A: General Information
Caspian Journal of Surgery (CJS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access international journal that is published quarterly. The journal ensures that each accepted article is made available online immediately to improve accessibility for a global audience. CJS covers a wide array of content, including original research articles, review articles, case reports, technical notes, editorials, letters to the editor, invited commentaries, rapid communications, and images related to surgical practices and specialties. The journal welcomes research across all fields related to surgical subspecialties.
CJS adheres to the guidelines and best practices established by prominent professional organizations, including the ICMJE Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals (available at ICMJE) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (joint statement by COPE, DOAJ, WAME, and OASPA; available at DOAJ). The journal reserves the right to reject any manuscripts that fail to meet the required standards for publication.
Manuscript submissions to CJS should be made through the online submission system available at: www.caspjs.com . Authors must first register to access the system. Once logged in, the system will guide them step-by-step through the submission process. All communication, including the editor’s decision and any requests for revisions, will be conducted via email. For any inquiries or issues regarding the submission process, authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office directly.
B: Research and Publication Ethics
1- Recommended Research Reporting Guidelines
We recommend using the six most widely used guidelines for reporting medical research findings, as follows:
2-Disclosure of Conflict of Interest
Conflicts of interest have become an increasingly important issue in medical journal publications. Therefore, authors are required to report any potential conflicts that might influence their work. This includes any financial relationships (e.g., employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications, travel grants) or other relationships (e.g., academic or personal) with commercial entities whose products or services are related to the manuscript's subject matter, or sociopolitical issues that could cause conflict. These matters should be disclosed at the end of the manuscript, and the editor may use this information for editorial decisions.
3- Statements of Human and Animal Rights, Informed Consent, and Institutional Review Board Approval
All research submitted must adhere to high ethical standards, including the protection of human and animal rights, confidentiality, and obtaining written informed consent. For human research, the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki should be followed, and approval from the Institutional Review Board must be obtained. Patient anonymity must be preserved, and confidential information should not be published. If Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is necessary for scientific purposes, authors must obtain a signed statement from the patient allowing publication of such identifying materials, including photographs. Clinical trials must be registered in a public database before the first patient is enrolled, and for animal research, approval from an ethical committee is required.
4- Data Sharing Policy
This journal follows the Data Sharing Statements for Clinical Trials, as required by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Manuscripts reporting the results of interventional clinical trials must contain a data-sharing statement. The statement should include a data-sharing plan, and changes to the plan must be reflected in the submitted manuscript and registry record. Authors must deposit their data after de-identification and report the DOI and registered site.
5- Originality and Publication Ethics
All manuscripts must be original and not previously published or under consideration for publication elsewhere. Manuscripts should follow publication ethics, including avoiding plagiarism, data fabrication, citation manipulation, and improper authorship contributions. Manuscripts are screened using iThenticate (plagiarism detection software). Violations may lead to immediate rejection or withdrawal of the article.
6- Authorship
CJS accepts only one corresponding author and does not allow co-first authorship. Authorship credit is based on:
Those who do not meet all four criteria should be acknowledged. Unjustified authorship, such as ghost authorship or guest authorship, is prohibited.
Generative AI tools (e.g., language models, image creators) do not qualify for authorship but can be used for enhancing readability or accuracy in scientific writing. Their use must be disclosed in the acknowledgments section, detailing the tools used and their role in manuscript preparation.
Changes in authorship (e.g., order, addition, or deletion) must be discussed and approved by all authors, and requests for such changes must be submitted in a letter or email signed by all authors.
7- Secondary Publication
Manuscripts may be republished if they meet the criteria stipulated by the ICMJE:
The National Library of Medicine does not consider translations as "republications."
8- Managing Cases of Research and Publication Misconduct
The journal follows a process to resolve suspected cases of misconduct, such as redundant publication, plagiarism, fabricated data, or undisclosed conflicts of interest. The editorial board will review these cases, and any manuscripts not adhering to the guidelines may be subject to sanctions, including restrictions on future submissions.
For further research and publication ethics policies, the journal follows the Good Publication Practice Guidelines for Medical Journals and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.
C: Type of manuscript
1- Original Articles
Original articles present results from clinical, translational, or basic research. These articles must be thoroughly documented to meet the standards required for critical readers. A structured abstract of no more than 250 words is required. The manuscript should not exceed 4,000 words, excluding the abstract, references, tables, and figures. The total number of references should be no more than 30. The manuscript should follow this order: Title Page, Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgments (if applicable), Funding, Conflicts of Interest, ORCID, Author Contributions, References, Figure Legends, Figures (including video clips), and Tables.
2- Case Reports / Case Series
Case reports and case series are written when a unique or rare medical or surgical case is encountered, providing insight into new diagnoses, treatments, or unexpected outcomes. These reports focus on the detailed description of individual or multiple cases and are valuable for sharing knowledge about uncommon conditions or novel therapeutic approaches. Case Reports and Case Series should follow a structured format with sections including Abstract, Introduction, Case/Series Presentation, Discussion, and Conclusion. The main text should consist of Introduction, Case, and Discussion. The total number of references should not exceed 20, and the word count for the main text should be 1,500 words or less.
3- Review Articles
Review articles offer a comprehensive overview of a specific topic, summarizing existing research. The abstract and manuscript format can either be structured or unstructured. These articles undergo the standard peer-review process. The manuscript should not exceed 5,000 words, and the reference list should not exceed 100 references.
4- Editorials
Editorials are typically solicited by the editorial board and offer a brief review of the journal’s content and discussions on recent developments in the field. They may also address changes to the journal’s style or format. Editorials are not divided into sections and should not exceed 2,000 words, with no more than 10 references.
5- Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editor are typically written in response to a previously published article. They should include the title, author, affiliation, main text, and references. The total number of references should be no more than 10, and the word count should be 1,500 words or less. If accepted, an Author’s Reply may be published alongside the letter.
6- Invited Commentaries
Invited commentaries are solicited by the editor and focus on expert opinions regarding published papers. These commentaries must include a 150-word unstructured abstract. The manuscript should not exceed 2,000 words, and the number of references should be no more than 20.
7- Systematic Review / Meta-analysis
Systematic reviewsand meta-analyses adhere to the same structure as review articles, but they must include a structured abstract (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions). The manuscript should include a 250-word structured abstract.
8- Technical Notes
Technical notes are short descriptions of new techniques, procedures, or tools in the field of surgery. The manuscript should include Introduction, Technique, Discussion, and Conclusion. The word count should be 3,000 words or less, and the reference list should not exceed 20 references.
9- Short Communications / Brief Reports
Short communications are concise reports that cover emerging or important issues in the field of surgery. These submissions are unstructured, with a 150-word maximum abstract. The manuscript should not exceed 2,000 words, and the reference list should be limited to 20 references.
10- Commentaries
Similar to invited commentaries, these articles are unsolicited but contain expert opinions on significant topics. The abstract should be unstructured and not exceed 150 words. The manuscript should not exceed 2,000 words, with references limited to 20.
11- Viewpoint / Perspective Articles
Viewpoint and Perspective Articles present an author’s opinion or perspective on a specific topic, often based on existing literature. Unlike original research or reviews, these articles offer analysis, insights, and critical evaluations of existing knowledge. Perspectives should be concise, with a 150-word abstract and 3-5 keywords. The word count for the manuscript should be 2,000 words or less, excluding abstract, references, figures, and tables. The total number of figures and tables should not exceed 2, and the reference list should be limited to 20 references.
12- Study Protocol Articles
Study protocol articles describe the design of prospective research studies, enhancing transparency and facilitating the dissemination of ongoing studies. These peer-reviewed articles should be up to 10,000 words, including 10 figures and tables. The format includes: 1) Abstract (including the clinical trial registry number for clinical studies), 2) Introduction, 3) Methods and Analysis (detailing study design, subject selection/treatment, interventional methods, and data analysis), 4) Discussion, and 5) Ethics and Dissemination. For clinical studies, registration in a public clinical trial registry is required before submission. Authors are encouraged to follow SPIRIT guidelines. Study protocols will not be considered if related data has already been published or if the study involves a pilot or feasibility study.
13- Image in Surgery
Images in surgery provide valuable visual documentation of surgical procedures. The descriptions of these images should be no more than 500 words, with up to 5 figures and 5 references Images must be of professional quality and meet basic resolution standards outlined in the “Figure Preparation” section.
|
Type of Article |
Word count of abstract |
Word count of main text |
Number of references |
Number of tables and figures |
|
Original Articles |
250 words |
4000 words |
30 references |
7 tables/figures |
|
Case Reports/Case Series |
250 words |
3000 words |
20 references |
7 tables/figures |
|
Review Articles |
250 words (Structured/Unstructured) |
5000 words |
100 references |
7 tables/figures |
|
Editorials |
Not required |
2000 words |
10 references |
5 tables/figures |
|
Letters to the Editor |
Not required |
1500 words |
10 references |
5 tables/figures |
|
Invited Commentaries |
150 words |
2000 words |
20 references |
5 tables/figures |
|
Systematic Review/Meta-analysis |
250 words |
5000 words |
100 references |
7 tables/figures |
|
Technical Notes |
250 words |
3000 words |
20 references |
7 tables/figures |
|
Short Communications/Brief Reports |
150 words |
2000 words |
20 references |
5 tables/figures |
|
Commentaries |
150 words |
2000 words |
20 references |
5 tables/figures |
|
Viewpoint/Perspective Articles |
150 words |
2000 words |
20 references |
2 tables/figures |
|
Study Protocol Articles |
250 words (including registry number) |
10000 words |
No limit |
10 tables/figures |
|
Image in Surgery |
Not required |
500 words |
5 references |
5 tables/figures |
D: Manuscript Preparation
♦ Style and language
The entire manuscript should be written in English. Abbreviations should be defined and placed in parentheses when they first appear in the text. Subsequently, the abbreviation can be used instead of the full term. The first letter of names, places, and proper nouns should be capitalized. Numbers should be written in Arabic numerals. All units of measure should be in SI units, and temperatures in degrees Celsius (˚C). Species names and gene names should be italicized. Words of Latin origin such as et al., in vivo, etc., need not be italicized.
