Submissions

Author Guidelines

Submission of manuscript:

• Authors should submit both printed hard copy by post & electronic version (Microsoft word doc) of the manuscript to the editor via e-mail (editor_shsmc@yahoo.com) or by a CD
• Accepted papers will be acknowledged and processed further; if the papers are rejected, the decision will be communicated to the corresponding author but the manuscripts will not be returned.
• Acceptance or rejection of the manuscript would be decided after peer review/the decision of editorial team.
• Acceptance or rejection of the manuscript for publication in journal would be informed to corresponding author within 72 working hours from the time of submission

Preparing a Manuscript:

• Authors should keep their manuscripts as short as they reasonably can
• Page number should appear in the lower right hand corner of each page, beginning with the title page.
• The language of manuscript must be simple and explicit.
• Author's/Co-author's name or any other identification should not appear anywhere in the body of the manuscript to facilitate blind review.

The following categories of manuscript are accepted for this journal:

1. Original Research Articles
2. Systematic Review or Meta Analysis
3. Review Article
4. Short communications
5. Case reports
6. Letter to Editor

Original Research Articles:
It should be arranged into the following sections:

1. Title
2. Author(s)
3. Address
4. Structured Abstract
5. Key words
6. Introduction
7. Methodology
8. Results
9. Discussion
10. Conclusion
11. Acknowledgement
12. References
13. Tables
14. Figures

Title page
It should be paginated as page 1 of the paper. It should carry the title, authors' names and their affiliations, running title, address for correspondence including Email address & mobile number.

Title
Must be informative, specific and short and not exceed 100 words.

Authors and affiliations:
The names of authors and their appropriate addresses should be given. It should be made clear which address relates to which author.

Running title:
It is a short title typed in the journal at the right top corner of right hand page number of the article (except the lead page). A short running title of not more than 40 characters should be given.

Address for correspondence:
The corresponding author's contact address should be given in the title page. The fax number (if available) may be mentioned. The email ID and mobile number of the corresponding author or the contact email ID must also be provided.

Abstract
It must start on a new page carrying the following information: (a) Title (without authors names or affiliations), (b) Abstract body, (c) Key words, (d) Running title. It should not exceed 350 words excluding the title and the key words. The abstract must be concise, clear and informative rather than indicative. New and important aspects must be emphasized. The abstract must be in a structured form consisting of background, objectives, methodology, result and conclusion briefly explaining what was intended, done, observed and concluded. Authors should state the main conclusions clearly and not in vague statements. The conclusions and recommendations not found in the text of the article should not be given in the abstract.

Key words
A list of 3-7 keywords should be provided which will help readers or indexing agencies in cross-indexing the study. The words found in title may be given as key words. All keywords should be provided according to MeSH terms at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/MBrowser.html. Note that the preferred expression is indicated by the label "MeSH Heading" and not "Entry Term." The desired terms may then be copied from the MeSH Browser. Another way of finding appropriate headings is to search PubMed to find articles on similar topics, and review the MeSH headings assigned to those articles.

Introduction
It should start on a new page. Essentially this section must introduce the subject and briefly say how the idea for research originated. Give a concise background of the study. Do not review literature extensively but provide the most recent work that has a direct bearing on the subject. Justification for research aims and objectives must be clearly mentioned without any ambiguity. The purpose of the study should be stated at the end. It should not exceed 500 words.

Methodology
This section should deal with the materials used and the methodology - how the work was carried out. The procedure adopted should be described in sufficient detail to allow the study to be interpreted and repeated by the readers, if necessary. The number of subjects, the number of groups studied, the study design, sources of drugs with dosage regimen or instruments used, statistical methods and ethical aspects must be mentioned under the section in text format not in structured format. The methodology- the data collection procedure - must be described in sufficient detail. If a procedure is a commonly used one, giving a reference (previously published) would suffice. If a method is not well known (though previously published) it is better to describe it briefly. Give explicit descriptions of modifications or new methods so that the readers can judge their accuracy, reproducibility and reliability. The nomenclature, the source of material and equipment used, with details of the manufacturers in parentheses, should be clearly mentioned. Drugs and chemicals should be precisely identified using their non-proprietary names or generic names. If necessary, the proprietary or commercial name may be inserted once in parentheses. In case of pharmaceuticals, the first letter of the drug name should be small for generic name (e.g., dipyridamole, propranolol) but capitalized for proprietary names (e.g., Persantin, Inderal). The routes of administration may be abbreviated, e.g., intraarterial (i.a.), intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.), intra-gastric lavage (i.g.), intramuscular (i.m.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), intravenous (i.v.), per os (p.o.), subcutaneous (s.c.), transdermal (t.d.).

Statistical Methods:
The details of statistical tests used and the level of significance should be stated. If more than one test is used it is important to indicate which groups and parameters have been subjected to which test.

