Author Guidelines
The journal AJRPT publishes original articles as well as methodological works, which include translations and validations, and case reports. If you wish to obtain more information, access the "information for authors" section.
Guidelines for the submission of original research:
The Argentinian Journal of Respiratory & Physical Therapy (AJRPT) accepts research studies in the field of respiratory and physical therapy, including clinical trials —basic or applied—, on the evaluation, prevention, and treatment of respiratory and motor disorders. Our Editorial Board is committed to disseminating high quality research articles in the field of respiratory and physical therapy.
To publish in AJRPT, a submission must include the following files:
- Cover Letter: Authors are required to send a cover letter describing how their study contributes to the field of respiratory and physical therapy and highlighting its clinical and/or scientific value. For guidelines, please click on Cover Letter.
- Conflict of Interest: Authors are required to submit a conflict-of-interest disclosure. To download the conflict-of-interest disclosure form, please click here.
- Title page: For guidelines, please click here.
- Manuscript: To download a manuscript template, please click on original article, case report, or systematic review.
- Figure/s: The combined number of figures and tables must not exceed 5 (for example, 3 tables and 2 figures). Surplus figures and tables may be included as "Supplementary Material". Click here to see guidelines for figures.
- Supplementary material (if applicable). Supplementary material (for example, informed consent, ethics committee approval, figures, tables, protocols) may be included in a single word document.
AJRPT highly recommends that health researchers use reporting guidelines while writing their manuscripts. The most commonly used reporting guidelines are available at the EQUATOR network website [www.equator-network.org]. Authors are required to follow the reporting guidelines for their specific study design and ensure that their manuscript addresses the reporting criteria. Complying with these basic requirements may greatly improve the value of their manuscript, facilitate/improve the peer-review process, and enhance their publication chances in AJRPT. For guidelines, click here.
Read before proceeding:
The combined number of figures and tables must not exceed 5 (for example, 3 tables and 2 figures). Surplus figures and/or tables may be included as "Supplementary Material".
Figures must be attached in separate files in JPG, PNG or TIFF.
Manuscripts must be submitted as a Microsoft Word file (.doc or .docx).
Manuscripts must follow this order: title, abstract, quick look, main body, references, figure legends, figure contents, and tables.
Manuscripts must include line numbers.
The content of the manuscript must agree with the content of the metadata.
The text of the manuscript must not exceed 4000 words (excluding abstract, keywords, references, figure/s, table/s, and quick look). Download template here.
Title
The full title must be in Spanish and English and agree with the title page.
Abstract
The abstract must not exceed 250 words. It must summarize the major aspects of the entire study. Findings not appearing in the main body should not be included in the abstract.
If applicable, the abstract should include the ClinicalTrials.gov registration number. Submit 2 versions: in Spanish and English. The abstract must be structured according to the following sections:
- Objective
- Materials and method
- Results
- Conclusion
- Keywords: List six keywords that represent the essence of your manuscript so that it may be included in national and international biomedical databases. Keywords may be selected from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus of Index Medicus, produced by the National Library of Medicine, available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh, or from the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) thesaurus, produced by the Virtual Health Library, available at http://decs.bvs.br/E/homepagee.htm. Keywords must be written in lowercase and separated with a comma.
Click here to see a tutorial video on identifying keywords.
Quick Look
The Quick Look section in AJRPT provides readers with a concise message of the study.
The Quick Look section has two headings: the first is Current Knowledge and the second is What this study contributes to our knowledge.
Include the Quick Look section under the heading Quick Look at the beginning of your manuscript, between the title and the abstract.
Current knowledge
Write 2-4 declarative sentences summarizing current understanding of the topic being studied. Think of it as defining the state of the art.
- State the current evidence on the subject, by providing clear declarative statements.
- Do not ask a question.
- Do not state what is not known or that a topic requires further research.
What this study contributes to our knowledge
Write 2-4 declarative sentences summarizing the main message of the study. Use past tense. Provide only information supported by the data.
