Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-1126-6 (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Prognostic Significance of the Controlling Nutritional S tatus (CONUT) Score in Patients 
Undergoing Hep atectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma : A Systematic Review and Meta - 
Analysis  
 
Version: 1 Date: 10 Nov 2019  
 
Reviewer: Quirino Lai  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Prognostic Significance of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score in Patients 
Undergoing Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta -
Analysis (Manuscript Number: BMGE -D-19-00734R1)  
 
This is an interesting meta -analysis focused on the role of the CONUT score as a predictor of 
overall survival, recurrence -free survival, and postoperative major complications in patients 
undergoing resection treatment for HCC.  
  
I compliment the  Authors for the study. Despite some limitations derived from the small number 
of the studies enrolled and their poorly variegated geographical origin (i.e., only Far East), I 
think the study deserves to be published. The Authors already reported in the st udy the so -cited 
limitations.  
  
I have only one minor issue. In Table 2, there is a type: please write recurrence instead of 
reccurence.  
 
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 manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an addition al 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:  
 
Needs som e 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 financial ly from the 
publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2.  Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or 
lose financially from the publicatio n 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 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 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 have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on m y report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be in cluded as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree  to the open peer review policy of the journal