Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34138761›Full record

Trial reportJCI insight2021

Ameliorating effects and mechanisms of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation on abdominal pain and constipation.

Xiaodan Shi, Yedong Hu, Bo Zhang, Wenna Li, Jiande Dz Chen, Fei Liu

4 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in JCI insight, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 4 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 72 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
72citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
11.2field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05392439 nacompletednot on this map

The Efficacy and Mechanisms of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Abdominal Pain and Other Symptoms in Patients With Constipation-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

TypeinterventionalSponsorTongji UniversityRan2020 to 2020Enrolled42ConditionsConstipation-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Abdominal PainArmstaVNS, sham-taVNS
NCT05723731 naterminatednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Chronic Constipation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorAir Force Military Medical University, ChinaRan2023 to 2023Enrolled106ConditionsChronic ConstipationArmstaVNS, Laxative Agent
NCT07593365 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Clinical Application of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Combined With Immunoregulatory T Cells in Alleviating Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced Pain

TypeinterventionalSponsorPeking University People's HospitalRan2026 to 2029Enrolled216ConditionsAromatase Inhibitor Associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms (AIMSS), Breast Cancer, Pain AlleviationArmstranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, sham stimulation
NCT07662083 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Trans Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome Constipation Subtype

TypeinterventionalSponsorWest Virginia UniversityRan2026 to 2027Enrolled80ConditionsIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C)ArmsTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (ta-VNS), Sham Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

72 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 104 citations in OpenAlex.

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12 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Xiaodan ShiDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Yedong HuDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Bo ZhangDepartment of Gastroenterology, the 928th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, Haikou, Hainan, China.
Wenna LiDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Jiande Dz ChenDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Fei LiuDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Shanghai East Hospital · CNHainan General Hospital · CNUniversity of Michigan · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BackgroundAbdominal pain and constipation are 2 main symptoms in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C). This study aimed to investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) in patients with IBS-C.MethodsForty-two patients with IBS-C were randomized into a 4-week sham-taVNS or taVNS treatment. The primary outcomes were complete spontaneous bowel movements per week (CSBMs/week) and visual analog scale (VAS) for abdominal pain. High-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) was performed to evaluate anorectal motor and sensory function. Cytokines and brain gut peptides were analyzed in blood samples. ECG was recorded for the assessment of autonomic function.ResultsCompared with sham-taVNS, (a) taVNS increased CSBMs/week (P = 0.001) and decreased VAS pain score (P = 0.001); (b) improved quality of life (P = 0.020) and decreased IBS symptom score (P = 0.001); (c) improved rectoanal inhibitory reflex (P = 0.014) and improved rectal sensation (P < 0.04); (d) decreased a number of proinflammatory cytokines and serotonin in circulation; and (e) enhanced vagal activity (P = 0.040). The vagal activity was weakly correlated with the CSBMs/week (r = 0.391; P = 0.010) and the VAS pain score (r = -0.347; P = 0.025).ConclusionsNoninvasive taVNS improves both constipation and abdominal pain in patients with IBS-C. The improvement in IBS-C symptoms might be attributed to the integrative effects of taVNS on intestinal functions mediated via the autoimmune mechanisms.Trial registrationwww.chictr.org.cn, no. ChiCTR2000029644.FundingNational Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 81970538 for FL).

Indexed as

Vagus NerveAbdominal PainAdultAgedConstipationEar AuricleFemaleHumansIrritable Bowel SyndromeMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementQuality of LifeTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationTreatment OutcomeVagus Nerve StimulationGastroenterologyPain

Identifiers

PMID34138761
PMCPMC8410029
OpenAlexW3165954156

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.