Dai C, Huang YH, Jiang M. Fecal microbiota transplantation for irritable bowel syndrome: Current evidence and perspectives. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30(16): 2179-2183 [PMID: 38690018 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i16.2179]
Reader's ID:
03266250
Submitted on:
April 28, 2024, 08:45
Reader Expertise:
Reader’s expertise on the topic of the manuscript
Conflicts-of-Interest Statement:
Does the reader have a conflict of interest?
Reader Comment Standards for Published Articles:
1 Title
Does the title reflect the main subject/hypothesis of the manuscript?
2 Abstract
Does the abstract summarize and reflect the work described in the manuscript?
3 Key Words
Do the key words reflect the focus of the manuscript?
4 Background
Does the manuscript adequately describe the background, present status and significance of the study?
5 Methods
Does the manuscript describe methods (e.g., experiments, data analysis, surveys, and clinical trials, etc.) in adequate detail?
6 Results
Are the research objectives achieved by the experiments used in this study?
Has the study made meaningful contributions towards research progress in this field?
7 Discussion
Does the manuscript interpret the findings adequately and appropriately, highlighting the key points concisely, clearly and logically?
Are the findings and their applicability/relevance to the literature stated in a clear and definite manner?
Is the Discussion accurate and does it discuss the paper’s scientific significance and/or relevance to clinical practice sufficiently?
8 Illustrations and Tables
Are the figures, diagrams and tables sufficient, good quality and appropriately illustrative of the paper contents?
Do figures require labeling with arrows, asterisks, etc., or better legends?
9 Biostatistics
Does the manuscript meet the requirements of biostatistics?
10 Units
Does the manuscript meet the requirements of use of SI units?
11 References
Does the manuscript appropriately cite the latest, important and authoritative references in the Introduction and Discussion sections?
Does the author self-cite, omit, incorrectly cite and/or over-cite references?
12 Quality of manuscript organization and presentation
Is the manuscript concisely and coherently organized and presented?
Are the style, language and grammar accurate and appropriate?
13 Ethics statements
For all manuscripts involving human studies and/or animal experiments, author(s) must submit the related formal ethics documents that were reviewed and approved by their local ethical review committee. Did the manuscript meet the requirements of ethics?
Scientific Quality:
The overall quality of the manuscript, based on the above-listed criteria, should be evaluated and classified according to the following five categories
Language Quality:
Language quality (style, grammar, and spelling) should be evaluated and classified according to the following five categories.
Reader Comments:
This article focuses on fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) as a potential intervention for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), explores the mechanisms of FMT effect, factors influencing its effectiveness, and the challenges of applying FMT in the treatment of IBS. By analyzing randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, the article highlights the divergences in the findings. The importance of donor selection, patient inclusion criteria, FMT administration route and dose in determining its efficacy was emphasized. The article introduces the concept of "super donors" and the need for meticulous donor selection based on different clinical and genetic criteria, and also delves into the potential mechanisms of FMT in alleviating IBS symptoms, as well as the role of short-chain fatty acids and serotonin in stool. Overall, the article highlights the complexity and subtleties involved in using FMT to treat IBS, and also suggests that further research is needed to enhance its efficacy as a treatment for patients with IBS.
However, there are some problems in the article that need to be revised, including:
As for the effect of FMT in the treatment of IBS, there are significant differences in the results of different studies, and the causes and solutions need to be further explored. The criteria for selecting an effective donor are still unclear, including the route of administration, the optimal dose and the frequency of treatment, etc. It is still unclear whether FMT is effective in all IBS patients or only in some subgroups. There is some concern about the long-term side effects of FMT and more research is needed
Reply from the Editorial Office:
First, thank you very much for your professional comments on the article published in World Journal of Gastroenterology.
Second, we read your comments with great interest. You are welcome to format your valuable comments into a Letter to the Editor and submit it online to World Journal of Gastroenterology at https://www.f6publishing.com. There are no restrictions on the number of words, figures (color, B/W) or authors for a Letter to the Editor. In addition, the article processing charge will be exempted for this Letter to the Editor. As with all articles published by the Baishideng Publishing Group, the Letter to the Editor will be published online after completing peer review. The guidelines for a Letter to the Editor can be found at: https://www.wjgnet.com/bpg/GerInfo/219.
Finally, we look forward to receiving your high-quality Letter to the Editor, which will promote academic communication and lead the development of this discipline.