Submissions

Author Guidelines

The Brazilian Journal of Clinical Medicine and Review (BJCMR) (ISSN 2965-0968) is an international, open access, quarterly publication with continuous editorial and publication flow, and double blind peer-reviewed publication featuring original contributions of interest to human and animal health researchers. It is expressly forbidden to submit articles in the BJCMR simultaneously submitted to other journals.

Aim and Scope

This journal covers all topics related to clinical medicine practices. Clinical topics of BJCMR interest include (but are not limited to):

• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology & Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine
• Clinical Neurology
• Oncology
• Orthopedics
• Endocrinology & Metabolism
• Nephrology & Urology
• Epidemiology & Public Health
• Stomatology
• Pulmonology
• Ophthalmology
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Immunology
• Hematology
• Clinical Psychology & Psychiatry
• Otolaryngology
• Dermatology
• Clinical Pharmacology

Types of Articles

BJCMR will consider for publication the following articles:

• Original Research (human health and health education);
• Experience Reports (human health and health education);
  
• Health Review (human health and health education);
• Mini Review (human health and health education);
• Medical Hypotheses (human health and health education);
• Letter to editor (Correspondence or Comments).

BJCMR follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines which require and recommend registration of clinical trials in a public trials registry at or before the time of first patient enrollment as a condition of consideration for publication.

BJCMR accepts submissions that have previously been made available as preprints provided that they have not undergone peer review. A preprint is a draft version of a paper made available online before submission to a journal.

Manuscript Submission

Submission of a manuscript to BJCMR necessarily implies that:

• the work described has not been published before or that it is not under consideration for publication in any other journal.;
• that its publication has been approved by all co-authors. 

The PCAA publisher will not be held legally responsible should there be any claims for compensation.

Online Submission

Please follow the hyperlink “Submit manuscript” and upload all of your manuscript files following the instructions given on the screen. All identification data of the authors and their affiliations should not be sent in the final manuscript in order to keep the evaluation process blind. All authors' metadata such as full name, affiliations, corresponding author, and descriptions must be filled out in the registration of each author, individually.

Authorship

BJCMR follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines which state that, in order to qualify for authorship of a manuscript, the following criteria should be observed:

• Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
• Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
• Final approval of the version to be published; AND
• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Those who contributed to the work but do not qualify for authorship should be listed in the acknowledgments section. Authors are responsible for defining the roles of each author in the development of the manuscript.

Research and publication ethics

All information regarding conducts regarding the ethical aspects of research related to human  studies are described in exclusive sessions on the BJCMR platform.

Text Formatting

All manuscripts should be submitted in Word. There is no standard manuscript submission format. If the article is accepted, the manuscript will be formatted by the copy editing department of the BJCR. Authors must comply with the following guidelines: 

• Use a 12-point Palatino font for text.
• Use italics for emphasis.
• Use the automatic page numbering function to number the pages.
• Do not use field functions.
• Use tab stops or other commands for indents, not the space bar.
• Use the table function, not spreadsheets, to make tables.
• Save your file in doc. format (Word 2010 or higher).

According to the respective article template for each section, these sections should appear in all manuscript types: Title, Author list and affiliations,  Corresponding author information, Research Ethics Committee Aproval (if necessary), Abstract (Not structured in sections; maximun of 200 words), and Key-words. We recommend the use of Health Sciences descriptors (DeCS - https://decs.bvsalud.org/) for keyword selection

Key-words: Maximum of 5 keywords (separated by semicolons) based on MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) from the National Library of Medicine.

All figures and tables must be included in the main manuscript.

Tables: All tables are to be numbered using Arabic numerals and should always be cited in text in consecutive numerical order. For each table, please supply a table caption (title) explaining the components of the table.

Figures: All figures should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and must be inserted in the body of the text (in the template file). 

References: Reference citations in the text should be identified by numbers in square brackets (ie. [1]). The list of references should only include works that are cited in the text and that have been published or accepted for publication. The entries in the list should be numbered consecutively. If available, please always include DOIs as full DOI links in your reference list. All references must be inserted in the list in NLM format.

Authors must follow the following reference styles for their manuscript (do not use "et al."):

Journal article (without DOI): Costa MB, Farias IR, da Silva Monte C, Filho LIPF, de Paula Borges D, de Oliveira RTG, Ribeiro-Junior HL, Magalhães SMM, Pinheiro RF. Chromosomal abnormalities and dysregulated DNA repair gene expression in farmers exposed to pesticides. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2021 Feb;82:103564.

