Key Points
- Scientists sought to determine whether neuromodulation with focused ultrasound could treat inflammatory bowel disease in a preclinical model.
- When compared with a control group, the therapy resulted in improved stool consistency, reduced bleeding, and healthier colons.
In “Non-Invasive Peripheral Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation of the Celiac Plexus Ameliorates Symptoms in a Rat Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease,” scientists at Albany Medical College and General Electric used a rat model of ulcerative colitis to determine whether focused ultrasound—based neuromodulation applied to the abdominal nerve bundle could treat inflammatory bowel diseases. When compared with a control group, the rats that received the focused ultrasound had improved stool consistency, reduced bleeding, and healthier colons. Noninvasive peripheral neuromodulation could be a promising human therapy for improving quality of life if the technique can be translated into clinical trials. Which anti-inflammatory pathway was targeted?