Review for 10.1186/s12876-022-02320-y (2022)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Protocol of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the
effect of probiotics on the gut microbiome of patients with gastro-oesophageal
reflux disease treated with rabeprazole
Version: 
0 
Date: 
28 Feb 2022
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS: 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a
testable research question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear
objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols)
appropriate for the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor
to allow confidence in the results?
N/A - no experiments or analyses
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results
reasonable and not overstated?
N/A - no results to interpret
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work
technically sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically
sound?
Probably - with minor revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS: 
GENERAL COMMENTS: 
The clinical trial design sounds good and will likely lead to a wealth of data
pertaining to the use of probiotics post-PPI treatment in GERD patients.
REQUESTED REVISIONS: 
The write up needs a lot of editing. 
The statistical sample size claculations are fine. Wordings in inclusion criteria
need correction to read as follows: consenting patients with GERD or signs of it
after gastroscopy....Please verify if the probiotic to be administered has indeed >
50 BILLION CFU? 
. 
Would it have been possible to provide the probiotics along
with PPI use instead of after? While NOT possible for this clinical trial where
you already recruited 61 patients, this will need to be considered in another trial
or at least address its Pros and Cons. If PPis use has detrimental effects on GI
tract homeostasis, maybe concurrent probiotic administration will be suitable
rather than post PPI use.
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