Zhang Y, Cheng B, Wu ZW, Cui ZC, Song YD, Chen SY, Liu YN, Zhu CJ. Serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 as a novel inflammatory marker predicts the severity of acute pancreatitis. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27(38): 6489-6500 [PMID: 34720537 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i38.6489]
Reader's ID:
05129167
Submitted on:
October 24, 2021, 21:33
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1 Title
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4 Background
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5 Methods
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6 Results
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Reader Comments:
Zhang et al. have provided enough proofs of Serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 as a novel candidate inflammatory biomarker with ability for predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis. The study is well-designed, the methodology was appropriate and well-described, the data were clearly discussed and presented, while potential mechanisms were suggested. Additionally, the statistic is appropriate, and the conclusions fit within the parameters of the study and are not over-interpreted. As a reader I have only minor suggestion regarding Odds ratio evaluation, especially for results obtained in studies such as this one. Since odds ratio represents an increase in probability of developing a certain pathological state for 1 unit of change in the desired biomarker, it could be more suitable to declare or emphasize how the specified marker is changed over time in a given state. I consider appropriate to declare the magnitude of its change, since even small odds ratio such as in this case, could have a clinical significance. From my point of view as a reader, this study is important considering that, as authors already declared, there are proofs of sST2 utility as a biomarker in different states such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory or kidney failure, different forms of cancer, but not in pathologies involving pancreas. Knowing how quickly this condition worsens, biomarkers that can be easily determined, and on time, are highly desirable. Although BMI and CRP, along with sST2 were predictors of severe acute pancreatitis, unlike sST2, they were not good enough for predicting organ failure or patients' mortality. Even more, higher levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α, and lower IL-4 expression in the severe acute pancreatitis group, confirmed hypothesis of sST2 influence on Th1/ Th2 immune response disbalance. Taking the above into account, I personally consider this as a relevant subject with appropriate mark C for broader readership.
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