Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0500-x (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Butyrate inhibits interleukin -17 and generates Tregs to ameliorate colorectal colitis in rats  
 
Version: 0 Date: 14 Mar 2016 
 
Reviewer:  Mohammad  Bashashati  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
1- The dose of butyrate in vivo is not w ell clear. It is not obvious how the authors came up with 
the in vitro concentrations. There is no real dose response curve.  
 
2- human data is based on few patients making conclusions and parametric tests impossible.  
 
3- Data is presented as mean+/ -SE. In so me of the figures, error bars from different groups touch 
each other and therefore having a significant p -value might be impossible. Parametric tests can 
be used when the data has normal distribution.  
 
Therefore, in its current shape, the conclusions are n ot sufficiently supported by the data.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, plea se 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.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the dat a shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
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:  
 
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 c ontent of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organiz ation 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 a ny 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.  
 
No competing interest  
 
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