Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0775-1 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Dietary habits and Helicobacter pylori infection: A cross sec tional study at a tertiary care 
center in Lebanon  
 
Version: 0 Date: 05 Aug 2017  
 
Reviewer: Mansour Shahraki  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Dear Editor in Chief of BMGE journal  
 
 
 
 
Thanks for considering me as a reviewer.  
 
About manuscript ID Number BMGE -D-17-00257 with entitle" Dietary habits an d Helicobacter 
pylori infection: A cross sectional study at a tertiary care center in Lebanon." :  
 
 
 
Title section:  
 
1. The title is not completely clear. What is the meaning of "tertiary" term in the body of title? 
Because this term is not familiar in some pa rts of the world generally. Please put the definition 
on. 
 
 
2. Short title: Dietary habits and H.pylori infection in Lebanon.  
 
 
 
 
Abstract section:  
 
1. In the Methods part, it is better to mention to the year and place of the study.  
 
 
 
2. In the Keywords section, pl ease change it to: Dietary habits, Helicobacter pylori, socio -
demographic factors, Lebanon.  
 
 
 
Introduction section:  
 
1. Paragraph 3, line 4: "Not" and "in" words repeated twice.  
 
 
2. It is better to include the results of some researches about the effect of lifestyle and socio -
demographic factors on H.pylori in this section.  
 
 
3. If it is possible, put more in line researches that had been performed in Lebanon on this 
topic.  
 
 
 
 
Methods s ection:  
 
1. In the "Study design and participants" part, if it is possible please consider a period of 
time for participants in the view of age.  
 
 
2. In the "Data collection and measures" part, for assessment of physical activity and socio -
demographic factors , did the authors used of approved questionnaire?  
 
 
3. Like BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, please mention to cut -off points for other 
parameters such as LDL -C, HDL -C, TC, TG, and …in this part, also.  
 
 
 
Results section:  
 
1. In table 1, please change  "Non -married" term to "single".  
 
 
2. About income, please change the currency to dollar equal.  
 
 
 
 
Discussion section:  
 
1. The results of the study has shown that "participants with university degree or higher had 
almost three time increased risk for H.pylori in fection." Please put a comment on.  
 
 
2. The results of the study has shown that "participants with glycemic levels above normal 
had five times lower risk of H.pylori infection." this obtained results can't be pleasure for 
readers. It means that having diabet es is good. Please put a scientific cause in the back of 
it. 
 
 
 
 
Sincerely yours,  
 
Dr.Mansour Shahraki,  
 
Associated Professor, Nutritionist,  The head of Department of Nutrition, Medical Faculty, 
Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.  
 
 
 
 
Are the met hods 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.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an a dditional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy 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 s alary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat 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 salary 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 answer no to al l 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.  
 
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