Reviewer’ s report
Title: Serum Macrophage Migration Inhibition Factor For Diagnosing Endometriosis And Its
Severity: Case-Control Study.
Version: 0Date: 06 Apr 2020
Reviewer's report:
Evaluation:
The authors suggest that the serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor is a non-invasive
promising marker to diagnose endometriosis with a good diagnostic accuracy, however manyaspects of the manuscript need to be better written and explained.
Why did the authors register an observational study on the Trials.gov platform if there was no
intervention?
Abstract:The authors describe the primary objective of the study the determination of the accuracy of serum
MIF for the diagnosis of endometriosis, but the accuracy data is not included in the abstract, itmust be added.
Introduction:
The authors describe in the first paragraph that endometriosis is an undetected disease aftermenopause and before menarche, this statement must be withdrawn since we have case reports
both in post menopause and before menarche.
Also, it should contain the existing gap in the scientific literature regarding the existing biomarkersand the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV .
Patients and Methods:
This sentence must be corrected: "we included three hundred postmenstrual women in thechildbearing period".Why was laparoscopy indicated for these patients? Since laparoscopy at this moment is onlyindicated for failure in clinical treatment or suspect that the endometriosis lesions arecompromising the function of organs. Why were the patients out of hormonal treatment for 3months before surgery if it is only indicated in the failure of medical treatment?How were chronic diseases (autoimmune, degenerative or neoplastic diseases (e.g. chronic /ulcerative colitis, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, suspicion ofmalignancy)) excluded?Why were patients with with bleeding tendency or active infection excluded? And chronicsmoking patients or patients using painkillers were excluded? How was this assessed?In the statistical description the following sentence is duplicated: For comparing categorical data,Chi-square (2) test was performed.
Results:
In line 208 correct typo.The authors do not describe in the results the accuracy of MIF in detecting endometriosis.Was a comparison made between the initial stages of endometriosis and the control group? (table3). This comparison is essential since the main objective in the search for a biomarker forendometriosis would is related to the initial stages of the disease because in the most advancedstages imaging tests are highly accurate.Table 3 needs to be better presented.Why do the authors describe the mean and median of MIF results?
Discussion:
The discussion is confusing and should be rewritten.The first two paragraphs should be removed or placed in the introduction.The third and fourth paragraphs are confusing and do not show relevant data or should be placedin the introduction.Do not repeat data already exposed in the results.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
NoDoes 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?
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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?
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