Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0884-x (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  ASCA and ANCA among Bedouin Arabs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the 
Frequency and Phenotype Correlation  
 
Version: 0 Date:  29 Mar 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Steven T  Leach  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
The study objective was to investigate the frequency of ASCA and ANCA detection in Bedouin 
Arab IB D patients. Overall this is a simple report of a very specific IBD population and therefore 
the scope of the study, and interest in the results, are limited. There are several issues that need to 
be addressed  
 
* The detailed description of Montreal classifi cation is redundant. A reference to the 
Montreal classification publication should be sufficient  
 
* More detail of ASCA and ANCA ELISA's are required, e.g. additional details of 
manufactures, what is the limit of sensitivity of the assays?  
 
* Provide more d etails of the MPO and PR3 analysis  
 
* How was ASCA/ANCA positive defined? Is the definition of ASCA/ANCA positive 
used in this study validated against previously published studies?  
 
* Table 1 should include the statistical comparisons between the CD and UC  groups    
 
* Page 7 Line 44 "We found that ASCA positive CD patients are younger and the age at 
diagnosis was lower". The p value for age was 0.65 and the p value for age at diagnosis 
was 0.89. These p values show that ASCA positive and negative patients a re of 
equivalent age, and equivalent age at diagnosis. The above statement is misleading and 
should be removed.  
 
* Overall the writing can be improved including consistent use of acronyms once 
introduced  
 
* Page 9 lines 39 -51. There is discussion of previou s studies but no references to these 
previous studies have been provided.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is re commended, 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 indicate 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 received 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 salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for pa tents 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  
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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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