Reviewer's report
Title:Lack of association between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
alpha and gamma2 polymorphisms and progressive liver damage in patients with
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a case control study
Version: 1Date:10 June 2010
Reviewer: Véronique Barbu
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript entitled « Lack of association between peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptors alpha and gamma2 polymorphisms and
progressive liver damage in patients with nonalcoholicfatty liver disease: a case
control study » by Paola Dongiovanni et al. presents data concerning the
association of 2 SNPs of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha
(PPAR# and PPAR#2 respectively with non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
For that purpose, the authors chose 2 well known SNPs: PPAR# (L162V) and
PPAR#2 (P12A). The study is a case- control search in an Italian population of
202 patients with biopsy proven NAFLD and 346 healthy controls. The negative
results obtained suggest that in such study, the limitation of the statistical power
is of importance. Therefore it is disappointed because of the relevance to run
such studies especially if the statistics failed because of the number of patients
included. It is often the case.
Major revisions:
The aim of the study is of poorly interest namely because this is a negative case
control association study. Moreover, if the question defined by the authors is
relevant (association with disease severity), the genetics methods used by the
authors are a little old, nowadays.
In 2007, real time PCR allowed to perform SNP genotyping with better sensitivity
than RFLP.
The statistics on demographic features of NAFLD versus controls showed
significative differences between the two populations except sex and age.
However limit significance was obtained from PPAR# (L162V) allele and HDL or
Homa-R.
Biopsies should be illustrated: interest in the quality of histological assessment.
Haplotypes studies may help to look at relevant associations in a case – control
study using these 2 genes PPAR# and PPAR#2. Moreover multivariate analysis
could be of interest.
Authors may have a better look of their NASH cohort if they test the whole genes
PPAR# and PPAR#2 and check all the SNPs that could be relevant in addition of
the 2 they had already tested.
Minor revisions:
Some Typographical errors:
…is considered as the hepatic manifestation…. 1st§ of Background
PPAR# downregulation is involved in NASH pathogenesis. 3rd§ of Background
Abbreviation of PNPLA3 should be explained
The writing of the manuscript is acceptable.
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Reviewer's report
Title:Lack of association between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
alpha and gamma2 polymorphisms and progressive liver damage in patients with
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a case control study
Version: 1Date:10 June 2010
Reviewer: Véronique Barbu
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript entitled « Lack of association between peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptors alpha and gamma2 polymorphisms and
progressive liver damage in patients with nonalcoholicfatty liver disease: a case
control study » by Paola Dongiovanni et al. presents data concerning the
association of 2 SNPs of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha
(PPAR# and PPAR#2 respectively with non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
For that purpose, the authors chose 2 well known SNPs: PPAR# (L162V) and
PPAR#2 (P12A). The study is a case- control search in an Italian population of
202 patients with biopsy proven NAFLD and 346 healthy controls. The negative
results obtained suggest that in such study, the limitation of the statistical power
is of importance. Therefore it is disappointed because of the relevance to run
such studies especially if the statistics failed because of the number of patients
included. It is often the case.
Major revisions:
The aim of the study is of poorly interest namely because this is a negative case
control association study. Moreover, if the question defined by the authors is
relevant (association with disease severity), the genetics methods used by the
authors are a little old, nowadays.
In 2007, real time PCR allowed to perform SNP genotyping with better sensitivity
than RFLP.
The statistics on demographic features of NAFLD versus controls showed
significative differences between the two populations except sex and age.
However limit significance was obtained from PPAR# (L162V) allele and HDL or
Homa-R.
Biopsies should be illustrated: interest in the quality of histological assessment.
Haplotypes studies may help to look at relevant associations in a case – control
study using these 2 genes PPAR# and PPAR#2. Moreover multivariate analysis
could be of interest.
Authors may have a better look of their NASH cohort if they test the whole genes
PPAR# and PPAR#2 and check all the SNPs that could be relevant in addition of
the 2 they had already tested.
Minor revisions:
Some Typographical errors:
…is considered as the hepatic manifestation…. 1st§ of Background
PPAR# downregulation is involved in NASH pathogenesis. 3rd§ of Background
Abbreviation of PNPLA3 should be explained
The writing of the manuscript is acceptable.
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Lack of association between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
alpha and gamma2 polymorphisms and progressive liver damage in patients with
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a case control study
Version: 1Date:10 June 2010
Reviewer: Véronique Barbu
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript entitled « Lack of association between peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptors alpha and gamma2 polymorphisms and
progressive liver damage in patients with nonalcoholicfatty liver disease: a case
control study » by Paola Dongiovanni et al. presents data concerning the
association of 2 SNPs of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha
(PPAR# and PPAR#2 respectively with non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
For that purpose, the authors chose 2 well known SNPs: PPAR# (L162V) and
PPAR#2 (P12A). The study is a case- control search in an Italian population of
202 patients with biopsy proven NAFLD and 346 healthy controls. The negative
results obtained suggest that in such study, the limitation of the statistical power
is of importance. Therefore it is disappointed because of the relevance to run
such studies especially if the statistics failed because of the number of patients
included. It is often the case.
Major revisions:
The aim of the study is of poorly interest namely because this is a negative case
control association study. Moreover, if the question defined by the authors is
relevant (association with disease severity), the genetics methods used by the
authors are a little old, nowadays.
In 2007, real time PCR allowed to perform SNP genotyping with better sensitivity
than RFLP.
The statistics on demographic features of NAFLD versus controls showed
significative differences between the two populations except sex and age.
However limit significance was obtained from PPAR# (L162V) allele and HDL or
Homa-R.
Biopsies should be illustrated: interest in the quality of histological assessment.
Haplotypes studies may help to look at relevant associations in a case – control
study using these 2 genes PPAR# and PPAR#2. Moreover multivariate analysis
could be of interest.
Authors may have a better look of their NASH cohort if they test the whole genes
PPAR# and PPAR#2 and check all the SNPs that could be relevant in addition of
the 2 they had already tested.
Minor revisions:
Some Typographical errors:
…is considered as the hepatic manifestation…. 1st§ of Background
PPAR# downregulation is involved in NASH pathogenesis. 3rd§ of Background
Abbreviation of PNPLA3 should be explained
The writing of the manuscript is acceptable.
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
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