Journal article (with DOI): de Oliveira RTG, Cordeiro JVA, Vitoriano BF, de Lima Melo MM, Sampaio LR, de Paula Borges D, Magalhães SMM, Pinheiro RF. ERVs-TLR3-IRF axis is linked to myelodysplastic syndrome pathogenesis. Med Oncol. 2021 Feb 17;38(3):27. doi: 10.1007/s12032-021-01466-1.

Acknowledgments: Acknowledgments of people, grants, funds, etc. should be placed in a separate section after the references section.

Conflict of interest: Any conflict of interest should be placed in a separate section after the acknowledgments section. As criteria for conflict of interest, we used the concept reported by The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, which reinforces that Authors should avoid entering into agreements with study sponsors, both for-profit and non-profit, that interfere with authors’ access to all of the study’s data or that interfere with their ability to analyze and interpret the data and to prepare and publish manuscripts independently when and where they choose. Thus, all authors must disclose all relationships or interests that could inappropriately influence or bias their work.

Funding: All sources of funding of the study should be disclosed in a separate section after the conflict of interest section.

Plagiarism is expressly prohibited in BJCMR submissions. Plagiarism includes copying text, ideas, images, or data from another source, even from your own publications, without giving any credit to the original source. BJCR reserves the right to hire a plagiarism check service if it identifies textual or data abnormalities in the manuscript submission.

The BJCMR recommends the use of statements, checklists and flowcharts for awareness of authors in relation to the development of your study (e.g., CARE,  CONSORT, STARD, STREGA, PRISMA, SQUIRE, COREQ, ENTREQ, CHEERS, and SAMPL).

More structural details of each article type are described in the sections below (last modified January 2022).

Articles types

Editorials

Editorials are usually published by Editor-in-Chef.

Original Research

Original Research articles present primary and unpublished studies conducted within the fields of human health, biological sciences, and education. These articles serve as a platform for sharing new empirical and experimental findings with the academic community. To ensure the quality and relevance of such articles, we provide the following updated guidelines:

1. Abstract: Your abstract should be concise, limited to a maximum of 200 words, and serve as a succinct summary of your research, including its objectives, methods, key findings, and their implications. Headings in abstract are not required.

2. Introduction: In this section, provide a comprehensive introduction to your research topic. Include a brief literature review that highlights relevant prior studies, identifies gaps in the existing knowledge, and articulates the research questions or hypotheses your study aims to address.

3. Materials and Methods: Clearly describe the materials, methods, and procedures used in your research. This section should provide sufficient detail to enable other researchers to replicate your study. Include information on data collection, experimental design, statistical analyses, and any ethical considerations.

4. Results: Present your research findings in a logical and organized manner. Utilize tables, figures, and other visuals when appropriate to enhance the clarity of your results. Ensure that all data is accurately represented and properly labeled.

5. Discussion and Conclusion: Analyze and interpret your results in the context of your research questions or hypotheses. Discuss the implications of your findings and how they contribute to the existing body of knowledge. Conclude your article by summarizing the key takeaways and suggesting potential avenues for future research.

6. References: List all the sources you referenced in your article in a standardized citation style (e.g., NLM). Ensure that your citations are complete and accurate.

Word Limit: Original Research articles should not exceed 3,000 words to maintain brevity and clarity.

Tables and Figures: While there are no strict limits on the number of tables, figures, or references, please use them judiciously to enhance the comprehensibility of your research.

Author Limits: There are no restrictions on the number of authors for Original Research articles.

Publication Fee: Authors are required to pay a publication fee (A-type article) to cover the cost of peer review and publication.

By adhering to these improved guidelines, you can ensure that your Original Research article is of the highest quality and contributes effectively to the scholarly discourse within your field.

Experience Reports

Experience Reports offer a platform for sharing insightful experiences and reflections related to specific cases, educational practices, methodologies, or design concepts within the fields of health and biological sciences. To maintain the quality and relevance of Experience Reports, we have updated the submission guidelines as follows:

1. Abstract: Craft a concise abstract with a maximum of 200 words. This abstract should summarize the key aspects of your experience, including its context, objectives, key findings, and their implications.

2. Introduction: Provide an introduction that sets the context for your Experience Report. Include a brief literature review that outlines relevant prior work or educational practices related to your case, methodology, or design idea. Highlight the gap or unique perspective that your report addresses.

3. Experience Report Description: In this section, present a detailed and structured description of the experience or case you are reporting on. Provide a clear account of the context, objectives, methods employed, and the outcomes or observations made. Use this section to share insights, challenges encountered, and lessons learned during the experience.

4. Discussion and Conclusion: Analyze and reflect upon the significance of your experience and its implications. Discuss the key takeaways, innovations, or best practices that can be drawn from your report. Summarize your findings and conclude by emphasizing the broader relevance or potential impact of your experience on the fields of health and biological sciences.

5. References: List all sources cited in your Experience Report using a standardized citation style (e.g., NLM).

Word Limit: To maintain brevity and conciseness, Experience Reports should not exceed 1,500 words.

Tables and Figures: While there are no strict limits on the number of tables, figures, or references, please use them judiciously to enhance the clarity and relevance of your report.

Author Limits: There are no restrictions on the number of authors for Experience Reports.

By following these improved guidelines, you can ensure that your Experience Report provides valuable insights and reflections, contributing effectively to the discourse within the fields of health and biological sciences.

Health Review

The Health Review welcomes submissions in the fields of human health and health education, and it offers a platform for the following types of submissions:

1. Epidemiological Reviews: These may include analyses of medical records, providing insights into health trends and patterns.

2. Systematic Reviews and/or Meta-analyses: All systematic reviews must be registered in public databases such as PROSPERO or OSF to ensure transparency and rigor. Authors are required to adhere to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines when conducting and reporting systematic reviews.

3. Integrative Reviews or Narrative Reviews: These types of reviews aim to provide a comprehensive overview of a particular health-related topic.

To maintain the quality and relevance of Health Review submissions, we have updated the submission guidelines as follows:

1. Abstract: Prepare a concise abstract with a maximum of 200 words. This should encapsulate the objectives, key findings, and implications of your review.

2. Introduction: Provide an introduction that offers context for your review. Include a brief literature review highlighting previous research in the field and identifying any gaps that your review aims to address.

3. Methodology: Describe the methodology used in your review. Specify the type of review (e.g., systematic, integrative, narrative), outline the criteria and process for selecting the manuscripts included in your review, and list the keywords used in your article search.

4. Results: Present your review's findings logically and coherently. Utilize tables, figures, and other visuals when necessary to enhance the clarity of your results.

5. Discussion and Conclusion: Analyze and interpret your results within the context of your research objectives. Discuss the implications of your findings and how they contribute to the existing body of knowledge. Conclude your article by summarizing key takeaways and suggesting potential avenues for future research.

6. References: List all sources cited in your review using a standardized citation style (e.g., NLM).

Word Limit: To maintain brevity and clarity, Health Review submissions should not exceed 3,000 words.

Tables and Figures: While there are no strict limits on the number of tables, figures, or references, please use them judiciously to enhance the comprehensibility of your review.

Author Limits: There are no restrictions on the number of authors for Health Review articles.

We believe that adhering to these enhanced guidelines will help ensure that your Health Review submission meets the highest standards of quality and contributes significantly to the field of human health and health education.

Mini Review

Mini Review articles in Brazilian Journal of Clinical Medicine and Review cover focused aspects of current areas of investigation and their recent developments. These articles offer concise and clear summaries of specific topics, allowing readers to stay updated on new developments and emerging concepts within the field of human health.

Mini Review articles should adhere to the following format:

1. Abstract: A succinct summary of the Mini Review's key points. Prepare a concise abstract with a maximum of 200 words.

2. Introduction: Provide an overview of the topic's relevance and context within the field.

3. Subsections: Organize the content into relevant subsections that address different aspects of the topic.

4. Discussion: Summarize the key findings, discuss the implications, controversies, research gaps, and potential future developments.

5. Word Limit: Mini Review articles should not exceed 3,000 words, ensuring that they provide a comprehensive yet concise overview of the chosen topic.

6. Figures/Tables: A maximum of 2 Figures or Tables can be included to enhance the presentation of data or concepts.

7. Peer Review: Mini Review articles will undergo a peer-review process to maintain quality and rigor in the presented information.

8. Publication Fee: Authors are required to pay a publication fee (B-type article) to cover the cost of peer review and publication.

9. Data and Citations: Mini Review articles must not include unpublished material (unpublished/original data, submitted manuscripts, or personal communications). Articles containing such content may be rejected or reclassified, resulting in a significant delay in publication.

10. References: List all sources cited in your Mini Review using a standardized citation style (e.g., NLM).

The introduction of the Mini Review section aims to provide a platform for succinct and insightful reviews of focused topics, contributing to the dissemination of knowledge and discussions within your field of interest.

Medical Hypotheses

Medical Hypotheses is an innovative section within the Brazilian Journal of Clinical Medicine and Review dedicated to theoretical studies and novel ideas in the realm of human and animal health. The primary objectives of the Medical Hypotheses section are to publish papers that present theories and ideas supported by a substantial body of observational or experimental evidence. This section fosters a focus on groundbreaking concepts and speculations in health science, serving as a platform for scientific hypotheses that may not find acceptance in more conventional journals.

To ensure the quality and relevance of Medical Hypotheses submissions, we have updated the submission guidelines as follows:

1. Abstract: Prepare a concise abstract with a maximum of 200 words. This abstract should provide a succinct overview of the theoretical concept or hypothesis, its significance, and the supporting evidence.

2. Introduction: Introduce the context and background for your medical hypothesis. Explain any existing knowledge or theories in the field that your hypothesis builds upon or challenges.

3. Hypothesis: Clearly articulate the medical hypothesis or theoretical concept you are proposing. State it in a concise and precise manner, highlighting its novelty and potential significance in the field of health sciences.

4. How to Test this Hypothesis?: Describe the methods, experiments, or approaches that can be employed to test or validate your hypothesis. Provide a clear and logical plan for investigating your theoretical concept.

5. Future Perspectives: Discuss the potential implications and future directions of your hypothesis. Highlight the expected contributions to the field and potential avenues for further research or experimentation.

6. References: List all sources cited in your Medical Hypothesis using a standardized citation style (e.g., NLM).

Word Limit: To maintain conciseness and focus, Medical Hypotheses submissions should not exceed 1,500 words.

Tables and Figures: While there are no strict limits on the number of tables, figures, or references, please use them judiciously to enhance the clarity and relevance of your hypothesis.

Author Limits: There are no restrictions on the number of authors for Medical Hypotheses articles.

By adhering to these enhanced guidelines, you can ensure that your Medical Hypotheses submission effectively communicates innovative theoretical concepts and hypotheses in the fields of human and animal health, contributing to the exploration of novel ideas in the realm of health science.

Correspondence

The Correspondence section of the Brazilian Journal of Clinical Medicine and Review (BJCMR) offers a platform for succinct, thoughtful, and informed commentary on topics of clinical and public health relevance. This section is reserved for content unrelated to articles previously published in BJCMR.

Scope and focus: We welcome letters addressing current issues in clinical practice, health policy, public health, medical education, bioethics, or scientific developments of general interest. Letters may also comment on articles published in other journals, provided they are of relevance to the BJCMR readership. Submissions related to content published in BJCMR will not be considered in this section and must be directed to the Comments section.

Content and structure: Letters should be concise, clearly written, and based on evidence or expert opinion. Submissions must include a title. A salutation is optional and not required.

Word limit: The text must not exceed 400 words, including references.

Figures and tables: One figure may be included, with an appropriate legend. Tables are not permitted.

Authors: A maximum of three authors is allowed per submission. Full names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses must be provided for each author.

References: Up to five references may be included. All references must follow the NLM (Vancouver) style.

Review process: Submissions will be evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief based on clarity, relevance, and adherence to these guidelines. This section is not subject to peer review.

Article Processing Charge (APC): Correspondence submissions are subject to a 50% discount on the journal’s standard APC. The final amount will be communicated to authors upon acceptance.

Letters to Editor

Letters to Editor serve as a platform for readers to engage in constructive discourse in response to articles published in the Brazilian Journal of Clinical Medicine and Review in the last or penultimate edition. These letters are welcomed and should be submitted electronically via the journal's website.

To ensure effective communication and adherence to our guidelines, we have updated the submission guidelines as follows:

1. Content and Structure: Letters to Editor are not structured, but they should start with a salutation, either "Dear Editor" or "Sir."

2. Word Limit: Letters to Editor should be concise, with a maximum word count of 500 words. This brevity ensures that your message is focused and to the point.

3. Tables and Figures: Please refrain from including tables or figures in your Letters to Editor. These should be text-based responses.

4. Authors: Letters to Editor allow for the inclusion of up to 2 authors who contributed to the letter's content. Clearly indicate the names and affiliations of all authors.

5. References: You may include a maximum of 5 references in your Letter to Editor. Cite relevant sources to support your points or provide context.

6. Review Process: Letters to Editor will be evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief for relevance, clarity, and adherence to journal guidelines. They will not undergo peer review but will be shown to the authors of the original article when deemed appropriate.

7. Article Processing Charge: Letters to Editor do not have an associated Article Processing Charge (APC).

By following these updated guidelines, you can effectively contribute to the scholarly discourse surrounding articles published in the Brazilian Journal of Clinical Medicine and Review, fostering valuable discussions and insights in response to recent publications.