Reviewer's report
Title:Infection with HIV and HCV enhances the release of Fatty Acid Synthase
into circulation: Evidence for a novel indicator of viral co-infection
Version: 1Date:2 February 2010
Reviewer: Tianyi Wang
Reviewer's report:
This report from Gerard Aragonès et al is a clinical study trying to estabish
correlation between the serum level of Fatty acid synthase serum level and HIV
(HCV) infection. Overall it is an interesting and important study that may
potentially lead to the discovery of a new biomarker. Several minor concerns
regarding the data analyses should be clarified:
1) in Figure 1, the treat may comfound the results. Would it be possible for the
authors to also compare the serum FASN level between healthy participants and
HIV-infected, untreated patients? It is crucial to separate the effect due to
infection from the effect due to treatment as these drugs are known to cause lipid
distrophy.
2) In Figure 2, perhaps viral load is a better indicator here. The authors should
also analyze the data by comparing the cytokine levels between healthy
participants and those infected individuals with detectable and undetectable viral
loads.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Declaration of competing interests:
NO
Reviewer's report
Title:Infection with HIV and HCV enhances the release of Fatty Acid Synthase
into circulation: Evidence for a novel indicator of viral co-infection
Version: 1Date:2 February 2010
Reviewer: Tianyi Wang
Reviewer's report:
This report from Gerard Aragonès et al is a clinical study trying to estabish
correlation between the serum level of Fatty acid synthase serum level and HIV
(HCV) infection. Overall it is an interesting and important study that may
potentially lead to the discovery of a new biomarker. Several minor concerns
regarding the data analyses should be clarified:
1) in Figure 1, the treat may comfound the results. Would it be possible for the
authors to also compare the serum FASN level between healthy participants and
HIV-infected, untreated patients? It is crucial to separate the effect due to
infection from the effect due to treatment as these drugs are known to cause lipid
distrophy.
2) In Figure 2, perhaps viral load is a better indicator here. The authors should
also analyze the data by comparing the cytokine levels between healthy
participants and those infected individuals with detectable and undetectable viral
loads.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Declaration of competing interests:
NO
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Infection with HIV and HCV enhances the release of Fatty Acid Synthase
into circulation: Evidence for a novel indicator of viral co-infection
Version: 1Date:2 February 2010
Reviewer: Tianyi Wang
Reviewer's report:
This report from Gerard Aragonès et al is a clinical study trying to estabish
correlation between the serum level of Fatty acid synthase serum level and HIV
(HCV) infection. Overall it is an interesting and important study that may
potentially lead to the discovery of a new biomarker. Several minor concerns
regarding the data analyses should be clarified:
1) in Figure 1, the treat may comfound the results. Would it be possible for the
authors to also compare the serum FASN level between healthy participants and
HIV-infected, untreated patients? It is crucial to separate the effect due to
infection from the effect due to treatment as these drugs are known to cause lipid
distrophy.
2) In Figure 2, perhaps viral load is a better indicator here. The authors should
also analyze the data by comparing the cytokine levels between healthy
participants and those infected individuals with detectable and undetectable viral
loads.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Declaration of competing interests:
NO
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