Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0879-7 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Risk fact ors for hepatic veno -occlusive disease caused by Gynura segetum: a retrospective 
study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 09 Apr 2018  
 
Reviewer: Yanhang Gao 
 
Reviewer's report:  
A retrospective study on HVOD caused by Tusanqi was carried out in this paper, including the  
analysis of the clinical features of the patients, the comparison between anticoagulant therapy 
and TIPS treatment, and the prognostic factors, etc. At last, a clear conclusion was given.  
 
There are a few questions for further clarification:  
(1) Please expl ain what morphologic changes have occurred in the liver of the study subjects 
after a long period of follow -up; 
(2) In this study, the authors analyzed the prognostic factors of HVOD induced by Tusanqi by 
comparing the survival group with the dead group. Ho wever, some patients developed liver 
failure. The authors were asked to provide early warning factors for the development of liver 
failure due to liver injury caused by HVOD.  
(3) Please provide specific anticoagulant measures, including anticoagulant standa rds, drugs 
used, anticoagulant doses, anticoagulant treatment courses and whether serious complications 
have occurred;  
(4) The authors should provide information on the thrombosis of abdominal cavity caused by 
HVOD, especially the extent of thrombosis, whi ch was  
 
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.  
No 
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 speci fy 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:  
Needs some 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 ga in 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 publication of this manuscript, either now or in the f uture?  
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 agre e to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name 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 alo ng 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 repo rt can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal