JerMa88/BMC_Gastroenterology_Peer_Reviews huggingface dataset:
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02940-y (2023)

Title: High prevalence of de novo metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease after liver
transplantation and the role of controlled attenuation parameter
Version: 2 Date: 16 Aug 2023
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors
In this study, Mak et al address that High prevalence of de novo metabolic dysfunction-
associated fatty liver disease after liver transplantation and the role of controlled attenuation
parameter. Although NAFLD remains an uncommon primary liver disease indication for LT
in Chinese patients, post-transplant de novo graft steatosis is common and the majority is
classified as MAFLD. Development of graft steatosis is not associated with an increase in graft
fibrosis but was associated with worse metabolic control and graft dysfunction. Routine CAP
measurement to detect de novo graft steatosis should be considered after LT regardless of the
primary indication of LT.
The authors have point-by-point responses to the editorial and reviewer comments and the
revisions are well response to editorial and reviewer comments. The article is well-written and
considered to publish in the BMC Gastroenterology.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02926-w (2023)

Title: Treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia between 2010 and 2020 – a German nation-wide
study
Version: 2 Date: 05 Jun 2023
Reviewer's report:
Overall evaluation:
The main problem with this data is the unvalidated data and the large insecurity of the different
subtypes of acute mesenteric ischaemia. These different subtypes can not be lumped together.
That is why operation is related with poor outcome, since the worst cases need surgery, while
mesenteric venous thrombosis can be managed by anticoagulation alone. You can not mix
acute arterial occlusive ischaemia with mesenteric venous thrombosis with colonic ischaemia
detected at colonoscopy at the outpatient clinic. K55.0 can not be studied without scrutinizing
case records. Why include Acute mesenteric ischaemia as a secondary diagnosis? From the
introduction it seems that the paper was on true primary acute mesenteric ischaemia? If there was
no surgery performed, then nearly 100% of patients with true acute arterial mesenteric ischaemia
would have died. So the outcome of your study can not be translated in a meaningful way.
It is even more unclear why the authors decided to study the influence of COVID-19 on their
data.
The majority of patients with acute mesenteric arterial occlusive disease will not have any
surgery at all, so there is a mismatch related to the results and interpretation of vascular and
surgical management. As you saw the percentage of endovascular and vascular surgery was
extremely small, and had nothing to do with the overall outcomes of this study.
Specific comments:
Abstract.
1. What is vWs?
2. Why don´t you also state that surgery was associated with increased mortality?
3. First wave or first year of COVID-19?
Figures.
Figure 3. 2019 was not a COVID-19 year as it shows in the graph.
Discussion.
Page 9, line 15. Is it controversial that patients undergo visceral surgery instead of vascular
surgery? There is no probability of undergoing vascular surgery in secondary diagnosis.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02926-w (2023)

Title: Treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia between 2010 and 2020 – a German nation-wide
study
Version: 3 Date: 11 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
Revision:
Is it possible for the authors to perform a validation of a random 100 selected hospitalized
patients from the first author´s hospital with the diagnosis K55.0. This table can be inserted in
the Appendix. That would have strengthened this manuscript. It would give a direction on what
diagnoses that actually are studied in this manuscript.
If it is not possible to perform a validation due to fully anonymized data, the authors should
emphasize that in the limitation of the study section.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02926-w (2023)

Title: Treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia between 2010 and 2020 – a German nation-wide
study
Version: 3 Date: 28 Jul 2023
Reviewer:  Martin Altreuther
Reviewer's report:
Thank you for the opportunity to review the revised manuscript.
I am happy with most of the responses and changes in the manuscript, but in my opinion, the
issue regarding the large group of patients who are discharged alive is still not discussed good
enough.
40.7 % of the patients in your study are discharged alive after conservative treatment, and the
diagnosis AMI is therefor unlikely. If you remove this group from your analysis, your figures
will be different, and closer to previously reported figures.
As you see from the example calculation below (figures after removel of the patients where
the diagnosis AMI is unlikely), 55.9 % of the patients where AMI is likely, die in hospital –
which is slightly better than the 60 % you report from your reference, but quite close.  30 % of
the patients where AMI is likely, receive no surgical treatment and die in hospital, while 70 %
receive some form of surgical treatment, of which 65 % visceral surgery and about 9 % some
kind of revascularization.
This indicates that treatment still is for late for most of the patients, and some kind of damage
control (bowel resection) usually is necessary. Whether this is due to patients presenting too late
or due to lack of a revascularization service is impossible to conclude from your data, but in my
opinion, your figures prove that there is a large potential for improvement for this patient group,
which is not expressed clearly enough in your discussion.
All patients 251997 100 %
Discharged alive 168544 66,9 %
Death in hospital 83453 33,1 %
Endovascular 4922  2,0 %
Vascular surgery 8544  3,4 %
Visceral surgery 97042  38,5 %
Conservative treatment 147926 58,7 %
Discharged alive 102634 40,7 % For this group, the diagnosis AMI is unlikely
After removal of the patients where the diagnosis AMI is unlikely.
All patients 149363 100,0 %
Discharged alive 65910 44,1 %
Death in hospital 83453 55,9 %
Endovascular 4922 3,3 %
Vascular surgery 8544 5,7 %
Visceral surgery 97042 65,0 %
Conservative treatment and death in hospital 45292 30,3 %
Specific comments:
Side 10 Line 12-14 You state that revascularization is not possible any more in case of bowel
ischemia, perforation or peritonitis, which is incorrect. It is correct that a necrotic bowel segment
cannot be saved by revascularization, however other segments which are ischemic without
established necrosis may be salvaged by revascularization, even after resection of the necrotic
segments.
Side 10 line 20   “for which any further treatment is unnecessary”. I suggest you consider a
different wording, like …where palliation is the only remaining option, where the patient is
considered inoperable for revascularization or bowel surgery.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02945-7 (2023)

