Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01776-8 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Measurement of fasting breath hydrogen concentration as a simple
diagnostic method for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
Version: 
1 
Date: 
12 Apr 2021
Reviewer's report:
this is a nice study with a reasonable sample size
Early detection of pancreatic enzyme insufficiency can change treatment
decision and quality of life 
BT-PABA test is a cumbersome test difficult to practice in day to day clinical
care.FBHT can be used in clinical practice as it is a simple procedure.
but some demerits are there 
1. Hypothesis is a PEI cause gut micrbial alteration that cause increase FBHT ,
but patients with significant alcohol intake, smoking, ca pancreas, all itself can
cause dysbiosis, even without PEI, this things should be taken into account.
2.Many CP and pancreatic cancer patients have DM, that cause SIBO, it can be a
confounding factor.
3.Author did not compare it with Fecal elastase or fecal chymotrypsin assay
which are more clinically usefull.
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
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