Title: Gut microbiome alterations in colitis rats after moxibustion at bilateral Tianshu acupoints
Version: 0 Date: 02 Nov 2021
Reviewer:  Junkun Niu
Reviewer's report:
This study explored the effect of moxibustion on microbiome in a rat colitis model. Generally
speaking, it was lack of innovation and there were many modifications to be made.
1. The article title is inappropriate because the study subjects were DSS-colitis rats, not ulcerative
colitis patients. Maybe it could change to be “Gut microbiome alterations in colitis rats after
moxibustion intervention”.
2. In animals and experimental procedure part, the time schedule of DSS-colitis model
establishment and intervention was poor description. The exact time point of moxibustion and
mesalazine intervention should be explanation. A schematic diagram may be helpful.
3. In results part, the DAI score, colon tissues pathological section and histology score of five
groups must be show. These results are very important, because they are the evidence of DSS-
colitis model establishment and intervention.
4. A large number of studies on the gut microbiome of ulcerative colitis suggest that the diversity
and abundance of microbiome are reduced in UC relative to the normal population. In this study,
your results showed that the average number of species detected in UC group was the highest
(4926), while the lowest was found in NG group (2896). This seems to be different from other
studies. The reason should be address.
5. The mechanism of moxibustion on gut microbiome should be further discussed in discussion
part. The interaction between enteric nervous system, neurotransmitter and gut microbiome
maybe a research interests. Moreover, the potential value of moxibustion in clinical application
should be emphasized.
Title: Gut microbiome alterations in colitis rats after moxibustion at bilateral Tianshu acupoints
Version: 0 Date: 02 Nov 2021
Reviewer:  Junkun Niu
Reviewer's report:
This study explored the effect of moxibustion on microbiome in a rat colitis model. Generally
speaking, it was lack of innovation and there were many modifications to be made.
1. The article title is inappropriate because the study subjects were DSS-colitis rats, not ulcerative
colitis patients. Maybe it could change to be “Gut microbiome alterations in colitis rats after
moxibustion intervention”.
2. In animals and experimental procedure part, the time schedule of DSS-colitis model
establishment and intervention was poor description. The exact time point of moxibustion and
mesalazine intervention should be explanation. A schematic diagram may be helpful.
3. In results part, the DAI score, colon tissues pathological section and histology score of five
groups must be show. These results are very important, because they are the evidence of DSS-
colitis model establishment and intervention.
4. A large number of studies on the gut microbiome of ulcerative colitis suggest that the diversity
and abundance of microbiome are reduced in UC relative to the normal population. In this study,
your results showed that the average number of species detected in UC group was the highest
(4926), while the lowest was found in NG group (2896). This seems to be different from other
studies. The reason should be address.
5. The mechanism of moxibustion on gut microbiome should be further discussed in discussion
part. The interaction between enteric nervous system, neurotransmitter and gut microbiome
maybe a research interests. Moreover, the potential value of moxibustion in clinical application
should be emphasized.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Gut microbiome alterations in colitis rats after moxibustion at bilateral Tianshu acupoints
Version: 0 Date: 02 Nov 2021
Reviewer:  Junkun Niu
Reviewer's report:
This study explored the effect of moxibustion on microbiome in a rat colitis model. Generally
speaking, it was lack of innovation and there were many modifications to be made.
1. The article title is inappropriate because the study subjects were DSS-colitis rats, not ulcerative
colitis patients. Maybe it could change to be “Gut microbiome alterations in colitis rats after
moxibustion intervention”.
2. In animals and experimental procedure part, the time schedule of DSS-colitis model
establishment and intervention was poor description. The exact time point of moxibustion and
mesalazine intervention should be explanation. A schematic diagram may be helpful.
3. In results part, the DAI score, colon tissues pathological section and histology score of five
groups must be show. These results are very important, because they are the evidence of DSS-
colitis model establishment and intervention.
4. A large number of studies on the gut microbiome of ulcerative colitis suggest that the diversity
and abundance of microbiome are reduced in UC relative to the normal population. In this study,
your results showed that the average number of species detected in UC group was the highest
(4926), while the lowest was found in NG group (2896). This seems to be different from other
studies. The reason should be address.
5. The mechanism of moxibustion on gut microbiome should be further discussed in discussion
part. The interaction between enteric nervous system, neurotransmitter and gut microbiome
maybe a research interests. Moreover, the potential value of moxibustion in clinical application
should be emphasized.
assistant