Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0732-4 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Prediction of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure Using Transient Elastography in Patients 
with Hepatitis B related Hepatocellular Carcino ma 
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Sep 2017  
 
Reviewer: Alessandro Cucchetti  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
A manuscript easy to read.  
1) In this study the main variable of interest was liver stiffness and the outcome measure was 
PHLF. PHLF was not defined as recommended by the ISGLS criteria as previously reported 
in available literature. The main end -point needs probably to be modified.  
 
2) In Table 1, most of variables show to likely have a non -parametric distribution. Thus, median 
and IQR are more appropriate.  
 
3) The forward logistic regression should be modified in a backward in order to report in the 
multivariate analysis also the los s of statistical significance for variables analyzed in the 
univariate.  
 
4) The derivation of an index for predicting PHLF has little sense in absence of an independent 
cohort for testing. A 10 -fold cross validation should be a possible way out to test this  
hypothesis.  
 
5) Reference lacks of some important studies in this regards but overall are adequate.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the w ork 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 yo u 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 shar es 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 rec eived 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 interest s 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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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal