Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01366-0 (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Small intestinal microbiota composition and the prog nosis of infants with ileostomy 
resulting from distinct primary diseases  
 
Version: 3 Date: 14 Apr 2020  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
In the present revised manuscript, the authors have largely addressed my previous concerns. The 
following two points remain:  
 
1. Page 7, lines 145 -148. The observed differences w ere not statistically significant, hence the 
statement "somewhat lower/higher" is problematic. It would be more adequate to refer to "non -
significant differences".  
 
2. Table 2. Despite my previously raised concern, the authors still fail to describe whethe r and 
how p values for Bifibacterium and Streptococcus were adjusted for multiple testing. This is 
fundamentally important given the alpha inflation when looking at multiple bacterial genera. If 
no p value adjustment was performed, the according statement on p.2 lines 32 -33 is misleading 
and would need to be reworded.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well desc ribed?  
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 manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy 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 manuscr ipt: 
 
Acceptable  
 
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, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation 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 manuscript, either n ow 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 t o 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 int erests' 
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 understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the ma nuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
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CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal