsis?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sepsis is considered as a disease of profoundly and uncontrollably activated innate immune response against bacterial infection or their products. Thus, regulation of innate immune response plays a critical role in controlling exaggerated systemic inflammation responsible for sepsis development. However, treatment of patients suffering from sepsis or its more severe form (i.e. severe sepsis or septic shock) with available antibiotics or immunomodulatory agents did not prove effective in controlling multi organ damage and mortality. Therefore it is important to explore cascades of mechanisms associated with pathogenesis...
Source: International Immunopharmacology - October 15, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Kumar V, Sharma A Tags: Int Immunopharmacol Source Type: journals

Preemptive effect of nucleus of the solitary tract stimulation on amygdaloid kindling in freely moving catsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Discussion: Our results indicate that preemptive NTS electrical stimulation interferes with epileptogenesis. This anticonvulsive effect could be related to the activation of certain structures that inhibit seizure development. Therefore, results suggest that NTS mediates the anticonvulsive effect of vagus nerve stimulation. (Source: Epilepsia)
Source: Epilepsia - October 7, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Victor M. Magdaleno-Madrigal, David Martínez-Vargas, Alejandro Valdés-Cruz, Salvador Almazán-Alvarado, Rodrigo Fernández-Mas Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation inhibits the increase in Ca2+ transient and left ventricular force caused by sympathetic nerve stimulation but has no direct effects alone – epicardial Ca2+ fluorescence studies using fura-2 AM in the isolated innervated beating rabbit heartEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study was designed to investigate the effect of autonomic nerve stimulation on intracellular calcium fluorescence using fura-2 AM in the isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart preparation with intact dual autonomic innervation. The effects of autonomic nerve stimulation on cardiac force and calcium transients were more obvious during intrinsic sinus rhythm. High-frequency (15 Hz, n= 5) right vagus nerve stimulation (VS) decreased heart rate from 142.7 ± 2.6 to 75.5 ± 10.2 beats min[ndash]1 and left ventricular pressure from 36.4 ± 3.2 to 25.9 ± 1.9 mmHg, whilst simultaneously decreasing the diastolic and systo...
Source: Experimental Physiology - October 6, 2009 Category: Physiology Authors: Kieran E. Brack, John H. Coote, G. André Ng Source Type: journals

Cyberonics Announces Epilepsy Technology CollaborationsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
HOUSTON, Oct. 2 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Cyberonics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYBX ) today announced two collaborations in the field of EEG-based seizure detection to build on its position as the leader in medical devices for epilepsy. On October 1, 2009, Cyberonics e... Devices, NeurologyCyberonics, NeuroVista, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, epilepsy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)
Source: HSMN NewsFeed - October 2, 2009 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

Research advances in geriatric depression.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Technical advances have facilitated the exploration of factors related to geriatric depression and have helped generate novel biological and psychosocial treatment approaches. This review summarizes the main advancements in epidemiology, clinical presentation and course, genetics, and other areas of biological research. Treatment interventions outlined in this paper include electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic seizure therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulatn, depression prophylaxis, multidisciplinary approaches to depression treatment, and psychotherapy. Forms ...
Source: World Psychiatry - September 30, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Alexopoulos GS, Kelly RE Tags: World Psychiatry Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation might have a unique effect in reflex eating seizuresEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We studied the effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on eating seizures, which theoretically would be triggered by neural activity and signaling from organs innervated by the vagus nerve. Three adult patients with daily nonreflex and reflex eating seizures were studied; one patient also had hot-water seizures. One patient had bilateral polymicrogyria and two had normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. All patients were submitted to VNS implantation and had at least 2 years of postimplantation follow-up. Final stimulation parameters were 2.0[ndash]2.5 mA, 500 [mu]s, and 30 Hz. Eating seizures decreased 70[ndash...
Source: Epilepsia - September 21, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Arthur Cukiert, Pedro Paulo Mariani, Jose Augusto Burattini, Cristine Mella Cukiert, Cassio Forster, Carla Baise, Meire Argentoni-Baldochi, Valeria Mello Source Type: journals

Refractory epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis: Vagus nerve stimulation with or without subsequent resective surgery.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: VNS is a safe and effective treatment option for medically refractory epilepsy in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. Nine of 11 patients (82%) experienced at least a 67% reduction in seizure burden. Lack of response to vagus nerve stimulation does not preclude subsequent improvement in seizure burden with intracranial epilepsy surgery. PMID: 19767244 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Epilepsy and Behaviour)
Source: Epilepsy and Behaviour - September 17, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Elliott RE, Carlson C, Kalhorn SP, Moshel YA, Weiner HL, Devinsky O, Doyle WK Tags: Epilepsy Behav Source Type: journals

