Stroke and Emerging Blood Biomarkers: A Clinical Prospective
, Dimitrios Tsiptsios 1,*, Stella Karatzetzou 1, Sofia Kitmeridou 1, Vaia Karapepera 1, Erasmia Giannakou 2, Penelope Vlotinou 1, Nikolaos Aggelousis 2 and Konstantinos Vadikolias 1
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The Authors propose a systematic review regarding the use of blood biomarkers in stroke prognosis.
The topic is interesting and worth the attention. The literature research is well conducted.
I think that the choice of including several biomarkers in the research could have led to a chaotic analysis and discussion.
In addition, the paper totally lacks a results section in which the Authors present the different data outlined by the selected papers. In that section, the authors could have highlighted the cut-off values of the different biomarkers, their sensibility and sensitivity, etc...
I think that this point is the most critical of the entire paper.
I would also suggest better clarifying how some of these biomarkers are used, also in other medical/surgical diseases, in order to give the readers a more comprehensive perspective. NLR for example have been related to a lot of acute and chronic cardiovascular scenarios as AMI, Heart Failure, ALI etc...
(ref: doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2018.02.006.
doi: 10.1177/17085381211010012.
doi: 10.2478/rjim-2019-0018. )
Author Response
Dear Reviewer #1,
Many thanks for your prompt response.
Your comments were thoroughly investigated and appropriately modifications in the text were made, as follows:
- The paper totally lacks a results section in which the Authors present the different data outlined by the selected papers. In that section, the authors could have highlighted the cut-off values of the different biomarkers, their sensibility and sensitivity, etc...
I think that this point is the most critical of the entire paper.
According to your suggestion cut-off values, specificity and sensitivity of different biomarkers have been added to our table and are highlighted with RED.
Moreover, Results section has been expanded and now presents the different data outlined by the selected papers. Changes are highlighted with RED.
- I would also suggest better clarifying how some of these biomarkers are used, also in other medical/surgical diseases, in order to give the readers a more comprehensive perspective. NLR for example have been related to a lot of acute and chronic cardiovascular scenarios as AMI, Heart Failure, ALI etc...
According to your proposal a paragraph clarifying how the selected biomarkers are used in other diseases has been added and is highlighted with RED
Hopefully these changes have addressed all your comments.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr Dimitrios Tsiptsios
Neurologist / Clinical Neurophysiologist
Neurology Department,
Democritus University of Thrace
Alexandroupolis, Greece
Reviewer 2 Report
The current review is a nice compilation of blood biomarkers of stroke which is definitely of great interest as it is one of major causes of death and disability. The authors have selected 6 biomarkers and described the importance as stroke biomarkers.
Points to consider
1) The Fig 1 tables need to be changed as the information is lost at some places and therefore cannot be read.
2) Why did the authors select only these 6 biomarkers although there are several others which are being reported? Please comment on this.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer #2,
Many thanks for your prompt response.
Your comments were thoroughly investigated and appropriately modifications in the text were made, as follows:
- The Fig 1 tables need to be changed as the information is lost at some places and therefore cannot be read.
Figure 1 has been modified and now all information is visible
- Why did the authors select only these 6 biomarkers although there are several others which are being reported? Please comment on this
A paragraph explaining why these 6 biomarkers were chosen has been added and is highlighted with GREEN
Hopefully these changes have addressed all your comments.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr Dimitrios Tsiptsios
Neurologist / Clinical Neurophysiologist
Neurology Department,
Democritus University of Thrace
Alexandroupolis, Greece
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The text has improved significantly.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer #1,
Many thanks for your prompt response and your valuable comments.
Looking forward to work again with you in the near future.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr Dimitrios Tsiptsios
