Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01460-3 (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitor Use on the Esophageal Microbial Community  
 
Version: 1 Date: 07 Sep 2020  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Since "There were only 26 of the 58 patients in the study with Barrett's esophagus" please specify 
the final recognition in the latter 32 patients (GERD, adenocarcinoma etc.). How these diseases 
may affect esophageal microbiota?  
Why there were no exclusion  criteria from the study group?  
Clinical characteristic of patients should include information about chronic diseases, history of 
surgeries and use of other drugs, including probiotics and antibiotics. It should be obtained at the 
initial stage of the stud y, since these factors might affect results of the study. Please also discuss 
that issue.  
In response to your ethical doubts according repeated endoscopies: patients with Barrett's 
esophagus (BE) should undergo endoscopic surveillance, varying intervals f or different BE 
lengths. Thus,you may plan to assess esopahgeal microbiota initially at the recognition (without 
PPI) and then at follow -up (on PPI), evaluating effect of PPI on the microbiota.  
 
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Declaration of competing interests  
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(default)  
Is the study desi gn appropriate to answer the research question (i ncluding  the use of appropriate 
controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence presented?  
 
No 
 
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?  
 
Yes 
 
Is the use of statisti cs and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?  
 
Yes 
 
Is the presentation of the work clear?  
 
Yes 
 
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free from apparent  
manipulation?  
 
Yes