Reviewer's report
Title:Short versus standard treatment with Pegylated interferon alfa-2a plus
ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 or 3: the CLEO trial.
Version: 1Date:24 November 2009
Reviewer: John H Kalbfleisch
Reviewer's report:
Major Compulsory Revisions
(1) The abstract indicates this comparison (86% vs 77%)is statistically significant
(p < 0.05), however, the simple 2x2 Chi-square analysis yields P > 0.10 (not
significant).
Minor Essential revisions
(2) Table 2 needs a footnote. “Values are N(%) unless N = 0.”
(3) Figure 2 is difficult to read. The authors should consider a 2-D figure and
changing the font to something that displays clear readable characters in the
labels of axes and figure body.
(4) Page 9. Logistic regression analysis. The results are clearly stated (but not
supported by table information or figure displays). The statistical model to assess
covariate effects seems to be a “main-effect-only” model. The authors need to
comment (in methods or discussion) as to the appropriateness of the
main-effect-only model choice (which is the basis of the multiple logistic
regression analysis). In particular, were interaction effects among covariates
analyzed or simply ignored? The authors can consider analyzing only the
interaction effects among 4 SVR-covariates listed on page 9. Some readers will
find a table or figure that elaborates on the covariate-odds-ratios a valuable
addition in results.
Additionally, the authors should indicate (in methods) which of the study
participant cases were used (all 210 as one group, or was study group used as a
factor in the logistic regression?).
Discretionary Revisions
(5) Page 7, top line. “alfa” should be “alpha”.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
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. John H. Kalbfleisch
Reviewer's report
Title:Short versus standard treatment with Pegylated interferon alfa-2a plus
ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 or 3: the CLEO trial.
Version: 1Date:24 November 2009
Reviewer: John H Kalbfleisch
Reviewer's report:
Major Compulsory Revisions
(1) The abstract indicates this comparison (86% vs 77%)is statistically significant
(p < 0.05), however, the simple 2x2 Chi-square analysis yields P > 0.10 (not
significant).
Minor Essential revisions
(2) Table 2 needs a footnote. “Values are N(%) unless N = 0.”
(3) Figure 2 is difficult to read. The authors should consider a 2-D figure and
changing the font to something that displays clear readable characters in the
labels of axes and figure body.
(4) Page 9. Logistic regression analysis. The results are clearly stated (but not
supported by table information or figure displays). The statistical model to assess
covariate effects seems to be a “main-effect-only” model. The authors need to
comment (in methods or discussion) as to the appropriateness of the
main-effect-only model choice (which is the basis of the multiple logistic
regression analysis). In particular, were interaction effects among covariates
analyzed or simply ignored? The authors can consider analyzing only the
interaction effects among 4 SVR-covariates listed on page 9. Some readers will
find a table or figure that elaborates on the covariate-odds-ratios a valuable
addition in results.
Additionally, the authors should indicate (in methods) which of the study
participant cases were used (all 210 as one group, or was study group used as a
factor in the logistic regression?).
Discretionary Revisions
(5) Page 7, top line. “alfa” should be “alpha”.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
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. John H. Kalbfleisch
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Short versus standard treatment with Pegylated interferon alfa-2a plus
ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 or 3: the CLEO trial.
Version: 1Date:24 November 2009
Reviewer: John H Kalbfleisch
Reviewer's report:
Major Compulsory Revisions
(1) The abstract indicates this comparison (86% vs 77%)is statistically significant
(p < 0.05), however, the simple 2x2 Chi-square analysis yields P > 0.10 (not
significant).
Minor Essential revisions
(2) Table 2 needs a footnote. “Values are N(%) unless N = 0.”
(3) Figure 2 is difficult to read. The authors should consider a 2-D figure and
changing the font to something that displays clear readable characters in the
labels of axes and figure body.
(4) Page 9. Logistic regression analysis. The results are clearly stated (but not
supported by table information or figure displays). The statistical model to assess
covariate effects seems to be a “main-effect-only” model. The authors need to
comment (in methods or discussion) as to the appropriateness of the
main-effect-only model choice (which is the basis of the multiple logistic
regression analysis). In particular, were interaction effects among covariates
analyzed or simply ignored? The authors can consider analyzing only the
interaction effects among 4 SVR-covariates listed on page 9. Some readers will
find a table or figure that elaborates on the covariate-odds-ratios a valuable
addition in results.
Additionally, the authors should indicate (in methods) which of the study
participant cases were used (all 210 as one group, or was study group used as a
factor in the logistic regression?).
Discretionary Revisions
(5) Page 7, top line. “alfa” should be “alpha”.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
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. John H. Kalbfleisch
assistant