Review for 10.1186/s12876-023-02855-8 (2023)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Construction and external validation of a nomogram model for predicting
the risk of esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection: A
multicenter case-control study
Version: 
0 
Date: 
29 Dec 2022
Reviewer's report:
This is a case control study about the risk of esophageal stricture after
endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). In addition, this study is constructing a
nomogram model for predicting the risk of stricture. The concept of this study is
meaningful, because it is clinically important to predict the risk of stricture after
esophageal ESD. However, there some concerns which are described below.
Please take them into your consideration.
Major
The study focused on relatively recent cases, and it is likely that local or oral
steroids were administered in cases with a high risk of stenosis. Therefore, we
believe that the status of steroid use would have a significant impact on the
results, but there is not sufficient mention of steroid use in the paper. In this
regard, sufficient description about steroid use is desirable and reanalysis is
required if needed.
In univariate analyses, the details of lesion location, percentage of the
circumferential mucosal defect, depth of infiltration and eating speed (they are
including more than three factors) are not described clearly. Since they are
closely related to the risk of esophageal stricture, it is more helpful to the reader
if detailed data are presented. For example, the reference (No. 10) cited by the
authors represents the univariate and multivariate analyses clearly, then construct
the nomogram. It will be helpful to revise the constructions of the manuscript
and the tables.
Minor
Please spell out some abbreviations (NLR, PLR and LMR) in the beginning.
In page 5, line 28 and 42, the sentence (The data of the first access…) is
duplicated. 
In page 7, line 56, what dose "100 g" represent? In addition, a space is required
between the number and the unit.
In table 1, 2 and 3, all abbreviations should be spelled out at the bottom in the
individual tables.
In page 14, line 45, insert "high" between drinking and temperature.
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
from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
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or in the future?
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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?
Yes
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
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