Table 3.

Quality assessment of the non-comparative single-arm clinical trials included in the meta-analysis.

Study	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q5	Q6	Q7	Q8	Score†
Herbst et al. (18)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	14
Galffy et al. (19)	2	2	2	2	0	2	0	2	12
Bang et al. (20)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	14
Zhou et al. (21)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	14
Puri et al. (22)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	1	13
Pan et al. (23)	2	2	2	2	0	2	1	0	11
Zhou et al. (24)	2	2	2	2	0	2	1	2	13
Leal et al. (26)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	1	13
Fang et al. (27)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	0	12
Lv et al. (29)	2	2	2	2	0	2	1	2	13
Lee et al. (31)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	14
Herzog et al. (32)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	1	13
Gao et al. (33)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	14
Neal et al. (34)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	14
Gao et al. (35)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	14
Gao et al. (36)	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	14

Numbers Q1-Q8 in heading signified:

Q1: A clearly stated aim: the question addressed should be precise and relevant in the light of available literature.

Q2: Inclusion of consecutive patients: all patients potentially fit for inclusion (satisfying the criteria for inclusion) have been included in the study during the study period (no exclusion or details about the reasons for exclusion).

Q3: Prospective collection of data: data were collected according to a protocol established before the beginning of the study.

Q4: Endpoints appropriate to the aim of the study: unambiguous explanation of the criteria used to evaluate the main outcome which should be in accordance with the question addressed by the study. Also, the endpoints should be assessed on an intention-to-treat basis.

Q5: Unbiased assessment of the study endpoint: blind evaluation of objective endpoints and double-blind evaluation of subjective endpoints. Otherwise the reasons for not blinding should be stated.

Q6: Follow-up period appropriate to the aim of the study: the follow-up should be sufficiently long to allow the assessment of the main endpoint and possible adverse events.

Q7: Loss to follow up less than 5%: all patients should be included in the follow up. Otherwise, the proportion lost to follow up should not exceed the proportion experiencing the major endpoint.

Q8: Prospective calculation of the study size: information of the size of detectable difference of interest with a calculation of 95% confidence interval, according to the expected incidence of the outcome event, and information about the level for statistical significance and estimates of power when comparing the outcomes.

†The items are scored 0 (not reported), 1 (reported but inadequate) or 2 (reported and adequate).