Reviewer's report
Title:Prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis in adults referring hospital for annual
health check-up in Southern China
Version: 1Date:24 July 2010
Reviewer: Dimitrios Bogdanos
Reviewer's report:
The study by Liu et al is of interest. It adds to the increasing interest of the
scientific community for studies investigating the epidemiology and
characteristics of patients with autoimmune liver diseases in China.
Major points
Table 2 is very informative. Quantitative data of the primary biliary
cirrhosis-specific autoantibody positive cases are missing and must be given.
The authors tested pools of sera by indirect immunofluorescence but do not
justify why (presumably financial constraints). They need to discuss in brief this.
They also need to make clear that such testing does not comply with the
guidelines of the routine testing for autoantibodies and should be avoided. HEp-2
cell line as an antigenic source for autoantibody screening is not the norm. The
preferable substrate is that of combination of rodent tissues (Vergani et al J
Hepatol 2004; Bogdanos et al WJG 2008).
Minor points
It is HEp-2 .... instead of Hep-2
Table 4 reviews findings of previous studies in relation to the present one. Does
not add new information and can be omitted.
Page 10, line 4 from the top.. hepatitis ...instead of hepatic....
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Reviewer's report
Title:Prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis in adults referring hospital for annual
health check-up in Southern China
Version: 1Date:24 July 2010
Reviewer: Dimitrios Bogdanos
Reviewer's report:
The study by Liu et al is of interest. It adds to the increasing interest of the
scientific community for studies investigating the epidemiology and
characteristics of patients with autoimmune liver diseases in China.
Major points
Table 2 is very informative. Quantitative data of the primary biliary
cirrhosis-specific autoantibody positive cases are missing and must be given.
The authors tested pools of sera by indirect immunofluorescence but do not
justify why (presumably financial constraints). They need to discuss in brief this.
They also need to make clear that such testing does not comply with the
guidelines of the routine testing for autoantibodies and should be avoided. HEp-2
cell line as an antigenic source for autoantibody screening is not the norm. The
preferable substrate is that of combination of rodent tissues (Vergani et al J
Hepatol 2004; Bogdanos et al WJG 2008).
Minor points
It is HEp-2 .... instead of Hep-2
Table 4 reviews findings of previous studies in relation to the present one. Does
not add new information and can be omitted.
Page 10, line 4 from the top.. hepatitis ...instead of hepatic....
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis in adults referring hospital for annual
health check-up in Southern China
Version: 1Date:24 July 2010
Reviewer: Dimitrios Bogdanos
Reviewer's report:
The study by Liu et al is of interest. It adds to the increasing interest of the
scientific community for studies investigating the epidemiology and
characteristics of patients with autoimmune liver diseases in China.
Major points
Table 2 is very informative. Quantitative data of the primary biliary
cirrhosis-specific autoantibody positive cases are missing and must be given.
The authors tested pools of sera by indirect immunofluorescence but do not
justify why (presumably financial constraints). They need to discuss in brief this.
They also need to make clear that such testing does not comply with the
guidelines of the routine testing for autoantibodies and should be avoided. HEp-2
cell line as an antigenic source for autoantibody screening is not the norm. The
preferable substrate is that of combination of rodent tissues (Vergani et al J
Hepatol 2004; Bogdanos et al WJG 2008).
Minor points
It is HEp-2 .... instead of Hep-2
Table 4 reviews findings of previous studies in relation to the present one. Does
not add new information and can be omitted.
Page 10, line 4 from the top.. hepatitis ...instead of hepatic....
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
assistant