Reviewer’ s report
Title: Impact of low skeletal muscle mass index and perioperative blood transfusion on the
prognosis for HCC following curative resection
Version: 0Date: 27 Feb 2020
Reviewer's report:
- A description of the methods used for survival analysis should be included. How was this
performed? How were variables selected to be included in the multivariable analyses?- The latter 2 tables (high versus low muscle mass and transfusion versus no transfusion) might beexcluded, as these do not support the research question (i.e. which factors are associated withsurvival).- Was the indication for transfusion (i.e. Hb 7) for all patients the same? In my daily practice, thislimit depends on some other patients factors, such as ASA classification and might be either higheror lower depending on these factors.- Was transfusion independent of intra-operative bloos loss as no difference was described?- Could the authors give an explantation for the facto that there was no difference in the rationormal Hb : low Hb between patients undergoing transfusion versus not undergoing transfusion?- The conclusion ''Multidisciplinary support for recovering low SMI and reducing the use of bloodtransfusion would improve long-term outcomes'' should be changed, as only an association isfound and no causality.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
No
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
YesAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
NoAre you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furtherassessment 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:
AcceptableDeclaration 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 gain or lose financially from the publication of this
manuscript, either now or in the future?
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
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 any, please give details below.
none
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 reportincluding 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 CommonsCC-BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). I understand that any commentswhich I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential commentsto the editors, which will not be published.
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal
Reviewer’ s report
Title: Impact of low skeletal muscle mass index and perioperative blood transfusion on the
prognosis for HCC following curative resection
Version: 0Date: 27 Feb 2020
Reviewer's report:
- A description of the methods used for survival analysis should be included. How was this
performed? How were variables selected to be included in the multivariable analyses?- The latter 2 tables (high versus low muscle mass and transfusion versus no transfusion) might beexcluded, as these do not support the research question (i.e. which factors are associated withsurvival).- Was the indication for transfusion (i.e. Hb 7) for all patients the same? In my daily practice, thislimit depends on some other patients factors, such as ASA classification and might be either higheror lower depending on these factors.- Was transfusion independent of intra-operative bloos loss as no difference was described?- Could the authors give an explantation for the facto that there was no difference in the rationormal Hb : low Hb between patients undergoing transfusion versus not undergoing transfusion?- The conclusion ''Multidisciplinary support for recovering low SMI and reducing the use of bloodtransfusion would improve long-term outcomes'' should be changed, as only an association isfound and no causality.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
No
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
YesAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
NoAre you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furtherassessment 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:
AcceptableDeclaration 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 gain or lose financially from the publication of this
manuscript, either now or in the future?
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
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 any, please give details below.
none
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 reportincluding 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 CommonsCC-BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). I understand that any commentswhich I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential commentsto 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: Impact of low skeletal muscle mass index and perioperative blood transfusion on the
prognosis for HCC following curative resection
Version: 0Date: 27 Feb 2020
Reviewer's report:
- A description of the methods used for survival analysis should be included. How was this
performed? How were variables selected to be included in the multivariable analyses?- The latter 2 tables (high versus low muscle mass and transfusion versus no transfusion) might beexcluded, as these do not support the research question (i.e. which factors are associated withsurvival).- Was the indication for transfusion (i.e. Hb 7) for all patients the same? In my daily practice, thislimit depends on some other patients factors, such as ASA classification and might be either higheror lower depending on these factors.- Was transfusion independent of intra-operative bloos loss as no difference was described?- Could the authors give an explantation for the facto that there was no difference in the rationormal Hb : low Hb between patients undergoing transfusion versus not undergoing transfusion?- The conclusion ''Multidisciplinary support for recovering low SMI and reducing the use of bloodtransfusion would improve long-term outcomes'' should be changed, as only an association isfound and no causality.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
No
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
YesAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
NoAre you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furtherassessment 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:
AcceptableDeclaration 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 gain or lose financially from the publication of this
manuscript, either now or in the future?
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
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 any, please give details below.
none
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 reportincluding 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 CommonsCC-BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). I understand that any commentswhich I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential commentsto the editors, which will not be published.
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal
assistant