Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0836-5 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Children with cyclic vomiting syndrome: phenotypes, di sease burden and mitochondrial 
DNA analysis  
 
Version: 1 Date: 17 Apr 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Thangam  Venkatesan  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
Please include all comment s for the authors in this box rather than uploading your report as an 
attachment. Please only upload as attachments annotated versions of manuscripts, graphs, 
supporting materials or other aspects of your report which cannot be included in a text format.  
 
Please overwrite this text when adding your comments to the authors.  
 
The authors have made substantive revisions to the manuscript based on reviewer and editorial 
comments. The main value of the paper is that it is a descriptive study of CVS in the Han 
Chinese population.  However, there are certain issues that need to be addressed prior to 
publication.  
 
1. There are some discrepancies in the reports of how people were treated during hospitalization.  
For instance, the authors state that there was no delay in care and that all patients received 
hydration and supportive care.  However, they also state that only 25 of 42 patients received IV 
fluids in the tertiary hospital. Please reconcile and explain work flow between the local hospital 
and tertiary care cen ter. 
 
2. The authors state that time of onset of episodes was stereotypic: please specify the exact time 
or time range.  
 
3. The conclusions at the end of the manuscript are not in line with the findings of the paper.  
 
The authors state that pediatric CVS  causes stress to patients and family.  While this is obvious, 
this paper did not assess stress using any validated tool.  I would suggest that the conclusions 
section be expanded and revised appropriately to reflect their findings.  
 
4. There are also sev eral errors in both grammar and syntax throughout the paper. I would 
suggest that the authors seek some professional help to rectify these  
 
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.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
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 recommended, please specify what aspects require 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 manuscr ipt: 
 
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 fro m 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 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 I have no competing interests.  
 
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