Title: Is empiric proton pump inhibition in patients with symptoms of extraesophageal
gastroesophageal reflux justified?
Version: 1 Date: 17 Jul 2023
Reviewer:  Frank Zerbib
Reviewer's report:
This is an excellent overview on this difficult topic. I fully agree with the message of this
manuscript, which appears to be well balanced. My only suggestion would be
- to give the definition of the so called "LPR" as initially developed by the ENT specialists and
show that there is nothing objective
- to  give a little more details on the techniques developped to detect reflux in the pharynx. These
techniques are not reliable (cf Restech) or, even though validated by some groups, did not show
significant/abnormal pharyngeal reflux. examples of ref:
1 Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017 Jan;29(1). doi: 10.1111/nmo.12909. Epub 2016 Jul 18. PMID:
27424517
2 Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Jul;16(7):1018-1029. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2018.02.001. Epub
2018 Feb 7. PMID: 29427733.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02945-7 (2023)

Title: Is empiric proton pump inhibition in patients with symptoms of extraesophageal
gastroesophageal reflux justified?
Version: 1 Date: 23 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
In this mini review, the authors argued over empiric PPI treatment for extraesophageal reflux
symptoms describing the pathophysiology of EE symptoms in GERD, the limitation of its
accurate diagnosis, and the pros and cons of empiric PPI treatment for EE symptoms. They
concluded that impedance-pH monitoring should be performed for patients having possible
GERD-related EE symptom rather than empiric PPI treatment because the disadvantages of PPI
treatment seem to outweigh the advantages. My comments are as below.
Major comments:
In “Gastroesophageal reflux disease and extraesophageal manifestations”,
The diagnosis of GERD is also defined in Montreal classification and Rome IV. The first
sentence needs to be modified.
Obesity is one of the risk factors of GERD, but it has not been proved whether obesity is the
predominant cause.
In conclusions, it is understanding that PPI trial for possible EE symptoms of GERD do not
have enough evidence to be supported as discussed in this manuscript. However, they cannot
conclude that “The current knowledge suggests that diagnostic testing with pH and impedance
monitoring rather than empiric PPI treatment should be chosen in a higher proportion of patients
presenting with symptoms possibly attributable to EE reflux.”. That is because the diagnosis
of EE in GERD is currently challenging even if using impedance-pH monitoring. Moreover,
there has been little data pertaining to which strategy is more cost effective, diagnostic test-first
strategy or empiric PPIs. The conclusion should be changed completely.
Minor comments:
The manuscript needs to be corrected grammatically.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02885-2 (2023)

Title: The influence of muscle performance and fatigue on prognosis in patients with
compensated liver disease
Version: 2 Date: 06 Feb 2023
Reviewer:  Gloria Sanchez-antolin
Reviewer's report:
The authors  tried to know the impact of muscle function  on prognosis in compensated CLD ,
because it is  not clear.
They only found the cut-off of 14 seconds for the timed up and go test with a significant
correlation with survival (p=0.026), and it was also associated with transplant free survival
(p<0.001).
Perhaps could be useful to know  the blood test data in the patients to correlate better the muscle
test with the liver function test.
But it is a prospective study with a large cohort of patients and I consider interesting  that
researchers and liver clinics could realize the influence of muscle function and sarcopenia in the
prognosis of liver patients and take care about this factor.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02885-2 (2023)

Title: The influence of muscle performance and fatigue on prognosis in patients with
compensated liver disease
Version: 2 Date: 21 Mar 2023
Reviewer's report:
Review
The authors enrolled in a longitudinal study 241 patients with chronic liver disease who were
previously participating in a study about muscle function. The latter was between 2010 and 2014.
The patients were described as "compensated chronic liver disease (Child B/C)"  which is some
how controversial. The parameters and blood tests reported  in Table 1 are much more pertinent
with patients Child A.  The low rate of mortality and LT is also in keeping  with a rather well
compensated population of cirrhotic patients. THE AUTHORS NEED TO CLARIFY THIS
POINT
Patients were followed for 5-6 years and survival or liver transplantation recorded. The number
of events was low and death was not always caused by liver disease.
As a general finding, the authors report that parameters of muscle function and fatigue were
not associated with patient’s outcome (decompensation or survival). Only one association was
found between TUG >14 sec and transplant free survival.
I am not surprise by the results.
1) The patients are different from those usually reported in studies that associate sarcopenia to
low survival.
2) Furthermore, the events are few and the time of observation rather long. In my opinion, when
the time is too long this is not a strength (as stated in discussion). Indeed,  many confounders
may take place in 100 months
3)  It is also difficult to associate parameters at enrollment with events occurring years later. A
patient who was not sarcopenic at basal may change status and become sarcopenic during time
The study should be more in keeping with the results reported which were essentially negative
results. In this light the study needs to be rearranged.
The discussion may underline the three suggested points.   Differences with previous studies
need to be discussed.
There is no justification to use a cut off > 14 seconds (which separates just 3 subjects) This
results about >14 sec need to be removed by the study. Fig 3 should present only top panels.
In Figure 3 Kaplan Meyer analysis require that the patients at risk at each time are reported
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02934-w (2023)

Title: Prevalence of vomiting and nausea and associated factors after chronic and acute gluten
exposure in celiac disease
Version: 1 Date: 24 Jul 2023
Reviewer:  Anil K. Verma
Reviewer's report:
Comment#1: I do not understand the term chronic and acute gluten exposure. Neither their
definition was given. I request an explanation of what is chronic gluten exposure and Acute
gluten re-exposure.
Comment#2: Why a confirmed celiac patient would be subjected to a gluten challenge? Is it a
general diagnostic practice or it was done just to see the impact of gluten exposure in treated
CD patients?
Comment#3: This manuscript is poorly organized. The Material and Methods section contains
the results of the study. Please shift the result part in the result section.
Comment#4: Study analysis looks like an expansion of Material and methods it should come
just after methods.
Comment#5: Please Mention the full form of SPSS
Comment#6: In the whole methodology, Chronic gluten exposure and   Acute gluten re-exposure
section. I did not find how gluten exposure was given to patients; or how much gluten was
provided to consume. In the absence of this data, I cannot comment on the results.
Comment#7: The conclusions of the study should also provide the precise prevalence of both
the conditions estimated from the study.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02946-6 (2023)

Title: Multicentre prospective study to evaluate effectiveness and safety of gel-forming
and hyaluronic-acid containing chewable tablets as add-on treatment in patients with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and unsatisfying proton pump inhibitor
therapy.
Version: 0 Date: 17 Apr 2023
Reviewer's report:
Dear Editors and authors,
The manuscript entitled “Multicentre prospective study to evaluate effectiveness and safety of
gel-forming and hyaluronic-acid containing chewable tablets as add-on to proton pump inhibitor
therapy in the treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms”
reported that Sobrade® can be used as an add-on treatment in PPI therapy of refractory GERD.
However, there are many concerns as follows;
1. Apart from open-label and uncontrolled study, the main limitation of this study was very short
follow-up time at 2 weeks. Not only the adverse events, but the tolerability and compliance of
patients were unable to be assessed at this short period of follow-up time. Why did the authors
decide to follow-up at 2 weeks?
2. Is this the first study to assess the efficacy of Sobrade® in patients with refractory GERD?
If yes, please state in the manuscript.
3. The introduction part was too long. It can be shorted by omit the detail of general GERD
treatment. Please re-consider.
4. There are many sentences that need the reference. For example, “Sobrade® chewable tablet is
a preparation with a solely physical mode of action and classified as a medical device of lowest
risk (Class 1).”, “It prevents the esophageal mucosa from further GERD induced damages by
a bioadhesive coating through xanthan and carbomer whereby the comprised hyaluronic acid
supports the healing process.” and “However, the low risk product characteristic and the absence
of any adverse events,…”, etc. Please re-check through the manuscript.
5. What is the current indication for using Sobrade®?
6. The data of figures and table was redundant and duplicated. For instant, the data of Table 2
was overlapped to the data of Figure 1 and 2. Please choose either 1 table or 2 figures. Moreover,
the bar chart of figure 3 and 4 can be merged and the information was similar to Table 3.
7. Please provide the definition of correlation in the statistical method. What dose the r2: 0.65
mean? Highly correlation?
8. The first paragraph of discussion part was overlapped to introduction part.
9. The discussion and conclusion part were too long. Please consider shorten.
10. Some words need to be written in full eg. Tab. 2, Fig. 2.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02946-6 (2023)

Title: Multicentre prospective study to evaluate effectiveness and safety of gel-forming
and hyaluronic-acid containing chewable tablets as add-on treatment in patients with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and unsatisfying proton pump inhibitor
therapy.
Version: 1 Date: 12 May 2023
Reviewer's report:
Dear Authors,
There has been no definition of "unsatisfied GERD". It is difficult to conduct the study in patients
with unclear definition of disease as the outcome measurement is not relevant . Moreover, these
important sentences still have no citation in the manuscript "Sobrade® chewable tablet is a
preparation with a solely physical mode of action and classified as a medical device of lowest
risk (Class 1). It prevents the esophageal mucosa from further GERD induced damages by
a bioadhesive coating through xanthan and carbomer whereby the comprised hyaluronic acid
supports the healing process. Thus, it acts as a symptomatically treatment by exerting efficient
protection of the esophageal mucosa and supports the re-epithelization of irritated areas.".
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02946-6 (2023)

Title: Multicentre prospective study to evaluate effectiveness and safety of gel-forming
and hyaluronic-acid containing chewable tablets as add-on treatment in patients with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and unsatisfying proton pump inhibitor
therapy.
Version: 1 Date: 28 Jun 2023
Reviewer's report:
Thank you for your revision.
I only have several more comments:
1.  Introduction:
The pathophysiology behind this disorder is complex (5). However, the reflux of acidic stomach
content up the esophagus towards the mouth is the most important factor (1, 6).
The above statement did not appear to reflect the pathophysiology of GERD. Please explain
briefly in a  more specific, scientific and clinical way.
2. Sobrade® chewable tablet is a preparation with a solely physical mode of action and classified
as a medical device of lowest risk (Class 1).
There should be some references that can be cite in order to understand more of the content and
support the 'device'. ? from the approved official National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency?
Any reference for the essential active ingredient that has studied before for GERD? in vivo?
in vitro?
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02946-6 (2023)

Title: Multicentre prospective study to evaluate effectiveness and safety of gel-forming
and hyaluronic-acid containing chewable tablets as add-on treatment in patients with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and unsatisfying proton pump inhibitor
therapy.
Version: 2 Date: 18 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
Thank you the authors for their clarification. Although, this study is a non-interventional design,
they can set the inclusion criteria that compatible with refractory GERD in their protocol to
include only patients who met the standard criteria. As I mention earlier,  it is difficult to convey
the result of this study to clinical practice as the included patients were not standardized.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02946-6 (2023)

Title: Multicentre prospective study to evaluate effectiveness and safety of gel-forming
and hyaluronic-acid containing chewable tablets as add-on treatment in patients with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and unsatisfying proton pump inhibitor
therapy.
Version: 2 Date: 30 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
Thank you for your revision.
I have no further comment.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02886-1 (2023)

Title: Transhepatectomy combined with arterial chemoembolization and transcatheter arterial
chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a clinical prognostic analysis
Version: 0 Date: 09 Mar 2023
Reviewer's report:
It is very honored to be invited the reviewing the manuscript entitled “Analysis of clinical
efficacy of transhepatectomy combined with arterial chemoembolization and transcatheter
arterial chemoembolization alone in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma”. Some of the
problems should be solved.
Firstly, in the introduction part, the authors should focuses more on the current therapy option
of HCC (the following studies may be helpful : doi: 10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_503_19; doi: 10.4103/
jcrt.JCRT_504_19).
Secondly, the innovation of the article is low. The conclusion seems to have been studied. I
recommend that the author build the nomogram diagram and calculate the C index based on the
existing data (doi: 10.4103/aja2021102).
Thirdly, I found many grammatical mistakes.
Fourthly, the author should highlight the clinical significance of their study.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02886-1 (2023)

Title: Transhepatectomy combined with arterial chemoembolization and transcatheter arterial
chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a clinical prognostic analysis
Version: 0 Date: 06 May 2023
Reviewer's report:
This is a retrospective multicenter study of patients treated for HCC with hepatectomy with
TACE or TACE alone between June 2016 and July 2021. The aim of this study is to compare
LR+TACE and TACE alone in the treatment of early HCC. Overall survivals were compared,
and risk factors related with OS were analysed. This manuscript is very concise and easy to read.
However, this study raises several major concerns:
1. The author mentioned the comparison of early hepatocellular carcinoma treatment in the
background of the abstract as the goal of this study. However, the conclusion of this study is
not a comparison of treatments in early-stage HCC. In addition, a description of the definition
of early stage HCC is needed in this study.
2. Overall survival is the primary endpoint in this study, However, to compare the effectiveness
of different two treatment methods, recurrence rate and recurrent free survival outcomes in two
groups should be presented along with OS.
3. This study is a multicenter study participating various tertiary hospitals in China. If possible,
can authors present all participating institutions? In addition, can authors present whether patient
data export from each institution has been approved by each institution?
4. The types of surgery (eg. Major vs mino LR or anatomical vs non-anatomical LR) are
important factor in determining the long-term survival rate of HCC patients. If the authors
present the types of hepatic resection in the LR+TACE group, they will be able to provide helpful
information for evaluating the efficacy of LR+TACE compared to TACE alone.
5. I recommend show the variables used for PSM. This will increase the reliability of the PSM
used in this study. Also, instead of cut-off values (Number of tumors # 2, Tumor size # 5 cm),
it is necessary to present tumor characteristics in baseline characteristics such as tumor size,
tumor number and location. And These tumor characteristics should be used as an variables for
matching.
6. In baseline patient characteristics, 123 (11.4%) and 164 (15.0%) of HCC patients according
to BCLC A and B respectively received only TACE rather than surgical treatment. Readers are
likely wondering why these patients only received TACE instead of liver resection.
7. First paragraph of the Discussion: “The most typical therapies for people with early liver
cancer are hepatectomy and TACE[11]” This may confuse the reader. In early-stage HCC,
the current BCLC guideline's first-line treatment is resection, ablation, or transplant. This
description seems inappropriate because it can mislead readers into thinking that TACE can be
included in the first treatment option for early stage HCC.
8. Did the patients included in this study receive other postoperative adjuvant treatments other
than TACE?
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02886-1 (2023)

