Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0474-8 (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Prognostic significance of synergistic hexokinase -2 and beta2 -adrenergic receptor 
expression in human hepatocelluar carcinoma after curative resection  
 
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Nov 2015  
 
 
Reviewer: Yuki  Ohya  
 
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Major Revisions  
 
     In this article, the authors performed immunohistochemistry for Beta2AR and H K2 in HCC 
tissues. And, the authors evaluated the Beta2AR and HK2 in HCC prognosis. HCC is one of the 
common causes of death cancer. And, it's important to predict prognosis of HCC. However, it 
has been reported that Beta2HR and HK2 were prognosis marker i n HCC. Although the authors 
showed strong positive correlation between Beta2AR and HK2, the mechanism of this 
correlation is unclear. If the author could show the double stain of Beta2AR and HK2, it would 
be helpful to show the relation of Beta2AR and HK2.  As the authors said, they used only 
immunohistochemistry. It is difficult to say that combination therapy of targeting Beta2HR and 
HK2 are a promising strategy for HCC.  
 
 
Minor Revisions  
 
     Figure 2 has same size of circles. It is difficult to see the distribution of the samples. The size 
of circles should depend on the number of the samples.  
 
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.  
 
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 require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the ma nuscript:  
 
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, 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 com peting 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 interests'  
 
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