Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0416-5 (2016)

Reviewer’s report  
Title: Altered expression levels of occludin, claudin -1 and myosin light chain kinase in the 
common bile duct of pediatric patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction  
 
Version: 0 Date:  27 Aug 2015  
 
Reviewer:  Kenitiro  Kaneko  
Reviewer’s report:  
This is an experimental report to analyze expression  of tight junction -associated proteins in the 
common bile duct epithelium of pediatric patients with pancreaticobiliary malfunction (PBM).  
The authors concluded up -regulation of occludin, claudin -1 and myosin light chain kinase.  This 
must be a new findin g.  However, I have several questions.  
 
Major Comments  
 
1. I read the article several times, but  I do not understand what this finding has a meaning 
in pathophysiology of PBM.  In Introduction, the authors described cholestasis increased 
occluding in some l iterature, but deceased in another reference.  
 
2. Most of controls are from neonates. The obtained difference might be caused by different 
ages.  Neonatal tissues are special, different from tissues of older ages.  However, I know 
how difficult to obtain n ormal common bile ducts. Therefore, at least it is necessary to 
refer to this.  
 
3. You extracted proteins from the whole tissue of the common bile duct.  I wonder how 
amount of connect tissues, which are different between patients and controls, affect the 
results of western blotting.  
 
Minor Comments  
 
4. You should show controls in  Figures of immunohistochemistry .  
 
5. There are many places where spaces are lacking between words.  
 
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 spe cify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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 o r would you recommend 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 Engl ish 
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, consideri ng 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 
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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 to the  content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other fin ancial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests  in relation to this pa per? 
 
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below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
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