Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-0937-9 (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Plasma levels of TNF -α, IL-6, IFN -γ, IL-12, IL -17, IL-22, and IL -23 in Achalasia, 
Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)  
 
Version: 1 Date: 10 May 2018  
 
Reviewer: M Vaezi  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I enjoyed reading this important and  timely manuscript.  Overall the authors have nicely tackled 
an area research in need of further work.  I have a few comments which I hope the authors can 
address:  
 
 
1. Starting the abstract with Cauble et al is a bit awkward ---suggest changing  
 
 
2. Can the a uthors be more specific about what was shipped to where? It is my sense that 
samples were collected at Tampa and sent to MUSC but need clarity if that is not the 
case.  Were all samples from Tampa and all shipped to MUSC and analyzed there or 
where there s amples from MUSC as well?  
 
 
3. Can the authors provide further rationale for the targeted approach of the specific IL's 
analyzed?  why those and why not others?  
 
 
4. Can the authors also provide data on the reflux parameters and symptom and 
demographic data wh ich were measured but not reported?  
 
 
5. IL-6 much higher in type III vs EoE or GERD? what is the implication of this finding?  
 
 
6. can the authors comment on lack of control group as a limitation?  
 
 
7. can the authors assess the IL based on reported weight l oss to see if any signals? IL -6  has 
been associated with cachexia and wt loss in cancer population in many studies.  
 
 
 
 
 
Level of interest  
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Quality of written English  
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Declaration of competing interests  
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