Reviewer's report
Title:Marginal turbid band and light blue crest, signs observed in magnifying
narrow-band imaging endoscopy, are indicative of gastric intestinal metaplasia
Version: 2Date:5 September 2012
Reviewer: Tiing Leong Ang
Reviewer's report:
The authors have attempted to answer all questions posed.
Major comments
1. Is the MTB really a novel fnding not commented on before? According to the
author’s endoscopic images, the authors are indicating the marginal epithelium
as MTB. Basically, normal (non-atrophic) body mucosa appears to have round
pits and circular marginal epithelium that was surrounded by network of
subepithelial capillary. When atrophy or intestinal metaplasia develops, the
epithelial structure changes to the pattern that the subepthelial capillary is
encased by surrounding marginal crypt epithelium (Bansal et al. GIE
2008;67:210-6; Kawamura et al. JGH, 2011;26:477-83). The latter looks similar
to the antral mucosa. I think the author is indicating the marginal crypt epithelium
in the antral type mucosa as MTB. This does not exist on the surface of the
epithelium and is the epithelium itself. So, it should not be given with the specific
name because this is not a specific appearance. This feature appear to have
been previously documetned by the two references mentioned here, although the
term MTB was not used. The morphological change of the epithelium occurred
prior to expression of brush border: the light blue crest.
2. METHOD, statistical analysis: The grade of gastritis should be treated as
categorical (non-numerical) variable because there is no continuity among
grades (none, mild, moderate and marked) of gastritis. Thus, it is better to
express with median (range or interquartile range) and to use non-parametric
analysis such as Wilcoxon’s rank test.
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:Marginal turbid band and light blue crest, signs observed in magnifying
narrow-band imaging endoscopy, are indicative of gastric intestinal metaplasia
Version: 2Date:5 September 2012
Reviewer: Tiing Leong Ang
Reviewer's report:
The authors have attempted to answer all questions posed.
Major comments
1. Is the MTB really a novel fnding not commented on before? According to the
author’s endoscopic images, the authors are indicating the marginal epithelium
as MTB. Basically, normal (non-atrophic) body mucosa appears to have round
pits and circular marginal epithelium that was surrounded by network of
subepithelial capillary. When atrophy or intestinal metaplasia develops, the
epithelial structure changes to the pattern that the subepthelial capillary is
encased by surrounding marginal crypt epithelium (Bansal et al. GIE
2008;67:210-6; Kawamura et al. JGH, 2011;26:477-83). The latter looks similar
to the antral mucosa. I think the author is indicating the marginal crypt epithelium
in the antral type mucosa as MTB. This does not exist on the surface of the
epithelium and is the epithelium itself. So, it should not be given with the specific
name because this is not a specific appearance. This feature appear to have
been previously documetned by the two references mentioned here, although the
term MTB was not used. The morphological change of the epithelium occurred
prior to expression of brush border: the light blue crest.
2. METHOD, statistical analysis: The grade of gastritis should be treated as
categorical (non-numerical) variable because there is no continuity among
grades (none, mild, moderate and marked) of gastritis. Thus, it is better to
express with median (range or interquartile range) and to use non-parametric
analysis such as Wilcoxon’s rank test.
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:Marginal turbid band and light blue crest, signs observed in magnifying
narrow-band imaging endoscopy, are indicative of gastric intestinal metaplasia
Version: 2Date:5 September 2012
Reviewer: Tiing Leong Ang
Reviewer's report:
The authors have attempted to answer all questions posed.
Major comments
1. Is the MTB really a novel fnding not commented on before? According to the
author’s endoscopic images, the authors are indicating the marginal epithelium
as MTB. Basically, normal (non-atrophic) body mucosa appears to have round
pits and circular marginal epithelium that was surrounded by network of
subepithelial capillary. When atrophy or intestinal metaplasia develops, the
epithelial structure changes to the pattern that the subepthelial capillary is
encased by surrounding marginal crypt epithelium (Bansal et al. GIE
2008;67:210-6; Kawamura et al. JGH, 2011;26:477-83). The latter looks similar
to the antral mucosa. I think the author is indicating the marginal crypt epithelium
in the antral type mucosa as MTB. This does not exist on the surface of the
epithelium and is the epithelium itself. So, it should not be given with the specific
name because this is not a specific appearance. This feature appear to have
been previously documetned by the two references mentioned here, although the
term MTB was not used. The morphological change of the epithelium occurred
prior to expression of brush border: the light blue crest.
2. METHOD, statistical analysis: The grade of gastritis should be treated as
categorical (non-numerical) variable because there is no continuity among
grades (none, mild, moderate and marked) of gastritis. Thus, it is better to
express with median (range or interquartile range) and to use non-parametric
analysis such as Wilcoxon’s rank test.
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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