Cholinergic agonists regulate JAK2/STAT3 signaling to suppress endothelial cell activation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is a physiological mechanism that inhibits cytokine production and minimizes tissue injury during inflammation. Previous investigations revealed that cholinergic stimulation (via cholinergic agonists and vagus nerve stimulation) suppresses endothelial cell activation and leukocyte recruitment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which cholinergic agonists (e.g. nicotine and GTS-21) regulate endothelial cell activation. Specifically, we examined the effects of cholinergic agonists on IL-6-mediated endothelial cell activation through the JAK2/STAT3 sign...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology - September 8, 2009 Category: Cytology Authors: Chatterjee PK, Al Abed Y, Sherry B, Metz CN Tags: Am J Physiol Cell Physiol Source Type: journals

Far field potentials from brain stem after transcutaneous Vagus nerve stimulation: optimization of stimulation and recording parametersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract  The method of vagus somatosensory evoked potentials (VSEP) was introduced to easily measure the activity of vagus brain stem nuclei. In Alzheimer’s disease, this measure was characterized by longer latencies as compared to controls while amplitudes did not show statistical significant differences at frontal and central recording sites. Therefore, the influence of stimulation and recording parameters on amplitudes of VSEP were systematically examined. In 20 healthy participants, VSEP measurement was done by electrical stimulation of the cutaneous representation of the vagus nerve in the external au...
Source: Journal of Neural Transmission - September 3, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Journal of Neural Transmission Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a key tool in the treatment of patients with medically refractory epilepsy. Although the mechanism of action of VNS remains poorly understood, this modality is now the most widely used nonpharmacological treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. The goal of this work is to review the history of VNS and provide information on recent advances and applications of this technology. PMID: 19722820 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Lulic D, Ahmadian A, Baaj AA, Benbadis SR, Vale FL Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Magnetically induced vagus nerve stimulation and feeding behavior in rats.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study suggests that the rats with solenoid's electrodes placed on the left VN significantly decreased their food intake, weight gain and serum leptin concentrations when compared to that of the CON group. PP levels were found to be higher in the VEMF group when compared to the controls groups. It was found that the most effective parameters of vagal stimulation on eating behavior were 3631, 7861, 14523 A(2) x h/m(2). The magnetic field by unknown mechanisms also influences feeding behavior. This study suggests that vago-vagal reflexes are involved in the feeding homeostasis and that neuromodulation might be an effecti...
Source: J Physiol Pharmacol - August 31, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Ziomber A, Juszczak K, Kaszuba-Zwoinska J, Machowska A, Zaraska K, Gil K, Thor P Tags: J Physiol Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Inhibition of Histamine-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Guinea Pig and Swine by Pulsed Electrical Vagus Nerve StimulationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion. This study suggests that VN stimulation can reduce bronchoconstriction and may prove useful as a rescue therapy in the treatment of acute asthma. (Source: Neuromodulation)
Source: Neuromodulation - August 19, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Thomas J. Hoffmann, Steven Mendez, Peter Staats, Charles W. Emala, Puyun Guo Source Type: journals

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Intractable Epilepsy: Outcomes in Children and AdultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions. These results suggest that VNS may be a more effective treatment in children with intractable epilepsy than in adults. It remains difficult to predict which patients will respond to VNS therapy. (Source: Neuromodulation)
Source: Neuromodulation - August 19, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Won Chul Namgung, Tae Sung Ko, Sang-Ahm Lee, Joong Ku Kang, Seok Ho Hong, Il Young Shin, Jung-Kyo Lee Source Type: journals

Long-term vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The long-term effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on seizure frequency were studied in 30 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Median observation time was 52 months (17-123). The effect parameters investigated were total number of seizures and different seizure types. The median reduction in number of seizures was 60.6%. The effects of VNS varied considerably between seizure types. Best effects were observed with atonic seizures (80.8% median reduction, number of responders: 8/12), followed closely by tonic seizures (73.3% median reduction, number of responders: 8/13). Least effects were with generalized tonic-c...
Source: Epilepsy and Behaviour - August 18, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Kostov K, Kostov H, Taubøll E Tags: Epilepsy Behav Source Type: journals

Tonic and atonic seizures: What's next—VNS or callosotomy?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Medically intractable tonic and atonic seizures may be responsive to either vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) or corpus callosum section. VNS has been shown to be effective and is associated with very low morbidity. Callosotomy is a more ambitious procedure, with a higher risk of complications but greater likelihood of seizure improvement. (Source: Epilepsia)
Source: Epilepsia - August 11, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: William E. Rosenfeld, David W. Roberts Source Type: journals

Parkinsonism induced by VNS in a child with double-cortex syndromeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We describe a child with epilepsy associated with double-cortex syndrome in whom vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) generated parkinsonian symptoms. A 13-year-old girl presented with refractory secondary generalized epilepsy from the age of 6 years and mental retardation. Her electroencephalography (EEG) showed diffuse polyspike and wave discharges. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed double-cortex syndrome. She was submitted to extended callosal section at the age of 10 years, which yielded 50% seizure frequency reduction. She was submitted to VNS by the age of 12 years. As stimulation intensity was increased, there was ap...
Source: Epilepsia - August 7, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Arthur Cukiert, Pedro Paulo Mariani, Jose Augusto Burattini, Cristine Mella Cukiert, Cassio Forster, Carla Baise, Meire Argentoni-Baldochi, Valeria Mello Source Type: journals

It's Electric!!: Vagus nerve stimulation may improve uncontrolled epileptic seizures.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Page: 34DOI: 10.1097/01.NNN.0000359091.10808.dcAuthors: WILNER, ANDREW M. M.D. (Source: Neurology Now)
Source: Neurology Now - August 4, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: HTML PDF (123 K) Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation-induced bradyarrhythmias in rats.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The autonomic consequences of seizures can be severe. Death can follow from autonomic overactivity that causes a parasympathetically mediated bradyarrhythmia. We studied the cardiovascular consequences of unilateral and bilateral stimulation of the distal segments of transected vagus nerve in rats anesthetized with urethane. The range of stimulation rates tested is comparable to the firing rates observed in vagus nerve during seizures. There was a consistent inverse relation between stimulus rate and heart rate with nodal block appearing at 5-10Hz and minimum HR levels (cardiac standstill) occurring at 50Hz. Cardiac st...
Source: Autonomic Neuroscience - July 31, 2009 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Hotta H, Lazar J, Orman R, Koizumi K, Shiba K, Kamran H, Stewart M Tags: Auton Neurosci Source Type: journals

Burn-induced organ dysfunction: Vagus nerve stimulation attenuates organ and serum cytokine levelsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Our results encourage further research regarding the neuroimmunologic background of burn, possibly leading to the development of a novel therapeutic approach to burn-induced organ dysfunction and immunodysregulation. (Source: Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries)
Source: Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries - July 30, 2009 Category: Cosmetic Surgery Authors: Andreas D. Niederbichler, Stephan Papst, Leif Claassen, Andreas Jokuszies, Lars Steinstraesser, Tobias Hirsch, Mehmet A. Altintas, Kyros R. Ipaktchi, Kerstin Reimers, Theresia Kraft, Peter M. Vogt Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Cyberonics Provides Update On Depression Post-Approval StudyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cyberonics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYBX) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has approved the company's proposal to amend the protocol of its D-21 post-approval dosing study in depression patients treated with VNS Therapy(TM). (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - July 25, 2009 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Depression Source Type: news

Cyberonics Provides Update on Depression Post-Approval StudyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
HOUSTON, July 24 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Cyberonics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYBX ) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has approved the company's proposal to amend the protocol of its D-21 post-approval dosing study in depressi... Devices, Neurology, FDACyberonics, VNS Therapy, neuromodulation, depression (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)
Source: HSMN NewsFeed - July 24, 2009 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

Deep Brain Stimulation in the Treatment of Refractory Epilepsy: Update on Current Data and Future Directions.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Deep brain stimulation for epilepsy has garnered attention from epileptologists due to its well-documented success in treating movement disorders and the low morbidity associated with the implantation of electrodes. Given the large proportion of patients who fail medical therapy and are not candidates for surgical amelioration, as well as the suboptimal seizure control offered by vagus nerve stimulation, the search for appropriate brain structures to serve as targets for deep brain stimulation has generated a useful body of evidence to serve as the basis for larger investigations. Early results of the SANTE trial shoul...
Source: Neurobiology of Disease - July 21, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Lega BC, Halpern CH, Jaggi JL, Baltuch GH Tags: Neurobiol Dis Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation induces changes in respiratory sinus arrhythmia of epileptic children during sleepEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Together with disorders of respiration, cardiac activity, and oxygen saturation (SaO2) described previously. VNS also modifies synchronization between cardiac and respiratory activity, resulting in poor optimization of oxygen delivery to tissues that can be regarded as an additive side effect, which should be considered in patients with already altered brain function. This interaction between the effects of VNS and potential autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction already reported in epileptic patients should be considered to be potentially life-threatening. In addition, evaluation of changes in respiratory ...
Source: Epilepsia - July 19, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Boubker Zaaimi, Reinhard Grebe, Patrick Berquin, Fabrice Wallois Source Type: journals

Noninvasive techniques for probing neurocircuitry and treating illness: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Gary Aston-Jones Keywords: TMS, VNS, neuromodulation (Source: Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: Neuropsychopharmacology - July 18, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Mark S GeorgeGary Aston-Jones Source Type: journals

Effects of vagus nerve stimulation on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine induction in patients with refractory epilepsyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: The role of the vagus nerve in controlling and modulating inflammatory responses under physiological conditions has been investigated. The purpose of this study is to assess changes in the immunological state evoked by vagus nerve stimulation in humans, by measuring cytokines produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).We compared induction of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated PBMC which were isolated from patients treated with vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy. We observed a significant decrease in IL-8 induction by LPS-stimulated PBMC after 6mont...
Source: Journal of Neuroimmunology - July 15, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Veerle De Herdt, Sara Bogaert, Ken R. Bracke, Robrecht Raedt, Martine De Vos, Kristl Vonck, Paul Boon Tags: Clinical Neuroimmunology Source Type: journals

Enhancement of the function of rat serotonin and norepinephrine neurons by sustained vagus nerve stimulation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSION: Vagus nerve stimulation initially increases the firing activity and pattern of NE neurons and subsequently those of 5-HT neurons, presumably as a cascade effect via alpha(1)-postsynaptic adrenoceptors. To date, VNS appears to be a unique antidepressant treatment increasing 5-HT transmission and enhancing the firing activity of NE neurons. These effects could contribute to the effectiveness of VNS in treatment-resistant depression. PMID: 19568478 [PubMed - in process] (Source: J Psychiatry Neurosc...)
Source: J Psychiatry Neurosc... - June 30, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Manta S, Dong J, Debonnel G, Blier P Tags: J Psychiatry Neurosci Source Type: journals

Effects of electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve on the development of visual habituation in the cat.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, VNS interferes with the development and establishment of visual habituation, an elementary form of non-associative learning, in freely moving cats. PMID: 19573563 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Behavioural Brain Research)
Source: Behavioural Brain Research - June 28, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Martínez-Vargas D, Valdés-Cruz A, Magdaleno-Madrigal VM, Almazán-Alvarado S, Fernández-Mas R Tags: Behav Brain Res Source Type: journals

Emerging targets for antidepressant therapies.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Despite adequate antidepressant monotherapy, the majority of depressed patients do not achieve remission. Even optimal and aggressive therapy leads to a substantial number of patients who show minimal and often only transient improvement. In order to address this substantial problem of treatment-resistant depression, a number of novel targets for antidepressant therapy have emerged as a consequence of major advances in the neurobiology of depression. Three major approaches to uncover novel therapeutic interventions are: first, optimizing the modulation of monoaminergic neurotransmission; second, developing medications ...
Source: Current Opinion in Chemical Biology - June 3, 2009 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Rakofsky JJ, Holtzheimer PE, Nemeroff CB Tags: Curr Opin Chem Biol Source Type: journals

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Shows Promise in Advanced HFEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
ORLANDO — Chronic vagus nerve stimulation delivered by an implantable device resulted in significant functional and quality of life improvements in patients with advanced heart failure in a first-in-man study. (Source: Cardiology News)
Source: Cardiology News - June 1, 2009 Category: Cardiology Authors: BRUCE JANCIN Tags: Heart Failure Source Type: news

VNS Improves Quality of Life After Heart FailureEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
ORLANDO — Chronic vagus nerve stimulation delivered by an implantable device resulted in significant functional and quality of life improvements in patients with advanced heart failure in a first-in-man study. (Source: Clinical Psychiatry News)
Source: Clinical Psychiatry News - May 31, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Authors: BRUCE JANCIN Tags: Across Specialties Source Type: journals

