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Required Documents
Please submit the following items as separate documents, with requirements as outlined under each section:
Cover Letter (submitted in the “Additional Files” section)
Manuscript (submitted in the “Primary Manuscript File” section).
Figures and Tables (submitted in the “Additional Files” section)
Please read the requirements in their entirety before submission.
Cover Letter
The Cover Letter can be submitted as a Word or PDF file and should include the following:
Summary and Significance of the work described and its relevance.
Submission Category for which the work is being considered (see “Submission Categories” below)
Scientific Integrity Declaration
Provide a statement that the authors warrant that the described work is original, has not been published previously or under consideration by another journal, does not infringe upon any copyright of a third party, and will not be published elsewhere whether online or in print once accepted. While the previous presentation in the form of an abstract, lecture, thesis, commentary, or perspective is acceptable, we ask that the authors state any prior presentation in this statement
Reviewer Request (Required)
Provide a list of up to 2 potential unbiased reviewers, with their email addresses, and a brief description of their qualifications as a reviewer. It is not a guarantee that your requested reviewers will be reviewing your manuscript.
Manuscript
The manuscript should be submitted as a Word file and follow the following format:
Title page
Include the following on the title page:
Submission Category (see “Submission Categories” in section III below)
Title of the manuscript
Each author’s name, highest academic degree(s), author’s affiliation/institution
One corresponding author and contact information (address, phone number, and email address)
Word Count, Number of Figures and Tables, Number of references (see requirements in “Word Limits” in section IV below)
Disclosures
Conflicts of interest: All authors are required to disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that may influence the work or reduce transparency. Disclose all relationships and activities that might bias or be perceived as potential to bias the work being published.
Funding: Please list all funding sources in this statement.
Abstract
Abstract for Original Research, Meta-Analyses, and Systematic Reviews should have the following sections in no more than 400 words.
Relevance: State the importance and background of problem addressed by the study question
Objective: Summarize the purpose of the study
Methods: Describe basic design and study type (eg, randomized clinical trial, cohort, cross-sectional, case-control, case series, survey, survey, meta-analysis, etc.)
Results: Report most important findings
Conclusion: Summarize the most significant conclusions and take-home message
Other submission types (case reports, narrative reviews, editorials, etc) may be structured or unstructured at the authors’ discretion
Key Words
Provide key words at the end of the abstract that captures the main points of the described work. Key words allow easy retrieval in a search. Allow a maximum of 10 key words.
Main Text
The main text section should include the following sections:
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Ethics Statement for Human and Animal Studies (if applicable). For all clinical investigations involving human or animal subjects, please provide:
A statement of approval by an ethics committee, such as the Institutional Review Board, Research Ethics Committee or equivalent.
Copy of Institutional Review Board approval for clinical research trials
A statement that consent was obtained by all human participants.
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgment: disclose any editing services if applicable
Disclosures
Conflicts of interest: All authors are required to disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that may influence the work or reduce transparency. Disclose all relationships and activities that might bias or be perceived as potential to bias the work being published.
Funding: Please list all funding sources in this statement.
References
Figure Legends
Figures and Tables
All tables should be submitted as a Word document
Figures can be submitted as a Word of PDF.
CONSORT diagram and checklist are required for clinical trials
II. Manuscript Formatting
General Requirements
Manuscripts must be written in English (US spelling preferred), using a 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced throughout (line numbers are not necessary). Each page should be numbered, starting with the title page as page 1.
Manuscripts should be in Microsoft Word.
Use single double-spacing in the main manuscript, references, and figure legends
The manuscript should be prepared in accordance with the AMA Manual of Style, 11th edition.
To download AMA 11th edition:
Endnote
Zotero
Generic drug names should be used. If in the title, only generic names are allowed. Trade names may be used in the main text within parentheses after the first mention with the generic name, after which only generic names should be used.
Please see word limits as below
III. Submission Categories
Original Research
These studies report original research that is classified as primary literature. They include hypothesis, background study, methods, results, interpretation of findings, and a discussion of possible implications. Investigations may be basic science, clinical investigations and clinical trials, or epidemiological in nature. For clinical studies, authors should document institutional review board acceptance and submit a CONSORT diagram and CONSORT checklist for the study. All clinical studies should document listing on clinicaltrials.gov.
Word limit: 6,000 words (including the abstract, which should be < 300 words)
References: no limit
Figures and tables: no limit
Concise Communication
These studies report original research that is classified as primary literature. They include hypothesis, background study, methods, results, interpretation of findings, and a discussion of possible implications. Investigations may be basic science, clinical investigations and clinical trials, or epidemiological in nature. For clinical studies, authors should document institutional review board acceptance and submit a CONSORT diagram and CONSORT checklist for the study. All clinical studies should document listing on clinicaltrials.gov.
Word limit: 1,500 words (including the abstract, which should be < 300 words)
Figures and tables: 3
References: 15
Review Article
Review articles provide critical and constructive analysis of existing published literature in a field, through summary, analysis, and comparison, often identifying specific gaps or problems and providing recommendations for future research. Generally, these publications do not present new data from the author's experimental work. Review articles can be of three types: Narrative/Literature Reviews, Systematic Reviews, and Meta-analyses.
Narrative or Literature Reviews
Word limit: 5,000 to 20,000 words
References: no limit
Figures and tables: no limit
Systematic reviews
Word limit: 10,000 words
References: no limit
Figures and tables: no limit
Case Study and Case Series
Clinical case studies present the details of real patient cases from medical or clinical practice and usually contribute significantly to the existing knowledge in the field. The study is expected to discuss the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of a disease. Case studies should include a description of the case as well as a discussion of how the case relates to the general literature and why the case is important in potentially advancing clinical experience and knowledge.
Word limit: 1,000 for Case Reports; 3,000 for Case Series
Practical Pearls
Practical Pearls describe an expert and evidence-supported approach to the practical treatment of clinical disease
Word limit: 2,000 words (but preferably 1,000 words)
Perspective
Perspective pieces are scholarly reviews of fundamental concepts or prevalent ideas in a field. These are usually essays that present a personal point of view critiquing widespread notions pertaining to a field. A perspective piece can be a review of a single concept or a few related concepts.
Word limit: 2,000 words (but preferably 1,000 words)
Opinion
Opinion articles present the author’s viewpoint on the interpretation, analysis, or methods used in a particular study. It allows the author to comment on the strength and weakness of a theory or hypothesis. Opinion articles are usually based on constructive criticism and should be backed by evidence. Such articles promote discussion on current issues concerning science. These are also relatively short articles.
Word limit: 2,000 words (but preferably 1,000 words)
Commentary
Commentaries are short articles that draw attention to a new concept, a succinct review on a topic, or comments on a previously published article, book, or report, explaining why it interested them and how it might be illuminating for readers.
Word limit: 2,000 words (but preferably 1,000 words)
Book Review
Book reviews are published in most academic journals. The aim of a book review is to provide insight and opinion on recently published scholarly books. Book reviews are also relatively short articles and less time-consuming. Book reviews are a good publication option for early-career researchers as it allows the researcher to stay abreast of new literature in the field, while at the same time, adding to one’s publication list and disseminating knowledge about the book and topic.
Word limit: 2,000 words (but preferably 1,000 words)
IV. Word Limits
Original Research
Word limit: 6,000 words (including the abstract, which should be < 300 words)
References: no limit
Figures and tables: no limit
Concise Communication (Brief research paper)
Word limit: 1,500 words (including the abstract, which should be < 300 words)
Figures and tables: 3
References: 15
Narrative or Literature Reviews
Word limit: 5,000 to 20,000 words
References: no limit
Figures and tables: no limit
Systematic reviews
Word limit: 10,000 words
References: no limit
Figures and tables: no limit
Clinical Case Study (Case Report and Case Series)
Word limit: 1,000 for Case Reports; 3,000 for Case Series
Practical Pearls, Perspective, Opinion, Commentary, and Book Review
Word limit: 2,000 words (but preferably 1,000 words)
