Publication Name	World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Manuscript ID	116133
Country	China

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Letter to the Editor
Article Title	Clinical controls and model calibration as keys to complete blood count-based studies of pediatric fistula-in-ano
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Shi-Yan Zhang and Jin-Bao Shi
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Jin-Bao Shi, Department of Nephrology, Fuding Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 16 Donghu Road, Ningde 355200, Fujian Province, China. 1301803387@qq.com
Key Words	Pediatric fistula-in-ano; Complete blood count; Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; Spectrum bias; Age standardization; Receiver operating characteristic; Decision curve analysis
Core Tip	This study evaluated widely accessible complete blood count markers in a large pediatric fistula-in-ano cohort and reported promising discrimination and decision-making ability. We highlight design and analytic refinements, clinical control selection, rigorous age handling, transparent model calibration, and validated decision curve analyses, that can convert these encouraging signals into robust, generalizable evidence.
Citation	Zhang SY, Shi JB. Clinical controls and model calibration as keys to complete blood count-based studies of pediatric fistula-in-ano. World J Gastrointest Surg 2025; In press

Received	2025-11-03 04:25
Peer-Review Started	2025-11-03 04:25
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-11-25 09:31
Return for Revision	2025-11-25 09:34
Revised	2025-12-01 01:18
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2025-12-26 02:36
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-12-26 09:52
Articles in Press	2025-12-26 09:52
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-9366 (online)
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