Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01843-0 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Integrated Analysis of the Functions and Prognostic Values of RNA
Binding Proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma
Version: 
0 
Date: 
05 Feb 2021
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS: 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a
testable research question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear
objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols)
appropriate for the objective?
No - there are minor issues
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor
to allow confidence in the results?
No - there are minor issues
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Not sure - I am not able to assess the statistics in this study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results
reasonable and not overstated?
No - there are minor issues
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work
technically sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically
sound?
Probably - with minor revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS: 
GENERAL COMMENTS: 
THis is an interesting 
study, based on original database analysis, aiming at using
combinations of RBPs expression levels as markers for HCC grade and stage.
I identified a number of things that should be corrected.
1/ the manuscript will gain in clarity if thoroughly edited for langage and typo
mistakes 
2/ to my knowledge, BRCA1 is not an RNA binding protein. It is regulated
posttranscriptionally by RBPs
3/ it is not clear (to me) how and if different types of HCC (grade, stage, after/ no
treatments etc) have been selected to detect differential expression of RBPs
4/ maybe a schematic presentation of the methodology used could be added to
ease the understanding of the manuscript
REQUESTED REVISIONS: 
check the BRCA1 issue. explain better the design of the methodology-
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS: 
I am not sure that I understood how the statistical analysis have been performed
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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?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
No
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes