Ameliorating effects and autonomic mechanisms of needle‐less transcutaneous electrical stimulation atST36 on stress‐induced impairment in gastric slow waves

Abstract

Needle-less TEA at ST36 using a watch-size stimulator is able to improve stress-induced impairment in gastric slow waves, possibly mediated via the autonomic mechanism. Home-based needle-less TEA may be a viable therapy for stress-induced impairment in gastric motility functions.

Electroacupuncture via chronically implanted electrodes improves gastric dysmotility mediated by autonomic‐cholinergic mechanisms in a rodent model of functional dyspepsia

“…A number of studies using the spectral analysis of HRV to explore the autonomic mechanisms of acupuncture/EA at ST36. Most previous studies reported that the effects of acupuncture/EA on gastric dysrhythmias were mediated via the vagal mechanism . In region‐specific effects of acupuncture, Takahashi and co‐workers demonstrated that EA at ST‐36 decreased the ratio of LF/HF in normal rats, suggesting excitatory gastric responses were mediated via the vagal pathway .…”

“…Stimulation parameters were set as follows: a train of on‐time of 2 seconds, off‐time of 3 seconds, pulse frequency of 25 Hz, and amplitude of 4 mA. The selection of this acupoint and set of parameters were based on a few previous studies that showed enhancive effects on gastric motility . The output of 4 mA was found to be tolerable by all rats (no obvious behaviors suggesting pain or discomfort).…”

“…reported that a method called transcutaneous electric acustimulation (TEA) at ST36 could also improve symptoms effectively in FD patients. In more recent studies, TEA at ST36 was reported to improve stress‐induced impairment in GSWs and cold stress‐induced impaired gastric accommodation in healthy volunteers . However, possible mechanisms involved in the ameliorating effects of EA/TEA on gastric motility remain largely unknown.…”

Needleless Transcutaneous Neuromodulation Accelerates Postoperative Recovery Mediated via Autonomic and Immuno-Cytokine Mechanisms in Patients With Cholecystolithiasis

“…A watch‐size digital stimulator (SNM‐FDC01, Ningbo Maida Medical Device, Inc., Ningbo, China) was used to deliver trains of pulses. The stimulation parameters for ST36 stimulator were set at 2 sec on and 3 sec off, pulse width of 0.5 msec, pulse frequency of 25 Hz, and amplitude of 2–10 mA (at the maximum level tolerated by the subject) based on previous studies ; for PC6, stimulator was set at 0.1 sec on and 0.4 sec off, pulse width of 0.5 msec, pulse frequency of 100 Hz, and amplitude of 2–10 mA, which were shown to improve nausea and vomiting, and visceral pain . The bilateral stimulation TN treatment was given for half hour, twice daily (once on the day of surgery), lasting for 4 days.…”

“…Gastric pace‐making activity (slow waves) was assessed by a 4‐channel portable EGG recorder (MEGG‐04A, Ningbo Medkinetic, Inc., Ningbo, Zhejiang, China) . The subject was fasted for more than 6 hours and asked to lie supine.…”