Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Risk factors for hepatic veno -occlusive disease caused by Gynura segetum: a retrospective 
study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 02 Apr 2018  
 
Reviewer: Xiaogang Xiang  
 
Reviewer's report:  
In this paper, the authors restrospectively analyzed the risk factors of hepatic veno -occlusive 
disease (HVOD) caused by Gynura segetum. They found that total bilirubin, albumin and hepatic 
encephalopathy were independent prognostic markers of survival. Th e cure rate of 
anticoagulation, non -anticoagulation, as well as TIPS were compared. They concluded that 
anticoagulation therapy had clinical effectiveness in treating Gynura segetum -induced HVOD 
rather than TIPS.  
 
Major points:  
1. In methods, the authors should mention the therapy details of anticoagulation. Plasminogen 
activator or low -molecular -weight heparin sodium or others? The end stage of HVOD is not 
suitable for anticoagulation.  
 
2. Are there any differences between Gynura segetum -induced and other  etiologies induced -
HVOD? A control group of other etiologies induced -HVOD would help confirm the clinical 
specificity.  
 
3.Concurrent infection is very important in the pathogenesis of HVOD. How is the infection 
details of these patients? How is the use of  antibiotics? Especially the died ones.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an addition al statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Needs some language corrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way ga in or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the f uture?  
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to an y, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Risk factors for hepatic veno -occlusive disease caused by Gynura segetum: a retrospective 
study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 02 Apr 2018  
 
Reviewer: Xiaogang Xiang  
 
Reviewer's report:  
In this paper, the authors restrospectively analyzed the risk factors of hepatic veno -occlusive 
disease (HVOD) caused by Gynura segetum. They found that total bilirubin, albumin and hepatic 
encephalopathy were independent prognostic markers of survival. Th e cure rate of 
anticoagulation, non -anticoagulation, as well as TIPS were compared. They concluded that 
anticoagulation therapy had clinical effectiveness in treating Gynura segetum -induced HVOD 
rather than TIPS.  
 
Major points:  
1. In methods, the authors should mention the therapy details of anticoagulation. Plasminogen 
activator or low -molecular -weight heparin sodium or others? The end stage of HVOD is not 
suitable for anticoagulation.  
 
2. Are there any differences between Gynura segetum -induced and other  etiologies induced -
HVOD? A control group of other etiologies induced -HVOD would help confirm the clinical 
specificity.  
 
3.Concurrent infection is very important in the pathogenesis of HVOD. How is the infection 
details of these patients? How is the use of  antibiotics? Especially the died ones.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an addition al statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Needs some language corrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way ga in or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the f uture?  
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to an y, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Risk factors for hepatic veno -occlusive disease caused by Gynura segetum: a retrospective 
study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 02 Apr 2018  
 
Reviewer: Xiaogang Xiang  
 
Reviewer's report:  
In this paper, the authors restrospectively analyzed the risk factors of hepatic veno -occlusive 
disease (HVOD) caused by Gynura segetum. They found that total bilirubin, albumin and hepatic 
encephalopathy were independent prognostic markers of survival. Th e cure rate of 
anticoagulation, non -anticoagulation, as well as TIPS were compared. They concluded that 
anticoagulation therapy had clinical effectiveness in treating Gynura segetum -induced HVOD 
rather than TIPS.  
 
Major points:  
1. In methods, the authors should mention the therapy details of anticoagulation. Plasminogen 
activator or low -molecular -weight heparin sodium or others? The end stage of HVOD is not 
suitable for anticoagulation.  
 
2. Are there any differences between Gynura segetum -induced and other  etiologies induced -
HVOD? A control group of other etiologies induced -HVOD would help confirm the clinical 
specificity.  
 
3.Concurrent infection is very important in the pathogenesis of HVOD. How is the infection 
details of these patients? How is the use of  antibiotics? Especially the died ones.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an addition al statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Needs some language corrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way ga in or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the f uture?  
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to an y, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant