Violence against Women and Stress-Related Disorders: Seeking for Associated Epigenetic Signatures, a Pilot Study
, Paolo Bailo 3, Giussy Barbara 2,4,5, Monica Miozzo 6, Silvia Tabano 7,8, Patrizia Colapietro 7, Claudia Farè 8, Silvia Maria Sirchia 6, Elena Battaglioli 9, Paola Bertuccio 10, Giulia Manenti 11, Laila Micci 2, Carlo La Vecchia 5, Alessandra Kustermann 2 and Simona Gaudi 12
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article is interesting and adequate, it only needs some minor modifications.
Older and obsolete references need to be updated.
For example:
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35. Kim, T.Y.; Kim, S.J.; Chung, H.G.; et al. Epigenetic alterations of the BDNF gene in combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. 395
Acta Psychiatr Scand 2017, 135(2):170-179. 396
36. Groleau, P.; Joober, R.; Israel, M.; et al. Methylation of the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) promoter in women with a 397
bulimia-spectrum disorder: associations with borderline personality disorder and exposure to childhood abuse. J Psychiatr Res 398
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37. Tabano, S.; Colapietro, P.; Cetin, I.; et al. Epigenetic modulation of the IGF2/H19 imprinted domain in human embryonic and 400
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2020, 9:e54781
Thus, the innovation of the study and future lines of research, and its contributions to the scientific field are also needed in the conclusions.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
We thank you for tyour suggestions.
We have implemented the article following your advice, in particular we have updated the older references.
Best regards
Reviewer 2 Report
The aim of the paper is to study the interaction between genome and environmental factors, in case of violence against women from the perspective of molecular medicine. The study includes 62 women exposed to violence and 50 women as a control group with no history of violence. Blood samples were collected, and DNAs were extracted and underwent to epigenetic analysis of 10 stress-related genes. The findings of the study have important implications for dealing with the long-term effects of violence against women. The results are based on precisely designed study and the quality of the paper is very high. My suggestion to authors is to extend their reflections on the implications of the research findings in a more general context of treatment and health policies dealing with the implications of gender based violence. In this way, the medical and the social perspective toward gender-based violence would complement each other and the importance of the findings will be delineated in a broader policy context.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your comments, we have done as per your suggestions.
Kindest regards
