Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Effect of Simvastatin on Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein -1 Expression in 
Endometriosis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial  
 
Version: 0 Date: 16 Jan 2017 
 
Reviewer:  MURAT  ULUKUS  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
In this prospective randomized controlled clinical study, authors investigated the effect of 
simvastatin, a chlesterol lowering drug on MCP -1 gene expression and serum MCP -1 levels in 
women with endometriosis before and after laparoscopic surger y. Although the hypothesis of the 
study is interesting and valuable for the investigation, some points are need to be clarified.  
 
1. Authors stated that women enrolled in the study were not previously treated with statins, 
GnRH agonists and DMPA for at leas t 1 year. How about oral contraceptive medication?  
 
2. Women enrolled in the study were also checked for the other types of endometriosis? Only 
women with endometrioma included in the study? Presence of the concomitent peritoneal or 
deeply infiltrating endo metriosis would change the results and the interpretetion of the study.  
 
3. In addition to the endometriotic tissue and serum samples, peritoneal fluid MCP -1 
concentrations would also give an idea since the only source of MCP -1 is not the endometriotic 
tisuue. 
 
4. Authors should explain the result of the study in more detail. Why simvastatin did not 
decrease MCP -1 expression as it was expected. Because of the low dose or short duration of 
treatment?  
 
5. There are some missepelling errors: in the discussion par t Line 5 (serum), in the conclusion 
line 17 (endometriotic)  
 
Are the methods appropriate and wel l 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 ad equately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
No 
 
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 fr om 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 received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied f or 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 interest.  
 
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