Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0615-8 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Serum albumin, a good indicator of persistent organ failure in acute pancreatitis  
 
Version: 1 Date: 27 Nov 2016  
 
Reviewer: Tianquan Han  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
BMGE -D-16-00312R1  
 
The manuscript by Shoukang Li, et al studied the indicator of persistent organ failure in acute 
pancreatitis with 158 patients of acute pancreatitis through uni - and multi - variate Logistic 
regres sion. The value of study might be limited for the reason as followed.  
 
 
 
1 Organ failure was included only cardiovascular failure, which is shock, respiratory failure and 
renal failure. And hepatic dysfunction, coagulation dysfunction, nerve and mental disor ders and 
others were not involved.  
 
 
2 This study have the sample with 158 cases somewhat less and is short of the patients without 
acute pancreatitis as control group.  
 
 
3 The indicator serum albumin is one test of liver function only.  
 
 
4 As recognized by a uthors lower serum albumin was found not only in acute pancreatitis 
patients with possessive organ failure but also in the progress of many diseases such as cancer, 
infection and inflammation. It is a common dictator and not specific for possessive organ f ailure.  
 
 
5 Lower albumin in serum should be the result of organ failure not only an indicator.  
 
 
6 And the treatment for acute pancreatitis could have effect on serum albumin.  
 
 
7 In the process of diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis the tests woul d be done include 
liver function, cardiac function, respiratory function and others. So the possessive organ failure 
could be recognized as early as possible.  
 
So the manuscript would be not suitable for BMGE.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please speci fy 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.  
 
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 or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects re quire further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Not suit able for publication unless extensively edited  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of compe ting 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 relatin g 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 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 completing interests.  
 
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