Non-invasive computerized system for automatically initiating vagus nerve stimulation following patient-specific detection of seizures or epileptiform discharges.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
NON-INVASIVE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY INITIATING VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION FOLLOWING PATIENT-SPECIFIC DETECTION OF SEIZURES OR EPILEPTIFORM DISCHARGES. Int J Neural Syst. 2009 Jun;19(3):157-172 Authors: Shoeb A, Pang T, Guttag J, Schachter S Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of using a computerized system to detect the onset of a seizure and, in response, initiate Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with medically refractory epilepsy. Methods: We designed and built a non-invasive, computerized system that automatically initiates VNS following the real-time detection of a pre-identified ...
Source: International Journal of Neural Systems - May 31, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Shoeb A, Pang T, Guttag J, Schachter S Tags: Int J Neural Syst Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation may be used in the therapy of myocarditisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Summary: Although a large number of different causes have been identified as leading to myocarditis, inflammation plays a pivotal role in its pathological process. No specific methods are available in the therapy of myocarditis except symptomatic treatment. Vagus nerve stimulation has been found to lower the heart rate and recover the normal heart rhythm which may relieve the cardiac symptoms in myocarditis. Furthermore, the acetylcholine that secreted by vagus nerve stimulation was found to inhibit the production of such inflammatory cytokines as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Based on the ab...
Source: Medical Hypotheses - May 31, 2009 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Hong Li, Tian-De Yang Source Type: journals

Overview of evaluation and treatment guidelines for epilepsyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Opinion statement  Choosing the most appropriate treatment for a patient with epilepsy depends on complicated and critical decisions. The number of treatment options has become large, and evidence of effectiveness for each treatment continues to expand. To address this problem, numerous guidelines have been produced by several societies and organizations. However, the guidelines do not always agree in their recommendations, mostly because of differing methods reflecting distinct purposes, but these differences are useful because they highlight both what is incontrovertible and what is unknown. Overall, the ev...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Neurology - May 30, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Current Treatment Options in Neurology Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation and magnet use: Optimizing benefits.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
More than 10years ago, the vagus nerve stimulator became the first device approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in persons with epilepsy. The vagus nerve stimulator has subsequently served to spearhead the concept of neurostimulation for seizures. Chronic intermittent electrical stimulation of the left vagus nerve is the foundation for vagus nerve stimulation, yet little is known about its capability to deliver acute, on-demand, activation of stimulation through use of a magnet. Thus far, clinical use of magnet-induced vagus nerve stimulation has not been elucidated. In an effort to help guide management...
Source: Epilepsy and Behaviour - May 21, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Tatum WO, Helmers SL Tags: Epilepsy Behav Source Type: journals

Clinical Benefits and Cost Effectiveness of Vagus Nerve Stimulation in a Long-term Treatment of Patients with Major DepressionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Pharmacopsychiatry 2009; 42: 85-88DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1103294Abstract To evaluate clinical aspects and cost effectiveness of the treatment with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), a group of 9 VNS-implanted patients and 9 age- and sex-matched patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression were included in a prospective study.[...]© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New YorkGet connected:Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text (Source: Pharmacopsychiatry)
Source: Pharmacopsychiatry - May 19, 2009 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Original Paper Source Type: journals

Epilepsy in Angelman syndrome: A questionnaire-based assessment of the natural history and current treatment optionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Discussion: This is the largest study to date assessing epilepsy in AS. Although epilepsy in AS is considered a generalized epilepsy, there was a high prevalence of partial seizures. There are few previous data regarding the use of newer AED in AS, and the results of this study suggest that these newer agents, specifically levetiracetam and lamotrigine, may have efficacy similar to that of valproic acid and clonazepam, and that they appear to have similar or better side-effect profiles. Nonpharmacologic therapies such as dietary therapy and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) also suggest favorable efficacy and tolerability, alt...
Source: Epilepsia - May 11, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Ronald L. Thibert, Kerry D. Conant, Eileen K. Braun, Patricia Bruno, Rana R. Said, Mark P. Nespeca, Elizabeth A. Thiele Source Type: journals

Long-term effect of vagus nerve stimulation on interictal epileptiform discharges in refractory epilepsyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy has been widely recognized as an effective alternative for the treatment of refractory epilepsy. However, the precise mechanism of VNS is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to observe the long-term interictal EEG changes induced by VNS, and to investigate the probable mechanism of action of VNS in achieving seizure control.Methods: Eight patients with VNS were selected from two epilepsy centers in China (Harbin and Shanghai) between 2001 and 2004. We studied the clinical efficacy by long-term follow-up, ranging from 37 to 81 months (mean 55.8 month...
Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences - May 11, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Haiyang Wang, Xiaoguang Chen, Zhiguo Lin, Zhengbo Shao, Bomin Sun, Hong Shen, Li Liu Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Late-onset cardiac arrhythmia associated with vagus nerve stimulationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Letter to the EditorsDOI 10.1007/s00415-009-5162-yAuthors Peter Borusiak, HELIOS Klinikum Wuppertal Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin Heusnerstr. 40 42283 Wuppertal GermanyMatthias Zilbauer, HELIOS Klinikum Wuppertal Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin Heusnerstr. 40 42283 Wuppertal GermanySabine Cagnoli, HELIOS Klinikum Wuppertal Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin Heusnerstr. 40 42283 Wuppertal GermanyMichael Heldmann, HELIOS Klinikum Wuppertal Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin Heusnerstr. 40 42283 Wuppertal GermanyAndreas Jenke, HELIOS Klinikum Wuppertal Zentrum f...
Source: Journal of Neurology - May 9, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Journal of Neurology Source Type: journals

Vagus Nerve Activity Augments Intestinal Macrophage Phagocytosis via Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α4β2Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: ACh enhances phagocytic potential while inhibiting immune reactivity via nAChR α4/β2 in mouse macrophages. Hence, vagus nerve efferent activity may stimulate surveillance in the intestinal mucosa and peritoneal compartment. (Source: Gastroenterology)
Source: Gastroenterology - May 7, 2009 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Esmerij P. van der Zanden, Susanne A. Snoek, Sigrid E. Heinsbroek, Oana I. Stanisor, Caroline Verseijden, Guy E. Boeckxstaens, Maikel P. Peppelenbosch, David R. Greaves, Siamon Gordon, Wouter J. De Jonge Tags: Basic-Alimentary Tract Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation in drug-resistant daily chronic migraine with depression: preliminary dataEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract  Drug refractory chronic daily headache (CDH) is a highly disabling condition. CDH is usually regarded as the negative evolution of chronic migraine (CM) and is characterized by high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, especially mood disorders. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is an established treatment option for selected patients with medically refractory epilepsy and depression. Neurobiological similarities suggest that VNS could be useful in the treatment of drug-refractory CM associated with depression. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of VNS in patients suffering from drug-refr...
Source: Neurological Sciences - May 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Neurological Sciences Source Type: journals

Neuroimmune perspectives in sepsisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Physiologic anti-inflammatory mechanisms are selected by evolution to control the immune system and prevent infectious and inflammatory disorders. Central acting alpha2-agonists attenuate systemic inflammation and improve survival in experimental sepsis. This anti-inflammatory and therapeutic mechanism of central sympatholytics appears to be mediated by an unexpected vagomimetic potential of the alpha2-agonists to activate the vagus nerve. But, recent studies rule out a cholinergic anti-inflammatory mechanism based on a direct cholinergic interaction between the vagus nerve and the immune system. Since the nervous system i...
Source: Critical Care - April 23, 2009 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Luis Ulloa and Edwin A Deitch Source Type: journals

Cyberonics, Inc - VNS Therapy System Generator - Class 3 RecallEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cyberonics VNS Therapy Demipulse Generator, Model 103; an implantable, multiprogrammable, vagus nerve stimulator. (Source: Medical Device Recalls since July 07, 2006)
Source: Medical Device Recalls since July 07, 2006 - April 23, 2009 Category: Medical Equipment Source Type: organizations

Cyberonics, Inc - VNS Therapy System Generator - Class 3 RecallEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cyberonics VNS Therapy Demipulse Duo Generator, Model 104; an implantable, multiprogrammable, vagus nerve stimulator. (Source: Medical Device Recalls since July 07, 2006)
Source: Medical Device Recalls since July 07, 2006 - April 23, 2009 Category: Medical Equipment Source Type: organizations

Horner's syndrome: A complication of experimental carotid artery surgery in ratsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The occurrence of HS in the rat is a frequent complication of vagus nerve electrode implantation, which does not affect epileptogenesis in this study. However, rats affected by HS may suffer from damage to the sympathetic innervation of the gut, due to rat-specific neuroanatomy. Therefore, caution towards other research questions is warranted. (Source: Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical)
Source: Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical - April 20, 2009 Category: Neuroscience Authors: M.W. Aalbers, K. Rijkers, L.A.A.P. van Winden, G. Hoogland, J.S.H. Vles, H.J.M. Majoie Tags: Basic Autonomic Neuroscience Source Type: journals