- Describe the main findings.
- Describe the environment (for example, a laboratory model).
- Write statements that can be understood without re-reading the data.
- Do not overstate the importance of your findings or speculate (for example, due to improved oxygenation, the technique might reduce mortality [speculation]).
- Do not include statistics or numerical data.
- Do not suggest further research.
The Editors reserve the right to edit the Quick Look section for accuracy, style, and length.
Example of Quick Look
Current knowledge
Orotracheal extubation (OTE) may be associated with different complications. The literature describes two OTE methods: the traditional technique and the positive pressure technique. Laboratory studies have suggested extubation with positive pressure. Some studies have reported clinical results with this technique.
What this paper contributes to our knowledge
The positive pressure OTE technique without endotracheal suction, compared with the traditional technique, showed no higher incidence of complications. Therefore, it could be performed in intensive care units.
Main body
The main body must not exceed 4000 words and must include the following 5 sections:
Introduction. Specify what has been studied and why. It must include a theoretical framework, literature review, grounds, and objective.
Materials and method. Describe how the study has been conducted. This section should provide enough details to allow the reader to judge the study's validity and replicate it. Indicate design, environment, duration, population, ethics and research committee approval, ClinicalTrial.gov registration number (if applicable), eligibility criteria, sampling method, variable operationalization, assessment procedures, data collection method, interventions, and statistical analysis. For statistical analysis and reporting guidelines, click here.
Results. Report the findings of your study. This section includes the outcome of the study, without bias or interpretation or elements belonging to other sections. It is the shortest but most important section. Use past tense (passive voice is preferred). Report results from the general (e.g., sample characteristics) to the specific (e.g., primary and secondary outcomes). Be neutral, without bias or interpretation. Avoid redundancy, i.e., do not present the same data in a table and the text.
Discussion. Interpret your study findings. In this section, include your study findings, interpretation of findings and their connection with the literature, limitations and strengths, suggestions for further research, and possible implications.
Conclusion. This section provides a clear and concise answer to the primary objective of your study.
References
Authors are responsible for the accuracy of references.
A reference superscript number is inserted into the text immediately next to the term or statement being cited, with no space in between. If the reference number is used at the end of a sentence, the superscript number should be inserted after the period. Do not use parentheses. Non-correlative reference numbers must be separated with a comma.
For example, “as reported in the literature.1,2,5,7 ”
In the case of 3 or more correlative reference numbers, write the first and last, separated with a dash.
For example, “ as reported in the literature. 1-6 ”
Reference list must be numbered consecutively in the order they are first mentioned in the text. References cited only in tables or figure legends should be numbered following the order established by the first identification in the text of the table or figure.
Include updated references and, preferably, the most relevant sources published in the past five years. Do not include unpublished sources. If possible, include direct references to the original sources. Authors, editors, or reviewers should not use references to promote their own interests.
References must conform to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors´ (ICMJE) recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work in medical journals.
Click here to see a to see a tutorial video on identifying the correct reference format, as required by AJRPT.
Include up to six authors. If more than six authors are included, list the first six and “et al”, except if there is a total of 7 authors. In that case, list all 7.
Titles must be abbreviated in accordance with the List of Journals Indexed in Index Medicus, provided by the National Library of Medicine, available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/journals.
Some examples are provided below. For further examples, visit https://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html.
Printed articles
Dellinger RP, Vincent JL, Silva E, Townsend S, Bion J, Levy MM. Surviving sepsis in developing countries. Crit Care Med. 2008; 36 (8): 2487-8.
Levy MM, Vincent JL, Jaeschke R, Parker MM, Rivers E, Beale R, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: Guideline Clarification. Crit Care Med. 2008; 36 (8): 2490-1.
