Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0450-3 (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Food IgG4 antibodies are elevated not only in children with wheat allergy but also in  
children with gastrointestinal diseases  
 
Version: 0 Date: 18 Oct 2015  
 
Reviewer: King -Wah Chiu  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is an interesting topic and writing well manuscrip t.  
 
Major comments  
1. The major concern is the control group in this study. The younger one is age 12 mo. Although 
the negative endoscopic study, the children had been admitted due to abdominal pain or 
suspected malabsorption syndrome. Because of the pres entation with gastrointestinal symptoms, 
the children should not be classified as a healthy children as the control group. The inclusion 
criteria might be criticized and led confusion to the readers. The health control group using age 
and sex match healthy  children is much better.  
 
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 you able to assess any statistics in t he 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 gai n 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 salar y 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 have not any competing interests here.  
 
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal