Table 3.
Study quality assessment.
| Criterion | Mean | SD |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Was the research question clearly stated? | 1.92 | 0.27 |
| 2. Were the inclusion and exclusion criteria clearly stated? | 1.44 | 0.71 |
| 3. Were the subjects in the study representative of the pathological population? | 1.68 | 0.59 |
| 4. Were the main findings of the study clearly described? | 1.77 | 0.46 |
| 5. Was a control group included? Did it consist of the non-tumor specimen from healthy age- and gender-matched subjects? | 1.78 | 0.49 |
| 6. Were diagnostic or prognostic measures clearly defined (e.g., TNM stage, five-year survival rate, etc.) | 1.27 | 0.70 |
| 7. Were samples collected from a relevant source (tumor tissue, blood, or feces) in a manner to prevent degradation and contamination? | 1.81 | 0.39 |
| 8. Was miRNA expression measured with a conventional, well-validated technique (e.g., miRNA-seq, microarray, qPCR, etc.)? | 2.00 | 0.00 |
| 9. Was a sample size justification via power analysis provided? | 0.13 | 0.45 |
| 10. Were potential confounders properly controlled in the analysis? | 1.27 | 0.45 |
| Total Score | 15.06 | 1.87 |