Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-0958-4 (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  The FATZO mouse, a next generation model of type 2 diabetes, develops NAFLD and 
NASH when fed a western diet supplemented with fructose  
 
Version: 1 Date: 01 Dec 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Gianluca  Svegliati -Baroni  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
In this study, Sun et al. fed FATZO mice with an high -fat diet (HFD) enriched in fructose in 
drinking water. In the first part of the study they evaluated mostly the histological picture of liver 
injury, while in the second part they evaluated the effect of OCA on the degree of liver injury.  
 
This is a well don e study, however the Authors should better define at the experimental level the 
differences between their model and what has been already published in the literature.  
 
Finally, both Introduction and Methods are too long. The Discussion should more focus on the 
real novelties of this paper and it is too much speculative.  
 
A detailed explanation of the protective effect of OCA, different from what is already known in 
the literature, should be provided.  
 
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.  
 
No 
 
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 th e quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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 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 sa lary 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 answe r 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.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand  that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be m ade available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
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which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal