Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0669-7 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Fecal Calprotectin Predicts Complete Mucosal Healing and Better Correlates with the 
Endoscopic Index of Severity than with the Mayo Endoscopic Subscore in Patients with 
Ulcerative Colitis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 03 Aug 2017  
 
Reviewer: Shu Chen Wei  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This study aimed to evaluate the role of fecal calprotectin (FC) as a noninvasive marker for the 
disease activity of ulcerative colitis (UC) in a Korean cohort.  
Strength: rel ative large sample size in Asia study; direct compare the UCEIS and Mayo 
endoscopic score.  
 
Weakness:  
1. Retrospective study. The interval between FC and CFS, FC and serum data, FC and partial 
Mayo score were varied in individual patients, also varied betw een patients. There were 
several points need to be clarified:  
(1). How often did the patients perform the FC? CFS? blood test? Were these tests routinely 
done for all patients? otherwise, how these data be selected?  
(2). Did all the patients receive comple te CFS? since in the methods portion, they mention the 
sigmoidoscope.  
(3). Why only the first FC included for analysis? but not the one closest to the scope?  
 
2. For the patients/methods:  
(1). Why they exclude those with normal FC (<100)? It would not be too surprised to see the 
mean of the FC in their cohort was as high as 1252.5.  
(2). Would be better to show the FC in Mayo 0 -3, Mayo 3 -6, Mayo 6 -9, Mayo 9 -12 subgroups. 
And, please provide  the information about the patient's severity distribution. Since according to 
their results, the mean Alb was 3.6, mean FC was 1252.5, Mean Mayo endoscopic score was 3, 
we could expect most of their patients were belonged to the moderate -severe groups. Ho wever, 
in these patients, probably we do not need FC monitoring in clinical practice. This is also the 
reason why they could observe the correlation to Alb which was not shown previously.  
 
3. For the results:  
Please confirm that the mean for UCEIS was 4 (i n Table 1), since the mean of Mayo Endoscopic 
score was 3.  
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 re quired 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 the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the qu ality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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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?  
 
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below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
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