Results
The results should be stated concisely without comments. It should be presented in logical sequence in the text with appropriate reference to tables and/or figures. The same data should not be presented in both tabular and graphic forms.

Simple data may be given in the text itself instead of figures or tables. Avoid discussions and conclusions in the results section.

Discussion
This section should deal with the interpretation, rather than recapitulation of results. It is important to discuss the new and significant observations in the light of previous work. Discuss also the weaknesses or pitfalls in the study. New hypotheses or recommendations can be put forth. Avoid unqualified statements and conclusions not completely supported by the data.

Repetition of information given under Introduction and Results should be avoided.

Conclusion
Conclusions must be drawn considering the strengths and weaknesses of the study. They must be conveyed in the last paragraph under Discussion. Make sure conclusions drawn should tally with the objectives stated under Introduction.

Acknowledgements
It should be typed in a new page. Acknowledge only persons who have contributed to the scientific content or provided technical support. Sources of financial support should be mentioned.

References
It should begin on a new page. Avoid citing abstracts as references. Papers which have been submitted and accepted but not yet published may be included in the list of references with the name of the journal and indicated as "In press". A photocopy of the acceptance letter should be submitted with the manuscript. Information from manuscript "submitted" but "not yet accepted" should not be included. Avoid using abstracts as references. The "unpublished observations" and "personal communications" may not be used as references but may be inserted (in parentheses) in the text. References are to be cited in the text by superscripted number and should be in the order in which they appear. References cited only in tables or in legends to figures should be numbered in accordance with a sequence established by the first identification in the text of the particular table or illustration. The references must be verified by the author(s) against the original documents. The list of references should be typed double spaced following the Vancouver style. Examples are given below.

Tables
The number of table should be 3 or 4 in number. Each table must be self-explanatory and presented in such a way that they are easily understandable without referring to the text. It should be typed with double spacing and numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals. Provide a short descriptive caption above each table with foot notes and/or explanations underneath. The number of observations, subjects and the units of numerical figures must be given. It is also important to mention whether the given values are mean, median, mean±SD or mean±SEM. All significant results must be indicated using asterisks. *Appropriate positions for the tables within the text may be indicated.

Figures
Each figure must be numbered and a short descriptive caption must be provided. For graphs and flow charts, it is not necessary to submit the photographs. A manually prepared or computer drawn figure (with good contrast) on a good quality paper is acceptable. Identify each figure/diagrams on the back with a typed label which shows the number of the figure, the name of the leading author, the title of the manuscript and the top side of the figure. The approximate position of each figure should be marked on the margin of the text. Legends for figures should be typed under the figure if possible or on a separate sheet. Large/complex tables or figures may be submitted in "Final Print (camera ready) format" which will be scanned as such.

Systematic Review or Meta Analysis
Authors should report systematic reviews and meta-analyses in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. For Systematic Reviews, both abstract and text of the manuscript should be subdivided into the following sequential sections:

1. Context: Provide a sentence or two explaining the importance of the review question.
2. Objective: State the precise primary objective of the review. Indicate whether the review emphasizes factors such as cause, diagnosis, prognosis, therapy, or prevention and include information about the specific population, intervention, exposure, and tests or outcomes that are being reviewed.
3. Data Sources: Succinctly summarize data sources, including years searched. Include in the search the most current information possible, ideally conducting the search several months before the date of manuscript submission. Potential sources include computerized databases and published indexes, registries, abstract booklets, conference proceedings, references identified from bibliographies of pertinent articles and books, experts or research institutions active in the field, and companies or manufacturers of tests or agents being reviewed. If a bibliographic database is used, state the exact indexing terms used for article retrieval, including any constraints (for example, English language or human subjects). If abstract space does not permit this level of detail, summarize sources in the abstract including databases and years searched, and place the remainder of the information in the "Methods" section of the text.
4. Study Selection: Describe inclusion and exclusion criteria used to select studies for detailed review from among studies identified as relevant to the topic. Under details of selection include particular populations, interventions, outcomes, or methodological designs. Specify the method used to apply these criteria (for example, blinded review, consensus, multiple reviewers). State the proportion of initially identified studies that met selection criteria.
5. Data Extraction: Describe guidelines used for abstracting data and assessing data quality and validity (such as criteria for causal inference). State the method by which the guidelines were applied (eg, independent extraction by multiple observers).
6. Results: State the main results of the review, whether qualitative or quantitative, and outline the methods used to obtain these results. For meta-analyses, state the major outcomes that were pooled and include odds ratios or effect sizes and, if possible, sensitivity analyses. Accompany numerical results by confidence intervals, if applicable, and exact levels of statistical significance. For evaluations of screening and diagnostic tests, include sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, receiver operating characteristic curves, and predictive values. For assessments of prognosis, summarize survival characteristics and related variables. State the major identified sources of variation between studies, including differences in treatment protocols, protocols, co-interventions, confounders, outcome measures, length of follow-up, and dropout rates.
7. Conclusions: Clearly state the conclusions and their applications (clinical or otherwise), limiting interpretation to the domain of the review.
   Systematic reviews are welcome. They should be critical assessments of current evidence covering a broad range of topics of concern to those working in the specific field of journal. Systematic reviews should be 4000-5000 words (abstracts to be structured as above).
   N.B.: For advice on writing systematic reviews consult: The Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook
   Meta-analysis of RCT: A MOOSE checklist is required for meta-analysis of RCT.

Review articles:
These should contain title page, abstract (need not be structured) and key words. The text proper should be written under appropriate sub-headings. The total number of text words should not exceed 10000 and the total number of figures and tables should not be more than 7.

Short communications:
The manuscript should not be divided into sub-sections. It may have up to 1200 words (including a maximum of 5 references) and one figure or one table.

Case reports
The case report should contain abstract (need not be structured), keywords, introduction, case presentation, discussion, conclusion & references (including a maximum of 20 references) in a sequential way. The number of case may be one or two, not more than three.

Letter to the Editor:
A letter can have a maximum of 1000 words (including a maximum of 25 references) with one simple figure or table. The manuscript should not have sub-sections.

Examples of References - Vancouver Style
From Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts, www.icmje.org

Articles in Journals

1. Standard journal article
List the first six authors followed by et al. (Note: NLM now lists up through 25 authors; if there are more than 25 authors, NLM lists the first 24, then the last author, then et al.)

Vega KJ, Pina I, Krevsky B. Heart transplantation is associated with an increased risk for pancreatobiliary disease. Ann Intern Med 1996 Jun 1;124(11):980-3

As an option, if a journal carries continuous pagination throughout a volume (as many medical journals do) the month and issue number may be omitted. (Note: For consistency, the option is used throughout the examples in Uniform Requirements. NLM does not use the option.)

Vega KJ, Pina I, Krevsky B. Heart transplantation is associated with an increased risk for pancreatobiliary disease. Ann Intern Med 1996;124: 980-3

More than six authors:
Parkin DM, Clayton D, Black RJ, Masuyer E, Friedl HP, Ivanov E, et al. Childhood leukaemia in Europe after Chernobyl: 5 year follow-up. Br J Cancer 1996;73:1006-12

2. Organization as author
The Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Clinical exercise stress testing. Safety and performance guidelines. Med J Aust 1996; 164: 282-4

3. No author given
Anonymous. Cancer in South Africa [editorial]. S Afr Med J 1994;84:15

4. Article not in English
(Note: NLM translates the title to English, encloses the translation in square brackets, and adds an abbreviated language designator.)

Ryder TE, Haukeland EA, Solhaug JH. Bilateral infrapatellar seneruptur hostidligere frisk kvinne. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 1996;116:41-2.

5. Volume with supplement
Shen HM, Zhang QF. Risk assessment of nickel carcinogenicity and occupational lung cancer. Environ Health Perspect 1994;102 Suppl 1:275-82.

6. Issue with supplement
Payne DK, Sullivan MD, Massie MJ. Women's psychological reactions to breast cancer. Semin Oncol 1996; 23(1 Suppl 2):89-97.

7. Volume with part
Ozben T, Nacitarhan S, Tuncer N. Plasma and urine sialic acid in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Ann Clin Biochem 1995;32(Pt 3):303-6.

8. Issue with part
Poole GH, Mills SM. One hundred consecutive cases of flap lacerations of the leg in ageing patients. N Z Med J 1994;107(986 Pt 1):377-8.

9. Issue with no volume
Turan I, Wredmark T, Fellander-Tsai L. Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Orthop 1995;(320):110-4.

10. No issue or volume
Browell DA, Lennard TW. Immuno-logic status of the cancer patient and the effects of blood transfusion on antitumor responses. Curr Opin Gen Surg 1993:325-33.

11. Pagination in Roman numerals
Fisher GA, Sikic BI. Drug resistance in clinical oncology and hematology. Introduction. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 1995 Apr;9(2):xi-xii.

12. Type of article indicated as needed
Enzensberger W, Fischer PA. Metronome in Parkinson's disease [letter]. Lancet 1996;347:1337.

Clement J, De Bock R. Hematological complications of hantavirus nephro-pathy (HVN) [abstract]. Kidney Int 1992;42:1285.

13. Article containing retraction
Garey CE, Schwarzman AL, Rise ML, Seyfried TN. Ceruloplasmin gene defect associated with epilepsy in EL mice [retraction of Garey CE, Schwarzman AL, Rise ML, Seyfried TN. In: Nat Genet 1994;6:426-31]. Nat Genet 1995;11:104.

14. Article retracted
Liou GI, Wang M, Matragoon S. Precocious IRBP gene expression during mouse development [retracted in Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1994; 35:3127]. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1994;35:1083-8.

15. Article with published erratum
Hamlin JA, Kahn AM. Herniography in symptomatic patients following inguinal hernia repair [published erratum appears in West J Med 1995;162:278]. West J Med 1995;162: 28-31. Books and Other Monographs

(Note: Previous Vancouver style incorrectly had a comma rather than a semicolon between the publisher and the date.)

16. Personal author(s)
Ringsven MK, Bond D. Gerontology and leadership skills for nurses. 2nd ed. Albany (NY): Delmar Publishers; 1996.

17. Editor(s), compiler(s) as author
Norman IJ, Redfern SJ, editors. Mental health care for elderly people. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 1996.

18. Organization as author and publisher
Institute of Medicine (US). Looking at the future of the Medicaid program. Washington: The Institute; 1992.

19. Chapter in a book
Phillips SJ, Whisnant JP. Hypertension and stroke. In: Laragh JH, Brenner BM, editors. Hypertension: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. 2nd ed. New York: Raven Press; 1995. p. 465-78.

20. Conference proceedings
Kimura J, Shibasaki H, editors. Recent advances in clinical neuro-physiology. Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of EMG and Clinical Neurophysiology; 1995 Oct 15-19; Kyoto, Japan. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 1996.

21. Conference paper
Bengtsson S, Solheim BG. Enforce-ment of data protection, privacy and security in medical informatics. In: Lun KC, Degoulet P, Piemme TE, Rienhoff O, editors. MEDINFO 92. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress on Medical Informatics; 1992 Sep 6-10; Geneva, Switzerland. Amsterdam: North-Holland; 1992. p. 1561-5

22. Scientific or technical report

Issued by funding/sponsoring agency:

Smith P, Golladay K. Payment for durable medical equipment billed during skilled nursing facility stays. Final report. Dallas (TX): Dept. of Health and Human Services (US), Office of Evaluation and Inspections; 1994 Oct. Report No.: HHSIGOEI69200860.

Issued by performing agency:
Field MJ, Tranquada RE, Feasley JC, editors. Health services research: work force and educational issues. Washington: National Academy Press; 1995. Contract No.: AHCPR282942008. Sponsored by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

23. Dissertation/Thesis
Kaplan SJ. Post-hospital home health care: the elderly's access and utilization [Dissertation/Thesis]. St. Louis (MO): Washington Univ.; 1995.

24. Patent
Larsen CE, Trip R, Johnson CR, in-ventors; Novoste Corporation, assignee. Methods for procedures re-lated to the electrophysiology of the heart. US patent 5,529,067. 1995 Jun 25. Other Published Material

25. Newspaper article
Lee G. Hospitalizations tied to ozone pollution: study estimates 50,000 admissions annually. The Washington Post 1996 Jun 21;Sect. A:3 (col. 5).

26. Audiovisual material
HIV+/AIDS: the facts and the future [videocassette]. St. Louis (MO): Mosby-Year Book; 1995.

27. Legal material

Public law: Preventive Health Amendments of 1993, Pub. L. No. 103-183, 107 Stat. 2226 (Dec. 14, 1993). Unenacted bill: Medical Records Confidentiality Act of 1995, S. 1360, 104th Cong., 1st Sess. (1995) Code of Federal Regulations: Informed Consent, 42 C.F.R. Sect. 441.257 (1995).

Hearing: Increased Drug Abuse: the Impact on the Nation's Emergency, Rooms: Hearings Before the Subcomm. On Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations of the House Comm. On Government Operations, 103rd Cong., 1st Sess. (May 26, 1993).

28. Map
North Carolina. Tuberculosis rates per 100,000 population, 1990 [demo-graphic map]. Raleigh: North Carolina Dept. of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Div. of Epidemiology; 1991.

29. Dictionary and similar references
Stedman's medical dictionary. 26th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1995. Apraxia; p. 119-20.

30. Classical material
The Winter's Tale: act 5, scene 1, lines 13-16. The complete works of William Shakespeare. London: Rex; 1973.

31. In press
(Note: NLM prefers "forthcoming" because not all items will be printed.)

Leshner AI. Molecular mechanisms of cocaine addiction. N Engl J Med. In press 1996.

Electronic Material

32. Journal article in electronic format
Morse SS. Factors in the emergence of infectious diseases. Emerg Infect Dis [serial online] 1995 Jan-Mar [cited 1996 Jun 5];1(1):[24 screens].

Address of Editor:
E mail: editor_shsmc@yahoo.com