♦ File formats
The preferred file formats for manuscripts are .doc or .docx. Manuscripts must be double-spaced single column in A4 (210×297 mm) size paper with at least 2.5 cm margins and a font size of 12 pt. The preferred font styles are Times New Roman, Arial, Courier, and Helvetica. All pages should be numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals at the bottom of each page, and line numbers should be inserted on the left-hand side of each page.
♦ Title Page
The title page must include the following details:
♦ Abstract
The abstract must be structured and organized under the following subheadings:
Abstracts for case reports and review articles should be written as a cohesive summary without separate sections (e.g., background, results, conclusions) and should clearly and concisely present the background, key points, findings, and conclusions.
♦ Introduction
The introduction should clearly present the background information, research objectives, and the specific purpose of the study.
♦ Materials and Methods
The methodology section should be detailed enough to allow replication of the study by others. It must include a description of:
♦ Results
♦ Discussion
The discussion should focus on the significance of the study's findings in relation to existing research. Key points to cover include:
♦ Conclusion
The conclusion should summarize the main findings of the study and may include suggestions for further research. Avoid unsupported conclusions that are not derived from the study’s results.
♦ Acknowledgements
Acknowledge individuals who contributed significantly to the study but are not eligible for authorship. Financial support sources should also be included. Obtain written permission from anyone or any organization mentioned.
If AI tools were used in the manuscript preparation, disclose their use in the acknowledgements, including tool names, versions, and the role they played in enhancing language or content.
♦ Funding
Indicate the sources of funding for the research, including the FundRef ID, agency names, and grant numbers, if applicable.
♦ Conflicts of Interest
Disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may have influenced the results or conclusions of the study. If no conflicts exist, state: "No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported."
♦ Author Contributions
Each author’s contributions should be clearly outlined based on the following core categories:
Example:
♦ References
Examples:
♦ Table Preparation
♦ Figure Preparation
♦ Appendix
♦ Supplemental Files
♦ Plagiarism Policy
♦ Manuscript Checklist
E: Peer Review and Publication Process
1) Screening Before Review
Manuscripts that do not align with the aims and scope of the journal or fail to follow the submission guidelines may be returned immediately to the author without undergoing a review process. Some manuscripts may require English language editing to meet international journal standards. This can delay the publication process and may lead to rejection. Therefore, authors who are less confident in their English writing skills are strongly encouraged to have their manuscripts proofread by professional English editing services to enhance the manuscript's quality and increase the chances of acceptance.
2) Peer Review Process
The journal follows a double-blind peer review process. In this system, the authors' identities and affiliations are concealed from the reviewers, and the reviewers' identities remain confidential. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two reviewers appointed by the editor. After review, the manuscript will be assigned one of the following decisions: Accept, Major revisions, Minor revisions, or Reject. The peer review period typically lasts for two weeks, and the first decision is usually made within 1-2 weeks after the review is completed. The final decision regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection lies with the editor-in-chief.
If an editor is involved in an article as an author or has any potential conflict of interest, they will be excluded from the review and decision-making process. If the editor-in-chief is involved, the decision will be made by an associate editor.
3) Submission of Revised Manuscripts
If revisions (major or minor) are required, authors must resubmit their manuscripts through the online submission system. Revisions should be submitted within four weeks for reconsideration. Authors should indicate the changes made in the document using the "Track Changes" function in Microsoft Word (preferred) or by using a strikethrough for deleted content and red font for newly added text. In addition, authors must address the reviewers' comments point by point.
4) After Acceptance
Once a manuscript is accepted, it will undergo professional manuscript editing and/or English proofreading. Afterward, the manuscript will be sent back to the corresponding author for another round of proofreading. This step ensures that any spelling mistakes or errors are rectified.
5) Feedback After Publication
Authors and readers can inform the Editorial Board of any errors or content that requires revision. If necessary, the Editorial Board may issue an erratum, corrigendum, or retraction. If there are any changes to the article, a CrossMark description will be provided to announce the final draft. Any reader comments or letters to the editor will be forwarded to the authors. The authors can respond to these letters, and both the letter and the response may be published.
5) Article Processing Charge
There are no submission fees or publication-related charges for authors. All costs associated with the publication process are borne by the publisher.
6) Copyright Transfer Agreement
The corresponding author is required to download and sign the Copyright Transfer Agreement Form on behalf of all authors. This form includes a statement that transfers the full copyright to Babol University of Medical Sciences. It must be submitted along with the manuscript.
As an open-access journal, Caspian Journal of Surgery allows the content to be freely used under the Creative Commons License with the following conditions: