Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41572156›Full record

ArticleBMC gastroenterology2026

Influences of transcutaneous neuromodulation on fecal microbiota and short chain fatty acids in patients with functional constipation.

Shengai Zhang, Honggang Shi, Bojia Liu, Zhenyang Ge, Nina Zhang, Qigui Liu, Zhijun Duan, Qingyong Chang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC gastroenterology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Shengai ZhangSecond Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Laboratory of Integrated Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7679-4412
Honggang ShiSecond Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Laboratory of Integrated Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China.
Bojia LiuSecond Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Laboratory of Integrated Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China.
Zhenyang GeSecond Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Laboratory of Integrated Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China.
Nina ZhangDepartment of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower hospital, Nanjing, 210000, China.
Qigui LiuDepartment of Health Statistics, School of public health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China.
Zhijun DuanSecond Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Laboratory of Integrated Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China. cathydoctor@sina.com.
Qingyong ChangSecond Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China. qychang0409@163.com.

Funding

Dalian municipal science and technology plan project 2015F11GH098
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTranscutaneous neuromodulation (TN) has been reported effective for functional constipation (FC). The underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the gut microbiota (GM) and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) metabolism changed in FC patients due to TN treatment. The correlation between GM and 5-HT was evaluated.

methodsFourteen FC patients were recruited, and the FC related symptoms were evaluated by questionnaires before and after 4-week TN treatment. Blood and fecal samples were collected to assess the fecal microbiome and SCFAs.

resultsThe richness and diversity of fecal microbiota were both found to be increased in FC patients before TN treatment. Fecal metabolomic differences between FC patients and healthy controls were observed at baseline, including elevated branched-chain SCFAs (isobutyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids) in FC. TN treatment did not significantly alter SCFA levels but improved constipation symptoms and increased plasma 5-HT. The correlation of Blautia-serotonin and 5-HT was observed in FC patients (r = 0.574, P = 0.035) and disappeared after TN treatment (r = 0.160, P = 0.584).

conclusionTN treatment significantly improved the symptoms of FC patients and increased their plasma 5-HT expression levels. The correlation between 5-HT and Blautia-serotonin (which changed after TN treatment) indicated that the 5-HT changes caused by TN treatment might have a potential interaction with the dynamic changes of the intestinal microbiota.

Indexed as

ConstipationFatty Acids, VolatileFecesGastrointestinal MicrobiomeTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSerotoninFatty Acids, VolatileSerotoninFunctional constipationGut microbiotaPlasma serotonin (5-HT)Short chain fatty acidsTranscutaneous neuromodulation therapy

Identifiers

PMID41572156
PMCPMC12828958

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.