JerMa88/BMC_Womens_Health_Peer_Reviews huggingface dataset:
Title: Determinants Physical Activity in Middle-Aged Women: Application Trans Theoretical
Model
Version: 2 Date: 28 Aug 2024
Reviewer:  María Antonia Parra-Rizo
Reviewer's report:
Dear Author:
In this third round of review:
I would like to start by sincerely congratulating you on the excellent work you have done. It is
evident that you have put time and effort into this article. I would now like to share with you
some minimal suggestions.
I suggest that you incorporate or refer to important concepts in the introduction.  This increases
downloads, internationalisation and citations: Incorporate citations in the introduction that
refer to the importance of the following variables:‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘To avoid a decline in functional
ability, participation in physical activity can have a positive impact on the quality of life and
functional ability of older people and help maintain independence in basic activities of daily
living, and living alone can affect basic activities and functional ability as the lack of constant
companionship can influence motivation to maintain an active lifestyle https://doi.org/10.3390/
sports10120200 “”’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’
‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’' In the context of older people's health, it is essential to understand the determinants
that influence a high degree of satisfaction with their health status. These key factors
include maintaining a good level of functional abilities, the absence of physical illnesses
and psychological problems, and maintaining adequate levels of physical activity https://
doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics8010027‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’   I would recommend that you consider including
concepts such as these, as they are relevant to your study on the older population and ageing, to
situate the reader and make a better conceptualisation.
My sincere congratulations on your work!
Title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of urinary incontinence following successful
obstetric fistula repair: findings from five countries in sub-Saharan Africa
Version: 1 Date: 31 Jan 2025
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors, thank you for the opportunity to read your manuscript. It is well written and of
great interest to female urology. Adherence to the PICO criteria is clearly stated. Registration
in  Prospero has been completed and the Prisma checklist has been followed. However, I have
some comments that I would like to share with you.
1. Change Figure 1 to the original version of the PRISMA 2020 flow chart, which can be
downloaded from the official website http://www.prisma-statement.org/PRISMAStatement/
FlowDiagram.
2. In Table 1, it would be good to indicate slightly more detailed results of the included studies
in the outcomes column. Add p-values, study results in numbers.
3. Please write more about the effectiveness of different treatment methods for stress urinary
incontinence in the discussion section. Use the latest data and recommendations. Refer to
recent meta-analyses (see Grigoryan B, Kasyan G, Pushkar D. Autologous slings in female
stress urinary incontinence: meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2024;35(4):759–773.; and Moris,
L. , Heesakkers, J., Nitti, V., O'Connell, H. E., Peyronnet, B., Serati, M., ... & Harding, C.
(2025). Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women: A
Collaborative Review of European Urology.
4. Please provide more details about the clinical significance of your results and future research
in this area.
5. Please work on improving the quality of English throughout the manuscript, either with the
help of a native speaker colleague or with the help of a professional editing agency.
Title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of urinary incontinence following successful
obstetric fistula repair: findings from five countries in sub-Saharan Africa
Version: 2 Date: 20 Mar 2025
Reviewer:  Francis G. Muriithi
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors,
Thank you  for addressing my review comments and making amendments or explanations as
required.
There is only 1 more suggestion -
Regarding defining sub-Saharan Africa, I had only wanted an explanation in the methods but
not deleting the words from the title.
I suggest rewording the title to  either "
A systematic review and meta-analysis of urinary incontinence following successful obstetric
fistula repair: findings from five countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
or
A systematic review and meta-analysis of urinary incontinence following successful obstetric
fistula repair: findings from five sub-Saharan Africa countries.
It provides context which is important.
Its a minor amendment which I am happy for the editor to accept without sending back to
reviewers if its the only pending correction.
Title: Role of SMOC2 in Adenomyosis: Implications for ECM Remodeling and EMT
Pathogenesis
Version: 1 Date: 21 Feb 2025
Reviewer's report:
The study investigated the role of SMOC2 in adenomyosis, with a focus on its involvement in
ECM remodeling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The findings contribute to the
growing understanding of adenomyosis pathogenesis and suggest potential therapeutic targets.
While the study is well-structured, certain areas require improvement.
Major Comments:
-The study demonstrates that SMOC2 promotes EMT by upregulating mesenchymal markers
and activating the MMP9 signaling pathway. However, the manuscript does not fully explore
the potential upstream regulators of SMOC2 in adenomyosis. Could the authors discuss possible
signaling pathways (e.g., TGF-#, Wnt/#-catenin) that may regulate SMOC2 expression in
adenomyosis?
-How does SMOC2 compare to other ECM-associated proteins in adenomyosis? A brief
discussion of its unique role compared to other matrix proteins would be beneficial.
-The authors mention patient-derived ectopic endometrial stromal cells and transfection
experiments with siRNA and overexpression constructs. Were these transfected cells
functionally validated (e.g., migration/invasion assays)? Since EMT is closely associated with
enhanced migration, additional experiments or clarifications on cell motility changes would
strengthen the claims.
-The Western blot analysis lacks quantitative representation. Densitometric analysis of protein
bands should be included for each figure.
-The authors propose that SMOC2 promotes MMP9 activation, which enhances ECM
remodeling. However, direct evidence linking MMP9 activity to fibrotic progression in
adenomyosis is limited. Have the authors tested whether MMP9 inhibition can counteract the
EMT-promoting effects of SMOC2 overexpression? Such an experiment would provide causal
evidence that MMP9 is a mediator of SMOC2-driven EMT.
-The study includes 35 adenomyosis patients and 30 controls, which is a reasonable sample size.
However, the age difference between groups is significant (p = 0.001). Could the authors discuss
how they accounted for age as a potential confounding factor in their analysis?
-The conclusion suggests that targeting SMOC2 may be a therapeutic strategy, but no functional
validation in vivo has been conducted. Have the authors considered potential SMOC2 inhibitors
or SMOC2-targeting therapies in other fibrotic diseases? A brief discussion on this would
enhance translational relevance.
Minor Comments:
-Some sentences require grammatical refinement for clarity. Example: “These findings suggest
that EMT has occurred.” # “These findings indicate that SMOC2 promotes EMT in adenomyotic
stromal cells.”
-Consider improving figure legends. Biological replicates should be added in all in vitro
experiments.
-Figure 4 and 5: The loading controls for Western blots should be included in all panels. GAPDH/
#-actin should be consistently reported. Biological replicates should be added.
Title: Role of SMOC2 in Adenomyosis: Implications for ECM Remodeling and EMT
Pathogenesis
Version: 1 Date: 23 Feb 2025
Reviewer:  Hengwei Liu
Reviewer's report:
This study focuses on the role of SMOC 2 in adenomyosis (Adenomyosis), reveals its underlying
mechanisms in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
(EMT), and raises the possibility of SMOC 2 as a therapeutic target. This study provides a
new perspective on understanding the pathogenesis of adenomyosis, with some potential for
innovation and clinical transformation.
Suggestions for Improvement
1. Some of the references are inconsistent, such as References 3.
2. Some words have incorrect accuracy, such as”These result shows that ADM ectopic
endometrial cells were successfully isolated and culture”,'result' and 'culture' have syntax errors.
3. Some charts lack necessary annotation, such as scale for Fig.2A HE staining
4. A large number of professional terms are used in the article, but the interpretation of some
terms is not clear enough. In the first mention of professional terms, in addition to the full
name and abbreviation, a simple explanation can be added. For example, in "Introduction"
first mentioned "Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)", can add "(epithelial-stromal
transformation, refers to the epithelial cells into strocells process, the process plays an important
role in embryonic development, tissue repair and tumor metastasis)", help readers in the field
to better understand.
5. In the introduction section, the role of SMOC 2 is described in detail, but the summary of
SMOC2 in other diseases is lacking, and the commonness and differences of SMOC2 in different
diseases are not clarified. It is suggested to summarize the mechanism of SMOC2 in various
diseases in order to better elicits its significance in the study of adenomyosis.
Title: Informational needs related to menstrual literacy among Dutch women: a focus group
study
Version: 1 Date: 19 Dec 2024
Reviewer's report:
Title of the Manuscript: Informational needs related to menstrual literacy among Dutch women:
a focus group study
Overall, the manuscript addresses a pertinent topic with valuable insights. However,
improvements in the abstract, introduction, and methodology are required to enhance the clarity,
coherence, and impact of the study. Addressing the following points above will significantly
improve the manuscript's quality.
1) Absract: The background of the abstract section is very lenghty and started with some general
information. Set a solid, catchy background of this study and make it brief and compact.
