Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0679-5 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Hepatitis C virus eradication improves immediate and delayed episodic memory in 
patients treated with interferon and ribavirin  
 
Version: 0 Date: 06 Aug 2017 
 
Reviewer:  Antonio  Solinas  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
The declared aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of sustained virological response, in 
improving neurocognitive function and mood disorders in patients infected with HCV. The 
sequential neuropsychological testing before, during and after therapy w ith PEG -IFN and 
ribavirin showed a significant improvement in patients who achieved a sustained virological 
response. This better performance included the domains of the immediate and delayed episodic 
memory, verbal phonemic fluency, and selective attentio n. This work is well designed and well 
written. It is of note that 11 domains were explored. The relative weakness is the small number 
of non - responders evaluated at the end of the follow -up. In this respect, the comparison between 
groups is underpowered.  In addition, since primary non -responders were excluded, it is 
conceivable that even in the 4 non -responders there was a transient decrease of HCV viremia. 
These issues should be focused in the discussion.  
 
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 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:  
 
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, 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, e ither 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 relatin g 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 interest  
 
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to the editors, which will not be published . 
 
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