Reviewer’s report
Title: Efficacy and safety of tenofovir in preventing mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus:  
a meta-analysis based on 6 studies from China and 3 studies from other countries
Version: 0 Date: 25 Mar 2018
Reviewer: Alessandra Mangia
Reviewer's report:
This is an interesting meta-analysis on the impact of tenofovir in reducing the risk of  vertical HBV  
trasmission.  Unfortunately, due to relevant differences across the studies, results of this meat-analysis  
cannot be generalized. The heterogeneity represents an important limitation of this study. As stated in  
the discussion 2/3 of the studies examined were from China, it might be better to include this concept  
in the manuscript title.
The studies  included in this  meta-analysis  were heterogeneous in terms  of treatment comparator.  
Accordingly, it might be  important to specify what drug tenofovir is compared to in every study  
examined in the Results session.  On page 10 line 32: what does "usual medical care" indicate in each  
study?
Another aspect that need to be specified is the timing of the pregnancy when tenofovir treatment was  
started. 
Page 10 line 1. I would say:  phase II clinical trial, rather than protocol
Page 18 For clarity, references of the two different studies quoted here need to be added after the  
control results.
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.
Unable to assess
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Yes
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:
Acceptable
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: Efficacy and safety of tenofovir in preventing mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus:  
a meta-analysis based on 6 studies from China and 3 studies from other countries
Version: 0 Date: 25 Mar 2018
Reviewer: Alessandra Mangia
Reviewer's report:
This is an interesting meta-analysis on the impact of tenofovir in reducing the risk of  vertical HBV  
trasmission.  Unfortunately, due to relevant differences across the studies, results of this meat-analysis  
cannot be generalized. The heterogeneity represents an important limitation of this study. As stated in  
the discussion 2/3 of the studies examined were from China, it might be better to include this concept  
in the manuscript title.
The studies  included in this  meta-analysis  were heterogeneous in terms  of treatment comparator.  
Accordingly, it might be  important to specify what drug tenofovir is compared to in every study  
examined in the Results session.  On page 10 line 32: what does "usual medical care" indicate in each  
study?
Another aspect that need to be specified is the timing of the pregnancy when tenofovir treatment was  
started. 
Page 10 line 1. I would say:  phase II clinical trial, rather than protocol
Page 18 For clarity, references of the two different studies quoted here need to be added after the  
control results.
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.
Unable to assess
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Yes
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:
Acceptable
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: Efficacy and safety of tenofovir in preventing mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus:  
a meta-analysis based on 6 studies from China and 3 studies from other countries
Version: 0 Date: 25 Mar 2018
Reviewer: Alessandra Mangia
Reviewer's report:
This is an interesting meta-analysis on the impact of tenofovir in reducing the risk of  vertical HBV  
trasmission.  Unfortunately, due to relevant differences across the studies, results of this meat-analysis  
cannot be generalized. The heterogeneity represents an important limitation of this study. As stated in  
the discussion 2/3 of the studies examined were from China, it might be better to include this concept  
in the manuscript title.
The studies  included in this  meta-analysis  were heterogeneous in terms  of treatment comparator.  
Accordingly, it might be  important to specify what drug tenofovir is compared to in every study  
examined in the Results session.  On page 10 line 32: what does "usual medical care" indicate in each  
study?
Another aspect that need to be specified is the timing of the pregnancy when tenofovir treatment was  
started. 
Page 10 line 1. I would say:  phase II clinical trial, rather than protocol
Page 18 For clarity, references of the two different studies quoted here need to be added after the  
control results.
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.
Unable to assess
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Yes
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:
Acceptable
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