Title: Clinical application of capsule sponge testing in symptomatic reflux disease: a national
prospective cohort study
Version: 3 Date: 19 Sep 2024
Reviewer:  Giuseppe Losurdo
Reviewer's report:
I read with interest the revised version of the paper by Chien et al about capsule sponge test to
screen for preneoplastic lesions in patients with esophageal reflux.
The answer to previous comments are fine in my opinion.
My main additional comments are:
1) “capsule sponge tests were performed for symptomatic reflux (24.8%)” why? Which was the
indication for the remaining cases?
2) Modality of capsule administration should be described.
3) Concordance for atypia between capsule and metaplasia/Barrett should be also calculated by
k concordance index and possibly specificity and sensitivity.
4) Please describe which genetic alterations were tested.
5) Please define the role of TFF3 in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of UGI cancers, possibly
in the Discussion section.
Title: Clinical application of capsule sponge testing in symptomatic reflux disease: a national
prospective cohort study
Version: 3 Date: 19 Sep 2024
Reviewer:  Giuseppe Losurdo
Reviewer's report:
I read with interest the revised version of the paper by Chien et al about capsule sponge test to
screen for preneoplastic lesions in patients with esophageal reflux.
The answer to previous comments are fine in my opinion.
My main additional comments are:
1) “capsule sponge tests were performed for symptomatic reflux (24.8%)” why? Which was the
indication for the remaining cases?
2) Modality of capsule administration should be described.
3) Concordance for atypia between capsule and metaplasia/Barrett should be also calculated by
k concordance index and possibly specificity and sensitivity.
4) Please describe which genetic alterations were tested.
5) Please define the role of TFF3 in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of UGI cancers, possibly
in the Discussion section.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Clinical application of capsule sponge testing in symptomatic reflux disease: a national
prospective cohort study
Version: 3 Date: 19 Sep 2024
Reviewer:  Giuseppe Losurdo
Reviewer's report:
I read with interest the revised version of the paper by Chien et al about capsule sponge test to
screen for preneoplastic lesions in patients with esophageal reflux.
The answer to previous comments are fine in my opinion.
My main additional comments are:
1) “capsule sponge tests were performed for symptomatic reflux (24.8%)” why? Which was the
indication for the remaining cases?
2) Modality of capsule administration should be described.
3) Concordance for atypia between capsule and metaplasia/Barrett should be also calculated by
k concordance index and possibly specificity and sensitivity.
4) Please describe which genetic alterations were tested.
5) Please define the role of TFF3 in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of UGI cancers, possibly
in the Discussion section.
assistant