PONE-D-24-26543Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenease and its correlation with inflammatory factors in diabetic retinopathyPLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Partly

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is characterised by changes in the microvasculature of the retina secondary to vascular and inflammatory etiology induced by chronic hyperglycemia.

1. Can you explain why you did a clinical assessment of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)

activity in DR and its correlation with inflammatory factors and again an experiment in rats?

2. kindly add the clinical significance of your work.

Reviewer #2: Reviewer’s Comments on Manuscript PONE-D-24-26543

Title: Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and its correlation with inflammatory factors in diabetic retinopathy

Authors: Dan Liu, Chuchu Cheng, Lan Zhou, et al.

The manuscript titled "Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and its correlation with inflammatory factors in diabetic retinopathy" addresses a critical area of research, exploring the relationship between G6PD activity and diabetic retinopathy (DR). The study is well-conceived, with robust methodologies and significant findings that contribute valuable insights to the field. However, several areas require minor revisions to enhance the clarity, depth, and overall impact of the paper.

Specific Comments and Suggestions:

1. Longitudinal Data and Study Design:

Comment: The study provides cross-sectional data which is valuable, but the lack of longitudinal follow-up limits the ability to observe the progression of DR and the long-term impact of G6PD activity.

Suggestion: Consider adding a brief discussion on the limitations posed by the cross-sectional design and suggest how future research could address these limitations by incorporating longitudinal studies.

2. Sample Size and Generalizability:

Comment: While the sample size is adequate for the current study, a larger sample could enhance the generalizability of the findings.

Suggestion: Please acknowledge this limitation in the discussion section and propose that future studies should aim to include a larger and more diverse cohort.

3. Confounding Variables:

Comment: The study does not extensively address potential confounding factors, such as diet, medication, or lifestyle, which could influence both G6PD activity and DR progression.

Suggestion: Include a brief discussion of these potential confounders and their possible impact on the results, even if they were controlled for or deemed not significant.

4. Mechanistic Insights:

Comment: The study establishes correlations but does not delve deeply into the mechanistic pathways linking G6PD activity to DR.

Suggestion: Consider expanding the discussion to include possible mechanistic pathways and propose how future studies could explore these mechanisms in more detail.

5. Explanation of Statistical Models:

Comment: The statistical models used are comprehensive, but their complexity might make the analysis less accessible to a broader audience.

Suggestion: Simplify the explanation of these models where possible and provide additional clarification or references for readers who may not be familiar with these statistical techniques.

6. Therapeutic Implications:

Comment: The manuscript hints at the therapeutic potential of modulating G6PD activity but does not explore this in depth.

Suggestion: Expand on the discussion regarding the potential therapeutic implications of your findings and suggest specific avenues for future research that could explore treatments targeting G6PD.

7. Minor Typographical and Formatting Errors:

Comment: There are a few minor typographical errors and inconsistencies in formatting throughout the manuscript.

Suggestion: A thorough proofreading and formatting review should be conducted to correct these minor issues.

8. Figures and Tables:

Comment: The figures and tables are generally well-prepared, but some could benefit from additional labeling or explanations to enhance clarity.

Suggestion: Ensure all figures and tables are fully labeled and consider adding explanatory notes where necessary to aid in the interpretation of the data presented.

9. Ethical Considerations:

Comment: The ethical approvals for both human and animal studies are well-documented, but a more detailed discussion of the ethical implications of your findings would strengthen the manuscript.

Suggestion: Expand on the ethical considerations related to the study’s findings, particularly regarding the potential translation of this research into clinical practice.

10. Discussion of Previous Research:

Comment: The manuscript references relevant literature, but the discussion could benefit from a more critical comparison with previous studies.

Suggestion: Enhance the discussion by critically comparing your findings with previous research and highlighting how your study adds to the existing body of knowledge.

Conclusion:

Overall, this is a well-executed study that makes a valuable contribution to the field of diabetic retinopathy research. The suggested revisions are intended to clarify and strengthen the manuscript, making it even more impactful. I look forward to seeing the revised version of this important work.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: PONE-D-23-43875.docx

Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenease and its correlation with inflammatory factors in diabetic retinopathy

PONE-D-24-26543R1

Dear Dr. Liu,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Benedikt Ley, PhD

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. If the authors have adequately addressed your comments raised in a previous round of review and you feel that this manuscript is now acceptable for publication, you may indicate that here to bypass the “Comments to the Author” section, enter your conflict of interest statement in the “Confidential to Editor” section, and submit your "Accept" recommendation.

Reviewer #1: All comments have been addressed

Reviewer #2: All comments have been addressed

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2. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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6. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: The review comments have been addressed by the authors. The revised manuscript reads well. Further studies may show if targeting G6PD may have a beneficial effect on

diabetic retinopathy

Reviewer #2: Following a comprehensive review, the authors have revised the entire manuscript, effectively addressing all provided comments.

I have carefully considered their responses and the modifications made.

The authors have successfully integrated the feedback, enhancing the clarity and quality of the manuscript. The updated information aligns well with the expectations outlined in the previous review. Each revision demonstrates a clear understanding of the feedback provided. The authors' efforts have resulted in significant improvements to the overall content.

Therefore, I am pleased to recommend the acceptance of this manuscript for publication.

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7. PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy.

Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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