Review for 10.1186/s12876-024-03253-4 (2024)

Title: A new model of portal vein thrombosis in rats with cirrhosis induced by partial portal
vein ligation plus carbon tetrachloride and intervened with rivaroxaban
Version: 2 Date: 01 Mar 2024
Reviewer's report:
The author should choose a more specific title based on the content of the research.
The author needs to improve language expression and writing standards. For example:
1. The author needs to verify the correct use of the term “portal blood flow velocity” (PBFV),
ensure consistent spelling of this term throughout the article, and correctly use the abbreviation.
2. The author said “the PBFV tended to be easily embolized, and vascular endothelial injuried
and fibrinolytic activity decreased”. This sentence is confusing, and the author should provide
a clear explanation.
3. The author should remove any unnecessary spaces in the article.
Introduction
The author should briefly introduce Rivaroxaban in this section.
Materials and methods
The author said “Forty-one male Sprague#Dawley rats weighing 160-180 g were obtained from
Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Co., Ltd”. Several questions here need
clarification:
1. In Figure 1, the author said “First, 200-220 g rats underwent the PPVL operation”. Why does
the weight of the rats differ from that mentioned earlier?
2. Besides these 41 rats, the author also used 7 normal rats as a control group. Are the breed and
weight of these 7 normal rats the same as those of the 41 rats?
3. The author should explain whether there is a statistical difference in the weight variation
among the rats.
In the Experimental design part, the author said “The rats were divided into 7 groups: the control
group (n=7), the PPVL group (receiving PPVL but not CCl4 administration; n=6), the week 4
model group (n=6), the week 6 model group (n=5), the week 8 model group (n=6), the week 10
model group (n=8) and the rivaroxaban-treated group (n=10)”, why is the number of animals
inconsistent in each group? Additionally, the author should explain the significance of grouping
according to different periods given to carbon tetrachloride.
The author should supplement the methods of euthanasia for rats.
Results
The author should supplement the success rate of establishing the animal model, as well as the
mortality rate and causes of death of the animals.
The author should supplement the extent of portal vein thrombosis or the degree of vascular
obstruction in rats at different periods.
The authors should add the definitions of macroportal vein thrombosis.
The author said “Ultrasonography revealed that the portal vein diameter was significantly wider
in the rivaroxaban-treated rats than in the model rats (P < 0.01)”. The author needs to specify
which group the “model rats” refer to.
The author said “Additionally, the expression of fibrinogen and PAI-1 in rivaroxaban-treated
rats was lower than that in rats in the PPVL group”. However, the comparison group used in
Figure 7 B/C was not the PPVL group. Additionally, the author measured fibrin levels, not
fibrinogen levels.
Discussion
The author said “Once thrombosis occurs in patients with liver cirrhosis, there is no consensus
on the choice of drugs”. However, there is currently an expert consensus on the management of
PVT in liver cirrhosis (PMID: 33470535), which the author should include in the discussion.