Reviewer's report 
 Child-Pugh Classification Dependent Alterations in Serum Leptin Levels among Cirrhotic Title: 
Patients: A Case Controlled Study 
 1  21 June 2004 Version: Date: 
 Roberto Testa Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
GeneralThis paper assess the role ofthe clinical grading of viral cirrhosis on serum leptin levels in 
relationships both to nutritional status and to gender. These are not novel findings, but some characteristics of the study are originals: i.e. the focus on viral origin of the cirrhosis, and the balanced diet administered, before the study, both to cirrhotic patients and to controls. The methods 
are appropriate and well described; the work can be replicated. The data are partially sound and 
apparently correct: in Fig. 1 the leptin levels were not found; the Fig. 2 could integrate the Fig. 1, but 
unfortunately the median values are not visible. Therefore the manuscript adhere partially to relevant 
standards for reporting and data deposition. The discussion and conclusions are well balanced and 
adequately supported by the data. The title and the abstract accurately convey what has been found. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
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Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the 
author can be trusted to correct) 1. Leptin data must be delete in Fig. 1: the leptin levels in controls and in whole cirrhotic group may be reported in the text, while the leptin level distribution according to gender and to Child's class 
were yet reported in Fig. 2. 
2. In the linear regression analysis must be pointed-out that among independent variables the viral 
etiologic factors are virus B and virus C, and the Child-Pugh's classification is intended A-B-C. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept after minor essential revisions What next?: 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research Level of interest: 
interests 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
Reviewer's report 
 Child-Pugh Classification Dependent Alterations in Serum Leptin Levels among Cirrhotic Title: 
Patients: A Case Controlled Study 
 1  21 June 2004 Version: Date: 
 Roberto Testa Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
GeneralThis paper assess the role ofthe clinical grading of viral cirrhosis on serum leptin levels in 
relationships both to nutritional status and to gender. These are not novel findings, but some characteristics of the study are originals: i.e. the focus on viral origin of the cirrhosis, and the balanced diet administered, before the study, both to cirrhotic patients and to controls. The methods 
are appropriate and well described; the work can be replicated. The data are partially sound and 
apparently correct: in Fig. 1 the leptin levels were not found; the Fig. 2 could integrate the Fig. 1, but 
unfortunately the median values are not visible. Therefore the manuscript adhere partially to relevant 
standards for reporting and data deposition. The discussion and conclusions are well balanced and 
adequately supported by the data. The title and the abstract accurately convey what has been found. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the 
author can be trusted to correct) 1. Leptin data must be delete in Fig. 1: the leptin levels in controls and in whole cirrhotic group may be reported in the text, while the leptin level distribution according to gender and to Child's class 
were yet reported in Fig. 2. 
2. In the linear regression analysis must be pointed-out that among independent variables the viral 
etiologic factors are virus B and virus C, and the Child-Pugh's classification is intended A-B-C. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept after minor essential revisions What next?: 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research Level of interest: 
interests 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report 
 Child-Pugh Classification Dependent Alterations in Serum Leptin Levels among Cirrhotic Title: 
Patients: A Case Controlled Study 
 1  21 June 2004 Version: Date: 
 Roberto Testa Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
GeneralThis paper assess the role ofthe clinical grading of viral cirrhosis on serum leptin levels in 
relationships both to nutritional status and to gender. These are not novel findings, but some characteristics of the study are originals: i.e. the focus on viral origin of the cirrhosis, and the balanced diet administered, before the study, both to cirrhotic patients and to controls. The methods 
are appropriate and well described; the work can be replicated. The data are partially sound and 
apparently correct: in Fig. 1 the leptin levels were not found; the Fig. 2 could integrate the Fig. 1, but 
unfortunately the median values are not visible. Therefore the manuscript adhere partially to relevant 
standards for reporting and data deposition. The discussion and conclusions are well balanced and 
adequately supported by the data. The title and the abstract accurately convey what has been found. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the 
author can be trusted to correct) 1. Leptin data must be delete in Fig. 1: the leptin levels in controls and in whole cirrhotic group may be reported in the text, while the leptin level distribution according to gender and to Child's class 
were yet reported in Fig. 2. 
2. In the linear regression analysis must be pointed-out that among independent variables the viral 
etiologic factors are virus B and virus C, and the Child-Pugh's classification is intended A-B-C. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept after minor essential revisions What next?: 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research Level of interest: 
interests 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
assistant