2) The introduction fails to provide an appropriate background and context for the study. It also
lacks a clear structure and logical flow. It jumps between different concepts and ideas without
proper transitions, making it difficult for the reader to follow the author's line of reasoning.
3) The introduction should clearly state the research questions or objectives of the study.
However, in this manuscript, the research questions or objectives are not explicitly mentioned.
4) A more comprehensive literature review would strengthen the introduction and provide a
solid foundation for the study.
5) Yet, to be of interest for readers outside Netherland, too, the paper should also refer to
some studies in the international literature, to highlight the gaps and unanswered questions, the
methodologies used etc. This could also help with the interpretation of the results, as it could
allow international comparisons.
6) However, it is better to rewrite based on a) what the issue is, b) why it is important c) what
the literature says, d) what the research gap and, e) what the question in this study are,  and f)
Objective of the study or how this study could contribute to the literature.
7) More detailed information about the logic of selecting participants for this study is required.
8) Results and discussion well organized.
Title: Informational needs related to menstrual literacy among Dutch women: a focus group
study
Version: 2 Date: 22 Jan 2025
Reviewer's report:
Title of the Manuscript: Informational needs related to menstrual literacy among Dutch women:
a focus group study
1) I have not found any significant changes in the background section of the manuscript. The
authors just highlighted the text. No modification has been done. The question that I mentioned
previously was not addressed in the revised version of the manuscript.
2) The research gap is mentioned but not explicitly outlined. What specific limitations in existing
research make this study necessary? The introduction does not clearly identify why current
interventions in HICs (e.g., educational resources and support groups) have not been sufficient
to address menstrual literacy gaps.
3) The authors must address
a) Specific Context for Dutch Women:
What makes Dutch women an interesting case study for this research? How does this population
differ from women in other HICs in terms of menstrual literacy? Are there specific cultural or
systemic barriers in the Netherlands that exacerbate the problem of menstrual illiteracy?
b) Clear Identification of the Research Gap:
What are the specific shortcomings of existing research in addressing the informational needs
of women in HICs, particularly Dutch women? Why are the existing interventions (e.g., support
groups, and educational programs) insufficient to bridge menstrual literacy gaps?
c) Anticipated Contributions:
How will the findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals?
How will the study address broader societal issues such as stigma, taboos, and gender inequality?
4) Yet, to be of interest to readers outside Netherland, the paper the authors may cite the findings
from the following article. Ghosh, P., Bose, K. (2021). Determinants of Menstrual Hygiene
Management among Young Indian Women: An Investigation Based on the National Family
Health Survey 2015-16. Journal of Indian Anthropological Society, 56(3), 290-308.
5) In the methodology section the authors must address how the focus group approach will
capture unique insights into the informational needs of Dutch women. Secondly, will the
study include diverse groups of Dutch women in terms of age, education, or socio-economic
background?
Title: Informational needs related to menstrual literacy among Dutch women: a focus group
study
Version: 2 Date: 06 Feb 2025
Reviewer:  Mriganka Dolui
Reviewer's report:
Thank you very much for allowing me to review this research article. The authors have addressed
my comments and have incorporated them into the revised manuscript. I appreciate the time
and effort the authors have towards manuscript revision. I highly recommended to accept this
manuscript for publication.
Title: Optimal Extension Time after Initial Endocrine Therapy for Postmenopausal Hormone
Receptor-Positive Early-stage Breast Cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Version: 1 Date: 12 Mar 2024
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript deals with practical information for clinicians who treat breast cancer patients.
The collection and analysis of data was appropriate for the topic.  The conclusions are reasonable.
The paper could benefit from editing.
I would recommend accepting for publication after editing.
Title: Optimal Extension Time after Initial Endocrine Therapy for Postmenopausal Hormone
Receptor-Positive Early-stage Breast Cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Version: 1 Date: 12 May 2024
Reviewer:  Constantine Dimitrakakis
Reviewer's report:
It is a well designed and written metanalysis on the extension of Endocrine treatment although
it does not offer more to what we already know on this relatively new topic.
I do not much about statistic but the statistical analysis seems relevant.
In the introduction section, lines  49 to 55, you mention that Tamoxifen treatment can reduce
the breast cancer related death by one third, that means 33%. Later on you say that AIs are more
effective than tamoxifen and can reduce the recurrence rate by 30% (which is lower than the
33% by tamoxifen). How then, AIs are superior to tamoxifen?
In line 197, rather you mean AEs instead of AIs, please correct.
Title: Optimal Extension Time after Initial Endocrine Therapy for Postmenopausal Hormone
Receptor-Positive Early-stage Breast Cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Version: 2 Date: 24 Jun 2024
Reviewer's report:
I appreciate the authors' revisions and detailed response. However, I still have significant
concerns about the heterogeneity among the four studies. Two of the studies involved initial
hormone therapy for only 2-3 years, while the other two involved initial endocrine therapy for
5-6 years (see the figure below in the WORD, highlighted in red). This inconsistency makes the
results questionable and it is unreasonable to combine these four studies.
Moreover, adjuvant endocrine therapy for at least 5 years has been recommended for at least
the past 10 years (refer to the 2014/2015 ASCO and ESMO guidelines). The current clinical
challenges are:
1. Whether to extend aromatase inhibitors (AIs) after the initial 5 years (not after 2-3 or 5-6
years as indicated by the authors).
2. If extending AIs, what is the optimal duration?
The DATA and GIM4 studies address the first challenge, while the IDEAL and ABCSG 16
studies address the second. I will consider acceptance once the authors agree to combine only
homogeneous studies and clarify their research questions. Otherwise, the research results might
mislead clinicians regarding extended AIs, which could be harmful.
Title: Optimal Extension Time after Initial Endocrine Therapy for Postmenopausal Hormone
Receptor-Positive Early-stage Breast Cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Version: 3 Date: 02 Dec 2024
Reviewer's report:
After a careful review of the revised version, I have decided to accept the revised article. The
revision of the results is good. The literature review is updated by adding the relevant studies.
Title: Optimal Extension Time after Initial Endocrine Therapy for Postmenopausal Hormone
Receptor-Positive Early-stage Breast Cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Version: 3 Date: 28 Jan 2025
Reviewer's report:
"PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses one or several
testable research questions? (Brief or other article types: is there a clear objective?)
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with sufficient technical rigor to
allow confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Has the author addressed your concerns sufficiently
for you to now recommend the work as a technically sound contribution? If not, can further
revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Yes - current version is technically sound
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS: I thank the authors for directly responding to the comments and fully
addressing all concerns. The authors have fully addressed the concerns brought up. First, the
author stratified the analysis and had DATA and GIM4 answer questions related to extending
past the 5 years. Additionally, the other major concern was to answer the question on what is the
optimal duration. The authors used IDEAL and ABCSG 16 to address this question as requested.
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:
None"
Title: Handgrip strength and menopause are associated with cardiovascular risk in women with
obesity: a cross-sectional study
Version: 1 Date: 09 Jul 2024
Reviewer's report:
The submitted manuscript reports an elegant project with promising results, which are
potentially suitable for routine screening and cardiovascular risk stratification in frequently
underestimated in real clinical practice subpopulation (female > 40 y.o.). Lately published data
had been elucidated several interesting moments regarding interactions of muscle strength and
cardiovascular health, such as healthy diet adherence, epicardial fat mass and so on.
I recommend to strengthen the “introduction” section to make it more clear why HGS became
the subject of the study.
Title: Handgrip strength and menopause are associated with cardiovascular risk in women with
obesity: a cross-sectional study
Version: 1 Date: 17 Jul 2024
Reviewer's report:
The authors' article is an original study in which the authors investigated the association between
the Handgrip Strength (HGS) test and CVR in women with obesity. The article is written in an
understandable language. The authors justified in detail the need for research, the methodology
of the study, the results were presented using modern statistical methods, and the discussion is
an analysis of modern data on this topic.
There are no fundamental comments on the work, but there are some clarifying questions that
the authors can reflect on in one of the sections of the article or respond with comments for
the reviewer:
1) Why are women aged 40-65 years old, who combine young, middle, and old age? They also
have physiological characteristics that can affect the results obtained.
2) How was menstrual function or menopause assessed based on the data obtained?
3) Did the women included in the study take medications? 4) In addition to describing
demographic and clinical factors, we would like to identify the structure of cardiovascular risk
factors in the studied groups.
The questions asked do not reduce the significance of the research but can only improve the
reader’s understanding.