Title: Symptom effects and central mechanism of acupuncture in patients with functional
gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review based on fMRI Studies
Version: 1 Date: 26 Sep 2023
Reviewer's report:
This study on gastrointestinal symptoms and the mechanisms of acupuncture in FGID patients
is both intriguing and well-structured, offering valuable insights to its readers. However, there
are some noteworthy points to address before publication:
1. Kindly specify the databases utilized (e.g., Pubmed) in the abstract.
2. Please provide more comprehensive details regarding the inclusion and exclusion criteria
within the abstract.
3. The statement "Combined results showed that acupuncture could significantly improve the
clinical symptoms of FGIDs patients" requires clarification. What exactly does "combined
results" entail, and how do these results indicate the significant improvement in clinical
symptoms?
4. The conclusion in the abstract should be substantiated with evidence from the study's results.
5. On PROSPERO, the 'stage of review' is currently listed as 'review ongoing.' It would be more
accurate to update this to 'completed.'
6. Please include a description of the meta-analysis methods in the Methods section.
7. It would be beneficial to elucidate the rationale behind the inclusion of transcutaneous
electrostimulation in the study. Is it comparable to manual acupuncture (MA) and
electroacupuncture (EA) in terms of effects and central mechanisms?
8. Could you provide the rationale for incorporating anxiety and depression scores as secondary
outcomes in the study?
9. I recommend converting Table 3 into a figure to enhance data visualization.
10. Consider combining Figure 4 and Figure 5 into a single figure if Figure 5, which appears
less related to the study, is to be retained.
Your efforts in addressing these points will further enhance the clarity and quality of your
manuscript.
Title: Symptom effects and central mechanism of acupuncture in patients with functional
gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review based on fMRI Studies
Version: 1 Date: 26 Sep 2023
Reviewer's report:
This study on gastrointestinal symptoms and the mechanisms of acupuncture in FGID patients
is both intriguing and well-structured, offering valuable insights to its readers. However, there
are some noteworthy points to address before publication:
1. Kindly specify the databases utilized (e.g., Pubmed) in the abstract.
2. Please provide more comprehensive details regarding the inclusion and exclusion criteria
within the abstract.
3. The statement "Combined results showed that acupuncture could significantly improve the
clinical symptoms of FGIDs patients" requires clarification. What exactly does "combined
results" entail, and how do these results indicate the significant improvement in clinical
symptoms?
4. The conclusion in the abstract should be substantiated with evidence from the study's results.
5. On PROSPERO, the 'stage of review' is currently listed as 'review ongoing.' It would be more
accurate to update this to 'completed.'
6. Please include a description of the meta-analysis methods in the Methods section.
7. It would be beneficial to elucidate the rationale behind the inclusion of transcutaneous
electrostimulation in the study. Is it comparable to manual acupuncture (MA) and
electroacupuncture (EA) in terms of effects and central mechanisms?
8. Could you provide the rationale for incorporating anxiety and depression scores as secondary
outcomes in the study?
9. I recommend converting Table 3 into a figure to enhance data visualization.
10. Consider combining Figure 4 and Figure 5 into a single figure if Figure 5, which appears
less related to the study, is to be retained.
Your efforts in addressing these points will further enhance the clarity and quality of your
manuscript.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Symptom effects and central mechanism of acupuncture in patients with functional
gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review based on fMRI Studies
Version: 1 Date: 26 Sep 2023
Reviewer's report:
This study on gastrointestinal symptoms and the mechanisms of acupuncture in FGID patients
is both intriguing and well-structured, offering valuable insights to its readers. However, there
are some noteworthy points to address before publication:
1. Kindly specify the databases utilized (e.g., Pubmed) in the abstract.
2. Please provide more comprehensive details regarding the inclusion and exclusion criteria
within the abstract.
3. The statement "Combined results showed that acupuncture could significantly improve the
clinical symptoms of FGIDs patients" requires clarification. What exactly does "combined
results" entail, and how do these results indicate the significant improvement in clinical
symptoms?
4. The conclusion in the abstract should be substantiated with evidence from the study's results.
5. On PROSPERO, the 'stage of review' is currently listed as 'review ongoing.' It would be more
accurate to update this to 'completed.'
6. Please include a description of the meta-analysis methods in the Methods section.
7. It would be beneficial to elucidate the rationale behind the inclusion of transcutaneous
electrostimulation in the study. Is it comparable to manual acupuncture (MA) and
electroacupuncture (EA) in terms of effects and central mechanisms?
8. Could you provide the rationale for incorporating anxiety and depression scores as secondary
outcomes in the study?
9. I recommend converting Table 3 into a figure to enhance data visualization.
10. Consider combining Figure 4 and Figure 5 into a single figure if Figure 5, which appears
less related to the study, is to be retained.
Your efforts in addressing these points will further enhance the clarity and quality of your
manuscript.
assistant