• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of respiratory muscle and lung capacity during deep breathing with electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve. Methods: This study was conducted on 30 healthy adults in their 20s. Subjects were randomly performed to deep breathing or deep breathing with vagus nerve electrical stimulation. All subjects' diaphragm and internal oblique muscle activity were measured during deep breathing by electromyography, and lung capacity was measured by spirometry immediately after beep breathing. In the vagus nerve stimulation method, the surface electrode was cut into the left ear and then electrically stimulated using a needle electric stimulator. Results: The activity of diaphragm was significantly increased in deep breathing with vagus nerve electrical stimulation than in deep breathing. However, lung capacity did not show any significant difference according to the condition. Conclusion: Vagus nerve electrical stimulation could induce diaphragm activity more than deep breathing alone. Deep breathing with vagus nerve electrical stimulation may enhance the activity of the respiratory muscles and is expected to be an effective treatment for the elderly or COPD patients with poor breathing ability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.11-16
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• 2018

Purpose: Stress tends to cause sympathetic hyperactivity and increase blood cortisol levels. The vagus nerve is a parasympathetic nerve that is involved in relaxing the body. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve on stress hormone (cortisol) levels and heart rate variability (HRV) in humans. Methods: A total of 10 healthy subjects participated in the pilot experiment. All subjects underwent electrical vagus nerve stimulation for 20 minutes in the cymba conchae of the left ear. An electro cardiogram meter was used to measure HRV. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for cortisol levels. The standard deviation of all normal N-N intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), low frequency, high frequency, and cortisol levels were compared in pre and post mean values after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. Results: Coritsol levels were observed to decrease after vagus nerve electrical stimulation. The mean SDNN and RMSSD values were increased after the intervention, but not significantly. Conclusion: Vagus nerve electrical stimulation has been shown to increase the ability of the parasympathetic nerve to adapt to upward regulation and stress. Vagus nerve electrical stimulation could thus be an effective treatment for modern social psychological stress control.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 1995

The present study was performed to clarify the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on the enterochromaffin(EC) cells in the body of the stomach, the first part of the duodenum and the ceceum of rats by using routine electron microscopy and immunogold labelling. The changes in the ultrastructure and in the labelling density of the gold particles of the EC cells were investigated after vagus nerve stimulation. The vagus nerve was electrically stimulated with a square wave pulse generator for a duration of 5 minutes each, a total of 8 times at 2 minute intervals. Immunogold labelling demonstrated that the epithelial serotonin immunoreactive cells of the gastrointestinal tract are EC cells containing characteristic pleomorphic granules. Immunocytochemically labelled gold particles were largely concentrated in the dense matrix of the granules of the EC cell, and the labelling density of the gold particles considerably increased after the vagus nerve stimulation. Except for a slight activation of Golgi complexes, no remarkable changes in the ultrastructures of the EC cells were noted after the vagus nerve stimulation. The above results suggest that vagus nerve stimulation may activate serotonin biosynthesis in EC cells.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.77-82
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation application on the autonomic nervous system of human body. Methods: Participants were seventeen healthy adults. Standard deviation of all normal N-N intervals(SDNN), root mean square of successive differences(RMSSD), low frequency(LF), high frequency(HF) were compared in pre and post Mean values after intervention. Data were analyzed in Wilcoxon's signed-ranks test. Results: The results of this study is that sistolic blood pressure and pulse rate decreased mean value after non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. High frequency, low frequency, SDNN, RMSSD increased mean value in heart rate variability after intervention. But that is not significant except for SDNN. Conclusion: Non-invasive vagus stimulation by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation effect on parasympathetic nerve stimulation, and then it might be effective method for autonomic nerve balance control.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.183-189
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• 2018

Purpose : As age increases, a low-level systemic inflammatory state develops and the levels of anti-aging hormones decrease. The vagus nerve activates parasympathetic nerves and promotes sulfation and secretion of neurotransmitter in the brain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of electrical vagus nerve stimulation on systemic inflammation (CRP) and anti-aging hormone (DHEA-S) levels in elder people. Methods : A total of 30 healthy elder people participated in this study, randomly divided into two groups of 15 subjects. Electrical vagus nerve stimulation was applied to the experimental group for 4 weeks. CRP and DHEA-S levels were compared with those of the control group. Results : The CRP level was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. In the experimental group, there was a significant decrease in CRP before and after the intervention. However, the DHEA-S level was not significantly different between groups. Conclusion : Electrical vagus nerve stimulation may alleviate the low-level systemic inflammatory state found in elderly people. These results suggest that it may have the effect of reducing the degenerative inflammatory diseases of the elderly and delaying aging.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2019

Purpose: The perigastric vagus nerve may play an important role in preserving function after gastrectomy, and intraoperative neurophysiologic tests might represent a feasible method of evaluating the vagus nerve. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of neurophysiologic evaluations of the function and viability of perigastric vagus nerve branches during gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients (1 open total gastrectomy, 1 laparoscopic total gastrectomy, and 11 laparoscopic distal gastrectomy) were prospectively enrolled. The hepatic and celiac branches of the vagus nerve were exposed, and grabbing type stimulation electrodes were applied as follows: 10-30 mA intensity, 4 trains, $1,000{\mu}s/train$, and $5{\times}$frequency. Visible myocontractile movement and electrical signals were monitored via needle probes before and after gastrectomy. Gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 3 weeks and 3 months, respectively. Results: Responses were observed after stimulating the celiac branch in 10, 9, 10, and 6 patients in the antrum, pylorus, duodenum, and proximal jejunum, respectively. Ten patients responded to hepatic branch stimulation at the duodenum. After vagus-preserving distal gastrectomy, 2 patients lost responses to the celiac branch at the duodenum and jejunum (1 each), and 1 patient lost response to the hepatic branch at the duodenum. Significant procedure-related complications and meaningful postoperative diarrhea were not observed. Conclusions: Intraoperative neurophysiologic testing seems to be a feasible methodology for monitoring the perigastric vagus nerves. Innervation of the duodenum via the celiac branch and postoperative preservation of the function of the vagus nerves were confirmed in most patients.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.10-14
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• 2016

Among the methods of treating tinnitus, the transcutaneous clectrical nerve stimulation (TENS) method of treating by electrical stimulation is common. However, there is a problem that surgical operation is required to stimulate the vagus nerve (VN) main trunk near most of the bronchus. Alternatively, we found that the same effect could be achieved by electrically stimulating the vagus nerve VN branch (Arnold's nerve) distributed in the outer ear. The TENS system for stimulation of vagus nerve has been developed, but it has not been able to implement to stimulate as a parameter optimized for the patient by simultaneously playing the sound of eliminating the tinnitus frequency. Therefore, in this paper, it is important to develop a safe and practical TENS device for tinnitus treatment based on a 32-bit microprocessor that simultaneously applies non-invasive and notched sounds and to develop optimal treatment methods for treating tinnitus.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2023

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is known to be effective in improving symptoms of numerous diseases such as depression and epilepsy by increasing vagus nerve activity through electrical stimulation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on the activity of autonomic nervous system and the changes in postprandial blood glucose levels. Seven healthy adults participated in a non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation experiment. taVNS (25 Hz, 200 ㎲, biphasic pulse) was applied to the cymba concha (taVNS group) or the earlobe (Sham-taVNS group) of the left ear. As autonomic nervous system signals, skin conductance level, skin temperature, and heart rate were recorded during the application of taVNS. Postprandial blood glucose changes due to food intake were recorded at 5 min intervals for 25 minutes after taVNS or sham-taVNS. The taVNS showed a significantly lower skin conductance level than the shamtaVNS (p < 0.05). The increase rate of postprandial blood glucose was significantly lower in the taVNS than in the sham-taVNS (p < 0.05). These results showed that taVNS reduced the activity of the sympathetic nerve system and alleviated early rise in postprandial blood glucose. Although further studies in diabetic patients are needed, this study suggest that taVNS has a potential for clinical use to improve postprandial blood glucose.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.81-84
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• 2005

Vagus nerve palsy caused by herpes virus infection is rare. Here, the author presents a 65-year-old woman with acute onset of right side otalgia and sore throat, followed by delayed vocal fold paralysis on the same side. Vesicles were also found on the posterior wall of ear canal but the tympanic membrane was not involved. Laryngoscopy revealed multiple ulcerative lesions on the pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa exclusively on the right side. One month later, she noticed dyshonia which turned out right vocal fold paralysis. Skull base to upper chest CT did not reveal local lesion. Three months after finishing the acyclovir, her symptoms were almost gone and vocal fold movement has almost completely improved. Vagus nerve involvement of herpes infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis for patients with herpes zoster oticus with sore throat.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.188-191
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• 2003

Schwannoma is a benign tumor of Schwann cell origin and may occur on any nerve covered by Schwann cells. Although approximately 25% to 48% of all Schwannoma occur in the head and neck region, the lesions originating from the cervical vagus nerve are extremely rare. We have recently experienced a case of huge Schwannoma arising from the cervical vagus nerve which was initially misdiagnosed as a huge goiter. We report herein the case with review of the literatures.