Reviewer's report
Title:The overexpression of Sterol Carrier Protein 2 gene in patients of
hereditary cholesterol gallstones
Version: 6Date:28 September 2010
Reviewer: Michael Fuchs
Reviewer's report:
The study of Cui et al. studied the gene expression of SCP2 in cholesterol
gallstone patients and controls and measured biliary lipid concentration of
gallbladder bile in thee individuals as well. The study further supports the notion
that SCP2 participates in the formation of cholesterol gallstones, although the
molecular mechanisms are still only partially resolved and were not aim of the
study.
Major comments:
1. The study provides limited new data when compared with Ito et al
(Gastroenterology 1996). This study was cited by the authors. This clearly needs
to be corrected and the authors should highlight the new information their study
adds to the literature.
2. The manuscripts is poorly written, its English needs improvement and it should
be shortened by 30% which can be achieved with a more concise writing style.
3. Limitations of the study (e.g. no molecular mechanism studied) are not
appropriately addressed.
Minor comments:
1. References 1 and 2 do not support the first sentence in the Background
section.
2. There is very limited reference in the Methods section.
3. The last paragraph in the Background section should be part of the Methods
section.
4. The results displayed in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 may be expressed as percent of
control. The legend for Fig. 2 is incomplete. It also appears that the SCP2 protein
expression is higher in controls than in gallstone carriers.
5. Figure 4 and Table 1 can be eliminated and placed in the text of the Results
section.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I DO NOT HAVE ANY COMPETING INTERESTS.
Reviewer's report
Title:The overexpression of Sterol Carrier Protein 2 gene in patients of
hereditary cholesterol gallstones
Version: 6Date:28 September 2010
Reviewer: Michael Fuchs
Reviewer's report:
The study of Cui et al. studied the gene expression of SCP2 in cholesterol
gallstone patients and controls and measured biliary lipid concentration of
gallbladder bile in thee individuals as well. The study further supports the notion
that SCP2 participates in the formation of cholesterol gallstones, although the
molecular mechanisms are still only partially resolved and were not aim of the
study.
Major comments:
1. The study provides limited new data when compared with Ito et al
(Gastroenterology 1996). This study was cited by the authors. This clearly needs
to be corrected and the authors should highlight the new information their study
adds to the literature.
2. The manuscripts is poorly written, its English needs improvement and it should
be shortened by 30% which can be achieved with a more concise writing style.
3. Limitations of the study (e.g. no molecular mechanism studied) are not
appropriately addressed.
Minor comments:
1. References 1 and 2 do not support the first sentence in the Background
section.
2. There is very limited reference in the Methods section.
3. The last paragraph in the Background section should be part of the Methods
section.
4. The results displayed in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 may be expressed as percent of
control. The legend for Fig. 2 is incomplete. It also appears that the SCP2 protein
expression is higher in controls than in gallstone carriers.
5. Figure 4 and Table 1 can be eliminated and placed in the text of the Results
section.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I DO NOT HAVE ANY COMPETING INTERESTS.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:The overexpression of Sterol Carrier Protein 2 gene in patients of
hereditary cholesterol gallstones
Version: 6Date:28 September 2010
Reviewer: Michael Fuchs
Reviewer's report:
The study of Cui et al. studied the gene expression of SCP2 in cholesterol
gallstone patients and controls and measured biliary lipid concentration of
gallbladder bile in thee individuals as well. The study further supports the notion
that SCP2 participates in the formation of cholesterol gallstones, although the
molecular mechanisms are still only partially resolved and were not aim of the
study.
Major comments:
1. The study provides limited new data when compared with Ito et al
(Gastroenterology 1996). This study was cited by the authors. This clearly needs
to be corrected and the authors should highlight the new information their study
adds to the literature.
2. The manuscripts is poorly written, its English needs improvement and it should
be shortened by 30% which can be achieved with a more concise writing style.
3. Limitations of the study (e.g. no molecular mechanism studied) are not
appropriately addressed.
Minor comments:
1. References 1 and 2 do not support the first sentence in the Background
section.
2. There is very limited reference in the Methods section.
3. The last paragraph in the Background section should be part of the Methods
section.
4. The results displayed in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 may be expressed as percent of
control. The legend for Fig. 2 is incomplete. It also appears that the SCP2 protein
expression is higher in controls than in gallstone carriers.
5. Figure 4 and Table 1 can be eliminated and placed in the text of the Results
section.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I DO NOT HAVE ANY COMPETING INTERESTS.
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