Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The disease stage -associated imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in uterine cervical  
cancer patients and their recovery with the reduction of tumor burden  
 
Version: 1 Date: 27 Nov 2019  
 
Reviewer: Ines Aparecida Tozetti  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
BMWH -D-19-00528R1  
The disease stage -associated imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in uterine  cervical cancer 
patients and their recovery with the reduction of tumor burden  
 
In this manuscript the authors reported that they examined the related immune cells (Th1, Th2, 
Th17, and Treg cells) by flow cytometric analysis and their relations with UCC st ages, tumor 
size, differentiation, histology type, lymph node metastases, and vasoinvasion. Next, they 
quantified the Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells before and after the operation both in UCC and 
CIN patients. The authors claim that the findings suggested that peripheral immunological cell 
levels reflect the patient's condition.  
 
After review I make the following suggestions:  
 
1) In the key words place non -title words to increase the chance of search terms.  
2) In the Introduction ( page 4, lines 11 and 12) rewrite: after high -risk HPV infection, 
most patients at this time clear naturally.....  
3) In Table 01 It is table and not frame. Please, remove the lateral lines and insert 
meaningful caption to SCC and ADC.  
4) In the results express the results to all % cells in this way 10.06 ± 1.24% and not 
10.06% ± 1.24%.  
5) In Figure 1 ( page 7; lines 43 and 44) change to ...patients with satge I and II. Indicate 
with bars or asterisks the significant p in the graph and describe the value of the respective p in 
the caption.  
6) In page 8, lines 54 and 55 explain how 38 patient s without vasoinvasion and 7 patients 
with vasoinvasion if there are only 38 patiens with UCC? I believe there is an error  
7) In page 9, lines 14 and 15 correct for "with or without therapy"…  
8) In page 9 too, report the p values obtained from the analysis  on the first paragraph (The 
balance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells recovered after radical hysterectomy in UCC patients). 
If the p value is significant, mark the graph and place the p value on the caption.  
9) In figure 3 discriminate, which markings the a xes of the graph refer to. Put in the 
caption, if there is statistical significance to the values of p and mark in the graph.  
10) In page 10, first and second paragraph report whether or not there was statistical 
significance and if there are p values for  each analysis.  
11) In page 10, lines 56 and 57: was the data published? If not, unpublished indicate.  
12) In page 11, lines 13 and 14 withdraw and put in caption of chart (results).  
13) In page 11; lines 36 to 39 withdraw. These are results and not discus sion.  
14) In page 11; lines 51 to 57:  Change " Figure 1D, we show that Th1 cell in UCC group 
was the first type to recover to normal levels when tested at one month after the operation. When 
tested at six months after the operation, the levels of the four  types of cells all normalized. As 
shown in Figure 1E, the levels of the four types of cells in CIN patients had all normalized when 
tested at one month after the operation." In this way is a result, rewrite to discussion form, 
without details or values.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an addition al statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs som e language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests'  
 
I agree to the open peer  review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included  as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal