Title: Association of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection with Hepatic Steatosis and Injury in
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Children
Version: 5 Date: 04 Dec 2023
Reviewer's report:
"PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses one or several
testable research questions? (Brief or other article types: is there a clear objective?)
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with sufficient technical rigor to
allow confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
No - there are issues with the statistics in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Has the author addressed your concerns sufficiently
for you to now recommend the work as a technically sound contribution? If not, can further
revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Maybe - with major revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS: Authors have addressed main concerns raised by previous reviewers.
The reported reverse association between liver steatosis and chronic Hep B in children with
NAFLD is important (despite major limitations stated by authors)  as it has been previously
reported in other populations. However, there are still pending concerns that authors should
consider.
REQUESTED REVISIONS:
Authors stated that “our previous study also found that a reciprocally inverse association
between NAFLD and CBI existed in pediatric population.”. Please provide an existing reference
supporting this statement.
In the abstract section authors tend to mix explanations that should be part of the method section
“In addition, we explored the relationship between CBI and liver injury in NAFLD children.
Hepatic necroinflammation and fibrosis, respectively, were divided into two groups according
to severity.”
Tables 2,3,4 reporting results of their models are poorly presented omitting the presentation
of crude OR as well as corresponding figures (numerator/denominator) for each considered
variables.
OR as well as their respective 95%CI should be reported with only 2 decimals.
Overall, I strongly suggest that the manuscript should be reviewed by an English native to
enhance clarity as there are many grammatical errors throughout de report."
Title: Association of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection with Hepatic Steatosis and Injury in
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Children
Version: 5 Date: 04 Dec 2023
Reviewer's report:
"PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses one or several
testable research questions? (Brief or other article types: is there a clear objective?)
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with sufficient technical rigor to
allow confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
No - there are issues with the statistics in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Has the author addressed your concerns sufficiently
for you to now recommend the work as a technically sound contribution? If not, can further
revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Maybe - with major revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS: Authors have addressed main concerns raised by previous reviewers.
The reported reverse association between liver steatosis and chronic Hep B in children with
NAFLD is important (despite major limitations stated by authors)  as it has been previously
reported in other populations. However, there are still pending concerns that authors should
consider.
REQUESTED REVISIONS:
Authors stated that “our previous study also found that a reciprocally inverse association
between NAFLD and CBI existed in pediatric population.”. Please provide an existing reference
supporting this statement.
In the abstract section authors tend to mix explanations that should be part of the method section
“In addition, we explored the relationship between CBI and liver injury in NAFLD children.
Hepatic necroinflammation and fibrosis, respectively, were divided into two groups according
to severity.”
Tables 2,3,4 reporting results of their models are poorly presented omitting the presentation
of crude OR as well as corresponding figures (numerator/denominator) for each considered
variables.
OR as well as their respective 95%CI should be reported with only 2 decimals.
Overall, I strongly suggest that the manuscript should be reviewed by an English native to
enhance clarity as there are many grammatical errors throughout de report."
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Association of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection with Hepatic Steatosis and Injury in
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Children
Version: 5 Date: 04 Dec 2023
Reviewer's report:
"PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses one or several
testable research questions? (Brief or other article types: is there a clear objective?)
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with sufficient technical rigor to
allow confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
No - there are issues with the statistics in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Has the author addressed your concerns sufficiently
for you to now recommend the work as a technically sound contribution? If not, can further
revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Maybe - with major revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS: Authors have addressed main concerns raised by previous reviewers.
The reported reverse association between liver steatosis and chronic Hep B in children with
NAFLD is important (despite major limitations stated by authors)  as it has been previously
reported in other populations. However, there are still pending concerns that authors should
consider.
REQUESTED REVISIONS:
Authors stated that “our previous study also found that a reciprocally inverse association
between NAFLD and CBI existed in pediatric population.”. Please provide an existing reference
supporting this statement.
In the abstract section authors tend to mix explanations that should be part of the method section
“In addition, we explored the relationship between CBI and liver injury in NAFLD children.
Hepatic necroinflammation and fibrosis, respectively, were divided into two groups according
to severity.”
Tables 2,3,4 reporting results of their models are poorly presented omitting the presentation
of crude OR as well as corresponding figures (numerator/denominator) for each considered
variables.
OR as well as their respective 95%CI should be reported with only 2 decimals.
Overall, I strongly suggest that the manuscript should be reviewed by an English native to
enhance clarity as there are many grammatical errors throughout de report."
assistant