Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0741-y (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Enteral immunonutrition versus enteral nutrition for gastric cancer patients undergoing a  
total gastrectomy: a systematic review  and meta -analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 31 Oct 2017  
 
Reviewer: Luigi Marano  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Cheng Y et al prepared a meta -analysis aiming to assess the impact of EIN for p atients with GC 
on biochemical, immune indices and clinical outc omes. Even if the topic is of current interest, 
the article require some major points to address before the publication:  
 
 
 
The introduction section should be shortened. Additionally, the lines 106 -109 should be removed 
since they were "Methods" data.  
 
 
 
In the methods section the period of "database onset" should be specified.  
 
 
 
The authors should report if the PICO format (or other formats) was used for the criteria 
selection establishement  
 
 
 
Appropriate reference should be added in the statistical section as  regard the "heterogeneity" 
(Higgins et al.)  
 
 
 
The discussion section needs to be implemented with the more detailed discussion about the 
length of hospital stay as well as the complications.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the aut hors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
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 th e 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 publ ished  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, consid ering 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 th e 
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 have no competing interests to disclose  
 
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  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the websi te along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under a n Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my name d report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal