Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Nerve Growth Factor and Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase A are Increased in the Gastric  
Mucosa of Patients With Functional Dyspepsia  
 
Version: 1 Date: 04 Nov 2019  
 
Reviewer: Reviewer 2  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMEN TS:  
 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research 
question(s) (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 technical rigor to allow 
confidence in the results?  
No - there are minor issues  
 
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 - Is the current version of this work technically 
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?  
Probably - with minor revisions  
 
PEER REVIEWER COMMENT S:  
 
GENERAL COMMENTS:  
The study has a clear objective and the experiments are performed well. The analysis of the 
study are done with adequate number of subjects.  
 
In this manuscript the authors evaluated the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the 
high affinity receptor for NGF, TrkA, in the gastric mucosa of patients affected by functional 
dyspepsia (different subtypes). Then the analyzed the possible correlation between the 
expression of these molecules in different subtypes of the disease.  
 
In the previous round of review cycle, the authors adequately addressed the reviewer's questions 
and comments. However, few minor issues remained to be corrected to be suitable for 
publication of the manuscript. Please see below the comments that needs to be addressed.  
 
Figure 2 C, D and E, P values cannot be 0.000. Please update the numbers with appropriate 
values. If the values are not significant, please update with ns (not significant) otherwise use 
&gt; or &lt; to indicate the values (such as &gt;0.001).  
 
In general, P values cannot be equal to 0.000, therefore, please replace all p values in figures 1, 2 
and 3 with appropriate numbers such an ns (not significant), or use &gt; or &lt; to indicate to 
indicate the significance.  
 
 
REQUESTED REVISIONS:   
Figure 2 C, D, and E, P values cannot be 0.000. Please update the numbers with appropriate 
values. If the values are not significant, please update with ns (not significant) otherwise use 
&gt; or &lt; to indicate the values (such as &gt;0.001).  
 
In gene ral, P values cannot be equal to 0.000, therefore, please replace all p values in figures 1, 2 
and 3 with appropriate numbers such an ns (not significant), or use &gt; or &lt; to indicate  the 
significance.  
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:  
In this manuscr ipt the authors evaluated the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the 
high affinity receptor for NGF, TrkA, in the gastric mucosa of patients affected by functional 
dyspepsia (different subtypes). Then the analyzed the possible correlation between the 
expression of these molecules in different subtypes of the disease.  
 
In the previous round of review cycle, the authors adequately addressed the reviewer's questions 
and comments. However, few minor issues remained to be corrected to be suitable for 
publication of the manuscript. Please see below the comments that needs to be addressed.  
 
Figure 2 C, D and E, P values cannot be 0.000. Please update the numbers with appropriate 
values. If the values are not significant, please update with ns (not signif icant) otherwise use 
&gt; or &lt; to indicate the values (such as &gt;0.001).  
 
In general, P values cannot be equal to 0.000, therefore, please replace all p values in figures 1, 2 
and 3 with appropriate numbers such an ns (not significant), or use &gt; or &lt; to indicate to 
indicate the significance.  
 
 
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 spec ify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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 manuscript or wo uld you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional 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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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 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 t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financi ally 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 organiz ation 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 th e above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
This reviewer has been recruited by a partner organization, Research Square. Reviewers with 
declared or apparent competing interests are not utilized for these reviews. This reviewer has 
agreed to public ation of their comments online under a Creative Commons Attribution License 
attributed to Research Square and was paid a small honorarium for completing the review within 
a specified timeframe. Honoraria for reviews such as this are paid regardless of the reviewer 
recommendation.  
 
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 f or 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 in cluded as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be pu blished.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Nerve Growth Factor and Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase A are Increased in the Gastric  
Mucosa of Patients With Functional Dyspepsia  
 
Version: 1 Date: 04 Nov 2019  
 
Reviewer: Reviewer 2  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMEN TS:  
 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research 
question(s) (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 technical rigor to allow 
confidence in the results?  
No - there are minor issues  
 
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 - Is the current version of this work technically 
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?  
Probably - with minor revisions  
 
PEER REVIEWER COMMENT S:  
 
GENERAL COMMENTS:  
The study has a clear objective and the experiments are performed well. The analysis of the 
study are done with adequate number of subjects.  
 
In this manuscript the authors evaluated the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the 
high affinity receptor for NGF, TrkA, in the gastric mucosa of patients affected by functional 
dyspepsia (different subtypes). Then the analyzed the possible correlation between the 
expression of these molecules in different subtypes of the disease.  
 
In the previous round of review cycle, the authors adequately addressed the reviewer's questions 
and comments. However, few minor issues remained to be corrected to be suitable for 
publication of the manuscript. Please see below the comments that needs to be addressed.  
 
Figure 2 C, D and E, P values cannot be 0.000. Please update the numbers with appropriate 
values. If the values are not significant, please update with ns (not significant) otherwise use 
&gt; or &lt; to indicate the values (such as &gt;0.001).  
 
In general, P values cannot be equal to 0.000, therefore, please replace all p values in figures 1, 2 
and 3 with appropriate numbers such an ns (not significant), or use &gt; or &lt; to indicate to 
indicate the significance.  
 
 
REQUESTED REVISIONS:   
Figure 2 C, D, and E, P values cannot be 0.000. Please update the numbers with appropriate 
values. If the values are not significant, please update with ns (not significant) otherwise use 
&gt; or &lt; to indicate the values (such as &gt;0.001).  
 
In gene ral, P values cannot be equal to 0.000, therefore, please replace all p values in figures 1, 2 
and 3 with appropriate numbers such an ns (not significant), or use &gt; or &lt; to indicate  the 
significance.  
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:  
In this manuscr ipt the authors evaluated the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the 
high affinity receptor for NGF, TrkA, in the gastric mucosa of patients affected by functional 
dyspepsia (different subtypes). Then the analyzed the possible correlation between the 
expression of these molecules in different subtypes of the disease.  
 
In the previous round of review cycle, the authors adequately addressed the reviewer's questions 
and comments. However, few minor issues remained to be corrected to be suitable for 
publication of the manuscript. Please see below the comments that needs to be addressed.  
 
Figure 2 C, D and E, P values cannot be 0.000. Please update the numbers with appropriate 
values. If the values are not significant, please update with ns (not signif icant) otherwise use 
&gt; or &lt; to indicate the values (such as &gt;0.001).  
 
In general, P values cannot be equal to 0.000, therefore, please replace all p values in figures 1, 2 
and 3 with appropriate numbers such an ns (not significant), or use &gt; or &lt; to indicate to 
indicate the significance.  
 
 
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 spec ify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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 manuscript or wo uld you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional 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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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 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 t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financi ally 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 organiz ation 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 th e above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
This reviewer has been recruited by a partner organization, Research Square. Reviewers with 
declared or apparent competing interests are not utilized for these reviews. This reviewer has 
agreed to public ation of their comments online under a Creative Commons Attribution License 
attributed to Research Square and was paid a small honorarium for completing the review within 
a specified timeframe. Honoraria for reviews such as this are paid regardless of the reviewer 
recommendation.  
 
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 f or 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 in cluded as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be pu blished.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Nerve Growth Factor and Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase A are Increased in the Gastric  
Mucosa of Patients With Functional Dyspepsia  
 
Version: 1 Date: 04 Nov 2019  
 
Reviewer: Reviewer 2  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMEN TS:  
 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research 
question(s) (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 technical rigor to allow 
confidence in the results?  
No - there are minor issues  
 
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 - Is the current version of this work technically 
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?  
Probably - with minor revisions  
 
PEER REVIEWER COMMENT S:  
 
GENERAL COMMENTS:  
The study has a clear objective and the experiments are performed well. The analysis of the 
study are done with adequate number of subjects.  
 
In this manuscript the authors evaluated the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the 
high affinity receptor for NGF, TrkA, in the gastric mucosa of patients affected by functional 
dyspepsia (different subtypes). Then the analyzed the possible correlation between the 
expression of these molecules in different subtypes of the disease.  
 
In the previous round of review cycle, the authors adequately addressed the reviewer's questions 
and comments. However, few minor issues remained to be corrected to be suitable for 
publication of the manuscript. Please see below the comments that needs to be addressed.  
 
Figure 2 C, D and E, P values cannot be 0.000. Please update the numbers with appropriate 
values. If the values are not significant, please update with ns (not significant) otherwise use 
&gt; or &lt; to indicate the values (such as &gt;0.001).  
 
In general, P values cannot be equal to 0.000, therefore, please replace all p values in figures 1, 2 
and 3 with appropriate numbers such an ns (not significant), or use &gt; or &lt; to indicate to 
indicate the significance.  
 
 
REQUESTED REVISIONS:   
Figure 2 C, D, and E, P values cannot be 0.000. Please update the numbers with appropriate 
values. If the values are not significant, please update with ns (not significant) otherwise use 
&gt; or &lt; to indicate the values (such as &gt;0.001).  
 
In gene ral, P values cannot be equal to 0.000, therefore, please replace all p values in figures 1, 2 
and 3 with appropriate numbers such an ns (not significant), or use &gt; or &lt; to indicate  the 
significance.  
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:  
In this manuscr ipt the authors evaluated the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the 
high affinity receptor for NGF, TrkA, in the gastric mucosa of patients affected by functional 
dyspepsia (different subtypes). Then the analyzed the possible correlation between the 
expression of these molecules in different subtypes of the disease.  
 
In the previous round of review cycle, the authors adequately addressed the reviewer's questions 
and comments. However, few minor issues remained to be corrected to be suitable for 
publication of the manuscript. Please see below the comments that needs to be addressed.  
 
Figure 2 C, D and E, P values cannot be 0.000. Please update the numbers with appropriate 
values. If the values are not significant, please update with ns (not signif icant) otherwise use 
&gt; or &lt; to indicate the values (such as &gt;0.001).  
 
In general, P values cannot be equal to 0.000, therefore, please replace all p values in figures 1, 2 
and 3 with appropriate numbers such an ns (not significant), or use &gt; or &lt; to indicate to 
indicate the significance.  
 
 
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 spec ify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
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 manuscript or wo uld you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional 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:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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 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 t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financi ally 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 organiz ation 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 th e above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
This reviewer has been recruited by a partner organization, Research Square. Reviewers with 
declared or apparent competing interests are not utilized for these reviews. This reviewer has 
agreed to public ation of their comments online under a Creative Commons Attribution License 
attributed to Research Square and was paid a small honorarium for completing the review within 
a specified timeframe. Honoraria for reviews such as this are paid regardless of the reviewer 
recommendation.  
 
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 f or 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 in cluded as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be pu blished.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant