Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01635-6 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Evaluation of serum ATX and LPA as potential diagnostic biomarkers in
patients with pancreatic cancer
Version: 
2 
Date: 
30 Nov 2020
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS: 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses one
or several testable research questions? (Brief or other article types: is there a
clear objective?)
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols)
appropriate for the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with sufficient
technical rigor to allow confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Not sure - I am not able to assess the statistics in this study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results
reasonable and not overstated?
No - there are minor issues
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Has the author addressed your
concerns sufficiently for you to now recommend the work as a technically sound
contribution? If not, can further revisions be made to make the work technically
sound?
Yes - current version is technically sound
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS: 
GENERAL COMMENTS: Yes, the authors have adequately responded to my
queries and have made edits to the manuscript. The manuscript still needs some
work (editorial mostly) before it can be accepted for publication.
REQUESTED REVISIONS: 
1. In Discussion, the biomarker section on page 14-15 should be revised for
clarity, specifically the yellow highlights. Also, in the same paragraph "when"
used in the context of cutoff values should be in sentence case. 2. Table 1: add
definition of HV in the footnote, and fix the typo (s missing in histologic). 3.
Table 3: fix spacing in LPA (ug/mL). 4. Figure 1 should be replaced with a high-
quality image, with legible text. 5. Revise the title of table 4 to "Sensitivity and
specificity of potential diagnostic biomarkers in pancreatic cancer"
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS: 
I have proposed some minor revisions to the manuscript.
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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?
No
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?
No
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes