Reviewer's report 
 Elevated Serum Collagen type III in Splanchnic and Peripheral circulation of patients with Title: 
inflammatory bowel disease submitted to surgery 
 1  14 September 2004 Version: Date: 
 Carmelo Scarpignato Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
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Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
This is a straightforward paper evaluating serum collagen type III in splanchnic and peripheral 
circulation of IBD patients. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the local collagen 
metabolism is increased in active IBD. 
The manuscript is well written. Data are clearly presented and discussed appropriately. 
I would only suggest the following changes: 
1) In the Collagen Metabolism section it should be specified whether the normal rages of PIIIP 
concentrations given do refer to peripheral or splanchnic blood. 
2) Although the number of patients was not enough to perform a statistical analysis, mean PIIIP data 
should be presented for mild, moderate and severe forms of the disease, at least for UC. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author can be trusted to correct) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept after minor essential revisions What next?: 
 An article of importance in its field Level of interest: 
 Needs some language corrections before being published Quality of written English: 
 Yes Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
Reviewer's report 
 Elevated Serum Collagen type III in Splanchnic and Peripheral circulation of patients with Title: 
inflammatory bowel disease submitted to surgery 
 1  14 September 2004 Version: Date: 
 Carmelo Scarpignato Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
This is a straightforward paper evaluating serum collagen type III in splanchnic and peripheral 
circulation of IBD patients. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the local collagen 
metabolism is increased in active IBD. 
The manuscript is well written. Data are clearly presented and discussed appropriately. 
I would only suggest the following changes: 
1) In the Collagen Metabolism section it should be specified whether the normal rages of PIIIP 
concentrations given do refer to peripheral or splanchnic blood. 
2) Although the number of patients was not enough to perform a statistical analysis, mean PIIIP data 
should be presented for mild, moderate and severe forms of the disease, at least for UC. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author can be trusted to correct) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept after minor essential revisions What next?: 
 An article of importance in its field Level of interest: 
 Needs some language corrections before being published Quality of written English: 
 Yes Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report 
 Elevated Serum Collagen type III in Splanchnic and Peripheral circulation of patients with Title: 
inflammatory bowel disease submitted to surgery 
 1  14 September 2004 Version: Date: 
 Carmelo Scarpignato Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
This is a straightforward paper evaluating serum collagen type III in splanchnic and peripheral 
circulation of IBD patients. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the local collagen 
metabolism is increased in active IBD. 
The manuscript is well written. Data are clearly presented and discussed appropriately. 
I would only suggest the following changes: 
1) In the Collagen Metabolism section it should be specified whether the normal rages of PIIIP 
concentrations given do refer to peripheral or splanchnic blood. 
2) Although the number of patients was not enough to perform a statistical analysis, mean PIIIP data 
should be presented for mild, moderate and severe forms of the disease, at least for UC. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author can be trusted to correct) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept after minor essential revisions What next?: 
 An article of importance in its field Level of interest: 
 Needs some language corrections before being published Quality of written English: 
 Yes Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
assistant