Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-1000-6 (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The IGF system in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with prednisolone or 
infliximab: potential role of the stanniocalcin -2 / PAPP -A / IGFBP -4 axis 
 
Version: 1 Date: 03 Feb 2019  
 
Reviewer: Dimitrios K. Christodoulou  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is the revised version of the manuscript titled "The IGF system in patients with 
inflammatory bowel disease treated with prednisolone or infliximab: potential role of the 
stanniocalcin -2 / PAPP -A / IGFBP -4 axis" (Manuscript Number: BMGE -D-18-00507R1)  
The authors responded in all queries and proceeded in significant changes in the manuscript that 
increased its quality, presentation of data a nd readability.  
The proposed rationale for investigation still seems not well established as the function of the 
IGF/Growth Hormone axis in inflammation is well known and it could justify the study results 
(as acknowledged in the revised manuscript in page  16 lines 290 -298). Nevertheless, there were 
no Growth Hormone measurements on these patients. On the contrary the authors provided 
sufficient evidence on the function of the STC2/PAPP -A/IGFBP -4-axis. 
 
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.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are y ou 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 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, 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 recei ved 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.  
 
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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