Bioelectrical Signals for the Diagnosis and Therapy of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Abstract

Coordinated contractions and motility patterns unique to each gastrointestinal organ facilitate the digestive process. These motor activities are coordinated by bioelectrical events, sensory and motor nerves, and hormones. The motility problems in the gastrointestinal tract known as functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are generally caused by impaired neuromuscular activity and are highly prevalent. Their diagnosis is challenging as symptoms are often vague and difficult to localize. Therefore, the underlying pathophysiological factors remain unknown. However, there is an increasing level of research and clinical evidence suggesting a link between FGIDs and altered bioelectrical activity. In addition, electroceuticals (bioelectrical therapies to treat diseases) have recently gained significant interest. This paper gives an overview of bioelectrical signatures of gastrointestinal organs with normal and/or impaired motility patterns and bioelectrical therapies that have been developed for treating FGIDs. The existing research evidence suggests that bioelectrical activities could potentially help to identify the diverse etiologies of FGIDs and overcome the drawbacks of the current clinically adapted methods. Moreover, electroceuticals could potentially be effective in the treatment of FGIDs and replace the limited existing conventional therapies which often attempt to treat the symptoms rather than the underlying condition.

Intrinsically Stretchable, Self-Healing, and Large-Scale Epidermal Bioelectrode Arrays for Electrophysiology and Gesture Recognition

“…Surface electromyography (sEMG), , reflecting neuromuscular activities generated from superficial muscle fibers, is critically important in clinical medicine, , rehabilitation medicine, and human-computer interaction. , Figure a shows a hand-muscle sEMG acquisition system, where the AgNW/GN/SEBS bioelectrodes are attached to forearms. It is noted that opening hands makes muscle fibers completely relaxed and thus induces no electrical activity.…”

“…For the Ag/AgCl electrodes, characteristic peaks of P and Q points are obviously weakened at body shaking (relatively small action). This is because their inherent stiffness and rigidity make the Ag/AgCl electrodes poorly conformable to skin, inducing large Surface electromyography (sEMG), 29,30 reflecting neuromuscular activities generated from superficial muscle fibers, is critically important in clinical medicine, 31,32 rehabilitation medicine, and human-computer interaction. 33,34 Figure 4a shows a hand-muscle sEMG acquisition system, where the AgNW/GN/SEBS bioelectrodes are attached to forearms.…”

Strategies to Refine Gastric Stimulation and Pacing Protocols: Experimental and Modeling Approaches

“…In the following sections, we discuss possible future directions for gastric stimulation and pacing, modeling efforts as well as other applications in the gastrointestinal tract. It is expected that techniques can be readily translated to other sections of the gastrointestinal tract and organ systems (Avci et al, 2020).…”

“…These electrical events were omnipresent, and occurred even in the absence of any visible contractions (Alvarez, 1922a). Despite substantial effort devoted to investigate the normal and impaired bioelectrical activity along the gastrointestinal tract over the last century, our understanding of gastrointestinal electrophysiology and the application of electrical pulses to treat disorders has lagged the cardiac field (Cheng, 2015;Avci et al, 2020). This is partly because the gastrointestinal tract has a number of cooperating and overlapping mechanisms that coordinate the mechanical contractions to aid in the breakdown, mixing and transportation of luminal contents (Huizinga and Lammers, 2009).…”

The effect of spinal magnetic stimulation on the management of functional constipation in adults

“…In SNS stimulators and electrodes inserted on the sacral nerves, 2-4 provide continuous nerve stimulation. Indeed, it is considered a safe and effective method, but the high cost and adverse effects are of concern in clinical practice [18].…”