Reviewer's report
Title:Higher Frequency of cagA EPIYA-C Phosphorylation Sites in H. pylori
Strains from First-degree Relatives of Gastric Cancer Patients
Version: 2Date:24 May 2012
Reviewer: Mónica Oleastro
Reviewer's report:
In this study the authors evaluated the frequency of high virulent H. pylori strains
in first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients, showing that these individuals
harbour more frequently strains with more CagA EPYIA C segments and with the
VacA s1m1 genotype, than individuals from a control group without history of
familiar gastric cancer.
The manuscript is well written, being all sections very clear. It presents
interesting data to those with closely related research interests.
Major Compulsory Revision:
Many studies show the association of more virulent H. pylori strains with
precancerous lesions and gastric cancer, irrespective of being first-degree
relatives of gastric cancer patients or not. Considering the epidemiology of H.
pylori infection, it is likely that first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients are
infected with more virulent strains. Moreover, their genetic background also
contributes to a higher risk of developing the neoplastic condition. Thus, these
particular patients are likely a target group for an early intervention regarding the
eradication of the infection. All these points are discussed by the authors.
The results of the present study corroborate all these evidences and previous
studies, going a bit further in the characterization of the infecting strains, by the
determination of the CagA EPIYA phosporylation sites. In the light of the
evidences, the results obtained were expectable.
The gap of the study is the lack of information regarding the histological
alterations in the control group, as it would be expected that if those individuals
present preneoplastic alterations, they would probably be infected with more
virulent strains as well. In the same way, if the preneoplastic conditions were
more frequently observed in the relatives group than in the control group, the
conclusion that the relatives of gastric cancer patients are more frequently
colonized that non-relatives looses strength.
So, I strongly recommend including this data and rephrasing the main
conclusions, if necessary.
Minor Essential Revisions:
From page 9 numerate pages correctly.
Page 7, first paragraph: thermal cycler or thermocycler, instead of thermo cycler.
Page 8, first paragraph: delete “the amplified products…” since it is already
described in the previous page.
Page 10, 2nd paragraph: “In all cases with S1…”, lower case of S1.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
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:Higher Frequency of cagA EPIYA-C Phosphorylation Sites in H. pylori
Strains from First-degree Relatives of Gastric Cancer Patients
Version: 2Date:24 May 2012
Reviewer: Mónica Oleastro
Reviewer's report:
In this study the authors evaluated the frequency of high virulent H. pylori strains
in first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients, showing that these individuals
harbour more frequently strains with more CagA EPYIA C segments and with the
VacA s1m1 genotype, than individuals from a control group without history of
familiar gastric cancer.
The manuscript is well written, being all sections very clear. It presents
interesting data to those with closely related research interests.
Major Compulsory Revision:
Many studies show the association of more virulent H. pylori strains with
precancerous lesions and gastric cancer, irrespective of being first-degree
relatives of gastric cancer patients or not. Considering the epidemiology of H.
pylori infection, it is likely that first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients are
infected with more virulent strains. Moreover, their genetic background also
contributes to a higher risk of developing the neoplastic condition. Thus, these
particular patients are likely a target group for an early intervention regarding the
eradication of the infection. All these points are discussed by the authors.
The results of the present study corroborate all these evidences and previous
studies, going a bit further in the characterization of the infecting strains, by the
determination of the CagA EPIYA phosporylation sites. In the light of the
evidences, the results obtained were expectable.
The gap of the study is the lack of information regarding the histological
alterations in the control group, as it would be expected that if those individuals
present preneoplastic alterations, they would probably be infected with more
virulent strains as well. In the same way, if the preneoplastic conditions were
more frequently observed in the relatives group than in the control group, the
conclusion that the relatives of gastric cancer patients are more frequently
colonized that non-relatives looses strength.
So, I strongly recommend including this data and rephrasing the main
conclusions, if necessary.
Minor Essential Revisions:
From page 9 numerate pages correctly.
Page 7, first paragraph: thermal cycler or thermocycler, instead of thermo cycler.
Page 8, first paragraph: delete “the amplified products…” since it is already
described in the previous page.
Page 10, 2nd paragraph: “In all cases with S1…”, lower case of S1.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
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:Higher Frequency of cagA EPIYA-C Phosphorylation Sites in H. pylori
Strains from First-degree Relatives of Gastric Cancer Patients
Version: 2Date:24 May 2012
Reviewer: Mónica Oleastro
Reviewer's report:
In this study the authors evaluated the frequency of high virulent H. pylori strains
in first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients, showing that these individuals
harbour more frequently strains with more CagA EPYIA C segments and with the
VacA s1m1 genotype, than individuals from a control group without history of
familiar gastric cancer.
The manuscript is well written, being all sections very clear. It presents
interesting data to those with closely related research interests.
Major Compulsory Revision:
Many studies show the association of more virulent H. pylori strains with
precancerous lesions and gastric cancer, irrespective of being first-degree
relatives of gastric cancer patients or not. Considering the epidemiology of H.
pylori infection, it is likely that first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients are
infected with more virulent strains. Moreover, their genetic background also
contributes to a higher risk of developing the neoplastic condition. Thus, these
particular patients are likely a target group for an early intervention regarding the
eradication of the infection. All these points are discussed by the authors.
The results of the present study corroborate all these evidences and previous
studies, going a bit further in the characterization of the infecting strains, by the
determination of the CagA EPIYA phosporylation sites. In the light of the
evidences, the results obtained were expectable.
The gap of the study is the lack of information regarding the histological
alterations in the control group, as it would be expected that if those individuals
present preneoplastic alterations, they would probably be infected with more
virulent strains as well. In the same way, if the preneoplastic conditions were
more frequently observed in the relatives group than in the control group, the
conclusion that the relatives of gastric cancer patients are more frequently
colonized that non-relatives looses strength.
So, I strongly recommend including this data and rephrasing the main
conclusions, if necessary.
Minor Essential Revisions:
From page 9 numerate pages correctly.
Page 7, first paragraph: thermal cycler or thermocycler, instead of thermo cycler.
Page 8, first paragraph: delete “the amplified products…” since it is already
described in the previous page.
Page 10, 2nd paragraph: “In all cases with S1…”, lower case of S1.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
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