Reviewer's report
Title:Imbalance of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) - 1 and - 4
serum levels, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Version: 2Date:10 June 2008
Reviewer: andrew S Day
Reviewer's report:
Specific comments:
1. The Results section of the Abstract now includes details of TIMP-2 data.
Whilst I agree it is important to mention TIMP-2 in the results, it may be sufficient
to comment that TIMP-2 levels did not differ between groups (and to remove the
detail of the actual numbers).
2. The ratio between TIMP-1 and TIMP-4 may have relevance to our
understanding of the roles of these proteins: the relationship to disease activity
(such as it is) should not alter this.
3. The fact that the TIMP-4 positively correlates with two markers of
inflammation, yet is less in patients with IBD than in controls has not yet been
explained adequately.
4. Furthermore the relationship between these proteins and a disease activity
index needs to be considered carefully: it is clear that activity indices, which
contain various clinical and historical aspects, do not always indicate the amount
of mucosal (and systemic) inflammation.
5. The Abstract and the final conclusion of the Discussion section mention that
TIMP-1 levels can be used as indicators of disease activity. Given that there was
a numerical difference of only approximately 33 ng/ml between the mean TIMP-1
level in active and that in the inactive group, I am not convinced that this would
be useful in clinical practice.
6. The Background section refers on page 4 to plasma levels of TIMP-1, whereas
it is stated on the next page that serum levels of TIMPs have not been evaluated.
This is conflicting, given that these measurements both refer to circulating levels
of the protein (as contrasted to mucosal levels).
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
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:Imbalance of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) - 1 and - 4
serum levels, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Version: 2Date:10 June 2008
Reviewer: andrew S Day
Reviewer's report:
Specific comments:
1. The Results section of the Abstract now includes details of TIMP-2 data.
Whilst I agree it is important to mention TIMP-2 in the results, it may be sufficient
to comment that TIMP-2 levels did not differ between groups (and to remove the
detail of the actual numbers).
2. The ratio between TIMP-1 and TIMP-4 may have relevance to our
understanding of the roles of these proteins: the relationship to disease activity
(such as it is) should not alter this.
3. The fact that the TIMP-4 positively correlates with two markers of
inflammation, yet is less in patients with IBD than in controls has not yet been
explained adequately.
4. Furthermore the relationship between these proteins and a disease activity
index needs to be considered carefully: it is clear that activity indices, which
contain various clinical and historical aspects, do not always indicate the amount
of mucosal (and systemic) inflammation.
5. The Abstract and the final conclusion of the Discussion section mention that
TIMP-1 levels can be used as indicators of disease activity. Given that there was
a numerical difference of only approximately 33 ng/ml between the mean TIMP-1
level in active and that in the inactive group, I am not convinced that this would
be useful in clinical practice.
6. The Background section refers on page 4 to plasma levels of TIMP-1, whereas
it is stated on the next page that serum levels of TIMPs have not been evaluated.
This is conflicting, given that these measurements both refer to circulating levels
of the protein (as contrasted to mucosal levels).
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
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:Imbalance of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) - 1 and - 4
serum levels, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Version: 2Date:10 June 2008
Reviewer: andrew S Day
Reviewer's report:
Specific comments:
1. The Results section of the Abstract now includes details of TIMP-2 data.
Whilst I agree it is important to mention TIMP-2 in the results, it may be sufficient
to comment that TIMP-2 levels did not differ between groups (and to remove the
detail of the actual numbers).
2. The ratio between TIMP-1 and TIMP-4 may have relevance to our
understanding of the roles of these proteins: the relationship to disease activity
(such as it is) should not alter this.
3. The fact that the TIMP-4 positively correlates with two markers of
inflammation, yet is less in patients with IBD than in controls has not yet been
explained adequately.
4. Furthermore the relationship between these proteins and a disease activity
index needs to be considered carefully: it is clear that activity indices, which
contain various clinical and historical aspects, do not always indicate the amount
of mucosal (and systemic) inflammation.
5. The Abstract and the final conclusion of the Discussion section mention that
TIMP-1 levels can be used as indicators of disease activity. Given that there was
a numerical difference of only approximately 33 ng/ml between the mean TIMP-1
level in active and that in the inactive group, I am not convinced that this would
be useful in clinical practice.
6. The Background section refers on page 4 to plasma levels of TIMP-1, whereas
it is stated on the next page that serum levels of TIMPs have not been evaluated.
This is conflicting, given that these measurements both refer to circulating levels
of the protein (as contrasted to mucosal levels).
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
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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