Reviewer's report
Title:A simple dummy liver assist device prolongs anhepatic survival in a
porcine model of total hepatectomy by slight hypothermia.
Version: 1Date:6 April 2011
Reviewer: Vanessa Stadlbauer
Reviewer's report:
This manuscript wanted to develop a dummy model for liver assist devices and
found that slight hypothermia is associated with longer survival of anhepatic pigs.
This study is of importance for future developments in this area.
However, I think that there is the possibility to further improve the manuscript.
Major revisions
Please describe the endotoxin measurement in more detail since the LAL assay
is difficult in serum/plasma samples. Do you have data on LBP or sCD14 levels
or on cytokines (TNFalpha, IL6, IL10, TNFR ...)? Such data would possibly clarify
the paradox of prolonged survival but elevated endotoxin levels.
It would also be interesting to see the individual endotoxin levels of the animals
at the last timepoint.
Minor revisions:
Table and figures: please check the spelling (albumin, hemoglobin, endotoxin)
Discretionary revisions
The introduction could be shortened
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:A simple dummy liver assist device prolongs anhepatic survival in a
porcine model of total hepatectomy by slight hypothermia.
Version: 1Date:6 April 2011
Reviewer: Vanessa Stadlbauer
Reviewer's report:
This manuscript wanted to develop a dummy model for liver assist devices and
found that slight hypothermia is associated with longer survival of anhepatic pigs.
This study is of importance for future developments in this area.
However, I think that there is the possibility to further improve the manuscript.
Major revisions
Please describe the endotoxin measurement in more detail since the LAL assay
is difficult in serum/plasma samples. Do you have data on LBP or sCD14 levels
or on cytokines (TNFalpha, IL6, IL10, TNFR ...)? Such data would possibly clarify
the paradox of prolonged survival but elevated endotoxin levels.
It would also be interesting to see the individual endotoxin levels of the animals
at the last timepoint.
Minor revisions:
Table and figures: please check the spelling (albumin, hemoglobin, endotoxin)
Discretionary revisions
The introduction could be shortened
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:A simple dummy liver assist device prolongs anhepatic survival in a
porcine model of total hepatectomy by slight hypothermia.
Version: 1Date:6 April 2011
Reviewer: Vanessa Stadlbauer
Reviewer's report:
This manuscript wanted to develop a dummy model for liver assist devices and
found that slight hypothermia is associated with longer survival of anhepatic pigs.
This study is of importance for future developments in this area.
However, I think that there is the possibility to further improve the manuscript.
Major revisions
Please describe the endotoxin measurement in more detail since the LAL assay
is difficult in serum/plasma samples. Do you have data on LBP or sCD14 levels
or on cytokines (TNFalpha, IL6, IL10, TNFR ...)? Such data would possibly clarify
the paradox of prolonged survival but elevated endotoxin levels.
It would also be interesting to see the individual endotoxin levels of the animals
at the last timepoint.
Minor revisions:
Table and figures: please check the spelling (albumin, hemoglobin, endotoxin)
Discretionary revisions
The introduction could be shortened
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
assistant