Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Gastroesophageal flap valve reflected EGJ morphology and correlated to acid reflux  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Jul 2017 
 
Reviewer:  Salvatore  Tolone  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
I've read with interest this paper. it is well written and the message is clear. However there are 
some issues that are needed to be fixed.  
 
Minor: in the abstract p lease correct the second sentence using "is" and not "was"; please correct 
in the abstract conclusion "morphy" with "morphology"  
 
In the same way, please make a revision of English throughout the manuscript; it is not clear why 
Authors are using the simple past verbal form.  
 
Major: methods: what is EGJ -DCI? it seems that Authors are using EGJ -CI; please correct or 
clarify.  
 
results: please add also a group of functional heartburn to verify the differences between ERD, 
NERD and HE.  
 
discussion: There were two recent studies from an Italian group in Neurogastroenterology and 
Motility 2015 that just evaluated the influence of EGJ morphology and reflux exposure 
determined with MII -pH and the role of EGJ -CI in determining reflux. Please d iscuss these two 
article.  
 
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 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.  
 
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  
 
Qualit y 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 this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any w ay 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 sal ary 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.  
 
i declare i have no competing interests  
 
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 report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the websi te along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Gastroesophageal flap valve reflected EGJ morphology and correlated to acid reflux  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Jul 2017 
 
Reviewer:  Salvatore  Tolone  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
I've read with interest this paper. it is well written and the message is clear. However there are 
some issues that are needed to be fixed.  
 
Minor: in the abstract p lease correct the second sentence using "is" and not "was"; please correct 
in the abstract conclusion "morphy" with "morphology"  
 
In the same way, please make a revision of English throughout the manuscript; it is not clear why 
Authors are using the simple past verbal form.  
 
Major: methods: what is EGJ -DCI? it seems that Authors are using EGJ -CI; please correct or 
clarify.  
 
results: please add also a group of functional heartburn to verify the differences between ERD, 
NERD and HE.  
 
discussion: There were two recent studies from an Italian group in Neurogastroenterology and 
Motility 2015 that just evaluated the influence of EGJ morphology and reflux exposure 
determined with MII -pH and the role of EGJ -CI in determining reflux. Please d iscuss these two 
article.  
 
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 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.  
 
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  
 
Qualit y 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 this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any w ay 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 sal ary 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.  
 
i declare i have no competing interests  
 
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 report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the websi te along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Gastroesophageal flap valve reflected EGJ morphology and correlated to acid reflux  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Jul 2017 
 
Reviewer:  Salvatore  Tolone  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
I've read with interest this paper. it is well written and the message is clear. However there are 
some issues that are needed to be fixed.  
 
Minor: in the abstract p lease correct the second sentence using "is" and not "was"; please correct 
in the abstract conclusion "morphy" with "morphology"  
 
In the same way, please make a revision of English throughout the manuscript; it is not clear why 
Authors are using the simple past verbal form.  
 
Major: methods: what is EGJ -DCI? it seems that Authors are using EGJ -CI; please correct or 
clarify.  
 
results: please add also a group of functional heartburn to verify the differences between ERD, 
NERD and HE.  
 
discussion: There were two recent studies from an Italian group in Neurogastroenterology and 
Motility 2015 that just evaluated the influence of EGJ morphology and reflux exposure 
determined with MII -pH and the role of EGJ -CI in determining reflux. Please d iscuss these two 
article.  
 
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 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.  
 
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  
 
Qualit y 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 this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any w ay 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 sal ary 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.  
 
i declare i have no competing interests  
 
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 report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the websi te along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant