Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Quality of life among post -menopausal women due to oxidative stres s boosted by 
dysthymia and anxiety  
 
Version: 0 Date: 28 Mar 2016 
 
Reviewer:  Hsiao -Yean  Chiu  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
This was a cross -sectional study that assessed the relationships among the psychological status, 
quality of life, and oxida tive stress. Results indicated that the postmenopausal women with 
psychological disturbances or low quality of life had higher stress scores in comparison with 
postmenopausal women with normal psychological functions or high quality of life; likewise, 
they found that LPO was associated with psychological parameters and quality of life in 
postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women. I commend the authors for their 
efforts. However some concerns may limit the impact of this manuscript.  
 
 
Introduction:  
 
1.The authors clearly described the study background; however, the third paragraph (page 5, line 
8-9) might confuse readers when they stated "most of the symptoms after menopause, such as 
insomnia, depressive mood and anxiety, are considered pro -oxidant and  affect the health, and 
psychological and social status of menopausal women and therefore their quality of life." I 
suggest removing the word "psychological".  
 
 
Methods  
 
1. In the section of data analysis, please add a statement describing the rationale for performing 
the statistics at the beginning of the second paragraph (as the third paragraph)  
 
2. In the data analysis, the author stated that LPO owned the biggest difference among all the 
oxidative stress markers used. However, they did not provide evidence  to support this argument 
in the results.  
 
 
Results  
 
1. Please add information regarding all the oxidative stress markers between pre - and 
postmenopausal women in Table 1.  
 
2. P15 and line 7 -12, please show exact p values instead of p < 0.05. Or present these values in 
Table 2.  
3. Page 15 line 20 -24 as well as Table 3 and 4, the author reported the relationship among LPO 
level and quality of life and the association of LPO le vel with psychological parameters in pre 
and postmenopausal women respectively. Although they firstly employed Pearson's correlation 
and then multivariate linear regression models, it is difficult to understand how the regression 
model was carried out acco rding to Table 3 and 4. For example, which variable is independent 
variable and which one is dependent variable. In addition, what confounders were adjusted in the 
model when this was a multivariate regression model? Table 3 and 4 should present the result s of 
regression since it can convey more information.  
 
 
Discussion:  
 
Well written and no comment.  
 
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.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
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 additional 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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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 
manus cript, 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 p atents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received 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 
including any attachments I uplo ad will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
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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 . 
 
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