Reviewer's report
Title:Analysis of the clinical relevance of antimitochondrial antibodies to the
beta- and gamma-subunits of the F1F0-ATPase in patients with primary biliary
cirrhosis
Version: 1Date:25 June 2012
Reviewer: Dimitrios Bogdanos
Reviewer's report:
This is a well-written and interesting paper. It originates from an experienced
group of investigators with long-lasting interest in the autoantibody serology of
primary biliary cirrhosis. The major finding indicating that antibodies against the
beta- and gamma-subunits of F1F0-ATPase do not have clinical significance is of
interest.
Major comments
I feel that the major weakness of the paper is the current illustration of the figures
which do not clearly convey the points made in the text.
Table 1 gives a summary of the results obtained related to the behaviour of the
autoantibodies over time, before and after liver transplantation. I think this table
could take the form of illustrated Figure showing the behaviour of the
autoantibody concentrations of the samples from the same patient and could
replace at least in part Figure 4.
Figure 1.The Authors state in their Results’ section that "IgG antibody activity
towards the beta-subunit was significantly higher in PBC patients" and refer to
Figure 1. The legend of the Figure 1 also indicates reactivity of antibodies to the
beta and gamma-subunits of F1F0-ATPase in PBC patients and healthy controls.
However, it is not clear whether this figure includes the absorbance values of the
readings obtained in the total number of 425 sera tested (before and after
transplantation) or the baseline readings.
I strongly suggest the Authors to give this figure in the form of scatter plot.
Other points:
I am wondering whether antibody concentrations against beta and gamma
subunits of F1F0-ATPase correlate or not with those against individuals
mitochondrial antigens, and in particular that against PDC-E2, the predominant
mitochondrial autoantigen. It would be great if the Authors have any data
regarding this.
The ROCs are missing and the authors need to submit them as supplementary
data.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
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:Analysis of the clinical relevance of antimitochondrial antibodies to the
beta- and gamma-subunits of the F1F0-ATPase in patients with primary biliary
cirrhosis
Version: 1Date:25 June 2012
Reviewer: Dimitrios Bogdanos
Reviewer's report:
This is a well-written and interesting paper. It originates from an experienced
group of investigators with long-lasting interest in the autoantibody serology of
primary biliary cirrhosis. The major finding indicating that antibodies against the
beta- and gamma-subunits of F1F0-ATPase do not have clinical significance is of
interest.
Major comments
I feel that the major weakness of the paper is the current illustration of the figures
which do not clearly convey the points made in the text.
Table 1 gives a summary of the results obtained related to the behaviour of the
autoantibodies over time, before and after liver transplantation. I think this table
could take the form of illustrated Figure showing the behaviour of the
autoantibody concentrations of the samples from the same patient and could
replace at least in part Figure 4.
Figure 1.The Authors state in their Results’ section that "IgG antibody activity
towards the beta-subunit was significantly higher in PBC patients" and refer to
Figure 1. The legend of the Figure 1 also indicates reactivity of antibodies to the
beta and gamma-subunits of F1F0-ATPase in PBC patients and healthy controls.
However, it is not clear whether this figure includes the absorbance values of the
readings obtained in the total number of 425 sera tested (before and after
transplantation) or the baseline readings.
I strongly suggest the Authors to give this figure in the form of scatter plot.
Other points:
I am wondering whether antibody concentrations against beta and gamma
subunits of F1F0-ATPase correlate or not with those against individuals
mitochondrial antigens, and in particular that against PDC-E2, the predominant
mitochondrial autoantigen. It would be great if the Authors have any data
regarding this.
The ROCs are missing and the authors need to submit them as supplementary
data.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
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:Analysis of the clinical relevance of antimitochondrial antibodies to the
beta- and gamma-subunits of the F1F0-ATPase in patients with primary biliary
cirrhosis
Version: 1Date:25 June 2012
Reviewer: Dimitrios Bogdanos
Reviewer's report:
This is a well-written and interesting paper. It originates from an experienced
group of investigators with long-lasting interest in the autoantibody serology of
primary biliary cirrhosis. The major finding indicating that antibodies against the
beta- and gamma-subunits of F1F0-ATPase do not have clinical significance is of
interest.
Major comments
I feel that the major weakness of the paper is the current illustration of the figures
which do not clearly convey the points made in the text.
Table 1 gives a summary of the results obtained related to the behaviour of the
autoantibodies over time, before and after liver transplantation. I think this table
could take the form of illustrated Figure showing the behaviour of the
autoantibody concentrations of the samples from the same patient and could
replace at least in part Figure 4.
Figure 1.The Authors state in their Results’ section that "IgG antibody activity
towards the beta-subunit was significantly higher in PBC patients" and refer to
Figure 1. The legend of the Figure 1 also indicates reactivity of antibodies to the
beta and gamma-subunits of F1F0-ATPase in PBC patients and healthy controls.
However, it is not clear whether this figure includes the absorbance values of the
readings obtained in the total number of 425 sera tested (before and after
transplantation) or the baseline readings.
I strongly suggest the Authors to give this figure in the form of scatter plot.
Other points:
I am wondering whether antibody concentrations against beta and gamma
subunits of F1F0-ATPase correlate or not with those against individuals
mitochondrial antigens, and in particular that against PDC-E2, the predominant
mitochondrial autoantigen. It would be great if the Authors have any data
regarding this.
The ROCs are missing and the authors need to submit them as supplementary
data.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
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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