| Instructions to Authors |
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Aims and scope The journal “ACHAIKI IATRIKI” publishes original papers on clinical and basic research from all areas of the health sciences including healthcare. The journal is published exclusively in English. Manuscripts should conform to the guidelines set out in "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals" by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (http:/www.icmje.org). SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Cover letter A submission letter to the Editor should accompany the manuscript and contain the following • The manuscript has not been published previously, and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Information about article types The Editors will consider and publish the following: 1. Original research articles Original research articles The maximum length of the main text is 3,500 words excluding the abstract, references, tables, and figure legends. A maximum of 6 tables and/or figures is allowed. References should not exceed a maximum of 100. Narrative Reviews / Systematic Reviews / Meta-analyses These manuscripts are solicited and unsolicited manuscripts that feature an organized and detailed review of the scientific literature about a particular topic. This section is peer-reviewed and acceptance for publication is not guaranteed. The maximum length of the main text is 5,000 words excluding the abstract, references, tables, and figure legends. A maximum of 6 tables and/or figures to summarize critical points is highly desirable. References should not exceed a maximum of 150. Editorials Editorials are usually solicited by the Editor. The maximum length is 1500 words excluding the references, tables, and figure legends. One table or 1 figure is allowed. References should not exceed a maximum of 20. Editorials may have a maximum of three (3) authors. Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor will be considered for publication if they are related to articles published in recent issues of the ACHAIKI IATRIKI Journal. The maximum length is 800 words (excluding references, table, and figure legend). A total number of 1 table or figure is allowed and up to 10 references. Such letters will be passed to the authors of the original paper, who will be offered an opportunity to reply. Letters to the Editor may have a maximum of two (2) authors. Case Reports Case reports should ideally include a short introduction, the case presentation and a brief discussion. The maximum length is 1500 words (excluding references, tables, and figure legend). A total number of 2 tables or figures is allowed. References should not exceed a maximum of 15. Formatting guide The articles must by typewritten and double spaced. They should include the following sections, each starting on a separate page: • Title Page Margins should be not less than 2.5 cm. Pages should be numbered consecutively. Abbreviations Do not use non-standard abbreviations. The use of abbreviations in the title and abstract should be avoided. Abbreviations should be defined on their first appearance in the text; those not accepted by international bodies should be avoided. Title page The title page should include: • Title of the manuscript Abstract For Original Articles, structured abstracts should be 250 words or less and include the following sections: Background, Methods, Results and Conclusion. Review articles should carry an unstructured abstract which should not exceed 200 words. Key words The abstract should be followed by a list of 3–5 keywords which will assist the cross-indexing of the article and which may be published separated by semicolons. Main Text For the main body of the text, the recommended structure of the manuscript is: • Introduction Define abbreviations at first mention in text and in each table and figure. Introduction State the objectives of the work and provide an adequate background, avoiding a detailed literature survey or a summary of the results. Materials and Methods Provide sufficient detail to allow the work to be reproduced. Methods already published should be indicated by a reference. This includes a description of the design, measurement and collection of data, type and source of subjects, inclusion and exclusion criteria and measures of outcome, number of subjects studied and why this number was chosen. Any deviation from the study protocol should be stated. Randomized controlled trials should adhere to the CONSORT guidelines that can be found at: http://www.consort-statement.org. Observational studies should also adhere to Strobe statement: http://www.strobe-statement.org/. Diagnostic accuracy studies should follow the Stard statement: http://www.stard-statement.org/. Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses should adhere to the PRISMA statement: http://www.prisma-statement.org/. Statistical analysis The statistical methods used should be relevant and clearly stated. Special or complex statistical methods should be explained and referenced. Describe statistical methods with enough detail to enable a knowledgeable reader with access to the original data to verify the reported results. When possible, quantify findings and present them with appropriate indicators of measurement error or uncertainty (such as confidence intervals). Avoid relying solely on statistical hypothesis testing, such as P values, which fail to convey important information about effect size. Define statistical terms, abbreviations, and symbols. Specify the software used. Units Follow internationally accepted rules and conventions: use the internal system of units (SI). Results Results should be clear and concise. Results should be explained and illustrated by using Tables and Figures. Do not duplicate information contained in tables and figures. Discussion Discussion should directly relate to the results of the study and should explore their significance. Do not provide a general review of the topic. Conclusions The conclusions should provide a summary of the key results and discuss the appropriateness and impact of this original work. Acknowledgements Collate acknowledgements in a separate section at the end of the article before the references. Acknowledgements should be made only to those who have made a substantial contribution to the study. Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission from people acknowledged by name in case readers infer their endorsement of data and conclusions. References Ensure that every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list (and vice versa). References should be numbered in the order they appear in the text. Manuscripts should follow the style of the Vancouver agreement detailed in the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors’ revised ‘Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication’, as presented at http://www.ICMJE.org/. In the text, references should be cited using Arabic numerals enclosed in square brackets [1].The last names and initials of all authors should be referred to if they are up to six, otherwise only the first six are referred, with et al following. References should also include full title and source information. Journal names should be abbreviated according to the standard in the Index Medicus. No periods should be placed at the end of abbreviations of the journal. Journal article, up to 6 personal author(s): Example: Al-Habian A, Harikumar PE, Stocker CJ, Langlands K, Selway JL. Histochemical and immunohistochemical evaluation of mouse skin histology: comparison of fixation with neutral buffered formalin and alcoholic formalin. J Histotechnol. 2014;37(4):115-24. Journal article, more than 6 personal author(s): Example: Liaw S, Hasan I, Wade, V, Canalese R, Kelaher M, Lau P, et al. Improving cultural respect to improve Aboriginal health in general practice: a multi-perspective pragmatic study. Aust Fam Physician. 2015;44(6):387-92. Journal article/ Issue with a supplement: Example: Bonda C, Sharma P, LaFaver K. Clinical reasoning: a 28 year-old woman with lower extremity spasticity and microcytic anemia. Neurology. 2015;85(2) Suppl:e11-4. Electronic journal article: Example: Poling J, Kelly L, Chan C, Fisman D, Ulanova M. Hospital admission for community-acquired pneumonia in a First Nations population. Can J Rural Med [Internet]. 2014 Fall [cited 2015 Apr 27];19(4):135-41. Available from: http://www.srpc.ca/14fal.html by selecting PDF link in table of contents. Book, personal author(s): Example: Buckingham L. Molecular diagnostics: fundamentals, methods and clinical applications. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis; c2012. Book or pamphlet, organization as both author and publisher: Example: College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario. Standards of practice. Toronto: The College; 2011. Book, editor(s): Example: Kumar V, Abbas AK, Aster JC, editors. Robbins basic pathology. 16th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; c2013. Poster presentation/session presented at a meeting or conference: Example: Chasman J, Kaplan RF. The effects of occupation on preserved cognitive functioning in dementia. Poster session presented at: Excellence in clinical practice. 4th Annual Conference of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology; 2006 Jun 15-17; Philadelphia, PA. Tables Tables should be typewritten, double-spaced, each one on a separate page and numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals in the order of their appearance in the text. Do not duplicate material presented in a figure. Tables should include a short but concise title. Tables should read vertically when possible. Place explanatory matter in footnotes, including any non-standard abbreviation. If data from another published or unpublished source are used, obtain permission and acknowledge fully. Figure legends Figure legends should be listed one after the other, as part of the main text, separate from the figure files. Each figure legend should have a brief title (in bold with figure number) followed by a description of each panel, and the symbols used. The statistical test used as well as the values of statistical significance (whether significant or not) should always be included in the figure legends. If a figure has been published previously, acknowledge the original source and submit written permission from the copyright holder to reproduce it. Authors will be required to pay for the extra cost of printing illustrations in color. However, there is an option to have their images in color in the electronic version of their manuscript and in grey scale in the printed version. Figures All figures for review should be submitted as a separate file in JPEG or TIFF format in grayscales or in RGB color mode with a resolution of at least 300 dpi. Number figures consecutively using Arabic numerals. Photographs should be submitted as TIFF with a resolution of at least 300 pixels per inch; or Illustrator compatible EPS files with RGB color management or Photoshop or editable PDF files (grayscales or RGB). Photographs of identifiable patients should be accompanied by written permission to publish from patient(s). RGB figures will be presented in color in the electronic version and in grey scale in the printed version. Ethical Considerations An author should not publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. It must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere, and, if accepted, must not be published elsewhere in similar form, in any language. