Reviewer's report
Title:Efficacy and tolerability of alpha galactosidase in treating gas-related
symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.
Version: 3Date:1 February 2013
Reviewer: Anshu Srivastava
Reviewer's report:
Abstract:
In results or conclusion it should be mentioned ---“short term treatment “ with
#-galactosidase. This is because therapy was given only for 2weeks and we do
not if the patients will continue to show the same response with continued
therapy at this point of time.
Results and discussion
II paragraph discussion
The significant decrease of FPS-R score occurring in the active group and the
marginal change in the placebo group provides the evidence of the efficacy of
#-galactosidase. “The similar score values at end of treatment should be
evaluated taking into account the apparent imbalance in the baseline FPS-R”.
This statement is not clear as this suggests that children in the #-galactosidase
arm had higher baseline FPS-R score than those in the placebo arm. This is not
expected in a RCT, so the authors should modify the table1—characterstics of
2groups of patients, include baseline symptoms apart from demography and
check the p value between the two groups for all the demographic or symptom
intensity or frequency data. If it is present, then it should be mentioned in the
results.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
None
Reviewer's report
Title:Efficacy and tolerability of alpha galactosidase in treating gas-related
symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.
Version: 3Date:1 February 2013
Reviewer: Anshu Srivastava
Reviewer's report:
Abstract:
In results or conclusion it should be mentioned ---“short term treatment “ with
#-galactosidase. This is because therapy was given only for 2weeks and we do
not if the patients will continue to show the same response with continued
therapy at this point of time.
Results and discussion
II paragraph discussion
The significant decrease of FPS-R score occurring in the active group and the
marginal change in the placebo group provides the evidence of the efficacy of
#-galactosidase. “The similar score values at end of treatment should be
evaluated taking into account the apparent imbalance in the baseline FPS-R”.
This statement is not clear as this suggests that children in the #-galactosidase
arm had higher baseline FPS-R score than those in the placebo arm. This is not
expected in a RCT, so the authors should modify the table1—characterstics of
2groups of patients, include baseline symptoms apart from demography and
check the p value between the two groups for all the demographic or symptom
intensity or frequency data. If it is present, then it should be mentioned in the
results.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
None
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Efficacy and tolerability of alpha galactosidase in treating gas-related
symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.
Version: 3Date:1 February 2013
Reviewer: Anshu Srivastava
Reviewer's report:
Abstract:
In results or conclusion it should be mentioned ---“short term treatment “ with
#-galactosidase. This is because therapy was given only for 2weeks and we do
not if the patients will continue to show the same response with continued
therapy at this point of time.
Results and discussion
II paragraph discussion
The significant decrease of FPS-R score occurring in the active group and the
marginal change in the placebo group provides the evidence of the efficacy of
#-galactosidase. “The similar score values at end of treatment should be
evaluated taking into account the apparent imbalance in the baseline FPS-R”.
This statement is not clear as this suggests that children in the #-galactosidase
arm had higher baseline FPS-R score than those in the placebo arm. This is not
expected in a RCT, so the authors should modify the table1—characterstics of
2groups of patients, include baseline symptoms apart from demography and
check the p value between the two groups for all the demographic or symptom
intensity or frequency data. If it is present, then it should be mentioned in the
results.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
None
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