GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CHECKLISTS

Before submitting the manuscript, authors should refer to the following checklist according to the article category:

• CONSORT (CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) checklist and flowchart for controlled and randomized trials (http://www.consort-statement.org/)
• STARD (Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy) checklist and flow chart for studies of diagnostic accuracy (http://www.stard-statement.org/)
• PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) checklist and flowchart for systematic reviews (http://www.prisma-statement.org/)
• STROBE checklist for observational studies in epidemiology (http://www.strobe-statement.org/index.php?id=strobe-home)