Reviewer’s report  
Title: The endoscopic ultrasound probe findings in prediction of esophageal variceal recurrence 
after endoscopic variceal eradication therapies in cirrhotic patients: A cohort prospective stud y 
Version: 0 Date: 23 Dec 201 8   
Reviewer:  Chen Shuan Chung  
Reviewer's report:  
The aim of this study was to evaluate the endoscopic ultrasound features in the prediction of 
recurrence of esophageal varices following endoscopic eradication in a prospective cohort. It is 
an interesting retrospective study, but some revisions are sugges ted before consideration for 
publication in the journal BMC Gastroenterology.  
 
1. Page 4, line 22: "...as soon as early intervention treatment possible in order to prevention 
esophageal variceal rebleeding" => should be in order to "prevent", not "prevent ion" 
2. This study defined eradication of EV as endoscopic normal esophageal mucosa or lesions 
lack a varicose appearance. Why not use EUP after endoscopic treatment to define 
eradication ? Because it would be "residual" rather than recurrence of EV after 
endoscopic treatment.  
3. Why use the cut -off value "14" for Child -Pugh score as one of the exclusion criteria?  
4. What was the timing and surveillance period of EUP after endoscopic eradication ?  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in y our 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.  
No 
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 i n your comments to the editors.  
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality 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, con sidering 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 way 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 salary 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 decl are that 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 websit e 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: The endoscopic ultrasound probe findings in prediction of esophageal variceal recurrence 
after endoscopic variceal eradication therapies in cirrhotic patients: A cohort prospective stud y 
Version: 0 Date: 23 Dec 201 8   
Reviewer:  Chen Shuan Chung  
Reviewer's report:  
The aim of this study was to evaluate the endoscopic ultrasound features in the prediction of 
recurrence of esophageal varices following endoscopic eradication in a prospective cohort. It is 
an interesting retrospective study, but some revisions are sugges ted before consideration for 
publication in the journal BMC Gastroenterology.  
 
1. Page 4, line 22: "...as soon as early intervention treatment possible in order to prevention 
esophageal variceal rebleeding" => should be in order to "prevent", not "prevent ion" 
2. This study defined eradication of EV as endoscopic normal esophageal mucosa or lesions 
lack a varicose appearance. Why not use EUP after endoscopic treatment to define 
eradication ? Because it would be "residual" rather than recurrence of EV after 
endoscopic treatment.  
3. Why use the cut -off value "14" for Child -Pugh score as one of the exclusion criteria?  
4. What was the timing and surveillance period of EUP after endoscopic eradication ?  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in y our 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.  
No 
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 i n your comments to the editors.  
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality 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, con sidering 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 way 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 salary 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 decl are that 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 websit e 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: The endoscopic ultrasound probe findings in prediction of esophageal variceal recurrence 
after endoscopic variceal eradication therapies in cirrhotic patients: A cohort prospective stud y 
Version: 0 Date: 23 Dec 201 8   
Reviewer:  Chen Shuan Chung  
Reviewer's report:  
The aim of this study was to evaluate the endoscopic ultrasound features in the prediction of 
recurrence of esophageal varices following endoscopic eradication in a prospective cohort. It is 
an interesting retrospective study, but some revisions are sugges ted before consideration for 
publication in the journal BMC Gastroenterology.  
 
1. Page 4, line 22: "...as soon as early intervention treatment possible in order to prevention 
esophageal variceal rebleeding" => should be in order to "prevent", not "prevent ion" 
2. This study defined eradication of EV as endoscopic normal esophageal mucosa or lesions 
lack a varicose appearance. Why not use EUP after endoscopic treatment to define 
eradication ? Because it would be "residual" rather than recurrence of EV after 
endoscopic treatment.  
3. Why use the cut -off value "14" for Child -Pugh score as one of the exclusion criteria?  
4. What was the timing and surveillance period of EUP after endoscopic eradication ?  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in y our 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.  
No 
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 i n your comments to the editors.  
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality 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, con sidering 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 way 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 salary 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 decl are that 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 websit e 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