Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0697-3 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Time -varying serum gradient of hepatitis B surface antigen predicts risk of relapses after  
off-NA therapy  
 
Version: 0 Date: 30 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: Hyun Woong Lee  
 
Reviewer's report:  
Dear Authors  
 
"Time -varying Serum Gradient of Hepatitis B Sur face Antigen off Nucleos(t)ide Analogue 
Therapy Predicts Risk of Relapses" This is a prospective cohort study to explore the association 
between relapse risks and time -varying serum gradients of HBsAg measured during an off -
therapy follow -up.. 
This is a we ll written paper that tries to clarify issues that remains in CHB patients with complete 
virological response.  
 
However, there are major problems that should be address  
1. For most readers, the title is unclear to understand.  It will be necessary to modify  title. 
(For example, Time -varying serum gradient of hepatitis B surface antigen predicts risk of 
relapses after off -NA therapy)  
2. Patients were received lamivudine, adefovir, telbivudine, entecavir, or tenofovir.  
Please show the number of patients accor ding to each drug in Table 1, 3 and 4.  
3. How many patients showed increase or decrease in the serum level of HBsAg following NA 
cessation, respectively?  
Please describe the number of patients in RESULT part  
If possible, please show the incidence of relapse according to increase or decrease in the serum 
level of HBsAg following NA cessation using Figure.  
4. How many patients with previous HBeAg positive experienced reoccurrence of HBeAg?  
5. How long is the tim e interval between initial HBsAg level and last HBsAg level?  
Please describe mean time interval in RESULT part.  
A few minor comments are listed below with some suggestions  
1. Research articles adhere to the appropriate reporting guidelines which are deta iled in our 
editorial policies. ( https://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/submission -
guidelines/preparing -your-manuscript/research -article ). Therefore, please remove "lay 
summary" in Abstract.  
2. Please remove "o" from otenofovir in line 135, page 10.  
 
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 manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
I am able to asse ss the statistics  
Qualit y of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Acceptable  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Needs some language 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 m ay in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of 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  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
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to the  editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal