Trial Outcomes & Findings for Network-Level Effects of Nitrous Oxide in the Human Brain (NCT NCT03435055)

NCT ID: NCT03435055

Last Updated: 2021-11-30

Results Overview

Functional connectivity measures will be assessed at rest (baseline) and during sub anesthetic dose nitrous oxide (nitrous oxide). Seed-to-whole brain functional connectivity (Fisher's r-transformed z) will be measured from the left anterior insula, previously shown to be involved in pain and sensory processing. Paired t-test were conducted on subject specific beta maps to identify changes in connectivity associated with nitrous oxide in SPM12. The z-score descriptors represent the Fishers-r-to-z transformed. Here the z-score is a transformation of the Pearson's (r) correlation coefficient of the BOLD timeseries between two brain regions. Higher z-scores are associated with higher correlations in timeseries and correspond with higher functional connectivity between two brain regions.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE4

Target enrollment

21 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline to 50 minutes

Results posted on

2021-11-30

Participant Flow

A total of 21 participants consented to participate but 2 participants did not participate in any part of the research.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Nitrous Oxide - Inhaled
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected wherein they receive placebo (20 minutes) followed by inhaled nitrous oxide at subanalgesic levels (35% inhaled concentration) over 30 minutes.
Screening
STARTED
21
Screening
COMPLETED
19
Screening
NOT COMPLETED
2
Received Intervention
STARTED
19
Received Intervention
COMPLETED
16
Received Intervention
NOT COMPLETED
3

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Nitrous Oxide - Inhaled
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected wherein they receive placebo (20 minutes) followed by inhaled nitrous oxide at subanalgesic levels (35% inhaled concentration) over 30 minutes.
Screening
Physician Decision
2
Received Intervention
Did not complete nitrous administration
3

Baseline Characteristics

Network-Level Effects of Nitrous Oxide in the Human Brain

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Nitrous Oxide - Inhaled
n=21 Participants
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected wherein they receive placebo (20 minutes) followed by inhaled nitrous oxide at subanalgesic levels (35% inhaled concentration) over 30 minutes.
Age, Continuous
25 years
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
11 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
21 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline to 50 minutes

Population: Three participants had missing data because they did not complete the full scanning protocol.

Functional connectivity measures will be assessed at rest (baseline) and during sub anesthetic dose nitrous oxide (nitrous oxide). Seed-to-whole brain functional connectivity (Fisher's r-transformed z) will be measured from the left anterior insula, previously shown to be involved in pain and sensory processing. Paired t-test were conducted on subject specific beta maps to identify changes in connectivity associated with nitrous oxide in SPM12. The z-score descriptors represent the Fishers-r-to-z transformed. Here the z-score is a transformation of the Pearson's (r) correlation coefficient of the BOLD timeseries between two brain regions. Higher z-scores are associated with higher correlations in timeseries and correspond with higher functional connectivity between two brain regions.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pre-Nitrous
n=16 Participants
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected as they receive oxygen (20 minutes) followed Functional connectivity (Fisher's r to z transformed) between the left anterior insula and superior frontal gyrus were measured at baseline.
Nitrous Oxide - Subanesthetic Dose
n=16 Participants
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected as they received subanesthetic dose of nitrous oxide at (35% inhaled concentration) over 30 minutes. Functional connectivity (z-score) between the left anterior insula and superior frontal gyrus were measured during administration of subanesthetic nitrous oxide.
Functional Connectivity During Nitrous Oxide
L superior frontal gyrus
0.1123 Fisher's r transformed z score
Standard Deviation 0.0639
0.0358 Fisher's r transformed z score
Standard Deviation 0.0620
Functional Connectivity During Nitrous Oxide
R superior frontal gyrus
0.1492 Fisher's r transformed z score
Standard Deviation 0.1179
0.0394 Fisher's r transformed z score
Standard Deviation 0.0950

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline to 50 minutes

Population: Number of participants scanned.

Functional connectivity measures will be assessed at rest (baseline) and during a tonic cuff stimulus (6-minutes). Seed-to-whole brain functional connectivity (Fisher's r-transformed z) will be measured from the left anterior insula, previously shown to be involved in pain and sensory processing. Paired t-test were conducted on subject specific beta maps to identify changes in connectivity associated with nitrous oxide in SPM12. The z-score descriptors represent the Fishers-r-to-z transformed. Here the z-score is a transformation of the Pearson's (r) correlation coefficient of the BOLD timeseries between two brain regions. Higher z-scores are associated with higher correlations in timeseries and correspond with higher functional connectivity between two brain regions.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pre-Nitrous
n=19 Participants
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected as they receive oxygen (20 minutes) followed Functional connectivity (Fisher's r to z transformed) between the left anterior insula and superior frontal gyrus were measured at baseline.
Nitrous Oxide - Subanesthetic Dose
n=19 Participants
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected as they received subanesthetic dose of nitrous oxide at (35% inhaled concentration) over 30 minutes. Functional connectivity (z-score) between the left anterior insula and superior frontal gyrus were measured during administration of subanesthetic nitrous oxide.
Functional Connectivity Associated With Tonic Stimulus
-0.0509 Z score
Standard Deviation 0.0822
0.0486 Z score
Standard Deviation 0.1001

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline to 50 minutes

Population: Three participants had missing data because they did not complete the full scanning protocol.

Participants will receive a tonic (6 minutes) pressure applied to the lower leg at baseline and under subanesthetic dose of nitrous oxide (35% inhaled concentration). Following each pressure stimulus, participants will rate the pain intensity of the tonic stimulus (0 ="no pain", 10= "worst pain imaginable", Visual Analog Scale, e.g pain intensity).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pre-Nitrous
n=16 Participants
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected as they receive oxygen (20 minutes) followed Functional connectivity (Fisher's r to z transformed) between the left anterior insula and superior frontal gyrus were measured at baseline.
Nitrous Oxide - Subanesthetic Dose
n=16 Participants
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected as they received subanesthetic dose of nitrous oxide at (35% inhaled concentration) over 30 minutes. Functional connectivity (z-score) between the left anterior insula and superior frontal gyrus were measured during administration of subanesthetic nitrous oxide.
Tonic Stimulus Intensity During Nitrous Oxide
4.9688 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.217
2.500 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.309

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline to 50 minutes

Brain imaging data were obtained from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data recorded simultaneously with electroencephalography (EEG) data at baseline and under a sub-anesthetic dose of nitrous oxide. Spectral data were averaged from EEG data at all electrodes collected during the baseline and sub-anesthetic dose (35%) of nitrous oxide to observe changes in spectral power. The EEG power spectrum was divided into three frequency bands: Delta = 1-3 Hz; Theta = 4-7 Hz; and Alpha = 8 - 13 Hz

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pre-Nitrous
n=16 Participants
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected as they receive oxygen (20 minutes) followed Functional connectivity (Fisher's r to z transformed) between the left anterior insula and superior frontal gyrus were measured at baseline.
Nitrous Oxide - Subanesthetic Dose
n=16 Participants
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected as they received subanesthetic dose of nitrous oxide at (35% inhaled concentration) over 30 minutes. Functional connectivity (z-score) between the left anterior insula and superior frontal gyrus were measured during administration of subanesthetic nitrous oxide.
Spectral Power of Sub-anesthetic Dose of Nitrous Oxide
Delta
13.31 dB (decibels)
Standard Deviation 2.20
14.65 dB (decibels)
Standard Deviation 2.56
Spectral Power of Sub-anesthetic Dose of Nitrous Oxide
Theta
11.88 dB (decibels)
Standard Deviation 1.89
12.80 dB (decibels)
Standard Deviation 1.87
Spectral Power of Sub-anesthetic Dose of Nitrous Oxide
Alpha
6.72 dB (decibels)
Standard Deviation 1.92
6.97 dB (decibels)
Standard Deviation 2.05

Adverse Events

Nitrous Oxide - Inhaled

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 2 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Nitrous Oxide - Inhaled
n=19 participants at risk
Each volunteer will participate in one scanning visit in which simultaneous fMRI/EEG data will be collected wherein they receive placebo (20 minutes) followed by inhaled nitrous oxide at subanalgesic levels (35% inhaled concentration) over 30 minutes. A total of 21 participants consented to participate but 2 participants did not participate in any part of the research and thus no adverse events data could have been collected.
General disorders
Tachycardia
5.3%
1/19 • Number of events 1 • Adverse event data was collected for 24 hours.
The definition of adverse event and/or serious adverse event does not differ from the clinicaltrials.gov definition.
General disorders
Emesis
5.3%
1/19 • Number of events 1 • Adverse event data was collected for 24 hours.
The definition of adverse event and/or serious adverse event does not differ from the clinicaltrials.gov definition.

Additional Information

Richard Harris

University of Michigan

Phone: 734-998-6996

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place