Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0492-6 (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
Title:  Peripheral blood toll -like receptor 4 correlates with rapid virological response to 
Pegylatedinterferon and ribavirin therapy in hepatitis C genotype 1 patients  
 
Version:  0 Date: 10 Jan 2016  
 
Reviewer:  Andrz ej Wincewicz  
 
Reviewer's report:  
In the paper numbered BMGE -D-15-00271 the authors showed that a low level  of TLR 4 mRNA 
in peripheral blood monocytes (PMBCs) was significantly associated with rapid virological 
response RVR in HCV with conclusion that TLR4 could be crucial for antigen recognition and 
activation of innate immunity. Other TLR expression levels w ere correlated with HCV viral 
load, suggesting that TLR activation may subsequently limit HCV replication. The study is well 
designed. The results are reliable and the conclusions are supported by obtained results. please 
provide short characteristics of n on-RVR group in methods section  
The authors are kindly requested to consider citation of papers like these ones:  
Stepanova M, Henry L, Garg R, Kalwaney S, Saab S, Younossi Z. Risk of de novo post -
transplant type 2 diabetes in patients undergoing liver tran splant for non -alcoholic 
steatohepatitis. BMC Gastroenterol. 2015 Dec 15;15(1):175. doi: 10.1186/s12876 -015-0407 -y. 
Ten Oever J, Kox M, van de Veerdonk FL, Mothapo KM, Slavcovici A, Jansen TL, Tweehuysen 
L, Giamarellos -Bourboulis EJ, Schneeberger PM, Wever  PC, Stoffels M, Simon A, van der Meer 
JW, Johnson MD, Kullberg BJ, Pickkers P, Pachot A, Joosten LA, Netea MG. The 
discriminative capacity of soluble Toll -like receptor (sTLR)2 and sTLR4 in inflammatory 
diseases. BMC Immunol. 2014 Nov 19;15:55. doi: 10.11 86/s12865 -014-0055 -y. 
With compliments, best regards and wishes,  
 
Andrzej Wincewicz  
  
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.  
Unable to assess  
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 statist ics 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 recommend additional statistical revi ew 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Needs some language corrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
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