Title: Transhepatectomy combined with arterial chemoembolization and transcatheter arterial
chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a clinical prognostic analysis
Version: 2 Date: 12 Jun 2023
Reviewer's report:
Thanks to the authors for all the replies to comments and related corrections.
This will help to make this manuscript more logical and clear to the readers.
I have no additional comments
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02939-5 (2023)

Title: Relapse rate and predictors of relapse after cessation of glucocorticoid maintenance
therapy in type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis: a multicenter retrospective study
Version: 2 Date: 21 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
I have read with interest the article from Kiyoshita et al on relapse rate of AIP patients after
glucocorticoids withdrawal. The article is of interest as it covers a gap in the literature as the
need for maintenance therapy is still debated and its role in preventing relapse after withdrawal
is unknown. The authors report a relapse rate of  almost50% after treatment withdrawal that
is unrelated to the lenght of manteinance treatment.  Most of relapses occured within 1 year
from GC withrawal. Interestingly, elevated serum IgG4 level at the time of treatment withdrawal
represented the only independent risk factor for AIP relapse.
I have few comments:
- introduction could be shortened and english language slightly improved;
- ref 12 basically provide evidence for the relapse rate after GC withdrawal (page 7 line 8-9),
so this should be rephrased.
- can the authors provide data on the prevalence of endocrine and exocrine insufficiency at
baseline and at follow up? Is there any differences among the three groups?
- were all patients in complete remission at the time of GC withdrawal?
- is there a linear trend between the lenght of maintenance treatment and relapse rate (time to
event analysis with lenght of GC therapy as covariate without clustering in the three groups).
- is the median cumulative GC dose-per patient available in the three groups?
- the first paragraph of the result session could be shortened as many of the lines refer to Table
1 and it is quite redundant to report each feature.
- can the authors compare and report the  time to relapse with KM analysis within the three
stratus?
- i would cancelled the serum IgG4 level at the diagnosis from the multivariate analysis as it
could be colinear with the igg4 level at GC cessation. On the contrary, i would add 'previous
relapses' to this analysis.
- typo in table 2 (should be > 36 months and not '<').
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02939-5 (2023)

Title: Relapse rate and predictors of relapse after cessation of glucocorticoid maintenance
therapy in type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis: a multicenter retrospective study
Version: 2 Date: 25 Jul 2023
Reviewer:  María Sánchez-Castañón
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors:
It would be appropiate to include in the clinical characteristics of the  patients, the serum
IgG levels and the presence/ausence of hypergammaglonulinemia and the  histopathological
Features. Do you have studied the presence of autoantibodies associated with AIP, such as
anti-carbonic anhydrase II, anti-pancreas secretory trypsin inhibitor (anti-PSTI) or anti-amylase
alpha antibodies ?  to include  these data in the paper.
In the results, It would be appropiate to   include in the multivariate analysis ,     elevated serum
IgG levels,  presence of hypergammaglobulinemia, presence of autoantibodies an number of
extrapancreatic lessions.
Regarding the treatment,  patients  have received any other  therapy?
Regarding the relapse,  has any patient developed cancer?
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02939-5 (2023)

Title: Relapse rate and predictors of relapse after cessation of glucocorticoid maintenance
therapy in type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis: a multicenter retrospective study
Version: 3 Date: 06 Aug 2023
Reviewer:  María Sánchez-Castañón
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors thank you for considering my comments.
I have review the paper and I consider it suitable for publication
Kind regards
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02937-7 (2023)

Title: Oncologic relevance of genetic alterations in sporadic synchronous and solitary colorectal
cancer: a retrospective multicenter study
Version: 3 Date: 16 May 2023
Reviewer:  Tadahiko Masaki
Reviewer's report:
This study compared genetic alterations between sporadic and synchronous CRC, and attempted
to clarify its oncological implication. The authors succeeded on this point to some extent,
however, there are still some problems as shown below.
1. Results: The authors should describe the actual data of genetic mutations stratified by tumor
location using adquate Tables.
2. The authors claimed in Discussion section that the association between genetic mutations and
the prognosis of synchronous CRC patients remains unclear and is open to debate. Yes, that's
true.  In Dicussion section , they should discuss on this point in more details instead of citing lots
of previous publications. This reviewer believes that this discussion will improve the scientific
value of this paper.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02937-7 (2023)

Title: Oncologic relevance of genetic alterations in sporadic synchronous and solitary colorectal
cancer: a retrospective multicenter study
Version: 3 Date: 16 Jun 2023
Reviewer's report:
Thank you for the manuscript regarding Oncologic relevance of genetic alterations in sporadic
synchronous and solitary colorectal cancer. The article is devoted to an actual topic, namely the
significance of genetic changes in genes in synchronous and solitary tumors in patients with
colorectal cancer. The research carried out is undoubtedly interesting. However, there are some
clarifications and questions.
1. Why exons 3 and 4 of the gene were not studied of KRAS gene? It is need to be clarified
in the article.
2. Did all patients with MSI it have the BRAF mutation? It is not clear from the text of the
article, it is necessary to clarify
In general, the article can be accepted for publication after some clarifications.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02936-8 (2023)

Title: The efficacy of non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation with
a target- controlled infusion system during double-balloon endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography
Version: 1 Date: 09 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
On page 5, Materials and Methods, paragraph 1, line3:
Authors should clarify what is 'Child' altered anatomy, explicitly.
On Page 9, Discussion Paragraph 1, lines 4-5:
In multivariate logistic regression, propofol's odd ratio (OR=0.06; CI=0.01~0.58) is significantly
less than 1 statistically. The author should explain propofol with TCI as a protective factor
against poor sedation events.
On Page 11, Paragraph 2:
According to the sedation protocol, the dosage of sedative agents (propofol or diazepam) is
higher in the younger age group (<70). The issue should be discussed.
On Page 11, Paragraph  3, line4:
Is 'Boras dose' a typing error of 'bolus dose'?
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02936-8 (2023)

Title: The efficacy of non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation with
a target- controlled infusion system during double-balloon endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography
Version: 1 Date: 10 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
1. This is an article with clinical practicability to solve all therapeutic endoscopy relating pain
relief and anesthesia. Especially, we performed the ERCP in patients of altered anatomy treating
difficult biliary and pancreatic tract diseases.
2. Does the author compares the DB-ERCP examination between “diazepam sedation” and
“propofol sedation” in this article, is there any difference in the procedure-related success rate,
length of time and pancreatitis?
3. Based on your ERCP experience and knowledge, is there a difference in clinical operation
difficulty and success rate between the use of SB-ERCP (single balloon) and DB-ERCP (double
balloon)?
what are the advantages and disadvantages of the two?  such as: easy to do, saving time, complex
altered anatomy….
4. Could the author not only describe the anesthesia medication and process of diazepam sedation
and propofol sedation in wording, but also add the Flow Chart as a figure, which will make it
easier to understand and deepen the reader's impression
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02936-8 (2023)

Title: The efficacy of non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation with
a target- controlled infusion system during double-balloon endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography
Version: 2 Date: 06 Aug 2023
Reviewer's report:
There are three questions in the previous review . The author had given a good  answer and
explanation .   Thank a lot.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02936-8 (2023)

Title: The efficacy of non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation with
a target- controlled infusion system during double-balloon endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography
Version: 2 Date: 09 Aug 2023
Reviewer's report:
The reviewer suggests the author change the term 'poor sedation' for the primary outcome. The
authors define poor sedation as the need for additional medication in addition to the pre-setted
protocol (propofol+TCI v.s. Diazepam). 'Poor sedation' may mislead the reader as the patient
was suffering during DB-ERCP; in contrast, it means the need for additional medication to keep
their sedation target (RSS 5-6. )
Page 11, paragraph 3, line 10:
The TCI utilizes patient parameters and controls the brain's propofol level of targeted drug
concentration. Could the TCI in the study monitor the blood concentration in real-time?
The author demonstrates the protocols of the diazepam and the propofol group in Figure 2
and Figure 3. Their process flow diagrams are not easy for readers to appreciate the sedation
processes. The reviewer suggests the author rearrange the flow chart for a more explicit
demonstration of their protocols.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02936-8 (2023)

Title: The efficacy of non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation with
a target- controlled infusion system during double-balloon endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography
Version: 3 Date: 25 Aug 2023
Reviewer's report:
The authors have responded to the asked questions comprehensively.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02936-8 (2023)

Title: The efficacy of non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation with
a target- controlled infusion system during double-balloon endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography
Version: 3 Date: 27 Aug 2023
Reviewer's report:
There are three questions in the previous review . The author had given a good answer /correction
and reflection .
I will accept that.
Thank a lot.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02930-0 (2023)

