Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0600-2 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Impaired Liver Regeneration is associated with Reduced Cyclin B1 in Natural Kille r T 
cell-deficient mice  
 
Version: 1 Date: 23 Jan 2017  
 
Reviewer: Stefano Di Biase  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
As stated in the first review, the authors must include the appropriate controls for the study. 
Without these basic controls, there is a major technical pitfall that potentially invalidate the 
results observed. See specific points be low. 
To answer point#2: Although the use of specific antibodies is well accepted, each antibody must 
be tested in the specific experimental conditions used and this is a crucial control for the whole 
experiment. The fact that many have used the same antib ody does not exempt the authors from 
confirming the effectiveness of this technique in their own hands (as it was done in the studies 
referenced by the authors). No conclusions can be made without showing the depletion of the 
target population, and the rep opulation of the tissue under study.     
To answer point#3: As stated in point 2 above, no conclusions can be made without showing the 
depletion of the target population, and the repopulation of the tissue under study.     
To answer point#5: The informal  and very colloquial form "Can't" is still present in the 
manuscript (page 14, line 47).  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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 am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of w ritten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
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 receiv ed 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 your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I h ave no competing interests  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal