Reviewer's report
Title:A candidate probiotic with unfavorable effects in subjects with irritable
bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial
Version: 1Date:20 August 2009
Reviewer: Joanna Stewart
Reviewer's report:
The crossover design of this study is appropriate and the analysis, while simple
is adequate given the assumptions of carryover and period effect were
investigated separately and little evidence was found of an effect of either.
Minor essential revisions.
When reporting results 3 out of the 4 variables displaying small p values are
reported in the text, however stool consistency is not mentioned. There needs to
be consistency it what is reported. However, as IBS score is constructed form the
7 symptom scores and diarrhea from the 2 stool characteristic scores these tests
are certainly all very related. It would be preferable to not report the p values for
the individual items from which these 2 composite measures have been
constructed. ie remove the p values for all but weeks of relief, IBS score and
diarrhoea (but retain the other columns for these variables)
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Reviewer's report
Title:A candidate probiotic with unfavorable effects in subjects with irritable
bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial
Version: 1Date:20 August 2009
Reviewer: Joanna Stewart
Reviewer's report:
The crossover design of this study is appropriate and the analysis, while simple
is adequate given the assumptions of carryover and period effect were
investigated separately and little evidence was found of an effect of either.
Minor essential revisions.
When reporting results 3 out of the 4 variables displaying small p values are
reported in the text, however stool consistency is not mentioned. There needs to
be consistency it what is reported. However, as IBS score is constructed form the
7 symptom scores and diarrhea from the 2 stool characteristic scores these tests
are certainly all very related. It would be preferable to not report the p values for
the individual items from which these 2 composite measures have been
constructed. ie remove the p values for all but weeks of relief, IBS score and
diarrhoea (but retain the other columns for these variables)
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:A candidate probiotic with unfavorable effects in subjects with irritable
bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial
Version: 1Date:20 August 2009
Reviewer: Joanna Stewart
Reviewer's report:
The crossover design of this study is appropriate and the analysis, while simple
is adequate given the assumptions of carryover and period effect were
investigated separately and little evidence was found of an effect of either.
Minor essential revisions.
When reporting results 3 out of the 4 variables displaying small p values are
reported in the text, however stool consistency is not mentioned. There needs to
be consistency it what is reported. However, as IBS score is constructed form the
7 symptom scores and diarrhea from the 2 stool characteristic scores these tests
are certainly all very related. It would be preferable to not report the p values for
the individual items from which these 2 composite measures have been
constructed. ie remove the p values for all but weeks of relief, IBS score and
diarrhoea (but retain the other columns for these variables)
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
assistant