For authors
Launch preparation · Editorial proposals dated 25 October 2026. Public submissions are closed. Policies and article limits await scientific and publisher ratification.
Before preparing a submission
Submissions are not yet open. These proposed instructions are available for review by the future scientific committee. Manuscripts must be original, within scope and not under consideration elsewhere. A preprint is not automatically disqualifying, but its DOI or URL, version and any previous reviews must be disclosed. The journal publishes exclusively in English. All manuscripts, titles, abstracts, keywords, figures, tables, supplements and responses to reviewers must be submitted in clear English.
Proposed article limits
Word counts exclude the abstract, references, tables, legends and supplements. Displays means the combined total of tables and figures. Abstracts for original research, systematic reviews, short communications and protocols use Background, Methods, Findings and Interpretation; reports without results must use protocol appropriate headings. Narrative reviews and perspectives use an unstructured summary. Case reports use Background, Case and Lessons. The committee may approve justified exceptions before submission.
| Article type | Main text / abstract | References / displays | Structure and documents | Evaluation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Research | 3500 / 300 | 40 / 6 | IMRaD; study checklist; protocol and statistical analysis plan for trials. | Internal validity, clinical relevance, precision and applicability. |
| Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses | 4500 / 300 | 100 / 8 | PRISMA; full searches, selection flow, risk of bias and registration or protocol. | Reproducibility, synthesis methods, heterogeneity and certainty. |
| Narrative Reviews | 4500 / 250 | 80 / 6 | Thematic headings; describe search scope and selection approach. | Balanced interpretation, currency and explicit limitations. |
| Short Communications | 2000 / 200 | 25 / 3 | Concise IMRaD; the same ethical and reporting requirements as original research. | Focused question and adequate methods despite a short format. |
| Research Letters | 800 / None | 10 / 2 | Brief methods, results and discussion; ethics and data statements. | One clear research message and sufficiently reported methods. |
| Case Reports | 1500 / 150 | 20 / 3 | CARE; chronology, diagnostic reasoning and written publication consent. | Educational value, alternative explanations and privacy. |
| Editorials | 1200 / None | 15 / 1 | Focused argument, evidence and disclosures; usually commissioned. | Clarity, independence and a justified editorial position. |
| Perspectives | 2000 / 150 | 30 / 3 | Structured argument; distinguish evidence from proposals. | Relevance, reasoning, feasibility and consideration of other views. |
| Correspondence | 600 / None | 8 / 1 | Comment or response; identify the article discussed; no personal attacks. | Specific contribution, accuracy and constructive scientific debate. |
| Study Protocols | 3500 / 300 | 40 / 6 | SPIRIT for trials, PRISMA-P for review protocols; approvals and registration. | Prespecification, feasibility, analysis plan and ethical safeguards. |
Files and presentation
Provide an editable DOCX or ODT manuscript with numbered pages, continuous line numbers and clear headings. For the proposed double-anonymous review process, remove author names, affiliations and identifying file metadata from the review manuscript and upload identifying details separately on the title page. Use SI units, generic drug names, an explanation of abbreviations and non-stigmatising language. Upload an editable title page with author names, affiliations, country, corresponding author, institutional email where available, ORCID identifiers, article type and word counts. Provide tables as editable text, figures as separate high quality files, descriptive captions and accessible alternative text. Obtain permission for third party material; remove identifiers from images and file metadata. Number supplements, explain their contents and cite them in the main text.
Authorship and declarations
Each author must satisfy all four ICMJE requirements: a substantial contribution; drafting or critical revision; approval of the final version; and accountability for the work. Funding or supervision alone does not qualify. Identify CRediT contributions for every author; acknowledge other contributors with their permission. Obtain all authors' approval of authorship order and submission. Changes after submission require an explanation and agreement of affected authors.
Include separate statements on funding and the funder's role; financial and non-financial conflicts for every author; ethics approval or a justified exemption with committee, reference and date; informed consent or an approved waiver; publication consent where identifiable information is involved; data and code availability; trial registration where applicable; and use of AI. All article types require funding, conflict, authorship and AI declarations, including a clear negative statement when applicable.
Research ethics and methods
Human research requires independent ethical oversight consistent with applicable law and accepted research standards. Do not infer an exemption from the study being retrospective. Case reports require written consent for publication and local review where applicable. Animal research requires the relevant approval and ARRIVE reporting. Systematic reviews normally do not require approval for aggregate published data; justify the position and assess any individual participant data obligations. Editorials and correspondence must not disclose identifiable clinical information without the necessary consent.
Define the primary question, design, setting, eligibility, outcomes, sample size, missing data approach and statistical methods. Report effect estimates with uncertainty, denominators and absolute quantities where useful. Distinguish prespecified from exploratory analyses. Avoid causal claims unsupported by the design and selective reporting of statistically significant results. Identify software and versions, antimicrobial susceptibility standards and versions, diagnostic reference standards and relevant laboratory quality procedures.
Reporting guidelines
Submit the appropriate completed checklist with page references and any flow diagram: CONSORT 2025 for randomised trials; STROBE for observational studies; PRISMA 2020 and applicable extensions for systematic reviews; STARD for diagnostic accuracy; CARE for case reports; SPIRIT 2025 for trial protocols; and PRISMA-P for systematic review protocols. Use relevant extensions and specialist guidelines, including SQUIRE for quality improvement, StaRI for implementation, COREQ or SRQR for qualitative work, and TRIPOD where applicable. A checklist supports reporting; it does not replace methodological assessment. Consult the EQUATOR library for the guideline that matches the design.
References and identifiers
Use numbered Vancouver style references in citation order. Verify every reference against the original source and include verified DOI links when available. Distinguish preprints, corrections and retracted articles. Do not invent identifiers. Supply ORCID identifiers belonging to the named authors; authenticated ORCID linking will be enabled only after the necessary integration is configured.
Clinical trials and sharing
Interventional clinical trials must be prospectively registered in an eligible public registry before enrolment of the first participant. State the registry, identifier, registration date, first enrolment date and access to the protocol. Explain any departure transparently; acceptance is not guaranteed. Provide a data sharing statement describing what will be shared, with whom, when, for how long, and under what access procedure. Protect privacy and respect consent and governance; do not upload identifiable participant data to the journal.
Submission package and checklist
- Cover letter explaining fit, originality, related reports, preprints and any prior submission or review history that affects assessment.
- Title page, manuscript, abstract and keywords; verified author details, ORCID and CRediT contributions.
- Ethics, consent, funding, conflicts, data/code and AI statements, including declarations of no relevant use or interests.
- Reporting checklist and flow diagram; protocol, registration and statistical analysis plan where applicable.
- Editable tables, figures, legends, supplements and permissions; no unnecessary identifiers.
- Written approval from every author and confirmation of exclusive submission.
- Agreement to the final published copyright and licensing terms once approved; no licence is imposed by this preparatory checklist.
Assessment and revision
The editorial office checks completeness and scope; an independent editor assesses ethics and methods before external review. Decisions may be reject, revise or accept. A revised submission must include a point by point response and a marked manuscript. The Editor-in-Chief or delegated editor makes the final scientific decision. Acceptance is never guaranteed by invitation, payment, institutional affiliation or reviewer suggestion.
Sources: ICMJE Recommendations, January 2026; CRediT; EQUATOR.
