Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0608-7 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Telbivudine treatment started in early and middle pregnancy completely blocks HBV 
vertical transmission  
 
Version: 0 Date: 24 Oct 2016  
 
Reviewer: Jennifer Cohn  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is an important and timely paper. Over the writing is very clear. Although this is not the 
primary goal of the study, the manuscript would benefit from a brief discussion of the 
implications of potential prior lamivudine exposure or development of dru g resistance mutations. 
Additionally, it would be useful if the authors would specify if they included prior HBV 
treatment exposure as an exclusion criteria or if they did any drug resistance mutation screening 
at baseline.  
 
Are the methods appropriat e 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 dra wn 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  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is r ecommended, 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 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 f or 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 agree 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  
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I agree to the open pee r review policy of the journal