Title: Exploration of the causal effects of leukocyte telomere length and four gastrointestinal
diseases: A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Version: 4 Date: 01 Dec 2023
Reviewer's report:
The authors performed a bidirectional MR analysis using summary-level data to explore the
causal relationships between irritable bowel disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic
ulcer disease,  non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and leukocyte telomere length. The approach
is optimally suited for this task and the research is very interesting. All previous comments
have been addressed. Compared to the first version of the manuscript, the authors added more
information, allowing the reader to better understand the manuscript. It seems to me that the
article greatly improved.
I only have some minor comments:
- Sometimes the term “countrols” is used instead of “controls”. Similarly, the term “forword”
is used instead of “forward”.
- In the paragraph “Forward MR analysis” of the “Methods” section, the term “Futhermore” is
used instead of “Furthermore”.
- In the paragraph “Reverse MR analysis” of the “Methods” section, the authors state “However,
we did not detect SNPs related to age”. I suggest removing this sentence. The SNPs are germinal
variations that are fixed during the entire life. Therefore, it is not possible to associate SNPs
with age in humans.
- In the paragraph “Sensitivity Analysis” of the “Methods” section, I suggest changing the
sentence “The power values for the MR analysis were computed…” into “Statistical power for
the MR analysis was computed…”.
Title: Exploration of the causal effects of leukocyte telomere length and four gastrointestinal
diseases: A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Version: 4 Date: 01 Dec 2023
Reviewer's report:
The authors performed a bidirectional MR analysis using summary-level data to explore the
causal relationships between irritable bowel disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic
ulcer disease,  non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and leukocyte telomere length. The approach
is optimally suited for this task and the research is very interesting. All previous comments
have been addressed. Compared to the first version of the manuscript, the authors added more
information, allowing the reader to better understand the manuscript. It seems to me that the
article greatly improved.
I only have some minor comments:
- Sometimes the term “countrols” is used instead of “controls”. Similarly, the term “forword”
is used instead of “forward”.
- In the paragraph “Forward MR analysis” of the “Methods” section, the term “Futhermore” is
used instead of “Furthermore”.
- In the paragraph “Reverse MR analysis” of the “Methods” section, the authors state “However,
we did not detect SNPs related to age”. I suggest removing this sentence. The SNPs are germinal
variations that are fixed during the entire life. Therefore, it is not possible to associate SNPs
with age in humans.
- In the paragraph “Sensitivity Analysis” of the “Methods” section, I suggest changing the
sentence “The power values for the MR analysis were computed…” into “Statistical power for
the MR analysis was computed…”.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Exploration of the causal effects of leukocyte telomere length and four gastrointestinal
diseases: A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Version: 4 Date: 01 Dec 2023
Reviewer's report:
The authors performed a bidirectional MR analysis using summary-level data to explore the
causal relationships between irritable bowel disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic
ulcer disease,  non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and leukocyte telomere length. The approach
is optimally suited for this task and the research is very interesting. All previous comments
have been addressed. Compared to the first version of the manuscript, the authors added more
information, allowing the reader to better understand the manuscript. It seems to me that the
article greatly improved.
I only have some minor comments:
- Sometimes the term “countrols” is used instead of “controls”. Similarly, the term “forword”
is used instead of “forward”.
- In the paragraph “Forward MR analysis” of the “Methods” section, the term “Futhermore” is
used instead of “Furthermore”.
- In the paragraph “Reverse MR analysis” of the “Methods” section, the authors state “However,
we did not detect SNPs related to age”. I suggest removing this sentence. The SNPs are germinal
variations that are fixed during the entire life. Therefore, it is not possible to associate SNPs
with age in humans.
- In the paragraph “Sensitivity Analysis” of the “Methods” section, I suggest changing the
sentence “The power values for the MR analysis were computed…” into “Statistical power for
the MR analysis was computed…”.
assistant