Reviewer's report 
 Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in fecal samples: rapid detection by surface plasmon Title: 
resonance 
 1  20 August 2004 Version: Date: 
 Wen W.G. Jiang Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
The study describes the development of a new method, surface plasmon resonance, to detect human hepatocyte growth factor in clinical samples. It is interesting in two folds, first, it provides a new tool in analysing HGF; second, it appears to be reliable applicable to difficult samples, i.e. fecal 
samples which are notoriously difficult to study. From this point of view, the manuscript should be of 
good interest to those who work in this area. 
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Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
My major concern is the size of the sample numbers in each of the three groups. For example, there 
are only 9 in control and 6 in cancer group. There was no indication of logics and selection criteria in 
choosing the patients. Clinical description is important in both gasteroenteritis and cancer groups, as 
it has important bearings to the enterpritation of the findings. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the 
author can be trusted to correct) Figures and lengends are generally well organised and easy to understand. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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 
 Needs some language corrections before being published Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
Reviewer's report 
 Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in fecal samples: rapid detection by surface plasmon Title: 
resonance 
 1  20 August 2004 Version: Date: 
 Wen W.G. Jiang Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
The study describes the development of a new method, surface plasmon resonance, to detect human hepatocyte growth factor in clinical samples. It is interesting in two folds, first, it provides a new tool in analysing HGF; second, it appears to be reliable applicable to difficult samples, i.e. fecal 
samples which are notoriously difficult to study. From this point of view, the manuscript should be of 
good interest to those who work in this area. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
My major concern is the size of the sample numbers in each of the three groups. For example, there 
are only 9 in control and 6 in cancer group. There was no indication of logics and selection criteria in 
choosing the patients. Clinical description is important in both gasteroenteritis and cancer groups, as 
it has important bearings to the enterpritation of the findings. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the 
author can be trusted to correct) Figures and lengends are generally well organised and easy to understand. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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 
 Needs some language corrections before being published Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report 
 Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in fecal samples: rapid detection by surface plasmon Title: 
resonance 
 1  20 August 2004 Version: Date: 
 Wen W.G. Jiang Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
The study describes the development of a new method, surface plasmon resonance, to detect human hepatocyte growth factor in clinical samples. It is interesting in two folds, first, it provides a new tool in analysing HGF; second, it appears to be reliable applicable to difficult samples, i.e. fecal 
samples which are notoriously difficult to study. From this point of view, the manuscript should be of 
good interest to those who work in this area. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
My major concern is the size of the sample numbers in each of the three groups. For example, there 
are only 9 in control and 6 in cancer group. There was no indication of logics and selection criteria in 
choosing the patients. Clinical description is important in both gasteroenteritis and cancer groups, as 
it has important bearings to the enterpritation of the findings. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the 
author can be trusted to correct) Figures and lengends are generally well organised and easy to understand. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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 
 Needs some language corrections before being published Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
assistant