Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-1064-3 (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The different expression of caspase -1 in HBV -related liver disease and acts as a biomarker 
for acute -on-chronic liver failure  
 
Version: 1 Date: 29 May 2019  
 
Reviewer: Yuemin Nan  
Reviewer's report:  
HBV related Acute -on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) occurs frequently in patients with chronic 
hepat itis B infection and progresses rapidly with deterioration of liver function. Particularly, 
ACLF is one of the most deadly, prevalent, and costly diseases in Asia. Identification of ACLF 
in early stage should be benefit to promptly carried out with efficie nt treatment and improvement 
of progression of patients.  
The study is significant for the finding and usage of new serum marker in early diagnosis of 
ACLF. The author 0bserved the serum and liver caspase -1 change and analyzed the value of 
prediction and a ssessment ACLF, and suggested the caspase -1 could serve as a serum molecular 
marker of ACLF.  
According to the results, the serum caspase -1 levels in ACLF patients showed a negative  
correlation with serum total bilirubin and a positive correlation with the  serum total protein and 
albumin. Thus, serum caspase -1 is negative related with liver injury and can reflects the reserve 
capacity of the liver.  
 
Minor revision:  
1. Explain, please, what's the mechanism of low serum level and high expression in the live r 
of caspase -1 in ACLF patients.  
2. The study focused on HBV -related ACLF, why only compared the predicted values of 
MELD and caspase -1, however, HBV -SOFA, CLIF -C OFs and CLIF -C ACLF were not 
mentioned?  
3. The language needs a native English editing.  
Are the m ethods 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 r ecommended, please specify 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:  
 
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 financia lly 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 o r 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 yo u 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 have no competing interests . 
 
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