Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0801-3 (2018)

Reviewe r’s report  
Title: Recurrent esophageal stricture from previous caustic ingestion tre ated with 40 -year 
selfdilation: case report and review of literature  
 
Version: 0 Date: 19 Sep 2016  
 
Reviewer: Zubin Arora  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This is an interesting case report of self -dilation of esophageal stricture. The manuscript can be 
further improved in the following areas:  
 
1. Needs significant editing and improvement of English language. There are several 
grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the manuscript. At some places, forms of 
words have been used which do not convey the correct meaning. Strongly recommend 
professional language editing service.  
2. Was the patient ever taught how to perform self -dilation? What resources did she use to learn 
how to perform this?  
3. Is there any data in literature about complications resulting out of self -dilation? These also 
deser ve a mention in review of literate. e.g. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00455 -
002-0093 -0 
4. The references are placed haphazardly through the manuscript - at some places they are before 
the full stop ".", at others they are after or at the begin ning of the sentence. Please correct this. 
All references should be at the end of the sentence, before the full stop "."  
 
Are the methods 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 revi ew? 
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
Not relevant to this manuscript  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
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 salary from an  
organisati on 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 manuscrip t, 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 all 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  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my r eport to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
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which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal