Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Beneficial effects of a Coriolus versicolor -based vaginal gel on cervical epithelization,  
vagina l microbiota and vaginal health: A pilot study in asymptomatic women  
 
Version: 0 Date: 15 Oct 2016  
 
Reviewer: Akmal El -Mazny  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this interesting study "Beneficial effects of a 
Coriolus v ersicolor -based vaginal gel on cervical epithelization, vaginal microbiota and vaginal 
health: A pilot study in asymptomatic women".  
 
 
 
 
However, I have some comments and recommendations:  
 
Comments:  
 
 
- Title: is appropriate for the content of the article.  
 
 
- Abst ract: represents a suitable summary of the work.  
 
 
- Article content: the design, methods and analysis of the results from the study have been 
explained and are appropriate for the study.  
 
 
- Data: enough information has been provided in a usable format to be able to replicate the 
study.  
 
 
- Conclusions: are sensible, balanced and justified on the basis of the results of the study.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommendations:  
 
- Introduction: Be concise and focused, emphasize the gap of knowledge.  
 
 
- Methods: Adequately describe inclusion and  exclusion criteria if any.  
 
 
- Results: Redesign tables, the text should complement the tables.  
 
 
- Discussion: Focus on highly relevant studies.  
 
 
 
 
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 autho rs. 
 
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 edit ors. 
 
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 ques tions:  
 
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 yo u 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 int erests 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 upload will be posted on the websi te along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my name d 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