Checklist

( to be tick marked, as applicable and one copy attached with the manuscript )

Manuscript Title ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Covering Letter

• Previous related publication / presentations mentioned. Note: NOT all publications; Only those that pose a conflict or potential conflict
• Source of funding mentioned
• Conflicts of interest disclosed in detail

Authors

• Middle name initials provided
• Author for correspondence, with e-mail address provided
• Number of contributors restricted as per the instructions • Identity not revealed in paper except title page (e.g. name of the institute in material and methods, citing previous study as 'our study', names on figure labels, name of institute in photographs, etc.)

NOTE: MAKE SURE TO COPY ALL PHASES MAILS TO ALL AUTHORS - TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

Presentation and Format

• Double spacing
• Times New Roman Font 12 size
• Margins 2.5 cm from all four sides
• Title page contains all the desired information (vide supra)
• Running title provided (not more than 50 characters)
• Abstract page contains the full title of the manuscript
• Abstract provided (not more than 150 words for case reports and 250 words for original articles)
• Structured abstract provided for an original article
• Key words provided (three or more)
• Key messages provided
• Introduction of 75-100 words
• Headings in title case (not ALL CAPITALS)
• References cited in superscript in the text without brackets
• References according to the journal's instructions, punctuation marks checked

Language and Grammar

• Uniformly British English
• Abbreviations spelt out in full for the first time
• Numerals from 1 to 10 spelt out
• Numerals at the beginning of the sentence spelt out

Tables and Figures

• No repetition of data in tables and graphs and in text
• Actual numbers from which graphs drawn, provided
• Figures necessary and of good quality (colour)
• Table and figure numbers in Arabic letters (not Roman)
• Labels pasted on back of the photographs (no names written)
• Figure legends provided (not more than 40 words)
• Patients' privacy maintained (if not permission taken)
• Credit note for borrowed figures/tables provided