INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION

These guidelines are in accordance with the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals” (originally published in N Engl J Med 1997;336:309-15).

MANUSCRIPTS

TITLES AND AUTHORS' NAMES

With the manuscript, provide a page giving the title of the paper; titles should be concise and descriptive. Also include a running head of fewer than 40 letter spaces; the name(s) of the author(s), including the first name(s) and no more than two degrees; the name of the department and institution in which the work was done; the institutional affiliation of each author; and the name and address of the author to whom reprint requests should be addressed. Any grant support that requires acknowledgment should be mentioned on this page. Front page should include the following:

• Title
• Author's name(s)
• Institution(s)
• Grant support
• Authors correspondence (mailing address, telephone, fax, mobile, e-mail)
• Word count

ABSTRACTS

Provide on a separate page an abstract of not more than 300 words. This abstract should consist of five paragraphs, labeled Background, Aims, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. They should briefly describe the problem being addressed in the study, how the study was performed, the salient results, and what the authors conclude from the results.

MATERIAL & METHODS

MATERIAL: Describe how the patient population is derived.

METHODS: Describe how the study procedures are performed. Give details of instruments, materials and procedures followed. If these are previously published, it is sufficient to cite the reference.

RESULTS

Describe the main findings and the analytical methods used as well as the findings from data analysis. Data provided in text, tables and figures should be enough to support the conclusion.

DISCUSSION

Authors may elaborate on context, implications and concordance or otherwise with previously published observations.

REFERENCES

Vancouver (Numbered) 

References must be numbered consecutively as they are cited. The style of references is that of Index Medicus. List all authors when there are six or fewer; when there are seven or more, list the first three, then “et al.” The following is a sample reference:

1. Lahita R, Kluger J, Drayer DE, Koffler D, Reidenberg MM. Antibodies to nuclear antigens in patients treated with procainamide or acetylprocainamide. N Engl J Med 1979;301:1382-5.

Numbered references to personal communications, unpublished data, and manuscripts either “in preparation” or “submitted for publication” are unacceptable. If essential, such material may be incorporated in the appropriate place in the text.

TABLES

Double-space tables and provide a title for each.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figures should be clear and legible. Diagrams are preferred in one or two colors. Symbols, lettering, and numbering should be clear and large enough to remain legible after the figure has been reduced to fit in the space allocated to it.

The back of each figure should include the sequence number, the name of the author, and the proper orientation (e.g., “top”). If photographs of patients are used, the subjects should not be identifiable.

Legends for illustrations should be double-spaced on a separate sheet and should not appear on the illustrations.

ABBREVIATIONS

Except for units of measurement, abbreviations are generally discouraged. The first time an abbreviation appears it should be preceded by the words for which it stands.

DRUG NAMES

Generic names should generally be used. When proprietary brands are used in research, include the brand name in parentheses in the Methods section.