Table 4.

Subgroup analysis of different IBS subtypes' differentials in 5-HT4R expression before and after treatment (mean ± SD).

Group	IBS subtypes	n	Before treatment	After treatment	Differentials
EA	IBS-D	17	65.56 ± 15.82	47.03 ± 10.21▲	−18.53 ± 7.77
	IBS-C	17	18.37 ± 7.83	32.39 ± 8.78▲	14.03 ± 6.41∗
	IBS-A/M	4	37.07 ± 8.19	35.03 ± 7.68	−2.04 ± 4.78
Mox	IBS-D	18	62.88 ± 12.00	41.99 ± 8.70▲	−20.88 ± 8.02
	IBS-C	17	22.42 ± 9.69	25.57 ± 10.31▲	3.14 ± 1.97
	IBS-A/M	5	32.62 ± 14.81	28.67 ± 13.23△	−3.94 ± 2.13

^▲ P < 0.01 versus before the treatment; ^△ P = 0.015 versus before the treatment, P < 0.05; ^∗ P < 0.01 versus the Mox group. EA: electroacupuncture; Mox: moxibustion; SD: standard deviation; IBS-C: irritable bowel syndrome with constipation; IBS-D: irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea; IBS-M: mixed irritable bowel syndrome (with both diarrhoea and constipation >25% of bowel movements); and IBS-A: alternating irritable bowel syndrome (bowel habits often vary over time).