Intestinal dysmotility is common in many diseases and is correlated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and systemic inflammation. Functional constipation (FC) is the most typical manifestation of intestinal hypomotility and reduces patients’ quality of life. Some studies have reported that fecal micriobiota transplantation (FMT) may be an effective and safe therapy for FC as it corrects intestinal dysbiosis. This study was conducted to evaluate how FMT remodels the gut microbiome and to determine a possible correlation between certain microbes and clinical symptoms in constipated individuals. Data were retrospectively collected on 18 patients who underwent FMT between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. The fecal bacterial genome was detected by sequencing the V3–V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rDNA gene. Fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and serum inflammatory factor concentrations were detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Comparing the changes in fecal microbiome compositions before and after FMT revealed a significant augmentation in the alpha diversity and increased abundances of some flora such as Clostridiales, Fusicatenibacter, and Paraprevotella. This was consistent with the patients experiencing relief from their clinical symptoms. Abundances of other flora, including Lachnoanaerobaculum, were decreased, which might correlate with the severity of patients’ constipation. Although no differences were found in SCFA production, the butyric acid concentration was correlated with both bacterial alterations and clinical symptoms. Serum IL-8 levels were significantly lower after FMT than at baseline, but IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12p70 levels were not noticeably changed. This study showed how FMT regulates the intestinal microenvironment and affects systemic inflammation in constipated patients, providing direction for further research on the mechanisms of FMT. It also revealed potential microbial targets for precise intervention, which may bring new breakthroughs in treating constipation.

Approximately 10% of individuals diagnosed with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) show the resistance to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), with the underlying mechanisms remaining elusive. Deciphering the intricate microbiome profile within this particular subset of FMT-refractory patients via clinical FMT investigations assumes paramount importance, as it holds the key to designing targeted therapeutic interventions tailored for CDI, particularly recurrent CDI (rCDI). A cohort of twenty-three patients afflicted with rCDI, exhibiting congruent clinical baselines, was meticulously selected for FMT. Rigorous screening of thousands of healthy individuals identified ten FMT donors who met stringent health standards, while a total of 171 stool samples were collected to serve as healthy controls. To assess the influence of microbiome dynamics on FMT efficacy, fecal samples were collected from four donors over a continuous period of twenty-five weeks. After FMT treatment, seven individuals exhibited an inadequate response to FMT. These non-remission patients displayed a significant reduction in α-diversity indexes. Meanwhile, prior to FMT, the abundance of key butyrate-producing Firmicutes bacteria, including Christensenellaceae_R_7_group, Ruminococcaceae_unclassified, Coprococcus_2, Fusicatenibacter, Oscillospira, and Roseburia, were depleted in non-remission patients. Moreover, Burkholderiales_unclassified, Coprococcus_2, and Oscillospira failed to colonize non-remission patients both pre- and post-treatment. Conversely, patients with a favorable FMT response exhibited a higher relative abundance of Veillonella prior to treatment, whereas its depletion was commonly observed in non-remission individuals. Genera interactions in lower effectiveness FMT donors were more similar to those in non-remission patients, and Burkholderiales_unclassified, Coprococcus_2, and Oscillospira were frequently depleted in these lower effectiveness donors. Older patients were not conducive to the colonization of Veillonella, consistent with their poor prognosis after FMT. FMT non-remission rCDI patients exhibited distinct characteristics that hindered the colonization of beneficial butyrate-producing Firmicutes microbes. These findings hold promise in advancing the precision of FMT therapy for rCDI patients.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the long-term efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Study Methods: In this single-center long-term follow-up study, FMT treatment was administered to patients with moderate to severe IBS (IBS severity scoring system (IBS-SSS) > 175). After 1 year of treatment, it was decided whether to repeat FMT based on IBS-SSS score (IBS-SSS > 175). Baseline characteristics before and after FMT and questionnaires were completed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after FMT. The study outcomes included treatment efficacy rates, change of IBS-SSS, IBS-specific quality of life and fatigue, effect on stool frequency, Bristol Stool Scale for IBS-C and IBS-D, and side effects.Results: A total of 227 patients (47.58% IBS-C, 39.21% IBS-D, and 13.22% IBS-M) were recruited (142 females and 85 males with a mean age of 41.89 ± 13.57 years). The efficacy rates were 108 (51.92%), 147 (74.62%), 125 (74.41 %), 88 (71.54%), 78 (75.00%), 65 (73.03%), 45 (61.64%), and 37 (62.71%) at different follow-up time points. The total IBS-SSS score was 321.37 ± 73.89 before FMT, which significantly decreased after 1 month. The IBS-specific quality of life (IBS-QoL) score was 40.24 ± 11.34 before FMT, increased gradually, and was significantly higher at 3 months compared to before FMT. The total Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) score was 47 ± 8.64 before FMT and was significantly lower at 3 months. During follow-up, 89 (39.21%) side effects occurred that were alleviated by symptomatic treatment, and no serious adverse events were detected.Conclusion: Based on 60 months of long-term follow-up, the safety and efficacy of FMT for IBS was established. However, as the treatment effect declines over time, periodic and repetitive FMT is required for a sustained effect.

With the popularization of modern lifestyles, the spectrum of intestinal diseases has become increasingly diverse, presenting significant challenges in its management. Traditional pharmaceutical interventions have struggled to keep pace with these changes, leaving many patients refractory to conventional pharmaceutical treatments. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for enterogenic diseases. Still, controversies persist regarding its active constituents, mechanism of action, scheme of treatment evaluation, indications, and contraindications. In this review, we investigated the efficacy of FMT in addressing gastrointestinal and extraintestinal conditions, drawing from follow-up data on over 8000 patients. We systematically addressed the controversies surrounding FMT's clinical application. We delved into key issues such as its technical nature, evaluation methods, microbial restoration mechanisms, and impact on the host-microbiota interactions. Additionally, we explored the potential colonization patterns of FMT-engrafted new microbiota throughout the entire intestine and elucidated the specific pathways through which the new microbiota modulates host immunity, metabolism, and genome.

Sarcopenia, a prevalent geriatric syndrome, is influenced by factors such as inflammation, immune deficiency, and oxidative stress. In elderly individuals, alterations in the microbiome, including reduced biodiversity and functional changes, significantly contribute to the progression of the disease. Targeting the gut-muscle axis has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate age-related muscle atrophy and dysfunction. This study employed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to restore intestinal homeostasis in patients with sarcopenia. Muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, while muscle function was assessed through grip strength and the five-time sit-to-stand test. Inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP), were also analyzed. Eighty-seven patients received resistance training (RT) treatment, while eighty-five patients received FMT combined with RT treatment, with a follow-up period of 24 weeks. After 24 weeks, the resistance training (RT) group showed a partial remission (PR) rate of 54.7% and a complete remission (CR) rate of 32.4%. The FMT plus RT group demonstrated a PR rate of 66.5% and a CR rate of 46.7%. Significant improvements induced by FMT treatment were observed in clinical markers of muscle mass, function, and inflammation. These results underscore the promise of microbial-based therapies, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), as groundbreaking strategies for addressing sarcopenia. The research indicates that integrating FMT with resistance training could improve muscle mass and function while alleviating inflammation in sarcopenia patients, presenting a hopeful avenue for effective management of the condition