Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-0960-x (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  The Role of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) in Non -alcoholic Fatty Liver 
Disease (NAFLD) Patients evaluated using Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) Transient 
Elastography (TE): A Tertiary Referral Center Experience  
 
Version: 0 Date: 31 Dec 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Gianluca  Svegliati -Baroni  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
In this paper, Fitriakusumah et al. evaluated the association between SIBO and different features 
of the metabolic syndrome in patients with NAFLD. They differentiated NAFLD patients 
according to CAP -TE examination.  
 
This is really an interesting field  and the approach could be interesting. However the real aim of 
this study is not clear (also some preliminary data on gut microbiota are included). The lack of 
any histological analysis reduces the strength of the results. Finally, that SIBO has a minor r ole 
in NADLD pathogenesis is already known, due to the lack of accurate methods of examination.  
 
The paper should be corrected by an English expert.  
 
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.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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:  
 
Not suitable for publication unl ess extensively edited  
 
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 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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