Low Dose Ionising Radiation-Induced Hormesis: Therapeutic Implications to Human Health

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The subject of the review is highly important for the applied medicine, which demands broad investigations and generalization within the field of low-dose radiation exposures. It is evident by now that the linear-no-threshold (LNT) approach that dominates in clinical practices now, does not correspond to the real mechanisms of the human response to low-dose  radiation exposures; and more complex hormesis model is more promising. So, studies in this field should be undoubtedly encouraged.

Authors of the review discuss in detail the positive and negative effects of low doses to provide insight into any potential therapeutic effects on human health. The mechanisms of the following hormesis-related phenomena are discussed: 1) bystander effect, 2) adaptive response, 3) hypersensitivity, 4) radioresistance, and 5) genomic instability.

Notes: minor corrections are of demand. Authors should check the text attentively to avoid mistakes, for example: letters a, b, с, d in description of Figures 1(a, b, c, d) seem to be confused (lines 99, 142). References in square brackets are desirable to appear at the beginning of the corresponding sentences, not at the end of the phenomenon description. One more wish: since the text includes a lot of abbreviations, it would be convenient to find all abbreviations in one place – at the beginning or the end of the manuscript.

Author Response

We have uploaded in Word document the point-by-point response. Thank you.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

see attached

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

We have uploaded a point-by-point response to Reviewer 2. Thank you

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Yeh Siang Lau et al reviewed the literature for both hormetic and detrimental effects of LDIR, and discussed its underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms in association with bystander effect, adaptive response, HRS, radioresistance and genomic instability. Biological responses to LDIR was equally described without an intentional bias towards beneficial or harmful features. The conclusion that LDIR would be potentially utilized in medicine also seems reasonable based on the distinct biological effects either beneficial or detrimental in normal and cancerous and disease-related cells.

 

This manuscript is thought to provide a significant insight into the research for biological responses to low dose radiation and its implication in medicine, and it is considered to be acceptable for publication after revision by taking care of the following minor criticisms;

 

1. Lines190-194: The sentence is hard to understand in the context. As the description is mostly repeated from the lines 186-190, it seems like a half-finished editing of the manuscript.
2. Line 373: “cts” may be forgot to erase.
3. Line 491-496: The meaning of the sentences was unclear in the context. It seems like a half-finished editing of the manuscript.
4. Lines583-585: The sentence is hard to understand in the context. As the description is repeated from the lines 573-575, it seems like a half-finished editing of the manuscript.

Author Response

We have uploaded the point-by-point response to Reviewer 3, and the revised manuscript. Thank you.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The modified manuscript is ok. However, the qualities of the Figures are still poor. We need 600 dpi resolution.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 2, 

We have revised as suggested and revised figures to 600 dpi.

Thank you for your insightful comments and suggestions.

Best regards,

Ming