Efficacy of Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang granule and its impact on whole transcriptome profiling in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one kind of common functional bowel disease with obscure pathogenesis, and exploration about whole transcriptome profiling in IBS-D is still negligible. Conventional medications have limited effects, which makes focus shifted to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang, as a classic herbal formula in TCM, is pretty effective and safe for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), but the underlying therapeutic mechanism remains unknown. We aim to verify the efficacy and safety of TXYF granule (the formula particles mixed together) in IBS-D and elucidate the gene-level mechanism of IBS-D and therapeutic targets of TXYF granule based on whole transcriptome analysis. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial consisting of 2 weeks of run-in period, 12 weeks of treatment period, and 8 weeks of follow-up period. We will enroll 120 participants with IBS-D, who will be randomly assigned to the TXYF granule group and the placebo group, and recruit additional 10 healthy individuals as controls for mechanistic outcome. The two groups respectively take TXYF granule or placebo orally for treatment. The primary outcome is the response rate of IBS-Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS). The secondary outcomes include adequate relief (AR), IBS-Quality of Life Questionnaire (IBS-QOL), and long-term efficacy. Mechanistic outcome is the whole transcriptome profiling of the intestinal mucosae from IBS participants before and after the treatment and healthy individuals. DISCUSSION: This trial will prove the effectiveness and safety of TXYF granule with high-quality evidence and provide a penetrating and comprehensive perspective on the molecular mechanism of IBS-D by whole transcriptome analysis, which makes us pinpoint specific biomarkers of IBS-D and therapeutic targets of TXYF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-IOR-1900021785 . Registered on 9 March 2019.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and colorectal cancer prognosis: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The present study focused on understanding the prognostic value of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) single nucleotide polymorphisms rs1801133 (C667T) and rs1801131 (A1298C) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in March 2016. Databases, including Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane and Chinese databases (including CNKI, Wanfang and VIP), were searched to identify the relevant articles describing MTHFR polymorphisms in patients with CRC. Data regarding overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were collected and analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies with 5423 patients with CRC were included. Significant differences in OS, PFS and DFS were not observed among the different comparisons of patients carrying different alleles of the MTHFR rs1801133 polymorphism (including TT versus CC, TT versus CT + CC, CT + TT versus CC and CT versus CC). Compared with patients with the rs1801131 CA + AA genotypes, patients with the CC genotype had a shorter OS (hazard ratio = 1.85; 95% confidence interval = 1.30-2.65) and DFS (hazard ratio = 2.16; 95% confidence interval= 1.19-3.93). Significant differences in OS, PFS and DFS were not observed among the other patient groups (including CC versus AA, CC + CA versus AA and CA versus AA). Subgroup analysis of rs1801133 and rs1801131 showed that patients with CRC from Asian regions and Western regions demonstrated similar results. CONCLUSIONS: The MTHFR rs1801133 polymorphism was not associated with the prognosis of patients with CRC; however, rs1801131 may be associated with the prognosis of patients with CRC. Well-designed prospective studies are necessary to obtain a better understanding of the prognostic value of rs1801133 and rs1801131.

Prognostic value of transforming growth factor-beta in patients with colorectal cancer who undergo surgery: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) is associated with a higher incidence of distant metastasis and decreased survival. Whether TGF-ß can be used as a prognostic indicator of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial. METHODS: The Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched from their inception to March 2016. The studies that focused on TGF-ß as a prognostic factor in patients with CRC were included in this analysis. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analysed separately. A meta-analysis was performed, and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included in the analysis, of which 8 were used for OS and 7 for DFS. In all, 1622 patients with CRC undergoing surgery were included. Combined HRs suggested that high expression of TGF-ß had a favourable impact on OS (HR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.10-2.59) and DFS (HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.19) in CRC patients. For OS, the combined HRs of Asian studies and Western studies were 1.50 (95% CI: 0.61-3.68) and 1.80 (95% CI: 1.33-2.45), respectively. For DFS, the combined HRs of Asian studies and Western studies were 1.42 (95% CI: 0.61-3.31) and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.03-1.20), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrates that TGF-ß can be used as a prognostic biomarker for CRC patients undergoing surgery, especially for CRC patients from Western countries.