Objectives: Oral pentosan polysulfate (PPS) is the only FDA-approved drug for interstitial cystitis (IC). Several studies have been conducted that show PPS will reduce IC symptoms. Sacral neuromodulation is a newer therapy for IC that has been FDAapproved in incontinent patients. Studies conducted in IC patients have shown that sacral neuromodulation reduces IC symptoms. Both therapies have doc...

BACKGROUND Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a form of neuromodulation, used to treat chronic neuropathic pain refractory to conventional medical management. Spinal cord stimulators are treatment options when intractable chronic pain has not responded to more conventional treatment modalities. Currently, the use of SCS is contraindicated in pregnancy. Nevertheless, many SCS/neuromodulation recip...

Angiotensin II (Ang II), via its interaction with the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor subtype, causes enhanced stimulation of norepinephrine (NE) neuromodulation. This involves increased transcription of NE transporter, tyrosine hydroxylase, and dopamine ss-hydroxylase genes in Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) brain neurons. AT1 receptor-mediated regulation of certain signaling events (such as activati...

PURPOSE We evaluated whether patients with overactive bladder and incontinence who discontinued intravesical botulinum toxin therapy can be successfully treated with sacral neuromodulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients who were referred to our center after discontinuation of botulinum toxin-A between 2005 and 2010 were included in this observational study. All patients underwent test st...

A prototype Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) stimulator system was developed to evaluate non-invasive neuromodulation in a large animal model. We conducted a feasibility study on a Göttingen minipig, demonstrating reversible, targeted transcranial neuromodulation. The hypothalamus of the minipig was repeatedly stimulated with LIFU which evoked temporally correlated increases in both hear...

PURPOSE Few reports address the reoperation rate after sacral neuromodulation implants. We report our long-term results and reoperations during our 14-year experience with sacral neuromodulation at our center. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the patient database at our center to assess the long-term outcome, incidence and cause of surgical re-intervention after InterStim® sa...

The future of neuromodulation shows incredible potential and will likely demonstrate greater integration of various techniques as adjunctive therapy to already accepted standard of care management. Extensive research continues on current applications of neuromodulation such as movement disorders, while new indications are also being investigated. These new indications include depression, obsess...