Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0812-0 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The values of applying classification and counts of white blood cells to t he prognostic 
evaluation of resectable gastric cancers  
 
Version: 0 Date: 08 Mar 2018  
 
Reviewer: Thomas W ex 
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The manuscript submitted by Wang and colleagues fits to the scope of the journal in general. 
Before the manuscript might be suitable for publication, several aspects need to be addressed 
and/or revised accordingly.  
As outlined in the discussion extensively chronic inflammation plays a major issue in the 
development and histopathological presentation of cancer in general, but specifically for gastric 
cancer in context to the H. pylori infection status. Therefore, data concerning the Lauren type of 
gastric cancer (intestinal/diffuse/mixed) and H. pylori status (e.g. serologically) and 
histopathological assessment of non -tumoral mucosa (Sydney score) are essential for the 
manuscript.  
Furthermore, it is e ssential to discuss the presence/absence  of any systemic infection (e.g. 
respiratory tract, chronic inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, 
rheumatic diseases) in the cohort studied.  
Presentation of results need to be significantly re vised. The current result section is a 
meaningless summary of numbers that will "go over everyone's head". Authors should consider 
presentation in tables with abstractive description in text only. Furthermore, useful reduction of 
digits should be applied t hroughout the manuscript (e.g. HR 4.199; 95% CI 1.237 -14.247; 
P=0.021 might be better HR 4.2; 95% CI 1.2 -14.2; P=0.02)  
Authors performed multivariate analysis to correct for cross -influence of other data. This is 
acknowledged. In the discussion, authors discuss extensively however findings of univariate 
analysis as well. The discussion and final conclusion should be clearly focused on results of 
multivariate analysis and their discussion in context to literature. Simple description of other 
studies should  be presented in introduction.      
The extensive presentation of non -significant findings (figures 1 -5) should be omitted, since data 
can be shown in tables.      
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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 unless extensively edited  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing int erests, 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 th e 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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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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to the  editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal