PONE-D-24-05365Exploratory Study on the Application of Laser-Induced Cavitation Bubble in the Treatment of Fallopian Tube ObstructionPLOS ONE

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Academic Editor

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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

Reviewer #1: N/A

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: This is a well-designed and valuable experimental study. I've got some questions and suggestions.

1. It seems that there should be 11 mice in the experimental group, but Table 3 shows the results of 9 mice. This difference is not mentioned in the article.

2. Were there mice that failed to form FTOs (we understand from Table 3 that there were, but this is not mentioned in the text)?

3. The mice in the subgroups in the study group did not show similar rates of FTO. Therefore, different numbers of applications were made in each of the three subgroups in the evaluation of different energy levels of laser. Is it possible to statistically evaluate the results after the application here? This is not mentioned in the text.

4. The quality of some figures needs to be improved.

5. HE was always used as an abbreviation in the text, it must be clearly written on the first use.

Reviewer #2: I accepted the work largely because it is a preliminary attempt targeted at resolving tubal patency related infertility. This is important because it might serve as a check on the rising cost of In Vitro fertilisation (IVF). Efforts like this one should therefore be encouraged. The limitations were clearly acknowledged by the authors; "this study represents an initial phase of research, limitations are acknowledged, including the use of the minimum sample size with statistical significance to reduce animal usage, and a relatively simplistic modeling approach." The paper is novel. This should encourage more efforts in the area and ultimately lead to the desired effect of reduction in IVF cost.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes: KINGSLEY AGHOLOR

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Exploratory Study on the Application of Laser-Induced Cavitation Bubble in the Treatment of Fallopian Tube Obstruction

PONE-D-24-05365R1

Dear Dr. Bi,

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.

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Kind regards,

Patrick Ifeanyi Okonta, MBBCh, MPH, FWACS, FMCOG, MD, DRH

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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