Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0594-9 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  A preliminary investigation on single nucleotide polymorphism rs2287622 of bile salt 
export pump gene in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Hunan, China  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Dec 2016 
 
Reviewer:  Giovanni  Tarantino  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
Authors should point out  few  issues.  
 
Liver cirrhosis severity ascertained by C -P classification that wa s used to evaluate the 
progression of the disease lacks clarifying data.  
 
Authors should refer to both previous papers, i.e.,  
 
What are the implications of the spontaneous spleno -renal shunts in liver cirrhosis?  
 
BMC Gastroenterol. 2009 Nov 24;9:89. doi: 10. 1186/1471 -230X -9-89. 
 
Blood ammonia levels in liver cirrhosis: a clue for the presence of portosystemic collateral veins.  
 
BMC Gastroenterol. 2009 Mar 17;9:21.  
 
Furthermore, the role of BMI and WC, which predict the NAFLD presence, should be taken into 
consideration,  
 
In fact, these anthropometric parameters eventually impact on antiviral response of HCV 
infection and on progression of the same disease.  
 
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 assess the statistics  
 
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 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 from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do yo u 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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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal