Reviewer's report
Title:Chromosomal imbalances are uncommon in Chagasic megaesophagus
Version: 2Date:15 October 2009
Reviewer: Clara Isabel González
Reviewer's report:
This article deals with the identification of potential markers of risk to esophageal
cancer in patients with Chagasic megaesophagus of Brazilian origin. Chagas
megaesophagus increases the risk of esophageal carcinoma, its detection is
difficult and the diagnosis is later resulting in a poor prognosis, therefore the
question is relevant. The authors have some publication related to the subject.
The authors found that the genomic imbalances common in the esophageal
carcinomas were not present in chagasic megaesophagus and therefore will not
be effective markers for risk assessment of ESCC. It is a negative result but the
information may be important for other researchers.
The investigation was performed in paraffin-embedded tissue and analyzed
genomic imbalances common in esophageal carcinomas using the fluorescence
in situ (FISH) technology. The methods are valid and well described, the
interpretation of the results is balanced and the discussion is adequately
supported by the data, the literature data on the topic are clearly acknowledged,
the references are recent and appropriated but excessive, the title and abstract
accurately convey what has been found and the writing is acceptable.
Coments:
Minor essential revision:
a) In the current form, table 1 is very difficult to read and understand, review it.
Some abbreviations are not defined; an example is “T”.
b) Tables 2 and 3 are misconfigured, therefore, it is suggested to correct its
formatting in the revised manuscript.
c) Figure 1 F shows lower resolution compared to the other quadrants.
d) The resolution of figure 2 could be improved especially in quadrants C and D.
Discretionary revisions:
a) The study analyzed tissues obtained from patients with diagnosis of chagasic
megaesophagus. However, the authors did not mention how the diagnosis was
established and confirmed.
b) Highlight the data in the frequency of Chagas disease in Brazil and South
America and its appearance in non-endemic areas.
c) The number of cases in each category as gender, alcoholism and tabaquism is
too small to evaluate the risk factors. Mention the limitation of the low number of
samples.
d) Reduce the number of references to those which are essential.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Reviewer's report
Title:Chromosomal imbalances are uncommon in Chagasic megaesophagus
Version: 2Date:15 October 2009
Reviewer: Clara Isabel González
Reviewer's report:
This article deals with the identification of potential markers of risk to esophageal
cancer in patients with Chagasic megaesophagus of Brazilian origin. Chagas
megaesophagus increases the risk of esophageal carcinoma, its detection is
difficult and the diagnosis is later resulting in a poor prognosis, therefore the
question is relevant. The authors have some publication related to the subject.
The authors found that the genomic imbalances common in the esophageal
carcinomas were not present in chagasic megaesophagus and therefore will not
be effective markers for risk assessment of ESCC. It is a negative result but the
information may be important for other researchers.
The investigation was performed in paraffin-embedded tissue and analyzed
genomic imbalances common in esophageal carcinomas using the fluorescence
in situ (FISH) technology. The methods are valid and well described, the
interpretation of the results is balanced and the discussion is adequately
supported by the data, the literature data on the topic are clearly acknowledged,
the references are recent and appropriated but excessive, the title and abstract
accurately convey what has been found and the writing is acceptable.
Coments:
Minor essential revision:
a) In the current form, table 1 is very difficult to read and understand, review it.
Some abbreviations are not defined; an example is “T”.
b) Tables 2 and 3 are misconfigured, therefore, it is suggested to correct its
formatting in the revised manuscript.
c) Figure 1 F shows lower resolution compared to the other quadrants.
d) The resolution of figure 2 could be improved especially in quadrants C and D.
Discretionary revisions:
a) The study analyzed tissues obtained from patients with diagnosis of chagasic
megaesophagus. However, the authors did not mention how the diagnosis was
established and confirmed.
b) Highlight the data in the frequency of Chagas disease in Brazil and South
America and its appearance in non-endemic areas.
c) The number of cases in each category as gender, alcoholism and tabaquism is
too small to evaluate the risk factors. Mention the limitation of the low number of
samples.
d) Reduce the number of references to those which are essential.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Chromosomal imbalances are uncommon in Chagasic megaesophagus
Version: 2Date:15 October 2009
Reviewer: Clara Isabel González
Reviewer's report:
This article deals with the identification of potential markers of risk to esophageal
cancer in patients with Chagasic megaesophagus of Brazilian origin. Chagas
megaesophagus increases the risk of esophageal carcinoma, its detection is
difficult and the diagnosis is later resulting in a poor prognosis, therefore the
question is relevant. The authors have some publication related to the subject.
The authors found that the genomic imbalances common in the esophageal
carcinomas were not present in chagasic megaesophagus and therefore will not
be effective markers for risk assessment of ESCC. It is a negative result but the
information may be important for other researchers.
The investigation was performed in paraffin-embedded tissue and analyzed
genomic imbalances common in esophageal carcinomas using the fluorescence
in situ (FISH) technology. The methods are valid and well described, the
interpretation of the results is balanced and the discussion is adequately
supported by the data, the literature data on the topic are clearly acknowledged,
the references are recent and appropriated but excessive, the title and abstract
accurately convey what has been found and the writing is acceptable.
Coments:
Minor essential revision:
a) In the current form, table 1 is very difficult to read and understand, review it.
Some abbreviations are not defined; an example is “T”.
b) Tables 2 and 3 are misconfigured, therefore, it is suggested to correct its
formatting in the revised manuscript.
c) Figure 1 F shows lower resolution compared to the other quadrants.
d) The resolution of figure 2 could be improved especially in quadrants C and D.
Discretionary revisions:
a) The study analyzed tissues obtained from patients with diagnosis of chagasic
megaesophagus. However, the authors did not mention how the diagnosis was
established and confirmed.
b) Highlight the data in the frequency of Chagas disease in Brazil and South
America and its appearance in non-endemic areas.
c) The number of cases in each category as gender, alcoholism and tabaquism is
too small to evaluate the risk factors. Mention the limitation of the low number of
samples.
d) Reduce the number of references to those which are essential.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
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