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors has a full description about duplicate or redundant publication (http://www.icmje.org). Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. The ‘ACHAIKI IATRIKI’ editors endorse the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and expect that all investigations involving humans will have been performed in accordance with these principles. Authors should carefully protect patients’ anonymity. Manuscripts reporting data from research conducted on humans must include a statement of assurance in the materials and methods section describing that: written informed consent was obtained from each patient included in the study and that the study protocol conforms to the ethical guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki as reflected in a priori approval by the institution's human research committee. Do not use patients' names, initials, or hospital numbers, especially in illustrative material. Disclosures: Conflict of interest All authors are required to provide a Declaration of Interest Statement recognizing and disclosing financial and other conflicts of interest that might bias their work. Particularly, they disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest including any financial, activities, additional affiliations, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within three years of beginning the submitted work that could inappropriately influence, or be perceived to influence, their work. Further information at International Committee of Medical Journal Editors ("Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals") -- February 2006 Disclosures: Financial disclosure Authors are requested to identify who provided financial support for the conduct of the research and/or preparation of the article and to briefly describe the role of the sponsor(s), if any, in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication. If the funding source(s) had no such involvement then this should be stated. Inform Consent Patients have a right to privacy that should not be infringed without informed consent. Information such as patients' names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be published in written descriptions, photographs, and pedigrees unless the information is essential for scientific purposes and the patient (or parent or guardian) gives written informed consent. Identifying details should be omitted if they are not essential. Complete anonymity is difficult to achieve, however, and informed consent should be obtained if there is any doubt. For example, masking the eye region in photographs of patients is inadequate protection of anonymity. If identifying characteristics are altered to protect anonymity, such as in genetic pedigrees, authors should provide assurance that alterations do not distort scientific meaning. Further information at International Committee of Medical Journal Editors ("Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals") -- February 2006 Human and Animal Rights Manuscripts reporting experiments using humans or animals must include a statement giving assurance that all humans or animals received human care and that study protocols comply with the institution's guidelines. When reporting experiments on human subjects, authors should indicate whether the procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. When reporting experiments on animals, authors should be asked to indicate whether the institutional and national guide for the care and use of laboratory animals was followed. Further information at International Committee of Medical Journal Editors ("Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals") -- February 2006 Copyright assignment Upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to complete a copyright assignment indicating that exclusive copyright in the paper is assigned to the Publisher. MANUSCRIPT PROCESSING AND REVIEW Submission Submission to ACHAIKI IATRIKI proceeds via email to Αυτή η διεύθυνση ηλεκτρονικού ταχυδρομείου προστατεύεται από κακόβουλη χρήση. Χρειάζεται να ενεργοποιήσετε την Javascript για να τη δείτε. Review process Each manuscript submitted to ACHAIKI IATRIKI is assigned to a Section Editor who has expertise on the subject of the manuscript. The Section Editor initially evaluates the manuscript if it is appropriate and competitive for publication and sends the manuscript to 2-4 reviewers who are experts in the field. PUBLICATION Proofs Proofs will be made available to the author(s) to be checked. It is the responsibility of the author(s) to make sure that the quality and accuracy of the manuscript, figures, and tables in the proofs is correct. At this stage, authors may make only minor corrections. Authors should return their proofs within 48 hours, by e-mail. At this point the author may order reprints, which are charged according to the number of reprints and the number of pages of the article. Editorial Office Ιατρική Εταιρεία Δυτικής Ελλάδος – Πελοποννήσου, Βότση 42 Πάτρα, Τ.Κ. 26221 E-mail: Αυτή η διεύθυνση ηλεκτρονικού ταχυδρομείου προστατεύεται από κακόβουλη χρήση. Χρειάζεται να ενεργοποιήσετε την Javascript για να τη δείτε. |