Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01308-w (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Elevated Hemoglobin A1c is Associated with the Presence of Pancreatic Cysts in a High -
Risk Pancreatic Surveillance Program  
 
Version: 1 Date: 04 Nov 2019  
 
Reviewer: Jung -Chun Lin  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
General comment:  
 The authors tried to clarifiy the risk factor of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but the logic 
in this study was not perfect.  
 
Introduction:  
 The authors conluded that HRIs with elevate d HbA1c were more likely to have 
pancreatic cysts. Why not conclude that HRIs with pancreaetic cysts were more likely to develop 
to diabetes? How did authors define the relationship between etiology and result?  
 
Methodology:  
1. What's the definition of hig h-risk individuals (HRIs) in the studied cohort? Please 
clarify it in detail.  
2. Please illustrate the study ﬂow diagram to let readers easily understand.  
3. HbA1c should be percentage.  
 
Results:  
 What's the nature and morphology of pancreatic cysts? Did the se cysts have any 
worrisome features?  
 
Discussion:  
 A1C levels are positively associated with age in nondiabetic populations [Diabetes 
Care. 2008 Oct; 31(10): 1991 -1996.]. Could authors explain their results?  
 
Recommandation:  Major revsion  
(1 = Excellent ) (2 = Good) (3 = Fair) (4 = poor)  
 
Originality:  3 
Contribution To The Field:  3 
Technical Quality:  3 
Clarity Of Presentation :  3 
Depth Of Research:  3 
  
 
Additional Comments  
Minor comments: The abbreviation "BMI" was not clarified first.  
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 recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Accep table  
 
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 wa y 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 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 al l 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 understand that my nam e will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for 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 availabl e 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 included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will no t be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal