title: Effects of cutaneous gastric electrical stimulation on gastric emptying and postprandial satiety and fullness in lean and obese subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of cutaneous gastric electrical stimulation (CGES) at a tachygastrial frequency for obesity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Implantable gastric electrical stimulator has been proposed for the treatment of obesity and it has recently been reported that the gastric electrical stimulation at a tachygastrial frequency inhibits gastric motility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten lean and 10 obese healthy volunteers were studied in 3 randomized sessions: no CGES, CGES at the physiologic frequency (3 cycles/min), and CGES at tachygastrial frequency (12 cycles/min). Electrical stimulation was performed using sinusoidal waves. The protocol included the following sequence: 20-minute baseline, 30-minute CGES, 30-minute recording without CGES, 30-minute CGES, ingestion of a 500 kcal liquid meal, and 30-minute CGES. Gastric slow waves were recorded using cutaneous electrogastrography during the periods without CGES. Gastric emptying was assessed by ultrasound. Dyspeptic symptoms were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The half-time of gastric emptying was longer with CGES at the tachygastrial frequency than CGES at the physiologic frequency in both lean subjects (75.0+/-16.5 min vs. 41.0+/-8.7 min, P<0.01) and obese subjects (64.1+/-13.3 min vs. 32.7+/-5.0 min, P<0.01). (2) Postprandial dyspeptic symptom score (mainly satiety and fullness) was significantly higher with CGES at the tachygastrial frequency than CGES at the physiologic frequency in both lean (3.2+/-1.47 vs. 1.7+/-0.94, P<0.01) and obese (3.9+/-1.89 vs. 1.8+/-1.15, P<0.01) subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CGES at a tachygastrial frequency enhances postprandial fullness and satiety, and delays gastric emptying. Its therapeutic potential for obesity needs to be studied.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiande D Z
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012527:Satiation; D013997:Time Factors; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult