JerMa88/BMC_Gastroenterology_Peer_Reviews huggingface dataset:
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04065-w (2025)

Title: Infliximab for Patients with Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: An Updated
Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Version: 1 Date: 15 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
Infliximab for Patients with Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: An Updated Meta-
Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
This manuscript presents a well-conducted review and meta-analysis evaluating the efficacy of
infliximab in patients with moderate to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). The study adheres
to PRISMA guidelines and addresses a clinically relevant research question. A comprehensive
search strategy was employed across multiple databases, and the methodological rigor, that
included subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression, strengthens the validity of
the findings. The results are clearly presented, supported by appropriate forest and funnel plots.
Additionally, the authors have adequately addressed all concerns raised by previous reviewers.
However, some minor revisions are needed to further enhance the manuscript.
1. The current abstract lacks a concise background. Abstract should briefly contextualize
the study before stating its aim. L 18–19 (Background: A comprehensive meta-analysis was
performed...) state the aim rather than the background. Clarify the clinical relevance of this
analysis by providing background and aim. In addition, explicitly highlight the implications of
this meta-analysis. Currently, there is no clear implication of the meta-analysis.
2. L 61: Replace "mucous" (adjective) with "mucus" (noun).
3. Lines 86–106: Specify whether only English and Chinese studies were included. If so, state
this under inclusion/exclusion criteria and discuss potential language bias as a limitation (L 427–
447).
4. L 333: Replace "so" with "thus" for formal tone.
5. Address potential biases introduced by excluding non-English studies in the limitations
section (L 427–447).
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04065-w (2025)

Title: Infliximab for Patients with Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: An Updated
Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Version: 3 Date: 27 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
Dear Authors,
This manuscript is a well-executed and valuable contribution to the field. The research is
methodologically sound, the argumentation is coherent, and the writing is clear and precise. I
did not identify any major concerns and have no further comments. Excellent work.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04065-w (2025)

Title: Infliximab for Patients with Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: An Updated
Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Version: 3 Date: 27 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
Reviewers' comments were addressed, and I have no further comments.
Please make small change in the abstract results part: "significantly" needs to be changed to
"significant" followed by short long-term and other results, otherwise it is out of context or
missing extra word to put the presented data in the right context.
This is a well-conducted review and meta-analysis, and an important publication.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04065-w (2025)

Title: Infliximab for Patients with Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: An Updated
Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Version: 3 Date: 28 May 2025
Reviewer:  Amira A. A. Othman
Reviewer's report:
There is an error in the response file, please resubmit.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04065-w (2025)

Title: Infliximab for Patients with Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: An Updated
Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Version: 3 Date: 29 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript, titled Infliximab for Patients with Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative
Colitis: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials, presents a systematic
review and meta-analysis evaluating the efficacy and safety of infliximab (IFX) in treating
moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC), adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic
Review and Meta-Analysis Statement (PRISMA).
Observations:
The authors have diligently addressed all critiques, significantly strengthening the manuscript’s
validity, clarity, methodological rigor, transparency, and readability. Thus, the manuscript is
now suitable, fit, and ready for acceptance and publication.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04065-w (2025)

Title: Infliximab for Patients with Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: An Updated
Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Version: 3 Date: 29 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
significant improved after revising , only one minor suggestion to enhance clarity and depth: in
the Results, briefly comment on the consistency of infliximab dosing schedules across the RCTs
and whether any dose–response trends emerged; and consider citing Niu C, Zhang J, Napel M,
Boppana LK, Anas H, Jadhav N, Dunnigan K, Okolo 3rd PI. Systematic review with meta-
analysis: Efficacy and safety of Upadacitinib in managing moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease
and ulcerative colitis. Clinical Drug Investigation. 2024 Jun;44(6):371–85.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04007-6 (2025)

Title: Impact of Terminal Ileal Microbiota Dysbiosis and Tryptophan Metabolism Alterations
on Mental disorders in Patients with Crohn's Disease
Version: 2 Date: 01 Oct 2024
Reviewer's report:
This is a well written article, I have a minor suggestion regarding an updated wording of
row 92-94 from" For instance, Jiang et.al revealed elevated abundance of Enterococcaceae
and Lactobacillaceae of IBD patients accompanied with depression in fecal samples. " to  For
instance, Jiang et.al revealed elevated abundance of Enterococcaceae and Lactobacillaceae in
fecal samples of IBD patients accompanied with depression.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04007-6 (2025)

Title: Impact of Terminal Ileal Microbiota Dysbiosis and Tryptophan Metabolism Alterations
on Mental disorders in Patients with Crohn's Disease
Version: 4 Date: 16 Jan 2025
Reviewer's report:
The authors have addressed all the requested questions and improvements. The manuscript has
been greatly improved. However, I still noticed some grammatical errors. Please conduct another
proofreading.
Line 410: negatively and not negative
Line 441: [Thermi] and not [Themi]
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04007-6 (2025)

Title: Impact of Terminal Ileal Microbiota Dysbiosis and Tryptophan Metabolism Alterations
on Mental disorders in Patients with Crohn's Disease
Version: 5 Date: 09 Apr 2025
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors,
Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful revisions.  There are some language's mistake, so
I advise to go carefuly through the manuscript but I have non other comment.
I recommend acceptance of the manuscript.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04007-6 (2025)

Title: Impact of Terminal Ileal Microbiota Dysbiosis and Tryptophan Metabolism Alterations
on Mental disorders in Patients with Crohn's Disease
Version: 5 Date: 23 Apr 2025
Reviewer's report:
The size of the study group (41) does not quite match the control group (11). I do not quite
understand why the control group is made up of people with cancer or could it not be people
with, for example, IBS?
No information appears about the non-surgical treatment of the qualified patients, and this may
also have an impact on the microbiota.
Overall the study is extremely interesting, it would be worth extending it on a larger sample.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04029-0 (2025)

Title: Association Between Blood Lead Levels and Constipation in Adults: Insights from
NHANES Data (2005–2010)
Version: 2 Date: 17 Apr 2025
Reviewer:  Xuefeng Jin
Reviewer's report:
This is a well-designed and novel study using high-quality data and advanced analytical
techniques. However, due to concerns around causal overinterpretation, constipation definition,
and confounding adjustment, I recommend minor revision before considering publication.
1. Causal Inference in Discussion
The manuscript at times implies causality (e.g., “lead reduces constipation”), which is not
warranted in a cross-sectional study. Revise to consistently use associative language throughout.
2. Biological Mechanisms Lack Empirical Support
While the authors provide several speculative mechanisms, none are directly tested. Emphasize
their hypothetical nature and avoid overinterpretation.
3. Confounding Bias
Residual confounding remains a concern, especially with lifestyle and medication use. Discuss
the potential impact of unmeasured confounders such as laxative, iron, opioid, or supplement
use.
4. Reverse Causation Possibility
The discussion should include the possibility that individuals with chronic constipation may alter
their lifestyle (diet, supplements, hydration) in ways that affect blood lead levels, contributing
to the observed association.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04067-8 (2025)

Title: The role of m6A regulators mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in
chronic hepatitis B: A novel Diagnostic and prognostic indicator
Version: 1 Date: 08 Dec 2024
Reviewer's report:
The authors have conducted an important study on chronic hepatitis B (CHB), which provides
valuable insights into the role of m6A regulators in disease progression. However, there are
several key points that need to be addressed to strengthen the manuscript.
#The finding that METTL3 expression is correlated with inflammatory markers such as the
neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-
to-monocyte ratio (LMR) is noteworthy and may have clinical significance. However, the
biological mechanisms linking METTL3 to these inflammatory markers are not fully explained
in the paper. As the role of METTL3 in regulating immune responses is a central hypothesis, a
more detailed discussion of its mechanistic role is needed.
#The use of logistic regression analysis with SPSS 29 is appropriate, and a P-value threshold
of less than 0.05 is acceptable. However, because multiple comparisons are being made, it is
essential to apply appropriate multiple comparison corrections, such as the Bonferroni correction
or false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment.
#The total sample size is relatively small, especially in the subgroup analysis of patients with
liver cirrhosis (LC). The limited number of patients with liver cirrhosis (n=26) may affect
the statistical validity and generalizability of the results. A larger and more diverse cohort is
recommended to increase the reliability of the findings. If it is not possible to increase the
sample size, the authors should discuss the limitations posed by the small sample size in the
"Limitations" section of the paper.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04067-8 (2025)

Title: The role of m6A regulators mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in
chronic hepatitis B: A novel Diagnostic and prognostic indicator
Version: 1 Date: 09 Feb 2025
Reviewer's report:
This manuscript presents a well-structured and comprehensive study on the role of m6A
regulators in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with chronic hepatitis B
(CHB). Below are some suggestions to further enhance the manuscript:
1. The introduction provides a solid background on CHB and m6A modification; however,
it would benefit from a clearer articulation of the research gap. Specifically, emphasizing the
novelty and significance of investigating m6A regulators in PBMCs rather than liver tissue
would strengthen the rationale.
2. Consider briefly discussing the limitations of current biomarkers (e.g., ALT, AST) and how
m6A regulators could serve as complementary or superior alternatives.
3. The study includes 101 CHB patients and 18 healthy controls, which is a reasonable sample
size. However, providing a power analysis would help justify the sample size and confirm
whether it is sufficient to detect significant differences.
4. The inclusion of the GEO dataset (GSE267808) is a strength of the study. Adding more details
on the dataset's analysis and how it complements the primary data would enhance the clarity
and reproducibility of the findings.
5. The correlation analysis is well-presented, but discussing potential biological mechanisms
underlying these correlations, particularly METTL3’s negative correlation with NLR and PLR
would provide deeper insight into its clinical relevance.
6. The authors appropriately acknowledge the retrospective nature of the study and the lack of
direct m6A methylation level assessment. Expanding on how these limitations might impact the
interpretation of the results and outlining specific steps to address these issues in future studies
would strengthen the discussion.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04067-8 (2025)

Title: The role of m6A regulators mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in
chronic hepatitis B: A novel Diagnostic and prognostic indicator
Version: 3 Date: 08 Mar 2025
Reviewer's report:
While their argument is understandable, it does not meet the standards required for publication.
RNA methylation is an important marker.
However, the question remains unresolved as to how meaningful it is to analyze PBMCs from
HBV-infected samples as a systemic reflection of inflammation.
Furthermore, their claim that mRNA expression of m6A regulators correlates with inflammatory
markers is difficult to support, given the low absolute value of the correlation coefficient.
If METTL3 is being evaluated, it is essential to also assess downstream m6A modifications.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04067-8 (2025)

Title: The role of m6A regulators mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in
chronic hepatitis B: A novel Diagnostic and prognostic indicator
Version: 3 Date: 22 Mar 2025
Reviewer:  Yoshihiko Yano
Reviewer's report:
The revised manuscript was mostly well modified. Some points should be checked up.
1. Line 120: “HIV” abbreviation should be written exactly.
2. Line 147-8; “Cobas® 8000 modular analyser series” should be included the City and Country.
3. Line 189,193 “healthy control” should be concordant. In addition, the abbreviation of “HC”
should be included in the abbreviation list.
4. Especially method section, “patients”, “group” and “subject” should be written unified.
5. PBMC in the abbreviation list should be “PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell” not
“PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cells”.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04067-8 (2025)

Title: The role of m6A regulators mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in
chronic hepatitis B: A novel Diagnostic and prognostic indicator
Version: 5 Date: 14 May 2025
Reviewer:  Yoshihiko Yano
Reviewer's report:
The content is interesting, but due to the small number of cases, we believe that a more detailed
study is needed.
1. In chronic hepatitis, it may be necessary to divide the units according to the stage (clinical
phase) of the disease. Is everything a phase of active hepatitis? Are there any asymptomatic
carriers or inactive carrier status? At least for METTL3 and METTL14, it seems necessary to
divide the disease into stages.
2. The units should be listed in each table.
3. The units should also be included in the Table.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04077-6 (2025)

Title: Primary Liver Cancer Disease Burden in Cambodia During 1990-2021: A Systematic
Analysis of Datasets from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Version: 1 Date: 30 Mar 2025
Reviewer:  Jia-Jie Lv
Reviewer's report:
The article examines the trends, etiologies, and risk factors associated with liver cancer (LC) in
Cambodia from 1990 to 2021, utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021
study. The study highlights the increasing burden of LC in terms of deaths, disability-adjusted
life years (DALYs), incidence, and prevalence, with significant variability based on gender, age,
and etiology. While the age-standardized rates (ASRs) for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis
C virus (HCV)-associated LC have declined, alcohol-related LC has shown a steady increase.
The study also predicts future trends using ARIMA modeling, indicating a continued rise in
LC-related disease burden, particularly for alcoholic LC. It emphasizes the need for targeted
prevention strategies, including vaccination programs, lifestyle modifications, and risk factor
management, to mitigate the growing LC burden in Cambodia.
1.The abstract and conclusion are repetitive and overly detailed with numerical data, making
it harder for readers to quickly grasp the study's key findings and implications. Suggestion:
Simplify both sections by focusing on the most critical results and their public health
implications, while reserving detailed statistics for tables or results sections.
2.The introduction lacks a concise justification for why Cambodia's liver cancer
burden is uniquely significant compared to other Southeast Asian countries. Suggestion:
Emphasize Cambodia-specific challenges, such as historical healthcare limitations, changing
socioeconomic conditions, and high HBV/HCV prevalence rates, to better contextualize the
study.
3.The methodology does not clearly describe potential limitations in data collection, particularly
for historical data from the 1990s, which may be incomplete due to the post-conflict state
of Cambodia. Suggestion: Discuss the reliability of the GBD data for earlier years and how
potential biases from limited local data sources were addressed in the analysis.
4.The results section is overly detailed with numerical data for deaths, DALYs, and ASRs, which
can overwhelm readers and obscure key patterns or trends. Suggestion: Focus on summarizing
significant findings and trends, and present the detailed numerical data in tables or appendices
for reference.
5.There are grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout the manuscript, such as "in
females at 48.27 (95% UI: 22.08-83.54)." Conduct professional proofreading to improve clarity
and ensure grammatical correctness.
6.The policy recommendations are generic and lack specificity regarding Cambodia's unique
healthcare challenges and resource constraints. Please propose targeted interventions, such as
expanding access to affordable antiviral treatments, addressing alcohol consumption through
taxation or education programs, and increasing public awareness of modifiable risk factors like
obesity and smoking.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04077-6 (2025)

Title: Primary Liver Cancer Disease Burden in Cambodia During 1990-2021: A Systematic
Analysis of Datasets from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Version: 1 Date: 31 Mar 2025
Reviewer:  Hengliang Lv
Reviewer's report:
1.The description of the statistical methods is too brief. The calculation formula of EAPC
should be provided. The ARIMA model is generally used for short-term forecasting, and its
performance in long-term forecasting is not good. As can be seen from the results of this
manuscript, the forecasting effect is not satisfactory. Moreover, in the results, I did not find
any quantitative results regarding the predictions. It is recommended that the author delete the
predictive content and revise the entire manuscript, including the abstract.
2. This manuscript  analyzed the risk factors of liver cancer. It is recommended that in the
discussion section, control measures at the front end of the causal chain be proposed in response
to these risk factors.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04077-6 (2025)

Title: Primary Liver Cancer Disease Burden in Cambodia During 1990-2021: A Systematic
Analysis of Datasets from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Version: 1 Date: 01 Apr 2025
Reviewer's report:
Review
This study provides a well-structured, data-driven analysis of liver cancer trends in Cambodia,
offering valuable insights for public health strategies. Several recommendations require more
thorough clarified:
1. The analysis lacks an analysis of interactions between risk factors (e.g., obesity + alcohol
consumption).
2. The explanation for Cambodia's lower NAFLD-related LC rates (attributed to poverty and
malnutrition) remains speculative without direct evidence. Similarly, gender disparities in HCV
burden are discussed but lack thorough validation through relevant literature.
3. The causal relationship between female drug use and HCV lacks definitive evidence. The
reported higher burden of HCV-related LC in women contradicts existing literature. Further
exploration of biological factors (e.g., hormonal influences) and sociostructural factors (e.g.,
injection practices) is needed to validate these findings.
4. Intervention recommendations are overly generic. More tailored strategies should align
with study findings (e.g., targeted HBV/HCV screening for high-risk groups, alcohol taxation
policies, or gender-specific harm reduction programs).
5. Comparisons with other regions regarding alcohol-related LC or NAFLD-related LC trends
could enhance the context and highlight the uniqueness of Cambodia.
6. Generalizability and relevance to regions with similar characteristics remains unclear. The
study should address whether its findings hold broader applicability or reference value for
comparable settings.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04074-9 (2025)

Title: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection among Medical
Students at Shendi University, Sudan
Version: 1 Date: 19 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
Dear Authors,
This manuscript is a well-executed and valuable contribution to the field. The research is
methodologically sound, the argumentation is coherent, and the writing is clear and precise. I
did not identify any major concerns and have no further comments. Excellent work.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04092-7 (2025)

Title: Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemothorax Following Local Ablation in Patients with
Primary Liver Cancer
Version: 4 Date: 07 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
The authors show several patients who underwent hemothorax after RFA. They indicate several
factors related to postoperative hemothorax such as tumor location, platelet count, liver or chest
surgery history, and so on. In Particular, case 7 is rare. This report is highly suggestive and
meaningful clinically. There are some minor points to be revised before this manuscript is
published.
1. Please mention the total number of RFA and the incidence rate of hemothorax.
2. Please mention the number of HCC. One tumor in all patients? And can you add the tumor
size as well?
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04092-7 (2025)

Title: Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemothorax Following Local Ablation in Patients with
Primary Liver Cancer
Version: 4 Date: 09 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
The entire study is based on only seven cases, which severely limits the generalizability and
statistical power. While rare complications merit case aggregation, this dataset is too limited
to draw meaningful clinical inferences or justify definitive recommendations Many sections
are excessively wordy and repeat information. For instance, the clinical presentation and
hemoglobin discussion could be condensed significantly. This detracts from the scientific clarity
and makes the manuscript feel padded.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04092-7 (2025)

Title: Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemothorax Following Local Ablation in Patients with
Primary Liver Cancer
Version: 4 Date: 13 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
I think this manuscript show us a series of excellent cases, including the diagnosis and
interventional embolization treatment strategies for hemothorax after liver cancer ablation
treatment.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04092-7 (2025)

Title: Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemothorax Following Local Ablation in Patients with
Primary Liver Cancer
Version: 5 Date: 01 Jun 2025
Reviewer's report:
While the authors briefly acknowledge the limited case numbers, kindly include a limitations
session about potential selection bias and potential confounders. and consider citing "Niu C,
Zhang J, Okolo 3rd PI. Liver cancer wars: plant-derived polyphenols strike back. Medical
Oncology. 2024 Apr 16;41(5):116." to update your reference
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04026-3 (2025)

Title: Research and experiments of a new premedication for improving mucosal visibility during
esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Version: 2 Date: 23 Feb 2025
Reviewer's report:
This study investigates the potential of food additives (FA-1, FA-2, FA-3) as premedications
for improving mucosal visibility during EGD, comparing their efficacy with conventional
agents (pronase, dimethicone). The topic is clinically relevant, and the experimental design
is systematic. However, several issues regarding methodological clarity, statistical rigor, and
discussion depth need to be addressed to enhance the manuscript's impact.
Major revision
1.The title should be rewrite to focus on premedications for improving mucosal visibility during
EGD#
2.For foaming model, detail parameters (e.g., air pump pressure, cylinder dimensions) and
validate the model’s relevance to in vivo conditions should be added. Further, in my opinion,
the model is simulation of the internal environment. In this way, the temperatures should be
set as 37##
3.For gastric juice experiment, they should clarify inclusion/exclusion criteria for patients and
describe gastric juice processing steps (e.g., centrifugation, storage temperature).
4.In my opinion, in vivo experiments or animal models are need.
5.What is the meaning and usefulness of outcome measures? I find no related results in the
manuscript.
6.For the effect of food additives in gastric juice experiment, there is no statistical analysis but
only figure.
7.The synergistic mechanism of FA-2/FA-3 with references to colloid chemistry or surfactant
theory should be research or discussed.
Minor revision
1.For FA-1, FA-2, and FA-3, they should give us why and how to choose these food additives.
2.Correct some grammatical errors (e.g., “clinical stage” # “clinical stages”).
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04026-3 (2025)

Title: Research and experiments of a new premedication for improving mucosal visibility during
esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Version: 2 Date: 26 Feb 2025
Reviewer's report:
The authors have evaluated the role of Proteolytic enzyme (FA-1) and two food defoamers
(FA-2 and FA-3) in lowering protein concentration, which is of clinical significance in
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy. However, some revisions should be made before this manuscript
could be published.
Major revisions:
1.The specific disease should be provided. Healthy people, gastric cancer or some else?
2.Protein concentration for gastric juice harvested from each patient should be provided.
3.The protein concentration in foaming model in vitro should be determined by referring to the
protein concentration in gastric juice.
4.In vivo assay to evaluate the visibility should be added, either in patients or in animal model
is acceptable.
5.Different doses of FA-1 should be considered under condition of 37# in gastric juice and in
vitro foaming model
Minor revision:
1.What is the relationship between gastric cancer and FA-1? It is better that the authors minimize
the description of gastric cancer in Introduction part.
2.The authors should discuss the visibility more in detail.
3.The exact component of FA-1,-2,-3 should be provided.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04026-3 (2025)

Title: Research and experiments of a new premedication for improving mucosal visibility during
esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Version: 4 Date: 07 Apr 2025
Reviewer's report:
The authors should check if conflicts of interest exist, if the article  utilized papain, Sucrose
Polyoxypropylene, and polypropylene glycol. It will be meaningless not to disclose them.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04026-3 (2025)

Title: Research and experiments of a new premedication for improving mucosal visibility during
esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Version: 4 Date: 20 Apr 2025
Reviewer's report:
After reading the revision, the authors have covered all the comments and modified the
manuscript according the suggestions of reviewers. In my opinion, it is appropriate for
publication in its current version.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04075-8 (2025)

Title: The influence of subjective well-being on anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients
with functional dyspepsia
Version: 2 Date: 10 Mar 2025
Reviewer:  Amir Soliman
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript presents a well-structured and important study on the relationship between SWB
and FD. However, the following minor revisions should be addressed before publication:
1- Clarify the definition and role of SWB in FD.
2- Strengthen the rationale for the study by explicitly stating the research gap.
3- Discuss potential confounders that might have influenced the results.
4- Expand on the clinical implications—how should clinicians act on these findings?
5- Acknowledge reverse causality and low R² values as study limitations.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04075-8 (2025)

Title: The influence of subjective well-being on anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients
with functional dyspepsia
Version: 2 Date: 17 Mar 2025
Reviewer:  Erfan Arabpour
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors,
Thanks for your efforts in completing this study. However, I believe the study has fundamental
flaws of design, statistics, and English language, some of which may not seem feasible to correct.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04075-8 (2025)

