Review for 10.1186/1471-230X-6-42 (2006)

Reviewer's report 
 Lack of significant association of an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin converting Title: 
enzyme (ACE) gene with tropical calcific pancreatitis 
 2  16 November 2006 Version: Date: 
 Joost P Drenth Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
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The authors have addressed the majority of the issues. I have still one single issue. 
The authors point out that they selected 99 unrelated ethnically matched controls that were subjected to 
computed tomography, endoscopic ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography. They way the authors have put it does not discern between 2 possibilities that led to the selection of the 
control subjects. 
(1) The control subjects were specifically selected for this study 
(2) The controls had complaints reminiscent of TCP and underwent a series of investigations that effectively 
ruled out TCP as a cause of their complaints 
The problem I have with (1) is that I really would like to know whether the subjects have indeed signed an 
informed consent that stipulated the risk of the selected diagnostic procedures. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography carries a significant risk for pancreatitis, bleeding and perforation. Did the 
institutional ethics committee specifically approve this? 
If the study adopted option (2) I would like to know what the underlying symptoms were and whether the 
authors have diagnosed other, perhaps unrelated disorders. 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can be 
reached) 
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Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author 
can be trusted to correct) 
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Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Unable to decide on acceptance or rejection until the authors have responded to the major What next?: 
compulsory revisions 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research interests Level of interest: 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
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publication of this paper, either now or in the future? 
Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the manuscript? Have 
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Do you have any other financial competing interests? 
Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?