Reviewer’s report
Title:  Gall bladder wall thickening as non-invasive screening parameter for esophageal varices – a
comparative endoscopic - sonographic study
Version: 0 Date: 24 Mar 2018
Reviewer: Hitoshi Maruyama
Reviewer's report:
General comments
Obviously, there may be a certain relationship between a presence of ascites and GBWT, and high
specificity of GBWT to detect EV may be related to this logic.
The author need to examine whether GBWT is an independent factor by using multivariate analysis.
Secondly, because of the nature of ultrasound, the measurement data should be based on the multi-
operator assessment.
The data shown in this retrospective study appear less valuable. Also, there should be deeper discussion
regarding the GBWT and a presence of EV, instead of other topics. 
Results
Please add the time difference between Endoscopy and Ultrasound.
Please examine the relationship between the degree of EV and GBWT.
Page 3
Ultrasonography findings
"non-inflammatory GBWT of ≥ 4mm"
Please explain how to define "non-inflammatory" in the Method section.
Discussion
Please add deeper discussion regarding the GBWT and a presence of EV.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
No
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
No
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
No
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an additional 
statistical review?
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.
I recommend additional statistical review
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Needs some language corrections before being published
Declaration of competing interests
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an
organisation  that  may  in  any  way  gain  or  lose  financially  from  the  publication  of  this
manuscript, either now or in the future?
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially
from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
3.  Do you  hold  or  are  you  currently applying  for any patents  relating  to  the  content  of the
manuscript?
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds or
has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?
6. Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' below. If 
your reply is yes to any, please give details below.
I declare that I have no competing interests.
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included on my
report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report including any 
attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' responses. I agree for my 
report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons CC-BY license 
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments which I do not wish to 
be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments to the editors, which will not
be published.
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal
Reviewer’s report
Title:  Gall bladder wall thickening as non-invasive screening parameter for esophageal varices – a
comparative endoscopic - sonographic study
Version: 0 Date: 24 Mar 2018
Reviewer: Hitoshi Maruyama
Reviewer's report:
General comments
Obviously, there may be a certain relationship between a presence of ascites and GBWT, and high
specificity of GBWT to detect EV may be related to this logic.
The author need to examine whether GBWT is an independent factor by using multivariate analysis.
Secondly, because of the nature of ultrasound, the measurement data should be based on the multi-
operator assessment.
The data shown in this retrospective study appear less valuable. Also, there should be deeper discussion
regarding the GBWT and a presence of EV, instead of other topics. 
Results
Please add the time difference between Endoscopy and Ultrasound.
Please examine the relationship between the degree of EV and GBWT.
Page 3
Ultrasonography findings
"non-inflammatory GBWT of ≥ 4mm"
Please explain how to define "non-inflammatory" in the Method section.
Discussion
Please add deeper discussion regarding the GBWT and a presence of EV.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
No
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
No
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
No
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an additional 
statistical review?
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.
I recommend additional statistical review
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Needs some language corrections before being published
Declaration of competing interests
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an
organisation  that  may  in  any  way  gain  or  lose  financially  from  the  publication  of  this
manuscript, either now or in the future?
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially
from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
3.  Do you  hold  or  are  you  currently applying  for any patents  relating  to  the  content  of the
manuscript?
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds or
has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?
6. Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' below. If 
your reply is yes to any, please give details below.
I declare that I have no competing interests.
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included on my
report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report including any 
attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' responses. I agree for my 
report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons CC-BY license 
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments which I do not wish to 
be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments to the editors, which will not
be published.
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer’s report
Title:  Gall bladder wall thickening as non-invasive screening parameter for esophageal varices – a
comparative endoscopic - sonographic study
Version: 0 Date: 24 Mar 2018
Reviewer: Hitoshi Maruyama
Reviewer's report:
General comments
Obviously, there may be a certain relationship between a presence of ascites and GBWT, and high
specificity of GBWT to detect EV may be related to this logic.
The author need to examine whether GBWT is an independent factor by using multivariate analysis.
Secondly, because of the nature of ultrasound, the measurement data should be based on the multi-
operator assessment.
The data shown in this retrospective study appear less valuable. Also, there should be deeper discussion
regarding the GBWT and a presence of EV, instead of other topics. 
Results
Please add the time difference between Endoscopy and Ultrasound.
Please examine the relationship between the degree of EV and GBWT.
Page 3
Ultrasonography findings
"non-inflammatory GBWT of ≥ 4mm"
Please explain how to define "non-inflammatory" in the Method section.
Discussion
Please add deeper discussion regarding the GBWT and a presence of EV.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
No
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
No
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
No
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an additional 
statistical review?
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.
I recommend additional statistical review
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Needs some language corrections before being published
Declaration of competing interests
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an
organisation  that  may  in  any  way  gain  or  lose  financially  from  the  publication  of  this
manuscript, either now or in the future?
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially
from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
3.  Do you  hold  or  are  you  currently applying  for any patents  relating  to  the  content  of the
manuscript?
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds or
has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?
6. Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' below. If 
your reply is yes to any, please give details below.
I declare that I have no competing interests.
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included on my
report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report including any 
attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' responses. I agree for my 
report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons CC-BY license 
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments which I do not wish to 
be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments to the editors, which will not
be published.
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal
assistant