Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0637-2 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: miR-363-5p as potential prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma indicated by  
weighted co -expression network analysis of miRNAs and mRNA  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Feb 2017  
 
Reviewer: Eric Smith  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Jun Zhang et al used Weighted Gene Co -expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) on the tumor 
mRNA and miRNA sequencing data deposited in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) from >300 
patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). They identified ten mRNA network modules, of 
which three were significantly r elated to tumor stage, non -alcoholic fatty liver disease and 
patient age. Four miRNA network modules were identified, of which one was associated with 
tumor stage. The hsa -miR-363-5p mRNA targets were distributed in the gene network modules. 
Kaplan -Meier a nalysis revealed that low expression of hsa -miR-363-5p was closely related to the 
better overall survival of HCC patients.  
 
 
This is an observational, hypothesis generating study. The methods appear to be appropriate, 
although I do not have expertise with W GCNA. Overall the study is reasonable, although the 
manuscript requires extensive language corrections before publication, as specified in the 
reviewers attachment.  
 
 
 
 
 
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 r equired 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 the manuscript or would you recommend an  
addi tional 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:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
 
 
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please comp lete 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 t his 
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 all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If you r reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
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