Review for 10.1186/s12876-022-02131-1 (2022)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Nomogram to predict cause-specific mortality of patients with rectal
adenocarcinoma undergoing surgery: a competing risk analysis.
Version: 
0 
Date: 
13 Jan 2021
Reviewer's report:
1. The author apply a competing-risk model to decreasing risk of bias and
thereby obtaining more-accurate results and establishing a competing-risk
nomogram for better guiding clinical practice. But this article is not innovative ,
this article has little significance for clinical guidance.
2.There is no appropriate controls, and the conclusions can not be supported by
the evidence presented.
3.The tumor size was categorized into <4cm, 4-8cm, and ≥8cm, and number of
metastatic lymph nodes was classified into 0, 1-3, 4-8, and >8. What is the basis
for stratification?
4.Some variables such as locationthe grade of differentiation degree and CEA
status,which may influence prognosis, were not included in the analysis. 
5. It would be not interesting to general readers for a single difference analysis.
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Declaration of competing interests
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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
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3
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Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the
content of the manuscript?
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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?
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Do you have any other financial competing interests?
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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 interests.
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
No
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
Yes
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes