A new study published in Nature Communications outlines our group's results using focused ultrasound stimulation within peripheral organs to precisely activate autonomic nerve circuits. The concept is demonstrated by modulating two different (and potentially therapeutic) targets in animal models, a neuroimmune connection in the spleen (that modulates blood cytokine concentrations) and a nutrient sensory pathway within the liver (that modulates metabolism). Connected to this work is a companion Nature Communications publication that utilizes an ultrasound stimulus focused on the spleen to reduce disease severity in a serum-transferred rodent model of inflammatory arthritis. These reports highlight the growing evidence that ultrasound energy (previously shown to enable activation or modulation of central nervous system pathways) may be used to perform peripheral neuromodulation. In this commentary, we highlight the main findings and discuss their implications for new forms of ultrasound-based therapy. Though challenges remain, a new noninvasive method for precision neuromodulation could solve many of the challenges facing the nascent field of bioelectronic medicine. That is, the use of ultrasound to directly modulate neurophysiological systems therapeutically may provide alternatives to traditional pharmaceuticals. However, to alter the current pharmaceutical paradigm, the field will need to develop a new understanding of how traditional drug concepts (such as dose and pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics) relate to the parameters, protocols, and outcomes of this new stimulation technology.

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外围聚焦超声刺激（pFUS）：制药市场的新竞争者？

在《自然通讯》上发表的一项新研究概述了我们小组在周围器官内进行聚焦超声刺激以精确激活自主神经回路的结果。通过调节动物模型中的两个不同（可能具有治疗作用）的靶点，即脾脏中的神经免疫连接（调节血液细胞因子的浓度）和肝脏中的营养素感觉通路（调节新陈代谢），可以证明这一概念。与这项工作相关的是《自然通讯》的同伴出版物，该出版物利用针对脾脏的超声刺激来降低血清转移的炎性关节炎啮齿动物模型中的疾病严重性。这些报告凸显了越来越多的证据表明，超声能量（以前显示能够激活或调节中枢神经系统途径）可用于进行周围神经调节。在这篇评论中，我们重点介绍了主要发现，并讨论了它们对基于超声的新疗法的影响。尽管挑战仍然存在，一种用于精确神经调节的新型无创方法可以解决生物电子医学新兴领域面临的许多挑战。即，使用超声波直接治疗性地调节神经生理系统可以提供传统药物的替代方案。但是，要更改当前的药物范例，