Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings welcomes submissions from Baylor and non-Baylor authors. Send all manuscripts and editorial correspondence to William C. Roberts, MD, Editor in Chief, Baylor Scientific Publications Office, 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75246; phone: 214-820-9996; fax: 214-820-4064; e-mail: cynthiao@BaylorHealth.edu. This page presents a shortened version of the instructions. For the complete version, see http://www.baylorhealth.edu/Research/Proceedings/SubmitaManuscript/Pages/default.aspx.
Article Types
In addition to multipatient studies (original research articles), Proceedings publishes several other article types.
Case studies: Include an abstract, a single-paragraph introduction, a case description of 0.5 to 2 double-spaced pages, and a discussion of 1 to 5 double-spaced pages. Up to 25 references are acceptable (although many case reports have 5 to 10). The maximum number of figures and tables (combined) is 6.
Historical studies: Abstracts are recommended. There is no word limit, but most historical studies are 1500 to 3500 words.
Editorials: There is no word limit, but most editorials are 800 to 1600 words.
Book reviews: See past issues for format. There is no word limit, but most book reviews are 800 to 1600 words.
Avocations: Submit an image file for your painting or photograph or a discussion of your hobby for a maximum of 300 words.
Reader comments (letters to the editor): Both responses to previously published material and brief reports or observations are considered for this section. The limit is 1200 words.
MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION
Format: Type manuscripts double spaced, leaving 1-inch margins. Number all pages, including the title page. Indent paragraphs. Start the first paragraph of the text and the beginning of the reference section on a new page and place figures on separate pages.
Title page: Include on the first page the article's title; the authors’ names, highest degree(s), and affiliations; and the name, address, e-mail address, and phone number of the corresponding author. Acknowledge any grant support.
Abstract: Provide a one-paragraph double-spaced abstract of 150 to 250 words. Abstracts are required for original articles and case studies and are recommended for reviews and long historical articles.
Conclusions: Conclusion paragraphs at the end of the discussion section are rarely needed and are often cut if included.
References: Number references according to the order in which they are cited in the text and type them at the end of the manuscript. Do not use the footnote or endnote functions of word processing software. The numbers in the text should be on line and in parentheses, such as (14, 16, 17). The references should conform to the following style, listing all authors:
Journal article: O'shaughnessy J, Osborne C, Pippen JE, Yoffe M, Patt D, Rocha C, Koo IC, Sherman BM, Bradley C. Iniparib plus chemotherapy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. N Engl J Med 2011;364(3):205–214.
Book chapter: Ramsay M. Liver transplantation and portopulmonary hypertension. In Milan Z, ed. Cardiovascular Diseases and Liver Transplantation. New York: Nova Biomedical Books, 2011:83–97.
Book: Gulati G, Filicko-O’Hara J, Krause JR. Case Studies in Hematology and Coagulation. Chicago, IL: American Society for Clinical Pathology Press, 2012.
Tables and figures: Number tables and figures in the order in which they are discussed in the text. Include call-outs in the text and place the tables at the end of the document as Word files using the Word table function. Figures can be embedded in the text at the end of the document or provided as separate files, with legends in the Word file. Provide enough details in titles, footnotes, and legends so that the tables and figures can be understood apart from the text. Submit photographs as 350-ppi tiff or jpeg files. Submit graphs and diagrams as electronic files.
Use of color: Authors are asked to pay $100 for each color figure or table. Generally, color is suggested only when clinically required (as with certain pathology and radiology images).
Style issues: Use generic names for drugs; capitalize any trade names when they are used. Limit the number of abbreviations in a manuscript to five, and do not abbreviate single words, such as intravenous. Spell out all abbreviations on first usage. Proceedings follows the style guide of the American Medical Association.
MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION CHECKLIST.
— The entire manuscript is double-spaced and in one Word file, in the following order: title page, abstract, text, references, tables, figures (either figure legends only or figures embedded plus legends). Page numbers appear on the bottom of each page.
— The title page has required elements: title, authors (with full names and degrees), affiliations, and address for corresponding author.
— A single-paragraph abstract of 150 to 250 words is included.
— For case studies: After the abstract, the manuscript includes a single-paragraph introduction, a case discussion of 0.5 to 2 double-spaced pages, and a discussion of 0.5 to 5 double-spaced pages. The manuscript does not exceed the limit of 25 references or 6 figures and tables.
— Figures are high-resolution.
— References include all authors, the full article title, the journal abbreviation from Index Medicus, the volume and issue number, and inclusive page numbers. References in the text appear in parentheses, rather than in superscript or footnotes or endnotes.
— All authors have approved the version to be submitted.
Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements may be returned to authors before peer review is initiated.