Requirements for Different Types of Articles

Article type	Considerations	Word count	Tables/figures	References
Original articles	Should contain: A structured abstract, 3-5 keywords, introduction, materials (patients) and methods, results, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgement (if applicable), and references sections	3500 words excluding the references, abstract, figures and tables	Maximum 4 tables and 4 figures	15-40 references
Clinical trials	The format is similar to original articles. However the CONSORT flow diagram should be added as a figure. RCTs should be registered at any RCT registeries approved by the WHO, and their registration number should be mentioned in the title page. RCTs done in Iran must be registered at https://irct.ir/	3500 words excluding the references, abstract, figures and tables	Maximum 4 tables and 4 figures	15-40 references
Brief reports	Should contain: A non-structured abstract, 3-5 keywords, introduction, materials (patients) and methods, results, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgement (if applicable), and references sections	2000 words excluding the references, abstract, figures and tables	Maximum 2 tables and figures	10-15 references
Case reports	Should contain: A non-structured abstract, 3-5 keywords, introduction, case presentation, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgement (if applicable), and references sections. Case reports should optimally be accompanied by relevant figures to document findings. Informed consent should be obtained from patients to report their cases. This Journal keeps the right to ask for the original signed informed consents.	1000 words excluding the references, abstract, figures and tables	Maximum 1 table and maximum 3 figures	5-10 references
Narrative reviews	Should contain: A non-structured abstract and 3-5 keywords. Narrative reviews should critically assess the current knowledge of the field.	4500 words excluding the references, abstract, figures and tables	…	At least 60 references
Systematic reviews	Should contain: A structured abstract and 3-5 keywords. Systematic reviews of RCTs or Observational Studies will be accepted by the Journal. The protocol of the study should adhere to PRISMA or MOOSE guidelines for systematic reviews of RCTs or Observational Studies, respectively.	…	…	Variable
Letters to the Editor	Letters discussing articles published in the CBJ should be submitted at most within 6 months after the publication of the main article. Letter will undergo peer review and will be edited for clarity.	Less than 750 words	…	Up to 5 references
Photoclinics	Figures that contain a significant medical point can also be accepted. Photoclinics should contain one or two high quality figures and a description of the figures.	Up to 500 words		Up to 5 references

 

Paper Preparations

Cover letter: should contain the rational of performing the research and selecting the CBJ as well as a statement that you will not resubmit your article to another journal until the reviewing process will be completed. Also please indicate whether the authors have published or submitted any related papers from the same study.

 

Title Page of the article should be submitted as a separate file. This page includes:

1) the title of the article; 2) authors’ names; 3) name of the institution where the work was done; 4) running title (short form of the main title presented on the top of published pages); and 5) complete mailing address, telephone/fax numbers, and email address of the corresponding author. The Title Page sample can be downloaded from: 

Title page form

Abstract: should be structured for original articles and systematic reviews. Structured abstracts contain: Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. It should not exceed 250 words altogether.

Abstracts of other types of articles should be non-structured providing the essential information.

When abstracting a review article a concise summary of the salient points should be addressed.

Preferably, abbreviations should not be mentioned in the abstract.

Keywords: are used for indexing purposes; each article should provide three to five keywords selected from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), available from: https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/search

 

Introduction: should contain a short background of previous studies and possible gaps in the literature and specify the purpose and objective of the study or observation. 

 

Methods: section must indicate clearly the steps taken to acquire the data. Be sure that it includes only information that was available at the time the plan or protocol for the study was written. It should be detailed (including: controls, inclusion and exclusion criteria, etc) and may be separated into subsections. Repeating the details of standard techniques is best avoided.

For reports of randomized controlled trials, authors should refer to the CONSORT statement (http://www.consort-statement.org/). RCTs should be registered at any RCT registeries approved by the WHO and their registration number should be mentioned in the title page. RCTs done in Iran must be registered at https://irct.ir/

Reporting guidelines such as STROBE, STARD, and PRISMA would help report high quality research and to provide all required information and evidence for related methodology. EQUATOR Network website would help you in using these guidelines.

The software used for statistical analyses and description of the actual method should be mentioned.

 

Results: should be presented in chronological sequence in the text, table, and illustration. Organize the results according to their importance. They should be based on your own findings.

 

Tables and illustrations: must be cited in order which they appear in the text using Arabic numerals. Tables should be simple and should not duplicate information in the text of the paper. Figures should be submitted as separate files and provided only if they add further information. For radiographic films, scans, and other diagnostic images, as well as pictures of pathology specimens or photomicrographs, send high resolution figures (At least 300 DPI) in JPEG or TIFF format. Type legends for illustrations on a separate page in the main manuscript, after the reference section, and explain the internal scale and identify the method of staining in photomicrographs. Arrows should be placed for specific sections of pathology figures and radiographs.

 

Discussion: should challenge the findings of the study with other available evidence in the form of arguments and counterarguments. It should also emphasize the new and important aspects of the study and the conclusions that follow them. Possible mechanisms or explanations for these findings should be explored. The limitations of the study and the implications of the findings for future research or clinical practice should be explored.

 

Conclusion: should state the final result and recommendations that the author(s) has (have) reached. Such results and recommendations should be derived from the existed study and the results of other studies should not be stated in this section.

 

Supplementary Materials: such as movie clips, questionnaires, etc., may be published on the online version of the journal. 

 

Acknowledgements: The authors should first acknowledge the sources of any support for the work in the form of grants, equipment, or drugs presented in their article followed by any personal credits.

 

Author’s contributions: Based on the ICMJE guidelines for authorship criteria, you should explain in what areas each author has contributed to the article including: Conceptualization and methodology, Data collection, Data analysis and interpretation,Drafting the article, Revising and final approval of the manuscript.

 

Conflicts of Interest: Include a detailed disclosure of any competing interests (financial or others) that may have affected the research or the conclusions drawn from the study. If none, state 'None to declare′. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

 

Funding/Support: All manuscripts should have a funding/support statement. The funding agency should be written out in full, followed by the grant number. If none, state 'None′.

 

Ethical statements: It should include ethical principles, ethical codes, registration number in clinical trial registries approved by the World Health Organization (if applicable), and any points related to the observance of ethics in the manuscript.

 

References; should be complied numerically according to the order of citation in the text in Vancouver style. The numbers of references should preferably not exceed 40 for original articles, 15 for brief, and 10 for case reports.

For the references credited to more than 3 authors please provide the name of the first three authors and represent the remaining authors by the phrase “et al.”

For various references please refer to “the NLM style guide for authors, editors, and publishers”. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7256/)

Listed below are sample references.

Journal Article:

Sample reference for up to 3 authors:

• Kohsaka S, Makaryus AN. Coronary angiography using noninvasive imaging techniques of cardiac CT and MRI. Curr Cardiol Rev 2008;4(4):323-30.

Sample reference for more than 3 authors:

• Brandstetter S, Riedelbeck G, Steinmann M, et al. Pain, social support and depressive symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: testing the stress-buffering hypothesis. Rheumatol Int 2017;37(6):931-6.

• Gupta S. Ocular abnormalities in patients with beta-thalassemia: a prospective study. Int J Clin Trials; Articles In Press 2021.

 Complete Book:

• Shields TW. General Thoracic Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005.

Chapter in Book:

• Young VR. The role of skeletal muscle in the regulation of protein metabolism. In Munro HN, editor: Mammalian protein metabolism. Vol 4. San Diego; Academic; 1970. p. 585-674.

 

Submitting the revised version

For returning the revised version of the manuscripts, the changes should be highlighted. Also, the authors’ responses to the reviewers’ comments should be written in the “Reviewers' Comments” sheet.

 

Language and Style

Contributions should be in either American or British English. The text must be clear and concise, conforming to accepted standards of English style and usage. Non-native English speakers are advised to seek professional help with the language. However the Journal is ready to collaborate to translate accepted Persian articles to English for a limited time.

All materials should be double-spaced and pages should be numbered. Abbreviations should be standard and used just in necessary cases, after complete explanations in the first usage. The editorial office reserves the right to edit the submitted manuscripts in order to comply with the journal’s style. In any case, the authors are responsible for the published material.

 

Correction of Errata

The journal will publish an erratum when a factual error in a published item has been documented.