Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01802-9 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Schistosoma mansoni-related periportal fibrosis; can we use APRI and
PSDR levels in the real-time selection of patients for targeted endoscopy in a
resource-limited setting? A case-control study
Version: 
0 
Date: 
18 Aug 2020
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS: 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a
testable research question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear
objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols)
appropriate for the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor
to allow confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results
reasonable and not overstated?
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work
technically sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically
sound?
Probably - with minor revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS: 
GENERAL COMMENTS: 
My overall impression of this study is positive. In the absence of endoscopy,
early discriminant 
diagnosis of varices, is critical to prevent hepatic bleeding in
chronic Schistosoma mansoni infection. Therefore the attempt to use non-
invasive APRI and PSDR levels is a welcome research as it contribute to the
growing use of 
APRI and PSDR as biomakers of gastroenterics disorder. 
The authors have done well in the selection and composition of the sample. The
study design is standard and all variables were collected and analysis
accordingly.
The authors stated in the method that the clinical data such as abdominal
distension, hematemesis, and melaena, ultrasound (UTS) details including SPD,
PVD, and ascites; test results for Schistosoma mansoni, CBC, AST, ALT, serum
Albumin (ALB) and upper digestive endoscopy results were extracted from the
patients flies. Does this mean that the authors did not collect the above, if so,
how reliable are the data? 
Where the Schistosoma mansoni negative patient
excluded from the analysis, if not why? Why where patients with a history of
hepatitis B not excluded from the analysis as hepatitis B as being associated with
APRI
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS: 
Abstract: I believed is important to provide the full meaning of APRI and PSDR.
Also the type of data (retrospective or current) used needs to be stated in the
abstract.
Introduction:
The authors referred to Alanine aminotransferase (AST) to platelet Count (PTC)
ratio index (APRI) and but in the results it is Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
to platelet count (PTC) ratio index (APRI). Which indexers are they talking
about?
Methods:
The authors mentioned the use of retrospective data, and in the other section they
talk of data collected by the authors. There is need for a revision of the method
sections to clearly distinguish the two types of data collection methods. The
source of Epi data version 3.1 was not provided
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
Yes
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes