Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01439-0 (2020)

Reviewer’ s report
Title: An assessment of chromosomal alterations detected by fluorescence in situ hybridisation in
pancreatobiliary tract malignancy
Version: 2Date: 19 Aug 2019
Reviewer: Research Square Statistical Reviewer
Reviewer's report:
STATISTICAL REVIEWER ASSESSMENT:Is the study design appropriate for the research question (considering whether the analyzed
population accurately reflects the design and whether you see any problems with control/comparison groups, e.g., likely confounders)?Yes - overall design, population, and control groups are appropriate
Are methodologies adequate and well implemented (considering whether assumptions are
addressed and whether analyses are robust)?Yes - methodologies are adequate and well implemented, assumptions are addressed, analysis isrobust
Are the analyses adequately communicated (considering whether reporting details are adequate
and whether figures and tables are well labeled and described)?Yes - important reporting details are present, analyses are adequately communicated, figures andtables are well labeled and described
Does the interpretation accurately reflect the analyses without overstatement (considering whether
limitations/bias are acknowledged and whether accurate descriptors, e.g., 'significant', are used?Yes - interpretation accurately reflects analyses, limitations/bias are acknowledged, accuratedescriptors are used
Could an appropriately REVISED version of this work represent a statistically sound
contribution?Yes - current version has sound statistics
STATISTICAL REVIEWER COMMENTS:The authors have reviewed and improved their manuscript according to the suggestions provided.
They have now mentioned the statistical tests used for some of the data analyses, as well as thesignificance of other data as requested. Parameter definitions have also been included. However,the manuscript is still lacking the definition of the non-parametric methods employed (see below).
REQUESTED REVISIONS:
Please provide the name of the "non-parametric methods" used to analyze data in table 3.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
YesDoes the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
YesAre 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 furtherassessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statisticsQuality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Needs some language corrections before being published
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 thismanuscript, 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.
This reviewer has been recruited by a partner organization, Research Square. Reviewers with
declared or apparent competing interests are not utilized for these reviews. This reviewer hasagreed to publication of their comments online under a Creative Commons Attribution Licenseattributed to Research Square and was paid a small honorarium for completing the review within aspecified timeframe. Honoraria for reviews such as this are paid regardless of the reviewerrecommendation.
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 reportincluding any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative CommonsCC-BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). I understand that any commentswhich I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential commentsto the editors, which will not be published.
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal