Table 1.
Patient characteristics for microbial composition analysis.
| General characteristics | Non-improvers | Improvers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| n = 8 | n = 8 | ||
| Age | mean ± SD years | 47.0 ± 9.2 | 44.9 ± 14.3 |
| Sex | n (% females) | 6 (75.0%) | 5 (62.5%) |
| Body Mass Index | mean ± SD kg m-2 | 23.9 ± 3.7 | 24.0 ± 2.1 |
| Treatment | n (% probiotic) | 4 (50.0%) | 3 (37.5%) |
| IBS subtype | IBS-C | 1 (12.5%) | 1 (12.5%) |
| IBS-D | 5 (62.5%) | 4 (50.0%) | |
| IBS-M | 2 (25.0%) | 2 (25.0%) | |
| IBS-U | – | 1 (12.5%) | |
| Symptoms and sensitivity at baseline | mean ± SD | ||
| Mean composite symptom scorea | 14.5 ± 4.1 | 15.2 ± 3.7 | |
| Nausea | 2.1 ± 1.2 | 2.1 ± 1.2 | |
| Cramping | 2.5 ± 1.1 | 2.9 ± 1.2 | |
| Abdominal pain | 2.8 ± 0.8 | 2.5 ± 1.3 | |
| Bloating | 3.3 ± 1.2 | 3.0 ± 1.2 | |
| Flatulence | 2.5 ± 1.0 | 2.7 ± 0.7 | |
| Stools with mucus | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.4 ± 0.9 | |
| Stools with blood | 1.0 ± 0.0 | 1.1 ± 0.2 | |
| Max VAS score for discomfort 0–23 mmHg distensionb | 55.0 ± 27.9 | 49.9 ± 32.0 | |
| Max VAS score for pain 0–23 mmHg distensionb | 51.3 ± 35.7 | 42.0 ± 28.9 | |
| Symptoms and sensitivity at 6 weeks | mean ± SD | ||
| Mean composite symptom score a | 14.8 ± 4.5 | 11.3 ± 3.8 | |
| Nausea | 2.2 ± 1.3 | 1.5 ± 0.6 | |
| Cramping | 2.6 ± 1.2 | 2.0 ± 0.9 | |
| Abdominal pain | 2.7 ± 1.2 | 2.1 ± 0.9 | |
| Bloating | 2.9 ± 1.2 | 2.6 ± 1.0 | |
| Flatulence | 2.4 ± 1.1 | 2.1 ± 0.3 | |
| Stools with mucus | 1.0 ± 0.0 | 1.0 ± 0.0 | |
| Stools with blood | 1.0 ± 0.0 | 1.0 ± 0.1 | |
| Max VAS score for discomfort 0–23 mmHg distensionb | 57.5 ± 30.5 | 29.9 ± 19.2 | |
| Max VAS score for pain 0–23 mmHg distensionb | 54.8 ± 30.6 | 6.0 ± 3.1 |
Patient samples were selected from a previous clinical trial17. At baseline, all patients were diagnosed as hypersensitive to colorectal distension. Patients are separated based on improvers vs. non-improvers, referring to a change of sensitivity status to normosensitive or remaining hypersensitive.
BMI body mass index, BM bowel movements. IBS subtypes U, C, D, M unspecified, constipation, diarrhea, mixed defecation pattern.
acomposite score calculated based on mean of 7 subjects scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 to 5 (i.e. nausea, cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, stools with mucus, stools with blood) for 14 days. Composite score range 7–35.
bMaximum VAS for pain 0–23 mmHg ≥ 10 mm is considered as hypersensitive to colorectal distension.