Review for 10.1186/s12876-025-03675-8 (2025)

Title: Investigation of Subpopulations in Crohn Inflammatory bowel disease Patients
Version: 3 Date: 04 Dec 2024
Reviewer:  Amira A A Othman
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript titled "Investigation of Subpopulations in Crohn Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Patients" provides a well-structured analysis of patient subpopulations using finite Poisson
mixture models.
While the study has merit, certain areas require revision for clarity, scientific rigor, and
adherence to standard academic practices. Below are specific comments and directions:
1. Title and Abstract
- Revise the title to something like: "Application of Finite Mixture Models to Identify
Subpopulations in Crohn's Disease Patients."
- Include key statistical findings in the abstract, such as the proportion of patients in each
component and any significant p-values.
2. Introduction
- Condense the clinical descriptions of UC and CD to a single paragraph.
- Expand on the rationale for using finite mixture models, linking it explicitly to the heterogeneity
observed in Crohn’s disease patient outcomes.
3. Methodology
- The presentation of equations lacks clarity, and the transition between statistical concepts and
their application is abrupt.
- Key terms like "NPMLE" and "posterior probabilities" are mentioned but not adequately
explained.
- Define all statistical terms and notations clearly before presenting equations.
- Provide a flow diagram or schematic summarizing the modeling steps (optional but helpful).
- Add a justification for using a Poisson model initially and then transitioning to finite mixture
modeling.
4. Results
- The results are challenging to follow due to the lack of visual aids and the overly technical
presentation; Include more figures or tables to visually represent:
- Distribution of weeks across treatment groups.
- Comparison of model fits for one-component vs. two-component models.
- Proportions of patients in each subpopulation.
- Explicitly state whether the observed overdispersion (variance > mean) and multimodality
justify the use of finite mixture models.
5. Discussion
- The discussion is repetitive and does not sufficiently link results to clinical implications or
existing literature; Avoid repeating results; focus instead on interpreting their significance.
- Discuss why treatment effects were insignificant in the context of Crohn’s disease management
and potential heterogeneity.
- Highlight the clinical relevance of ibdsc0 as a predictor and suggest further research directions.
6. References
- The reference section is incomplete, and sources like "Verbeke and Muhlenberg" lack full
publication details.
- Ensure all references are formatted consistently in the chosen citation style (e.g., APA, AMA,
etc.).
Verify and complete bibliographic details for all citations.
7. Language and Formatting
- Several grammatical errors and typos exist (e.g., "in contrary" should be "in contrast"); Perform
a thorough grammatical review or use a professional editing service.
- Equations and tables are not formatted consistently; Ensure all tables, figures, and equations
follow journal submission guidelines (e.g., numbering, captions, references in text).