Instructions for authors as pdf-file

The Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology publishes original communications of scientific excellence concerned with clinical research on cardiovascular diseases, including observational studies, clinical trials, and advances in applied and basic laboratory cardiovascular research. The journalalso accepts for publication meritorious basic research that contributes to an understanding of clinical cardiovascular medicine.
Submitted manuscripts should not contain previously published material or be under consideration for publication elsewhere. Manuscripts should conform to "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals" [Br Med J 1982; 284: 1766-70].
Address new and revised manuscripts and correspondence to the Managing Editor:
Univ.-Prof. DDr. Robert Gasser
Medizinische Universitätsklinik Graz / Abt. Kardiologie
A-8036 Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15
Tel. +43/316/385-3321
Fax +43/316/385-3733
e-mail:
robert.gasser@meduni-graz.at

Selection
Manuscripts are evaluated by expert reviewers assigned by the editors. Provisional or final acceptance is based on originality, scientific content, and topical balance of the journal. Manuscript decisions will not be discussed over the phone.

Publication
After acceptance, manuscripts generally will be published within 6 months. Authors can accelerate publication by promptly attending to revisions and adhering to guidelines. Incomplete manuscripts will not be reviewed until complete.

Author's Checklist
For expeditious handling, complete the instructions below.

1. What and Where to Submit

• Three copies of the manuscript (including title page) and one set of original illustrations, copies attached to each manuscript.
• Copyright transfer agreement hand-signed by all authors. The agreement may be mailed or faxed to the editorial office.
• Authors who submit manuscripts to the journal must
  1. provide signatures from all persons acknowledged, stating that they have seen and approved mention of their names in the article;
  2. cite all sources of support for research. If authors have potential conflicts of interest that relate to the manuscript, these must be stated;
  3. indicate in a statement of submission that "all authors have read and approved submission of the manuscript, and that the manuscript has not been published and is not being considered for publication elsewhere in whole or in part in any language except as an abstract".
• If an author's prior work is in preparation, has been previously submitted or published, or is currently in press, and is potentially overlapping or provides information essential to the reviewer's understanding of a submitted manuscript, submit three copies of that work with the manuscript.
• If the manuscript is accepted for publication, send a computer CD-ROM to the editorial office. It must include the latest version of the complete manuscript (including tables), author information, acknowledgements, and references.
• Mail manuscript and related parts to the Managing Editor. Manuscripts should not be submitted by fax.

2. General Instructions

• Type manuscripts double-spaced, including references, figure legends, and tables, on one side of the page only. Original contributions generally should not exceed seven pages when typeset. As a guide for manuscript length, there should be no more than l figure or 1 table for every 750 words. The manuscript should not exceed 6000 words, or 25 double-spaced typewritten pages (no more than 3 lines per inch) including title page, abstract, references, legends, and tables. Authors should eliminate redundancy, emphasise the central message, and provide only the data necessary to convey that message. Manuscripts may exceed seven pages when exigencies of design or complexities of research require it and length is approved by editors.
• Leave 1 inch margins on all sides. Do not use justified margins.
• Cite each figure and table in text in numerical order.
• Cite each reference in text in numerical order and list in the References section. In text, reference numbers may be repeated but not omitted.
• Use SI units of measure in all manuscripts. For example, molar (M) should be changed to mol/L; mg/dL to mmol/L; and cm to mm. Units of measure previously reported as percentages (e.g. hematocrit) are expressed as a decimal fraction. Measurements currently not converted to SI units in biomedical applications are blood and oxygen pressures, enzyme activity, H+ concentration, temperature, and volume. The SI unit should be used in text, followed by the conventionally used measurement in parentheses. Conversions should be made by the author before the manuscript is submitted for peer review.
• Assemble manuscript in this order: (1) title page, (2) abstract page, (3) text, (4) acknowledgements, (5) references, (6) figure legends, (7) tables, (8) figures. Do not staple.

3. Title Page

Title page must include

• Full title and, further down on the page, the first author's surname and a short title (total characters must not exceed 60, including spaces) to be typeset at the top of the journal page.
• Authors' names and academic degrees, authors' affiliations, name and complete address for correspondence (be sure to include street address as well as post office box for corresponding author), and address for reprints if different from address for correspondence.
• Fax number, telephone number, and E-mail address.

4. Abstract

• Do not cite references in abstract.
• Limit use of acronyms and abbreviations.
• Be concise (250 words maximum).

5. Text

Follow the guidelines in General Instructions.

• The following are typical main headings: Methods, Results, and Discussion (there are no separate headings for introductions and summaries).
• Abbreviations must be defined at first mention in the text, tables, and each figure.
• Methods section. For animals used in experiments, state the species, strain, number used, and other pertinent descriptive characteristics. For human subjects or patients, describe their characteristics. When describing surgical procedures on animals, identify the preanesthetic and anesthetic agents used and state the amount or concentration and the route and frequency of administration for each. The use of paralytic agents, such as curare or succinylcholine, is not an acceptable substitute for anesthetics. For other invasive procedures on animals, report the analgesic or tranquillising drugs used. If none were used, provide justification for such exclusion. Generic names of drugs must be given. Manuscripts that describe studies on humans must indicate that the study was approved by an institutional review committee and that the subjects gave informed consent. Reports of studies on both an imals and humans must indicate that the procedures followed were in accordance with institutional guidelines.
• Acknowledgements. The Acknowledgements section recognises all sources of support for research, plus substantive contributions of individuals. When expressing appreciation to another scientist for assistance with research or manuscript, enclose written permission since such an acknowledgement may imply endorsement of data and conclusions. All persons acknowledged must have seen and approved mention of their names in the article.

6. References

• Accuracy of reference data is the author's responsibility. Verify all entries against original sources, especially journal titles, inclusive page numbers, publication dates, accents, diacritical marks, and spelling in languages other than English.
• All authors must be listed in references. Shortened lists of author names followed by "et al" must be replaced with complete information. Manuscripts cannot be sent to reviewers until this requirement is met.
• Cite references in numerical order according to first mention in text. Ensure accuracy in spelling and details of publication.
• Personal communications, unpublished observations, and submitted manuscripts are not legitimate references. They must be cited in the text as "(unpublished data, 19xx)".
• Abstracts may be cited only if they are the sole source and must be identified in the reference as "Abstract".
• "In press" citations must have been accepted for publication and the name of the journal or book publisher included.

7. Figures and Legends

• Figures are either black and white line drawings, graphs, colour, or halftones (photographs). Authors are responsible for the cost of printing colour illustrations.
• Artwork must be prepared using professional standards and photographed as camera-ready, unmounted, glossy prints if line drawings, photomicrographs, colour, or halftones. Note that computer-generated laser prints also reproduce better if printed on glossy computer paper. Letters and locants must be uniform in size and style. Flaws will not be corrected. Photocopies of figures must be attached to each manuscript.
• One set of unmounted, glossy prints must be submitted. Indicate figure number, first author, short manuscript title, and top of figure lightly in pencil or a felt-tip pen on the back of each illustration. Enclose prints in a separate envelope.
• Prepare three photocopies of each figure and attach one set of copies to each manuscript. Figure numbers must appear on all photocopies. Photocopies of the figures, now part of each manuscript, will be sent out for review.
• Supply a scale bar with photomicrographs.
• Provide double-spaced copy for figure legends on a separate page.
• If there are abbreviations or symbols in the figures, they must be defined in the figure or the figure legend.

8. Tables

• Each table must begin on a separate page, double-spaced. The table number should be arabic followed by a period and a brief informative title.
• Use same size type as in text.
• Supply a brief heading for each column.
• Indicate footnotes in tables by symbols in this order: asterisk, dagger, double dagger, section mark, parallels, paragraph symbol, number sign, doub le asterisk.

9. Permissions

Address for requests for permission to reproduce figures, tables, or portions of articles originally published in the Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology.
Permissions Desk
Verlag Krause & Pachernegg GmbH
Postfach 21, A-3003 Gablitz
Tel. +43/2231/61258-0,
Fax +43/2231/61258-10

10. Costs to Authors

Authors are charged

1. expense for colour reproduction of figures (estimate of cost will be provided by the publisher for author's approval);
2. expense for replacing poor-quality art;
3. expense for reprints (price lists at request);
4. CHF 6,- per printed page for excessive author alterations;
5. CHF 12,- per page for printing a correction (erratum) after publication of the article that results from an author's error.

For additional information, contact the editorial office:
Verlag Krause & Pachernegg GmbH
Postfach 21, A-3003 Gablitz
Tel. +43/2231/61258-0,
Fax +43/2232/61258-10