Title: Host cytokine genetic polymorphisms in a selected population of persons living with
hepatitis B virus infection in the Central Region of Ghana
Version: 7 Date: 09 Sep 2024
Reviewer's report:
This version of the draft is improved, however minor comments remain.
1. Study design
The aim of the study is no longer to be mentioned here (line 149-150).
I suggest this sentence: The study is a single-centre cross-sectional study carried out at the
hepatitis clinic at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana.
2. Genotyping
Clearly describe Iplex GOLD SNP genotyping protocol and classical PCR protocol (reaction
volume, PCR program, etc.)
3. It should be better to combine tables 2 and 3 into a single table named clinico-biological
characteristics.
4. The presentation of the results of the univariate and multivariate analysis remains to be
reviewed in the abstract (line 71-74) and the main document (line 318-327). For TNF-#
rs1800629, the odds ratios are less than 1 which tends towards protection, therefore a lower
susceptibility. This was even well mentioned in your discussion.
I suggest these sentences: The results of univariate (OR=0.08, 0.01-0.93; p= 0.043) and
multivariate (OR= 0.02, 0.00-0.67; p= 0.029) analysis, showed that carrying TNF-# rs1800629
AA genotype reduce susceptibility to high FIB score compared with GG genotypes. In univariate
analysis, subjects aged 20-39 years (OR=5.00, 1.13-6.10; p= 0.034) and 40-59 years (OR=
41.99, 3.74-47.21; p= 0.0002) were more susceptible to high FIB score compared to subjects
aged 1-19 years. Being female (OR= 2.42, 1.03-5.71; p=0.043) in the univariate models showed
higher odds of having high levels of HBV DNA in the multivariate model. There was a reduced
likelihood of herbal medicine usage influencing HBV DNA levels significantly (OR= 0.29,
0.10-0.86; p= 0.025).
5. Concerning figure 1, did you do a statistical comparison of the HBV DNA means between
the different genotypes? If not, it would be interesting to do it to confirm the differences.
6. For figure 2, I suggest the following title and legend: Figure 2: Linkage disequilibrium (L.D)
plot of IFN-#R1 rs11914, IFN-# rs121913163, IFN-#R1 rs1887415, IFN-# rs2069722 and IFN-
# rs2069723.
Legends: For the pair-wise LD association between five SNPs and the corresponding D’and R’
values, the color gradient from red to white reveals higher to lower LD (D’ 1-0; R’ 1-0).
Title: Host cytokine genetic polymorphisms in a selected population of persons living with
hepatitis B virus infection in the Central Region of Ghana
Version: 7 Date: 09 Sep 2024
Reviewer's report:
This version of the draft is improved, however minor comments remain.
1. Study design
The aim of the study is no longer to be mentioned here (line 149-150).
I suggest this sentence: The study is a single-centre cross-sectional study carried out at the
hepatitis clinic at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana.
2. Genotyping
Clearly describe Iplex GOLD SNP genotyping protocol and classical PCR protocol (reaction
volume, PCR program, etc.)
3. It should be better to combine tables 2 and 3 into a single table named clinico-biological
characteristics.
4. The presentation of the results of the univariate and multivariate analysis remains to be
reviewed in the abstract (line 71-74) and the main document (line 318-327). For TNF-#
rs1800629, the odds ratios are less than 1 which tends towards protection, therefore a lower
susceptibility. This was even well mentioned in your discussion.
I suggest these sentences: The results of univariate (OR=0.08, 0.01-0.93; p= 0.043) and
multivariate (OR= 0.02, 0.00-0.67; p= 0.029) analysis, showed that carrying TNF-# rs1800629
AA genotype reduce susceptibility to high FIB score compared with GG genotypes. In univariate
analysis, subjects aged 20-39 years (OR=5.00, 1.13-6.10; p= 0.034) and 40-59 years (OR=
41.99, 3.74-47.21; p= 0.0002) were more susceptible to high FIB score compared to subjects
aged 1-19 years. Being female (OR= 2.42, 1.03-5.71; p=0.043) in the univariate models showed
higher odds of having high levels of HBV DNA in the multivariate model. There was a reduced
likelihood of herbal medicine usage influencing HBV DNA levels significantly (OR= 0.29,
0.10-0.86; p= 0.025).
5. Concerning figure 1, did you do a statistical comparison of the HBV DNA means between
the different genotypes? If not, it would be interesting to do it to confirm the differences.
6. For figure 2, I suggest the following title and legend: Figure 2: Linkage disequilibrium (L.D)
plot of IFN-#R1 rs11914, IFN-# rs121913163, IFN-#R1 rs1887415, IFN-# rs2069722 and IFN-
# rs2069723.
Legends: For the pair-wise LD association between five SNPs and the corresponding D’and R’
values, the color gradient from red to white reveals higher to lower LD (D’ 1-0; R’ 1-0).
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Host cytokine genetic polymorphisms in a selected population of persons living with
hepatitis B virus infection in the Central Region of Ghana
Version: 7 Date: 09 Sep 2024
Reviewer's report:
This version of the draft is improved, however minor comments remain.
1. Study design
The aim of the study is no longer to be mentioned here (line 149-150).
I suggest this sentence: The study is a single-centre cross-sectional study carried out at the
hepatitis clinic at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana.
2. Genotyping
Clearly describe Iplex GOLD SNP genotyping protocol and classical PCR protocol (reaction
volume, PCR program, etc.)
3. It should be better to combine tables 2 and 3 into a single table named clinico-biological
characteristics.
4. The presentation of the results of the univariate and multivariate analysis remains to be
reviewed in the abstract (line 71-74) and the main document (line 318-327). For TNF-#
rs1800629, the odds ratios are less than 1 which tends towards protection, therefore a lower
susceptibility. This was even well mentioned in your discussion.
I suggest these sentences: The results of univariate (OR=0.08, 0.01-0.93; p= 0.043) and
multivariate (OR= 0.02, 0.00-0.67; p= 0.029) analysis, showed that carrying TNF-# rs1800629
AA genotype reduce susceptibility to high FIB score compared with GG genotypes. In univariate
analysis, subjects aged 20-39 years (OR=5.00, 1.13-6.10; p= 0.034) and 40-59 years (OR=
41.99, 3.74-47.21; p= 0.0002) were more susceptible to high FIB score compared to subjects
aged 1-19 years. Being female (OR= 2.42, 1.03-5.71; p=0.043) in the univariate models showed
higher odds of having high levels of HBV DNA in the multivariate model. There was a reduced
likelihood of herbal medicine usage influencing HBV DNA levels significantly (OR= 0.29,
0.10-0.86; p= 0.025).
5. Concerning figure 1, did you do a statistical comparison of the HBV DNA means between
the different genotypes? If not, it would be interesting to do it to confirm the differences.
6. For figure 2, I suggest the following title and legend: Figure 2: Linkage disequilibrium (L.D)
plot of IFN-#R1 rs11914, IFN-# rs121913163, IFN-#R1 rs1887415, IFN-# rs2069722 and IFN-
# rs2069723.
Legends: For the pair-wise LD association between five SNPs and the corresponding D’and R’
values, the color gradient from red to white reveals higher to lower LD (D’ 1-0; R’ 1-0).
assistant