Title: The influence of subjective well-being on anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients
with functional dyspepsia
Version: 2 Date: 21 Mar 2025
Reviewer's report:
Mental Health History and Medication Use
- It would be relevant to know whether data on participants' mental health history and medication
use were collected, especially regarding antidepressants. Since these drugs are sometimes
prescribed for managing functional dyspepsia symptoms, they could introduce bias in the
interpretation of the questionnaires. Similarly, it would be useful to consider probiotic use,
as their relationship with neurotransmitter production (such as serotonin and GABA) could
influence patients’ mood. If these data were not collected, it is recommended to mention this
as a limitation of the study.
Table Formatting
- It is suggested to standardize the font size across all tables to improve clarity and presentation.
Correction in Diagnostic Criteria Terminology
- In the text, the diagnostic criteria are referred to as "Roman", whereas the correct term is
"Rome", without the final "n".
Precision in Objective Formulation
- The study’s objective states that it aims to "examine the impact of subjective well-being
(SWB) on anxiety, depression, symptom severity, and quality of life in patients with functional
dyspepsia." However, since the study design is cross-sectional, it does not allow for causal
inference. It is recommended to replace the term "impact" with "association" or "relationship,"
as these terms are more appropriate for this type of study.
- In this same regard, the abstract currently states that SWB "affects" the severity of dyspepsia,
anxiety, and depression, and "improves" quality of life. However, since there is no data to
establish causality, it is recommended to rephrase this statement to reflect a relationship rather
than a causal effect. In the manuscript, the conclusion is appropriately stated, so this change is
only necessary in the abstract.
- Congratulations on this excellent work. It is a valuable study that provides relevant insights
into subjective well-being and its relationship with functional dyspepsia.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04075-8 (2025)

Title: The influence of subjective well-being on anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients
with functional dyspepsia
Version: 7 Date: 08 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
Abstract Writing: It is suggested to improve the writing of the following part of the abstract:
"The influence of subjective well-being on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients
with functional dyspepsia. Background: Subjective well-being (SWB) was subjective happiness,
and it was also objective. Anxiety and depression are now gradually believed to be the causes of
functional dyspepsia (FD)." The writing in this section may be somewhat confusing and could
benefit from a clearer rewording to improve understanding.
Introduction: It would be helpful to improve clarity in certain sections. Below are some specific
suggestions:
Titles like "Psychosocial factors believed as causes of functional dyspepsia (FD)" sound more
like a statement rather than a title. It is recommended to rephrase it to better reflect the content
developed in the introduction.
In line 38, the phrase “Anxiety and depression have causal effects reducing the incidence of
the symptoms in FD patients” might be confusing. It would be useful to clarify the message to
avoid misunderstandings.
In line 48, the phrase “it is also an important part of social psychological factors” is not entirely
clear. It could be rephrased to better express the idea intended.
Some issues with punctuation and spacing have been observed in several parts of the
introduction. Improving these aspects could enhance the text's flow and clarity.
'Patients and Methods' Section: In line 89, "Patients and Methods" is mentioned, and in line 90,
"patients" is repeated, which may seem redundant. It could be considered to change the section
title to "Material and Methods" to avoid this repetition.
Reporting Guidelines: It is mentioned that the study follows the CONSORT (Consolidated
Standards of Reporting Trials) guidelines, but this guideline is specifically intended for clinical
trials. Since your study is not experimental, the appropriate guideline would be STROBE.
Functional Dyspepsia (FD) Diagnosis: It would be helpful to clarify whether the diagnosis
of functional dyspepsia was made by a gastroenterologist or if it was simply verified that
the patients met the Roma IV criteria. Clarifying this point would help better understand the
diagnostic process.
Informed Consent Collection: If data collection was carried out through WeChat or phone calls,
it would be important to specify how informed consent was obtained from the participants,
whether it was done during the gastroenterology consultation or if they were asked to attend
in person.
It was a pleasure reading your work. These are just a few of my suggestions that I hope will
be helpful.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04037-0 (2025)

Title: Combining Endoscopic variceal ligation and omeprazole sodium in treating upper
gastrointestinal hemorrhage combined with liver cirrhosis
Version: 1 Date: 23 Feb 2025
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors,
I read your manuscript, " Combining Endoscopic Variceal Liquidation and omeprazole sodium
in Treating Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Combined with Liver Cirrhosis," with great
interest.
I consider it important to establish the role of Proton pump inhibitors (IPP) in the treatment of
esophageal ulcers after ligation of esophageal varices.
Still, I have some remarks:
1. I think it would be best to emphasize the actual guidelines statements regarding variceal
bleeding in cirrhosis. This may be done in the introduction or discussion section.
2. In the material and method section it should be mentioned the medical background of these
patients should be related to beta-blockers and to mention the additional treatments, such as
vasopressin analogs or octreotide, which are also used in treating acute variceal bleeding. I
mention the missing data regarding previous or concomitant medication ( beta-blockers or
vasopressin analogs). Moreover, the authors should discuss the existing recommendations
regarding variceal bleeding in a cirrhotic patient. It should also be mentioned if the patient
received antibiotics.
3. I recommend mentioning how the parameters for the splenic and portal veins were determined
in the results section.
The statistics should take these into consideration.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04037-0 (2025)

