Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis of Brain Function in Patients with Irritable Bowel  
Syndrome  
 
Version: 0 Date: 05 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: Paolo Usai Satta  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a potentially interesting study. This topic is not new but the interacion between brain and 
visceral sensitivity is a crucial point to better know the pathophysiological interactions of IBS.  
 
On the other hand a deep  revision of English language is needed. Due to this problem, in various 
parts of paper it is truly difficult to understand the intentions and the reasoning of the authors. 
Besides several typing errors are present.  
 
Also, demographic data are not clear. The sum of male and female patients (methods) does not 
match to total number of patients. If 14 patients and 8 healthy subjects were excluded from the 
study, the final true number of recruited patients and controls sho uld be reported on the abstract  
Furthemore male and female patients should be not considered subgroups of IBS. Only IBS -D, 
M and mixed have to be considered subgroups of IBS. In this regard the authors have dwelt too 
much on sex differences in the results section. It is sufficient briefly underline that no sex 
differences were found.  
 
Finally the authors declare (discussion) that patients with anxiety or depression scores < 9 should 
be the only patients who actually have IBS. The presence of psychiatric diso rders can not 
exclude a IBS diagnosis!  
 
 
 
Are the methods app ropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify 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 manuscr ipt: 
 
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
 
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 that may in any way gain or lose  
financially 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 organization that 
holds  or has applied f or 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 the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
No competing interest  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the autho rs and, if the manuscript is accepted for 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 included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests   
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis of Brain Function in Patients with Irritable Bowel  
Syndrome  
 
Version: 0 Date: 05 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: Paolo Usai Satta  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a potentially interesting study. This topic is not new but the interacion between brain and 
visceral sensitivity is a crucial point to better know the pathophysiological interactions of IBS.  
 
On the other hand a deep  revision of English language is needed. Due to this problem, in various 
parts of paper it is truly difficult to understand the intentions and the reasoning of the authors. 
Besides several typing errors are present.  
 
Also, demographic data are not clear. The sum of male and female patients (methods) does not 
match to total number of patients. If 14 patients and 8 healthy subjects were excluded from the 
study, the final true number of recruited patients and controls sho uld be reported on the abstract  
Furthemore male and female patients should be not considered subgroups of IBS. Only IBS -D, 
M and mixed have to be considered subgroups of IBS. In this regard the authors have dwelt too 
much on sex differences in the results section. It is sufficient briefly underline that no sex 
differences were found.  
 
Finally the authors declare (discussion) that patients with anxiety or depression scores < 9 should 
be the only patients who actually have IBS. The presence of psychiatric diso rders can not 
exclude a IBS diagnosis!  
 
 
 
Are the methods app ropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify 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 manuscr ipt: 
 
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
 
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 that may in any way gain or lose  
financially 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 organization that 
holds  or has applied f or 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 the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
No competing interest  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the autho rs and, if the manuscript is accepted for 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 included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests   
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis of Brain Function in Patients with Irritable Bowel  
Syndrome  
 
Version: 0 Date: 05 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: Paolo Usai Satta  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a potentially interesting study. This topic is not new but the interacion between brain and 
visceral sensitivity is a crucial point to better know the pathophysiological interactions of IBS.  
 
On the other hand a deep  revision of English language is needed. Due to this problem, in various 
parts of paper it is truly difficult to understand the intentions and the reasoning of the authors. 
Besides several typing errors are present.  
 
Also, demographic data are not clear. The sum of male and female patients (methods) does not 
match to total number of patients. If 14 patients and 8 healthy subjects were excluded from the 
study, the final true number of recruited patients and controls sho uld be reported on the abstract  
Furthemore male and female patients should be not considered subgroups of IBS. Only IBS -D, 
M and mixed have to be considered subgroups of IBS. In this regard the authors have dwelt too 
much on sex differences in the results section. It is sufficient briefly underline that no sex 
differences were found.  
 
Finally the authors declare (discussion) that patients with anxiety or depression scores < 9 should 
be the only patients who actually have IBS. The presence of psychiatric diso rders can not 
exclude a IBS diagnosis!  
 
 
 
Are the methods app ropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify 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 manuscr ipt: 
 
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
 
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 that may in any way gain or lose  
financially 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 organization that 
holds  or has applied f or 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 the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
No competing interest  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the autho rs and, if the manuscript is accepted for 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 included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests   
assistant