Reviewer's report
Title:Xyloglucan for the treatment of acute diarrhea: results of a randomized,
controlled, open-label, parallel group, multicentre, national clinical trial
Version:5Date:16 July 2015
Reviewer: Claudia Banzato
Reviewer's report:
Gnessi L et al analyzed the efficacy, safety and time of onset of the anti-diarrheal
effect of xyloglucan in comparison with two anti-diarrheal products. They
concluded that xyloglucan is equally or better efficacious at improving symptoms
than the other two products, but they did not declare the significance of the
statistical analysis.
The authors need to describe the results more accurately with table and results
of statistical analysis.
- Major Compulsory Revisions
METHODS
Eligibility criteria
It is important to clarify if patients with inflammatory bowel disease are included
or excluded. With this inclusion criteria a flare of IBD could result included in the
study.
Randomisation
It is not described the methods used to generate the random allocation
sequence, and the type of randomisation (blocking and block size)
RESULTS
The results are not completely clear. The significativity of the statistical analysis
process is not described in enough detail.
It would be useful to show results in a table, divided by group, with statistical
significance.
The unanswered question is if the mentioned differences are statistically
significative.
Figure 1 is not clear, in particular section A (number of stool from basal -200???)
- Minor Essential Revisions
INTRODUCTION
The last paragraph is not suitable for introduction
METHODS
In the fourth paragraph: the description of the properties of xyloglucan are not
useful at this point of the article. It is suggested to insert it in the introduction or in
the discussion.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
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.
Reviewer's report
Title:Xyloglucan for the treatment of acute diarrhea: results of a randomized,
controlled, open-label, parallel group, multicentre, national clinical trial
Version:5Date:16 July 2015
Reviewer: Claudia Banzato
Reviewer's report:
Gnessi L et al analyzed the efficacy, safety and time of onset of the anti-diarrheal
effect of xyloglucan in comparison with two anti-diarrheal products. They
concluded that xyloglucan is equally or better efficacious at improving symptoms
than the other two products, but they did not declare the significance of the
statistical analysis.
The authors need to describe the results more accurately with table and results
of statistical analysis.
- Major Compulsory Revisions
METHODS
Eligibility criteria
It is important to clarify if patients with inflammatory bowel disease are included
or excluded. With this inclusion criteria a flare of IBD could result included in the
study.
Randomisation
It is not described the methods used to generate the random allocation
sequence, and the type of randomisation (blocking and block size)
RESULTS
The results are not completely clear. The significativity of the statistical analysis
process is not described in enough detail.
It would be useful to show results in a table, divided by group, with statistical
significance.
The unanswered question is if the mentioned differences are statistically
significative.
Figure 1 is not clear, in particular section A (number of stool from basal -200???)
- Minor Essential Revisions
INTRODUCTION
The last paragraph is not suitable for introduction
METHODS
In the fourth paragraph: the description of the properties of xyloglucan are not
useful at this point of the article. It is suggested to insert it in the introduction or in
the discussion.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
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.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Xyloglucan for the treatment of acute diarrhea: results of a randomized,
controlled, open-label, parallel group, multicentre, national clinical trial
Version:5Date:16 July 2015
Reviewer: Claudia Banzato
Reviewer's report:
Gnessi L et al analyzed the efficacy, safety and time of onset of the anti-diarrheal
effect of xyloglucan in comparison with two anti-diarrheal products. They
concluded that xyloglucan is equally or better efficacious at improving symptoms
than the other two products, but they did not declare the significance of the
statistical analysis.
The authors need to describe the results more accurately with table and results
of statistical analysis.
- Major Compulsory Revisions
METHODS
Eligibility criteria
It is important to clarify if patients with inflammatory bowel disease are included
or excluded. With this inclusion criteria a flare of IBD could result included in the
study.
Randomisation
It is not described the methods used to generate the random allocation
sequence, and the type of randomisation (blocking and block size)
RESULTS
The results are not completely clear. The significativity of the statistical analysis
process is not described in enough detail.
It would be useful to show results in a table, divided by group, with statistical
significance.
The unanswered question is if the mentioned differences are statistically
significative.
Figure 1 is not clear, in particular section A (number of stool from basal -200???)
- Minor Essential Revisions
INTRODUCTION
The last paragraph is not suitable for introduction
METHODS
In the fourth paragraph: the description of the properties of xyloglucan are not
useful at this point of the article. It is suggested to insert it in the introduction or in
the discussion.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
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.
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