Title: Combining Endoscopic variceal ligation and omeprazole sodium in treating upper
gastrointestinal hemorrhage combined with liver cirrhosis
Version: 1 Date: 02 Mar 2025
Reviewer:  Mohamed Emara
Reviewer's report:
The authors retrospectively compared 2 groups of cirrhotics with portal HTN and ruptures OVs
comparing EVL alone to EVLs with peri-endoscopic omeprazole treatment and they reported
clinical, endoscopic, hemodynamic, and laboratory superiority of the combined therapy, the
work looks interesting  and we have some comments aiming to improve quality of the work:
A- In the study design/structure: The main comments of the current study are directed to improve
the methodology section:
- Are patients treatment naive?
- What is hemostasis time? how it is calculated?
- All treatment outcome indicators should be clearly defined in the methodology section
- To avoid confusion clinical outcomes can be categorized into highly effective, effective, and
ineffective
- Total effective rate= effective+ effective????????????????????it is more clear to be highly
effective+ effective
- It is not clear how the authors judged bleeding as successfully stopped, what is the parameter
(s) used or that?
- Any predictors of efficacy in omeprazole treated group
- What is the rationale behind improved stress markers in omeprazole group
B- In manuscript writing:
- Please define some abbreviations on its first use
- Please check the attached word file for further comments
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04037-0 (2025)

Title: Combining Endoscopic variceal ligation and omeprazole sodium in treating upper
gastrointestinal hemorrhage combined with liver cirrhosis
Version: 2 Date: 02 May 2025
Reviewer:  Mohamed Emara
Reviewer's report:
Thank you for addressing the comments. I think the quality of the article is improved
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04037-0 (2025)

Title: Combining Endoscopic variceal ligation and omeprazole sodium in treating upper
gastrointestinal hemorrhage combined with liver cirrhosis
Version: 4 Date: 21 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
Thank you for the revision. I understand the points that have been corrected.
Moving forward, I believe that important aspects such as the study protocol, inclusion and
exclusion criteria should be clearly stated from the initial submission.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04031-6 (2025)

Title: Bioinformatics identification of key microRNA-correlated genes associated with
hepatocellular carcinoma heterogeneity and prognosis
Version: 1 Date: 01 May 2025
Reviewer:  Anwar Ashraf Abouelnasr
Reviewer's report:
the responses are satisfactory
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04064-x (2025)

Title: Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value and Mortality in The US Adult MASLD: A Nonlinear
NHANES Analysis
Version: 0 Date: 10 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
Zhou et al report an observational association between mortality and an inflammation indicator
in people with metabolic liver stress. The general topic is interesting and relevant since the
vicious synergy of metabolic dysfunction, liver disease and inflammation underlies the risk of
common adverse clinical outcomes. The manuscript is written clearly, the results are presented
well and the authors used standard methodology in the field. The NHANES is a well known
dataset with sufficient size for these types of epidemiological studies.
I am somewhat conflicted about the novelty of this study. The inflammation indicator they used
has been introduced recently, but so have many other various formulas related to inflammation
and fibrosis. However, based on these types of isolated analyses, it is difficult to judge what
additional benefit over existing diagnostics or phenotypic assessment can be gained from e.g.
pan-inflammation value. It would be more useful to benchmark each new formula against
existing biomarkers and then determine if they provide additional value. To make this study
more informative, I would recommend adding a benchmarking section where the PIV is judged
(fairly) against direct measures such as CRP and formulas such as other immune cell ratios etc
etc. Importantly, by keeping the dataset and statistical methods exactly the same, the reader
would get an accurate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the PIV.
Minor comment: please tidy up the supplement tables as the high decimal precision of the
numbers make them hard to read.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04064-x (2025)

Title: Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value and Mortality in The US Adult MASLD: A Nonlinear
NHANES Analysis
Version: 1 Date: 24 May 2025
Reviewer:  Amira A. A. Othman
Reviewer's report:
I want to extend my congratulations to all those involved in this work. All the required
amendments have already been made carefully and satisfactorily. I hope that the research will
be presented to science.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04068-7 (2025)

Title: Non-linear Relationship Between the Hepatic Steatosis Index and Glycemic Progression:
Evidence from a Large-Scale Retrospective Cohort Study in a Chinese Population
Version: 0 Date: 01 Apr 2025
Reviewer's report:
This study examined the relationship between HSI and prediabetes and determined that HSI can
be a valuable predictor of prediabetes. It would have been more meaningful if the study had
been compared with other liver markers such as FLI.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04068-7 (2025)

Title: Non-linear Relationship Between the Hepatic Steatosis Index and Glycemic Progression:
Evidence from a Large-Scale Retrospective Cohort Study in a Chinese Population
Version: 1 Date: 19 May 2025
Reviewer's report:
This manuscript presents a well-conducted, large-scale cohort study exploring the non-linear
relationship between the Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI) and glycemic progression in a Chinese
population. The authors have responded comprehensively and thoughtfully to all reviewer
comments, including clarifying the study’s novelty, redefining the outcome to “glycemic
progression,” performing sensitivity analyses to address missing data, and expanding the
discussion on sex-specific patterns and clinical implications. The limitations, including reliance
on fasting glucose, high missingness in lifestyle variables, and the use of HSI as a surrogate for
hepatic steatosis, are transparently acknowledged and appropriately discussed.  I believe it is
suitable for acceptance.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04068-7 (2025)

Title: Non-linear Relationship Between the Hepatic Steatosis Index and Glycemic Progression:
Evidence from a Large-Scale Retrospective Cohort Study in a Chinese Population
Version: 1 Date: 20 May 2025
Reviewer:  Anwar Ashraf Abouelnasr
Reviewer's report:
Dear Authors, please address the following points below
1. Introduction
Overloaded with statistical prevalence data that can distract from the research objective.
The knowledge gap regarding HSI’s role in glycemic progression is not clearly articulated.
Lack of a compelling rationale for why this study is needed now.
2. Methods
The exclusion criteria paragraph is overly long and disrupts the flow of the section.
The rationale for using piecewise Cox regression is not provided in the Methods section.
Key variable definitions (e.g., smoking, alcohol use, family history) are not clearly defined.
Limited discussion of why certain confounding variables (e.g., diet, physical activity) were not
included.
3. Discussion
Repetition of numerical results that were already stated earlier.
The discussion of causality is insufficient—does not clearly state that the study is observational
and cannot infer causal relationships.
Important potential confounders such as diet, exercise, and medication use are not
acknowledged.
The biological mechanisms behind the stronger association between men and lean individuals
are mentioned but not thoroughly explored.
Clinical implications are mentioned but not detailed (i.e., how HSI could be used in screening
or practice).
4. Structural and Style Issues
Absence of a distinct Conclusion section summarizing the main findings and their implications.
Overuse of acronyms without periodic redefinition (e.g., HSI, NAFLD, Pre-DM, FPG, DM,
BMI, ALT, AST, etc.).
Overly dense text in some paragraphs reduces readability and comprehension.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04068-7 (2025)

Title: Non-linear Relationship Between the Hepatic Steatosis Index and Glycemic Progression:
Evidence from a Large-Scale Retrospective Cohort Study in a Chinese Population
Version: 2 Date: 02 Jun 2025
Reviewer:  Anwar Ashraf Abouelnasr
Reviewer's report:
the responses are satisfactory
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04001-y (2025)

Title: Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Necrosectomy in  Patients with Necrotizing Pancreatitis:
Overcoming the Limitations of Traditional Treatment Options
Version: 3 Date: 09 Feb 2025
Reviewer:  Antonio Marmolejo
Reviewer's report:
The value of this study could be demonstrated by some modifications and explanations. The
sample size is very good.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04001-y (2025)

Title: Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Necrosectomy in  Patients with Necrotizing Pancreatitis:
Overcoming the Limitations of Traditional Treatment Options
Version: 3 Date: 23 Feb 2025
Reviewer's report:
Although this is a well documented retrospective series of what the authors call as Laparoscopic
Retroperitoneal Necrosectomy, I feel it is similar to Video assisted retro peritoneal debridement
(VARD).
Nonetheless a series of well described and written 144 patients deserves compliments.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04001-y (2025)

Title: Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Necrosectomy in  Patients with Necrotizing Pancreatitis:
Overcoming the Limitations of Traditional Treatment Options
Version: 7 Date: 31 Mar 2025
Reviewer's report:
The revised manuscript appears complete with the message that LPN is definitely  one of the
valid options in the surgical treatment of patients with acute necrotising pancreatitis. However
out of curiosity, I couldn’t understand how does it differ from the well described VARD
procedure so as to change the name to LRN ?
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04001-y (2025)

Title: Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Necrosectomy in  Patients with Necrotizing Pancreatitis:
Overcoming the Limitations of Traditional Treatment Options
Version: 7 Date: 14 Apr 2025
Reviewer:  Antonio Marmolejo
Reviewer's report:
Thank you for your answers and kind clarifications.
I have a remaining concern about the anterior approach, it does not to be a retroperitoneal
approach.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04001-y (2025)

Title: Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Necrosectomy in  Patients with Necrotizing Pancreatitis:
Overcoming the Limitations of Traditional Treatment Options
Version: 8 Date: 05 May 2025
Reviewer:  Antonio Marmolejo
Reviewer's report:
Thanks for your work. Key modifications have been made.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-04089-2 (2025)

Title: Comparison of Efficacy and Safety Between Surgical and Conservative Treatments for
Hemorrhoids: A Meta-Analysis
Version: 0 Date: 09 Apr 2025
Reviewer:  Marcello Picchio
Reviewer's report:
It is well established that conservative therapy is indicated for grade II-II  hemorrhoids without
complications. When complications, such as thrombosis, arises surgery is the treatment of
choice.
The present meta-analysis compares medical therapy vs surgery for complicated hemarroidal
disease, so that any definitive concluson cannot be supported by the reported results.