Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0794-y (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: six case reports and a rev iew of the literature  
 
Version: 1 Date: 07 Mar 2018 
 
Reviewer : Georgios  Mavrogenis  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
This paper enriches the literature with rare cases of pneumatosis related to a variety of diseases. 
What I missed in this paper are the details and the basis of the chosen treatment in ea ch case. In 
addition the way that the figures are presented is a little bit confusing. In particular:  
 
" In case 1 the authors treated the lesions with clip breaking? Do you mean that made the 
diagnosis by breaking and sealing the cyst with a clip? Please explain the technique. Why 
did you use Bifid Triple Therapy (probiotic). Is this a novel approach or it has been 
previously described? For how long did you treat the patient? Did you give antibiotics 
like rifaximine? Do you assume that the lesions were rel ated to a gastroenteritis?  
 
" In case 2: What was the duration of symptoms? Constipation and diarrhea at the same 
time?What do you mean by endoscopic treatment? What was the duration of the 
treatment and after how many days did you notice resolution of the  findings?  
 
" Where did you attribute the findings?  
 
" Case 4: Please give more details on the treatment (dose, duration). What do you mean by 
endoscopic treatment?  
 
" The way that the figures are made is confusing. I am not able to follow the endoscopic 
findings of each case.  
 
" How often is duodenal pneumatosis? This is a rare case and more details are necessary.  
 
Congratulations for your recruitment. A detailed pr esentation of your cases will make your report 
an excellent paper. In that way the future reader could learn from your experience and apply the 
same treatment to his patients.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would yo u 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.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please  indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before bein g 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 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 fro m 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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