Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Mitochondrial DNA copy number in cervical exfoliated cells and risk of cervical cancer  
among HPV -positive women  
 
Version: 1 Date: 07 Jan 2020  
 
Reviewer: Annarosa Del Mistro  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The authors have adequately answered my comments to the first submitted version.  
 
I suggest only two additional modifications:  
-Discussion, page 9, line 48: please add "might" to the sentence "carcinogenesi s and MIGHT 
represent.............."  
-Discussio, page 10, line 23: please delete the word "spontaneously" at the beginning of the line  
 
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 additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing i nterests, considering the following questions:  
 
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organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
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3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to t he content of the  
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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  
 
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal