Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01512-8 (2020)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Changes in plasma bile acids are associated with gallbladder stones and
polyps
Version: 
0 
Date: 
09 Sep 2020
Reviewer's report:
This is a study comparing bile acid profiles and other demographics and basic
laboratory tests between patients with gallbladder disease (stone and non-
neoplastic polyps) and healthy patients. There are some concerns as following. 
1. Abstract: the result state that GBD were associated with increased plasma
total secondary bile acids. But in the conclusion the author conclude that primary
BA levels were higher in GBD.
2 Methods: 2.1 it is not clear how the author enroll the patients (which time
frame used, is this prospective or retrospective design), 2.2 it is not clear about
what is the detail of non-neoplastic polyp (cholesterol polyps, inflammatory
polyps; cholesterolosis and hyperplasia, etc.), 2.3 Please clarify term "biopsy"
since gallstone diagnosis is unlikely diagnosed by biopsy and is a biopsy
required for healthy control?, 2.4 is blood collection in page 7 only for bile acid
study? if yes, when the data about other blood tests (especially white blood
count, neutrophils) be collected (eg before or after "biopsy", is it a single test or
multiple tests)
3 Results: 3.1 There is no statistical comparison in table 1, there for it is
inappropriate to state differences of each parameter between groups, 3.2 it would
be great if the result is rewrite to be more easy to follow. 
4.Discussion: 4.1 author discuss that UDCA is positively correlate with age,
therefor the GBD presence in younger individual, since there is a possibility of
bias occur when selecting a normal control, this might be over conclusion.
5. Other. 5.1 please have extensive English edit, 5.2 There are multiple typo
errors, please edit, 5.3 Please expand "all" abbreviation and put them in the
abbreviation list. 
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
No
Is the presentation of the work clear?
No
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes