Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-1021-1 (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Epstein -Barr virus infection is associated  with a higher Child -Pugh score and may predict 
poor prognoses for patients with liver cirrhosis  
 
Version: 2 Date: 17 May 2019  
 
Reviewer: Thomas Horvatits  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The authors improved the manuscript accordingly.  
Please check the manuscripts for minor spelling and language and typing errors  
 e.g.  
line 320: should read "there was ..."  
line 323: should read "We"  
 
authors write:  
"It has b een approximately 30 years since the Child -Pugh score [23] was introduced  
341 as a predictor of mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. The Child -Pugh score is a  
342 classic evaluation of the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis, although new  
343 prognostic models have emerged in recent years, such as the MELD score [24] and  
344 the modified Child -Pugh score [35]."  
Does this sentence improve the quality of the manuscript and the message regarding EBV? I am 
not sure ...  
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.  
 
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 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 correc tions 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 gain or lose financially from the publi cation 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 curr ently 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  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named rep ort 
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal