RecruitingNot applicable

Effect of Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Gastric Motor Functions

REVEAL - Research Evaluating Vagal Excitation and Anatomical Linkages Gastric Emptying Ancillary Project: Effect of Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Gastric Motor Functions

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Visits mentioned: 1 visit

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "There is only 1 visit needed, with an average time commitment of 4.5 hours."
  • "There is only 1 total visits needed, with an average time commitment of 4.5 hours."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests how vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), which uses an implanted device to send signals to a nerve in the neck, affects the stomach after a meal. It looks at how the stomach stretches to hold food and how fast food leaves it, compared with stored results from healthy people. It is for adults who already have a VNS device for depression or epilepsy that has not improved with medicine.

The specific aim of this study is to compare simultaneous assessment of gastric emptying and gastric accommodation in response to a caloric meal In patients who have previously undergone activation of left cervical VNS for the treatment of medication-resistant depression. Our hypothesis is that cervical VNS increases gastric accommodation and accelerates gastric emptying compared to a bank of healthy control data.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Be able to give written consent and permission to use your health information.
  • Already have a VNS device for epilepsy or depression that has not improved with treatment.
  • Have finished the REVEAL CSP study and have steady VNS settings approved by your care team.
  • Have stable health apart from epilepsy or depression.
  • Be able to attend office visits, phone appointments, and the imaging test.
  • Use an accepted method to prevent pregnancy throughout the study if you can become pregnant.
  • Have active health insurance that covers standard care and injuries.

Who can't join

  • Are pregnant, cannot speak and read English, weigh over 350 pounds, or cannot eat eggs.
  • Have another implanted stimulation device, or use certain treatments that heat body tissue with waves or ultrasound.
  • Have a substance use disorder that has not been in remission for at least 12 months, or joined another drug or device trial in the past 30 days, except REVEAL studies.
  • Had a mental health hospital stay in the past 6 months, or psychosis—trouble knowing what is real—in the past 2 years, except psychosis after a seizure.
  • Had a long seizure or repeated seizures without recovery, with no clear trigger, in the past year.
  • Cannot or will not use your main arm, have either upper arm measuring over 50 cm around, or have a vocal cord that cannot move.
  • Take medicines that are not allowed, including immune-suppressing drugs, beta blockers, anticholinergics, or clonidine. Some medically needed changes may be allowed with your care provider.
  • Have another condition that the study doctor thinks could make testing unsafe or hard to complete, such as certain blood flow, blood pressure, lung, or sleep problems, or uncontrolled diabetes. Separate mental health rules also applied when people with depression entered the earlier CSP study.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

General criteria 1. Participant must be at least 18 years old. 2. Participant must have the capacity to provide written informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization. 3. Participant is diagnosed with drug Resistant Epilepsy and previously underwent implantation of VNS. and/or 4. Participant is diagnosed with treatment-refractory depression and previously underwent implantation of VNS. 5. Participant has completed the REVEAL CSP and has been stabilized by their care team on a stable VNS setting 6. Apart from epilepsy or depression, participant should be medically and neurologically stable. 7. Participant is able to complete regular office visits and telephone appointments including the imaging session in accordance with the study protocol requirements. 8. Participant that is of childbearing potential must be adequately protected from conception or willing to use an acceptable method of birth control over the entire study duration (acceptable birth control includes abstinence, barrier methods, hormonal methods, sterilization and fertility awareness). 9. Participant must be enrolled in an active health insurance plan that will cover the costs associated with standard health care services and injuries. Exclusion Criteria: GENERAL criteria 1. Participant has a prior implantable stimulation device other than a VNS device for the clinical indication of refractory focal Epilepsy or for depression. 2. Participant currently uses or during the study is expected to use short-wave diathermy, microwave, diathermy, or therapeutic ultrasound diathermy. 3. Participant has a diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder as defined by DSM-5 without sustained remission of 12 months or longer. 4. Patient participated in another drug or device trial within the preceding 30 days (other than REVEAL studies). 5. Participant has been hospitalized for a psychiatric condition within the preceding 6 months or has had a history of psychosis within the preceding two years (excluding post-ictal psychosis). 6. Participant has experienced unprovoked status epilepticus in the preceding year. 7. Participant is not able or willing to use their dominant arm, or either upper arm circumference is greater than 50 cm. 8. Any other clinical reasons deemed by the investigators of the study for which the participant would not be an appropriate candidate for the study, such as peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension (OH), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), uncontrolled obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or uncontrolled diabetes or pregnancy 9. Participant with vocal cord paralysis 10. Participant cannot speak and read English. 11. Participant is pregnant. 12. Prohibited Therapy During Study Period: We will exclude patients on immunosuppressants, beta blockers, anticholinergics, and clonidine. Consultation with primary providers and amending some of these therapies may be allowed only if clinically indicated. In that case, participants will have to be stable on their new medication for at least one month prior to implant. 13. A body weight of over 350 pounds or 159 kilograms due to equipment limitations used in the measurements of gastric accommodation and emptying. 14. An inability to eat eggs whether due to an allergy, intolerance, or strong dislike. The gastric emptying test meal contains eggs that are labeled with radioisotope. Other food substitutions for the toast, butter and milk may be made only if prior approval is given by Dr. Camilleri. 15. Any other factor that may impact participant safety or compliance as per PI. Since participants with pVNS will be recruited from the CSP study at U Minnesota, it is important to specify the inclusion and exclusion criteria for participants with drug-resistant epilepsy or drug-resistant depression who entered the CSP study: Inclusion Criteria for Participants With Major Depressive Disorder That Have a Previously Implanted VNS Device 1. Participant must be at least 18 years old. 2. Participant must have the capacity to provide written informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization. 3. Participant must be enrolled in an active health insurance plan that will cover the costs associated with standard health care services and injuries. 4. Participant must have been previously implanted with a VNS device for the clinical indication of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). 5. Participant must have a score on the baseline administration of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) of ≥ 22. 6. Participant must be able and willing to complete the evaluations and procedures described in the study protocol. 7. Participant must be able and willing to follow the stipulations regarding concomitant medications and excluded medications described in section 5.3 of the study protocol. 8. Participant that is of childbearing potential must be adequately protected from conception or willing to use an acceptable method of birth control over the entire study duration (acceptable birth control includes abstinence, barrier methods, hormonal methods, sterilization and fertility awareness). Exclusion Criteria for Participants With Major Depressive Disorder That Have a Previously Implanted VNS Device 1. Participant has a prior implantable stimulation device, other than a VNS device for the clinical indication of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). 2. Participant currently uses or is expected during the study to use short-wave diathermy, microwave, diathermy, or therapeutic ultrasound diathermy. 3. Participant is judged by the investigator to be acutely suicidal (e.g. has made specific plans or preparations to commit suicide or as indicated by the Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale) within the last 30 days prior to study enrollment. 4. Participant has made a suicide attempt within the previous 6 months from study enrollment. 5. Participant has a history of one or more schizophrenia-spectrum or other psychotic disorders including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, or a current or lifetime major depressive episode that includes psychotic features (commonly referred to as psychotic depression) according to the MINI criteria. 6. Participant has a history of significant borderline or severe personality disorder as determined by clinical judgment. 7. Participant has an active primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive, eating, or post-traumatic stress disorder based on the MINI criteria. 8. Participant has a diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder as defined by DSM-5 without sustained remission of 12 months or longer. 9. Participant has a presence of any type of dementia, major neurocognitive disorder, or cognitive or psychiatric deficit as determined by clinical judgment. 10. Participant has a history of rapid cycling bipolar disorder I or II. 11. Participant currently receives treatment with another investigational device or investigational drug other than the REVEAL study (or a REVEAL ancillary project or sub-study) or has participated in another drug or device trial within the preceding 30 days before enrollment. 12. Participant is not able or willing to use their dominant arm, or either upper arm circumference is greater than 50 cm. 13. Participant does not speak English. 14. Participant is pregnant. 15. Any other clinical reasons deemed by the investigators of the study for which the participant would not be an appropriate candidate for the study, such as peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension (OH), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), uncontrolled obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or uncontrolled diabetes. Inclusion Criteria for Participants With Drug Resistant Epilepsy That Have a Previously Implanted VNS Device 1. Participant must be at least 18 years old. 2. Participant must have the capacity to provide written informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization. 3. Participant must be enrolled in an active health insurance plan that will cover the costs associated with standard health care services and injuries. 4. Participant must have been previously implanted with a VNS device for the clinical indication of drug resistant epilepsy. 5. Participant has not had demonstrable benefit from the implanted VNS device in terms of epilepsy (seizure frequency or seizure severity) or related epilepsy comorbidities (mood, cognition, quality of life), with no definite improvement or suboptimal improvement in seizure control. 6. Apart from epilepsy, the participant should be medically and neurologically stable. 7. Participant must be able and willing to complete the evaluations and procedures described in the study protocol. 8. Participant must be able and willing to follow the stipulations regarding concomitant medications and excluded medications described in section 5.3 of the study protocol. 9. Participant that is of childbearing potential must be adequately protected from conception or willing to use an acceptable method of birth control over the entire study duration (acceptable birth control includes abstinence, barrier methods, hormonal methods, sterilization and fertility awareness). Exclusion Criteria for Participants With Drug Resistant Epilepsy That Have a Previously Implanted VNS Device 1. Participant has demonstrable benefit from implanted VNS device in terms of epilepsy (seizure frequency or seizure severity) or epilepsy comorbidity (mood, cognition, or quality of life), with seizure freedom or clinical benefit. 2. Participant has a prior implantable stimulation device, other than a VNS device for the clinical indication of refractory focal Epilepsy. 3. Participant currently uses or is expected during the study to use short-wave diathermy, microwave, diathermy, or therapeutic ultrasound diathermy. 4. Participant has been hospitalized for a psychiatric condition within the preceding 6 months or has had a history of psychosis within the preceding two years (excluding postictal psychosis). 5. Participant has experienced unprovoked status epilepticus in the preceding year. 6. Participant has a diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder as defined by DSM-5 without sustained remission of 12 months or longer. 7. Participant currently receives treatment with another investigational device or investigational drug other than the REVEAL study (or a REVEAL ancillary project or sub-study) or has participated in another drug or device trial within the preceding 30 days before enrollment. 8. Participant is not able or willing to use their dominant arm, or either upper arm circumference is greater than 50 cm. 9. Participant does not speak English. 10. Participant is pregnant. 11. Any other clinical reasons deemed by the investigators of the study for which the participant would not be an appropriate candidate for the study, such as peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension (OH), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), uncontrolled obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or uncontrolled diabetes.

Study sites (2)

MN