Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01191-5 (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Artificial neural network -based models used for predict ing 28 - and 90 -day mortality of 
patients with hepatitis B -associated acute -on-chronic liver failure  
 
Version: 0 Date: 16 Dec 2019  
 
Reviewer: Kim Beom Kyung  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Authors aimed to develop prognostic models for predicting 28 - and 90 -day mortality rates of  
hepatitis B virus (HBV) -associated acute -on-chronic liver failure (HBV -ACLF) through artificial 
neural network (ANN) systems. There are several comments to be addr essed.  
 
1) The important findings should be described in the abstract  
 
2) The association between GGT or ALP and clinical outcomes should be addressed further with 
reasonable hypothesis.  
 
3) Statistical methods to compare AUROCs should be described  
 
4) The eti ologies causing ACLF should be described and analyzed at least as an adjustment 
variable.  
 
5) The merits of ANN and theoretical rationales should be addressed further.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an addition al statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some l anguage corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1.  Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary 
from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the 
publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2.  Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or 
lose financially from the publication o f this manuscript, either now or in the 
future?  
 
3.  Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content 
of the manuscript?  
 
4.  Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization 
that holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5.  Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6.  Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I  declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below . If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on m y report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
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CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be in cluded as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree  to the open peer review policy of the journal