Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01291-2 (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: A cross -sectional study of nausea in functional abdominal pain: Relation to mucosal mast  
cells and psychological functioning  
 
Version: 1 Date: 11 Nov 2019  
 
Reviewer: Michael Jones  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The au thors have adequately addressed my original comments for the most part. There are just 
two particulars that I believe need attending to:  
 
1. I think the authors misunderstood my comment about adding estimates of uncertainty. I see 
that standard errors have  been added to Tables 2 and 4 whereas my comment specified the 
prevalence values in Table 1 and in the body of the Results text. I would suggest omitting the SE 
added to Tables 2 and 4.  
 
2. The authors have added nonparametric tests to the t -tests which ha d initially been reported, as 
a sensitivity analysis I guess. This is okay although not optimal practice. Why not just report the 
nonparametric tests?  
 
 
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 c ontrols 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 manuscript or would you reco mmend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicat e the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years rece ived reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that 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 s alary 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 a nswer 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  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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