Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02912-2 (2023)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
A novel long non-coding RNA XLOC_004787, is associated with
migration and promotes cancer cell proliferation by downregulating mir-203a-3p
in gastric cancer
Version: 
2 
Date: 
25 Jun 2023
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS: 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses one
or several testable research questions? (Brief or other article types: is there a
clear objective?)
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols)
appropriate for the objective?
No - there are minor issues
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with sufficient
technical rigor to allow confidence in the results?
No - there are minor issues
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results
reasonable and not overstated?
No - there are minor issues
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Has the author addressed your
concerns sufficiently for you to now recommend the work as a technically sound
contribution? If not, can further revisions be made to make the work technically
sound?
Probably - with minor revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS: 
GENERAL COMMENTS: Authors have made a very good effort in terms of
revising the language and presentation. I notice substantial changes which are
very welcome, and the manuscript overall is much improved.
I do have one concern - in my last comments I asked "My first major concern is
that authors have not provided any background or justification
for the focus on XLOC_004787. They need to explicitly discuss why this
lncRNA was
chosen. " In response to this concern, authors responded - "XLOC_004787 was
obtained by tissue microarray in our laboratory and has significant
expression changes in gastric cancer cells. The full-length sequence can be
provided.
For details, please refer to another article published by our laboratory:
(1)The regulatory role of miR-107 in Coxsackie B3 virus replication. Aging
(Albany NY).
(2)Microarray analysis of Long non-coding RNA expression profiles in human
gastric
cells and tissues with Helicobacter pylori Infection." - This is still not an
acceptable response. I understand now that authors explored this lncRNA in an
early study. Still, authors need to add this information to the Introduction here so
that the authors have this background information. It should be mentioned in the
Introduction (with proper citation) that this lncRNA was earlier found in a study
(and then briefly mention the findings from that study to justify further
investigation of this lncRNA in the current study).
REQUESTED REVISIONS: 
Please see my feedback to authors
Declaration of competing interests
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
No
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
No
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes
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No