Digital articles
Buerke M, Prondzinsky R. Levosimendan in cardiogenic shock: better than enoximone! Crit Care Med [Internet]. 2008 [cited 2008 Aug 23]; 36 (8): 2450-1. Available from: http://www.ccmjournal.com/en/re/ccm/abstract.00003246-200808000-00038.htm
Hecksher CA, Lacerda HR, Maciel MA. Características e evolução dos pacientes tratados com drotrecogina alfa e outras intervenções da campanha "Sobrevivendo à Sepse" na prática clínica. Rev Bras Ter Intensiva [Internet]. 2008[citado 2008 Ago 23; 20(2): 135- 43. Available at: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbti/v20n2/04.pdf
Cochrane database articles
Mayfield S, Jauncey-Cooke J, Hough JL, Schibler A, Gibbons K, Bogossian F. High-flow nasal cannula therapy for respiratory support in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014. 7; 3: CD009850.
Supplementary material
Walker LK. Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for preoperative stabilization of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Crit Care Med. 1993; 21 (Supp. 1): S379-S380.
Letters
Haynes JM. Expiratory reserve volume maneuver may be the preferred method for some patients during spirometry testing (letter). Respir Care 2013; 58 (2): e14-e15. author response: e15.
Books
Doyle AC. Biological mysteries solved. 2nd ed. London: Science Press; 1991. Book chapters Lachmann B, van Daal GJ. Adult respiratory distress syndrome: animal models. In: Robertson B, van Golde LM. Pulmonary surfactant. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 1992. p. 635-66.
Published abstracts
Varvinski AM, Findlay GP. Immediate complications of central venous cannulation in ICU [abstract]. Crit Care. 2000; 4 (Suppl 1): P6. Articles in the press Giannini A. Visiting policies and family presence in ICU: a matter for legislation? Intensive Care Med. In press 2012.
Figure legends
Although each figure is submitted as a separate file, figure legends must be embedded in the text of the manuscript.
Every figure must include a legend explaining every component of the figure and any abbreviations. The legend should be self-sufficient and allow the reader to understand the figure without referring to the text.
For example,
Figure 1. Flow diagram. ICU: intensive care unit; IMCU: intermediate care unit; ER: emergency room; MW: medical ward; E1: evaluation 1; E2: evaluation 2; E3: evaluation 3; E4: evaluation 4.
Legends are placed at the end of the manuscript, after reference list.
Figure content
In order to facilitate edition, it is important to include in this section all the textual content of each figure.
For example,
Content of Figure 1:
- 253 ICU/IMCU/ER Subjects
- 123 Deaths
- 14 Transfers
- 116 ICU/IMCU/ER Subjects
- 36 admitted to MW
- 8 Continue hospitalization
- 5 Lost-to-follow up
- 18 followed-up subjects
Figure content must be at the end of the manuscript after Figure Legend.
Table/s
Each table must be embedded in the text of the manuscript in an editable format (not as an image) .
Tables must have a title, be self-sufficient and allow readers to understand the table without referring to the text. Tables should be numbered and mentioned consecutively in the text, Table 1, Table 2, etc. Any abbreviations and symbols must be explained in footnotes at the bottom of the table. For footnotes use the following symbols, superscripted, in the following order: *, †, ‡, §, ||, ¶, **, ††. Tables must be at the end of the manuscript, after the textual content of the figures. The combined number of figures and tables must not exceed 5 (for example, 3 tables and 2 figures). Surplus figures and tables may be included as "Supplementary Material".
Abbreviations
Units of measurement. Use the decimal system, in which commas are used for decimal numbers (e.g.: 2,05). Use spaces, not commas, to separate thousands (e.g.: 1 000 000), except in thousand units < 10 000 (e.g. 9875).
Abbreviations, initials, acronyms, and symbols. Avoid their use in title and abstract. Only standard units of measurement may be abbreviated without need to be defined. Abbreviations in the abstract or main body must be preceded by the complete term, unless it is an international standard measurement unit. For example: cmH2O, ml, kg, etc. Abbreviate only if a terms appears more than 5 times in the main body of the manuscript.
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