Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-1136-4 (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Liver fibrosis and accelerated immune dysfunction (immu nosenescence) among 
HIVinfected Russians with heavy alcohol consumption - An observational cross -sectional 
study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 24 Apr 2019  
 
Reviewer: Xiaogang Xiang  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
In this paper, the authors investigated the relationship between advanced liver 
fibrosis/cirrhosis and senescent T -cell phenotypes among recent drinkers with HIV. T cell 
phenotypes and liver fibrosis results at baseline were collected in two cohorts with 1 30 
subjects. They found there were 25 cases (19%) with advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and 
there was no significant association between advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and senescent T 
cell phenotypes.  
 
 
Major points:  
 
1. The authors mentioned that adva nced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was defined as having FIB -4 
score &gt;3.25, APRI score ≥1.5 or Fibroscan result ≥10.5 kPa, however, the mean Fibroscan 
result in these advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis patients was only 8 kpa (the normal range is 
2-7 kpa),  i s there any correlation between Fibroscan result and FIB -4 score or APRI score in 
these patients?  
 
2. There are only 25 subjects of advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis in the two cohorts which is 
too small to make solid conclusion.  
 
3. Among all the 25 alcoh ol consumers with HIV, what's the degrees and frequencies of 
alcohol consumption? Is there any influence on the T cell phonotypes?  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well de scribed?  
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.  
 
Yes 
 
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 manus cript or w ould you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, p lease speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
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, f ees, funding, or 
salary from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from 
the publica tion of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2.  Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat 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 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 you r reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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