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manuscript for publication in JMJ are as follows: Relevance:• Is the work within the journalʼs Aims and Scope?Reproducibility:• Do authors show sufficient information to reproduce their experiments or data?Written quality:• Is the manuscript clearly presented? Title:• Does the Title accurately reflect the contents of the manuscript?Abstract:• Does the Abstract adequately describe the background or context of the work, the objec-tives of the research project and the methods used?Introduction:• Does the Introduction provide adequate back-ground and context for the work?Materials and Methods:• Have the authors described the methods in enough detail to allow others to replicate them?• Have the authors adhered to established codes of practice and ethics if human/animal experi-mentation has been undertaken?• Did the authors use appropriate methods? Results:• Have the authors explained their results clearly and adequately?Discussion:• Is the Discussion supported by the results?• Have the authors considered any alternative explanations for their results?• Have the authors made unsupported claims or inappropriate speculations?General:• Are all cited references relevant and neces-sary?• Has any relevant literature been omitted?• Have the authors cited the data described in the manuscript adequately?• Is each table and figure necessary?• Are any potentially useful figures or tables missing?• Are the tables and figures complete and inter-pretable?• Is the manuscript clearly written in English?• Have the authors adhered to established codes of publication ethics?• Are there any errors in fact, methodology, or analyses?• Has the manuscript been published previously, in part or in whole, in any language?If a manuscript does not meet the journalʼs require-ments for acceptance or revision, the Editor-in-Chief may recommend rejection.Editorial independenceAs the journal owner, the Juntendo Medical Society (JMS) has granted the journalʼs Editorial Board complete and sole responsibility for all editorial decisions. The JMS will not become involved in editorial decisions, except in cases of a fundamental breakdown of process.Editorial decisions are based only on a manuscriptʼs scientific merit and are kept completely separate from the journalʼs other interests. The authorsʼ ability to pay any publication charges has no bearing on whether a manuscript is accepted for publication in the journal.AppealsAuthors who believe that an editorial decision has been made in error may lodge an appeal with the Editorial Office. Appeals are only considered if the authors provide detailed evidence of a misunder-standing or mistake by a reviewer or editor. Appeals are considered carefully by the Editor-in- Chief, whose decision is final. The guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (https://publicati onethics.org/) (COPE) are followed where and when relevant.Confidentiality in peer reviewThe journal maintains the confidentiality of all unpublished manuscripts. Editors will not:1. disclose a reviewerʼs identity unless the reviewer makes a reasonable request for such 655