Reviewer's report 
 Bifidobacterium infantis strains with and without a combination of Oligofructose and Inulin (OFI) Title: 
attenuate inflammation in DSS-induced colitis in rats 
 1  5 September 2006 Version: Date: 
 Monica Boirivant Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can be 
reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author 
can be trusted to correct) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
OFI administration without the addition of Bifidobacteria appears to give comparable results to the 
association of OFI with Bifidobacteria or administration of Bifidobacteria alone in all the tests utilized for the evaluation of the effect of treatment on DSS colitis. The addition of Bifidobacterium DSM 15159 to OFI is 
necessary only in obtaining a significant reduction of lipid peroxidation. This issue might be included in the 
conclusions and adequately discussed. The title might be changed accordingly 
 Accept after discretionary revisions What next?: 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research interests Level of interest: 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
I declare that I have no competing interests 
Reviewer's report 
 Bifidobacterium infantis strains with and without a combination of Oligofructose and Inulin (OFI) Title: 
attenuate inflammation in DSS-induced colitis in rats 
 1  5 September 2006 Version: Date: 
 Monica Boirivant Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can be 
reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author 
can be trusted to correct) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
OFI administration without the addition of Bifidobacteria appears to give comparable results to the 
association of OFI with Bifidobacteria or administration of Bifidobacteria alone in all the tests utilized for the evaluation of the effect of treatment on DSS colitis. The addition of Bifidobacterium DSM 15159 to OFI is 
necessary only in obtaining a significant reduction of lipid peroxidation. This issue might be included in the 
conclusions and adequately discussed. The title might be changed accordingly 
 Accept after discretionary revisions What next?: 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research interests Level of interest: 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
I declare that I have no competing interests 
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report 
 Bifidobacterium infantis strains with and without a combination of Oligofructose and Inulin (OFI) Title: 
attenuate inflammation in DSS-induced colitis in rats 
 1  5 September 2006 Version: Date: 
 Monica Boirivant Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can be 
reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author 
can be trusted to correct) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
OFI administration without the addition of Bifidobacteria appears to give comparable results to the 
association of OFI with Bifidobacteria or administration of Bifidobacteria alone in all the tests utilized for the evaluation of the effect of treatment on DSS colitis. The addition of Bifidobacterium DSM 15159 to OFI is 
necessary only in obtaining a significant reduction of lipid peroxidation. This issue might be included in the 
conclusions and adequately discussed. The title might be changed accordingly 
 Accept after discretionary revisions What next?: 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research interests Level of interest: 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
I declare that I have no competing interests 
assistant