Title: Evaluation of ITGB1 Expression as a Predictor of the Therapeutic Effects of Immune
Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastric Cancer
Version: 1 Date: 26 Jan 2023
Reviewer's report:
In this study, the authors aimed toexplore the prognostic value of #1 integrin (ITGB1) and its
relationship with immune infiltration of the gastric region cancer.  The conclusions of this study
suggest that ITGB1 may be a promising prognostic biomarker and effective predictor for anti-
PD1 therapy in GC. There are obvious defects in this study.
1. There have been many reports on ITGB1 and immune of gastric cancer, so this study does
not show obvious innovation.
2. The authors did not explore the molecular mechanism of ITGB1 in regulating immune
infiltration of gastric cancer.
3. The sample collected by the author is too limited to verify the accuracy of data in the database.
4. The English level of this manuscript should be carefully revised.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02930-0 (2023)

Title: Evaluation of ITGB1 Expression as a Predictor of the Therapeutic Effects of Immune
Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastric Cancer
Version: 1 Date: 22 Mar 2023
Reviewer's report:
The paper named “Evaluation of ITGB1 Expression as a Predictor of the Therapeutic Effects of
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastric Cancer” conducted by Xu et al. has been evaluated. I
think this study has certain innovation and clinical significance. In this study, the author found
that “ITGB1 may be a promising prognostic biomarker and effective predictor for anti-PD1
therapy in GC.”. However, some obvious limitations impair the overall quality. Before it is
suitable for publication, I suggest the author make substantive modifications.
1. I noticed that some of the figures have a low resolution which makes them hard to read. I
would suggest that the authors increase the resolution of these figures, which would make them
easier to read and understand. This would also make it easier for readers to fully understand the
results and make use of it. I believe that increasing the resolution of these figures would greatly
improve the manuscript.
2. Some previous studies have used similar bioinformatics or statistical methods. Although
it will lose some innovation, I think it will benefit the reader if the authors could include
the following references, which would provide readers with a more complete understanding
of the whole study: doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.680369; doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87540-0; doi:
10.1038/s41598-022-07070-1; doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.627508 ....
3. Detailed description of all method sections is required.
4. State the * and statistic value in the method section or otherwise mention in every figure
legend. e.g., *p>0.05.
5. Check the reference style and abbreviation of journals.
6. Some typos are there; rectify those (Major).
7. In fact, ITGB1 has been explored in GC. The author should highlight the innovation of the
article
8. Please evaluated the single-cell expression pattern of ITGB1 in GC microenvironment based
on open-accessed projects like TISCH.
9. Can the author predict the impact of ITGB1 on immunotherapy for gastric cancer using TIDE
algorithm?
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02930-0 (2023)

Title: Evaluation of ITGB1 Expression as a Predictor of the Therapeutic Effects of Immune
Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastric Cancer
Version: 1 Date: 17 Apr 2023
Reviewer's report:
This article introduces ITGB1 expression as a predictor of the therapeutic effect of immune
checkpoint inhibitors in gastric cancer.There are some suggestions for the author.
1.This article only collects data from 14 patients treated with PD1 inhibitors, which is not
convincing.
2. In vitro cell experiments can be used to verify the predictive effect of ITGB1 in gastric cancer
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02928-8 (2023)

Title: Association between tea consumption and colorectal cancer: a systematic review and
meta-analysis of a population-based study
Version: 1 Date: 21 Jun 2023
Reviewer's report:
The pooled estimate for the effect of tea consumption on CRC risk has intensively reported by
the WCRF report and another recent comprehensive meta-analysis (https://www.nature.com/
articles/s41467-021-24861-8). Therefore, the current work did not contribute to any new
findings.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02928-8 (2023)

Title: Association between tea consumption and colorectal cancer: a systematic review and
meta-analysis of a population-based study
Version: 1 Date: 08 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
Employing a systemic review and meta-analysis, the authors have investigated the association
between tea consumption and colorectal cancer. Tea consumption showed no effect on colorectal
cancer. Although the topic is interesting there are several limitations:
1. Abstract: include data sources; study eligibility criteria, participants, study evaluation and
synthesis methods; results; limitations; conclusions and implications of key findings
2. It would be useful if the authors mentioned how they combined the results of observational
studies with the results of a RCT study.
3. Describe clearly all information sources (e.g., databases, contact with study authors, reference
of previous review articles, etch).
4. Include inclusion and exclusion criteria in more details.
5. Were the results extracted from the healthy participants or the patient’s population?
6. The table of characteristics of included studies should be add.
7. The table of meta-analysis based on several subgroups should be add.
8. The table of quality of studies should be listed.
9. There is not sufficient synthesis of the results.
10. The discussion section is overly long and does not explain the findings reported in this study
well.
11. The conclusion should be more conservative because of the limited evidence here.
12. The paper should be revised by a native speaker regarding its English writing and grammar.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02928-8 (2023)

Title: Association between tea consumption and colorectal cancer: a systematic review and
meta-analysis of a population-based study
Version: 2 Date: 02 Aug 2023
Reviewer's report:
Dear Editor,
Thank you for considering me as a reviewer for the manuscript.
I am sorry to say that the authors have not adequately addressed the main critical comments
raised in my previous review. Please review the previous comments and ensure that a careful
response is provided to each comment.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02928-8 (2023)

Title: Association between tea consumption and colorectal cancer: a systematic review and
meta-analysis of a population-based study
Version: 4 Date: 17 Aug 2023
Reviewer's report:
I think that the authors have adequately addressed the comments made by the reviewers in the
revised version of the manuscript. Therefore, I have no further comments.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02927-9 (2023)

Title: TRIM69: A Marker of Metastasis and Potential Sensitizer to 5-Fluorouracil and PD-1
Blockers in Colon Adenocarcinoma
Version: 1 Date: 02 Jun 2023
Reviewer:  Samira Shabani
Reviewer's report:
The overall style of the manuscript is good I suggest promote the abstract part which needs more
explanation to show the manuscript importance. For example in method part explain about the
statically analysis. Conclusion is very short.
The manuscript has some grammatically mistake:
Please
Downloading of mRNA expression
Sequencing data for COAD patients
The sample size is 31 patient it was better to involve more patients
Table legends 1-2needs more explanation
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02927-9 (2023)

Title: TRIM69: A Marker of Metastasis and Potential Sensitizer to 5-Fluorouracil and PD-1
Blockers in Colon Adenocarcinoma
Version: 1 Date: 16 Jun 2023
Reviewer's report:
1. The work by He et al aims to demonstrate that high TRIM69 expression has the potential to
enhance tumor sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockers
in COAD, but the evidence is unfortunately insufficient. The overall research work is relatively
simple. The authors only analyzed the correlation between the IC50 value of 5-fluorouracil, IPSs
of PD-1 blockers and the expression of TRIM69. However, there is a lack of direct experimental
evidence and clinical data to support its conclusions, that TRIM69 expression can affect drug
resistance.
2. In the second result, the authors analyzed the relationship between TRIP69 expression and
immune cell infiltration. Why did not analyze the correlation between T cells and TRIM69
expression? T cells play a crucial role in immunity.
3. Figure 1I-J did not show an association between TRIM69 expression and overall survival
(OS) or disease-free survival (DFS). Does it suggest that TRIM69 is of little clinical value in
COAD patients?
4. In Figure 6B, the authors should show how many samples were used for immunohistochemical
staining, and whether the TRIM69 expression was related to the clinical characteristics of the
COAD patients.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02933-x (2023)

Title: Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy combined with non-Doppler hemorrhoidal artery
ligation for the treatment of grade III/IV hemorrhoids: A single centre retrospective study
Version: 2 Date: 09 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
First, authors should be congratulated for this work. Hemorrhoids commonly presents with
painless rectal bleeding with or without prolapse. Herein, the proposed work compares the
open hemorrhoidectomy alone with open hemorrhoidectomy + hemorrhoidal artery ligation
(manually identified; non doppler).
Introduction: language edit "was the main reason why patients were afraid of this surgery and
unwilling to undertake it "
Methods
Results: how the patient satisfaction was assessed ?questionnaire; I feel that telephonic
conversation will be more about constipation, bleeding but not about recurrence as it may need
examination.
Discussion: would you cite a reference/s for "These results indicated that the combined operation
on the basis of hemorrhoid resection and HAL could block the hemorrhoid blood supply, locally
cause a chronic inflammatory reaction, produce tissue fibrosis, make the mucous membrane and
submucosal supporting tissue adhesion and fixation, and reduce the postoperative recurrence
rate, and improve patient satisfaction. At the same time, this combined operation can reduce
postoperative pain, which may be related to lifting the rectal mucosa above the internal
hemorrhoids after HAL, reducing the degree of prolapse of internal hemorrhoids, and thus
reducing the surgical incision for MMH."
One of the limitations should be being a "retrospective" study.
Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02933-x (2023)

Title: Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy combined with non-Doppler hemorrhoidal artery
ligation for the treatment of grade III/IV hemorrhoids: A single centre retrospective study
Version: 3 Date: 22 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
Comments to the Author
Thank you for your appropriate response to most of my previous comments.
I would appreciate it if you could modify just a few points listed below.
Minor comments:
--- Since the sentence of lines 11 and 12 on page 1 have nothing to compare, you should change
“compare” to “evaluate”.
---The method for evaluating “satisfaction” should be stated in “Methods”. Therefore, why not
modify it as follows?
Suggested text;
Follow-up was conducted by telephone or outpatient at 12 months to assess the recurrence
(prolapse or bleeding) rate and patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was evaluated on a 5-
point scale of very dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, normal, somewhat satisfied, and very
satisfied. “Satisfaction” was defined as the sum of somewhat satisfied and very satisfied.