Reviewer's report
Title:Alpha-Fetoprotein Level as a Biomarker of Liver Fibrosis Status in 619
consecutive patients with Chronic Hepatitis B
Version:2Date:7 May 2014
Reviewer: Anna Pecorelli
Reviewer's report:
In this paper Liu and co-workers aimed to identifyng the association between
Alfa-Fetoprotein levels and different stages of liver fibrosis and inflammations.
The authors have adequately revised the manuscript according to the major
revisions suggested.
Statistics has been improved as well as quality of written English.
The study has still some limitations, clearly stated in the discussion:
- mild accuracy in defined both inlfammation and fibrosis by AFP (as defined by
AUROC < 0.8;);
- the use of the pathological staging system used in China, without comparison
with others staging system;
- not dynamic measurements of AFP;
To increase the quality of the work it could be usefull to compare AFP levels with
APRI score for fibrosis.
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 interests
Reviewer's report
Title:Alpha-Fetoprotein Level as a Biomarker of Liver Fibrosis Status in 619
consecutive patients with Chronic Hepatitis B
Version:2Date:7 May 2014
Reviewer: Anna Pecorelli
Reviewer's report:
In this paper Liu and co-workers aimed to identifyng the association between
Alfa-Fetoprotein levels and different stages of liver fibrosis and inflammations.
The authors have adequately revised the manuscript according to the major
revisions suggested.
Statistics has been improved as well as quality of written English.
The study has still some limitations, clearly stated in the discussion:
- mild accuracy in defined both inlfammation and fibrosis by AFP (as defined by
AUROC < 0.8;);
- the use of the pathological staging system used in China, without comparison
with others staging system;
- not dynamic measurements of AFP;
To increase the quality of the work it could be usefull to compare AFP levels with
APRI score for fibrosis.
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 interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Alpha-Fetoprotein Level as a Biomarker of Liver Fibrosis Status in 619
consecutive patients with Chronic Hepatitis B
Version:2Date:7 May 2014
Reviewer: Anna Pecorelli
Reviewer's report:
In this paper Liu and co-workers aimed to identifyng the association between
Alfa-Fetoprotein levels and different stages of liver fibrosis and inflammations.
The authors have adequately revised the manuscript according to the major
revisions suggested.
Statistics has been improved as well as quality of written English.
The study has still some limitations, clearly stated in the discussion:
- mild accuracy in defined both inlfammation and fibrosis by AFP (as defined by
AUROC < 0.8;);
- the use of the pathological staging system used in China, without comparison
with others staging system;
- not dynamic measurements of AFP;
To increase the quality of the work it could be usefull to compare AFP levels with
APRI score for fibrosis.
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 interests
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