Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01761-1 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Plasma interleukin-17 and alpha-fetoprotein combination effectively predicts imminent
hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in liver cirrhotic patients
Version: 
0 
Date: 
15 Oct 2020
Reviewer: 
Rong Jun Guo
Reviewer's report:
This is a well written manuscript describing a study to validate IL17 as a plasma biomarker for predicting
the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, which shows a very promising result. 
However, I think there
are lines of studies to be done for completeness and supporting their conclusion:
1) describe how they made a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in the patients, imaging?, biopsy?.
2) They should analyze the IL17 and AFP expressions in the tumor and matching non tumor tissues to see
if the expression pattern corresponding the increase of IL17 and AFP in the blood, by
immunohistochemistry or western blot. 
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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?
Yes
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free from apparent
manipulation?
Yes