Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01510-w (2020)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Characterization of Gut Microbiota Associated with Clinical Parameters in
Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Version: 
0 
Date: 
16 Jan 2020
Reviewer: 
Jian-She Wang
Reviewer's report:
Li et al, in manuscript "characterization of gut microbiota associated with
clinical parameters in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnant (ICP) patients"
describied the gut microbiota difference of ICP from normal preganancy as
controls. Generally, the manuscript is not well prepared in consideration of the
table format and lots of writting errors.
Major:
1. To observe the microbiota changes, if a longitudinal obeservation can be add,
that will be much better than only a cross-section study.
2. The last sentence of the conclusion in the Abstract, "These alterations may be
... in the progression of ICP" is not supported by the results listed in the abstract.
3. In the last paragraph of the background, Line 13-19,"we hypothesized that
several ...be inhibited in patients with ICP". What is the rational for this
hypothesis?
4. There is a difference in gestional age between the two groups. Though the
authors stated that the microbiota does not change quite a lot in pregnancy, some
publications (like Koren O, Goodrich J. K, Cullender T. C, et al. Host
remodeling of the gut microbiome and metabolic changes during pregnancy[J].
Cell. 2012. 150(3): 470-80) do observed dramatic changes in gut microbiota
during the pregancy.
5. please give an explanation why the ALT associated OTUs are different from
AST associated OTUs; Same for Tbil and Dbile.
minor:
1. In Abstract, Background, Line 7-8, "elevated liver functions", what do you
refer to? ALT or AST, OR Alb, OR bilirubin, TBA? Liver function is a broad
concept. Please specify. 
2. In Abstrct, Methods, Line 20, "31 unafflicted control patients". Usually we
may not call a pregnancy women as patient. Same problem is seen throughout
the manuscript.
3, In study participants, line 42, "ICP was diagnosed and classified...". I do not
see how ICP was specified in the following contents.
4. in the Sampling, line 11, I'd suggest that GGT be also included in the
biochemical parameters, as well ALT/AST, Tbil/Dbil.
5. In the results, Study Subject Characteristics section, line 53, "of bile, ALT,
AST,...". Do you mean total bile acid by bile? or what other doyou mean by bile?
6. The format of Table 1 needs to be changed to a format that consistent to the
Journal's requirments.
7. Many type errors in the manuscript, please ckeck carefully.
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.
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 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 manuscript:
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited
Declaration of competing interests
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questions:
1
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organization that holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of
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paper?
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