Updated: Mar 2, 2004

(Version 11)

JSLS, Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons publishes original articles on basic science and technical topics in all the fields involved with laparoendoscopic surgery. The journal seeks to advance our understandings and practice of minimally invasive, image-guided surgery by providing a forum for all relevant disciplines and by promoting the exchange of information and ideas across specialties.

JSLS is a peer-reviewed journal that employs a rapid review process for all submitted manuscripts so that significant scientific findings appear with minimal delay. All submitted manuscripts are initially reviewed by a JSLS editor. Manuscripts considered appropriate for publication are sent to expert reviewers for peer review. JSLS uses a “blinded” review process. The identities of authors and peer reviewers are kept confidential. All materials accepted for publication are copyedited and returned to the author for approval of significant recommended editorial changes. The editor reserves the right to make minor changes for clarity and accuracy without seeking author approval.

JSLS, Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons has joined many other medical journals endorsing the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals,” including the statements related to “Protection of Patients’ Rights to Privacy,” established by editors in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.¹ JSLS also endorses the revised CONSORT statement² and the AMA Guidelines for web sites.³

Papers are invited in the following categories:

• Clinical and experimental surgery
• Operative technique
• Review articles
• Case reports
• Laparoendoscopic education
• Letters to the editor

The journal, at the discretion of the editor, will also publish:

• Editorials
• Commentaries
• Articles concerning emerging technology
• Information (news) and events

Send the manuscript, signed copyright transfer agreement, and authors’ contact information to:

Michael S. Kavic, MD, Editor-in-Chief, JSLS
Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
7330 SW 62 Place, Suite 410
Miami, FL 33143-4825
E-Mail: Publications@SLS.org

GENERAL:

• All manuscripts are to be typewritten or computer printed in English.

• Authors whose primary language is not English should have their papers checked for linguistic accuracy by a person skilled in the English language and medical terminology.

• Manuscripts should not exceed 4500 words, including references, tables, and figures.

• For style, consult the American Medical Association Manual of Style⁴ and/or the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals."¹

• Submit the manuscript as a Microsoft Word document or in rich text format (RTF) on a 3-1/2 inch disk, zip disk, CD, or as an e-mail attachment via the Internet. All artwork submitted on a disk or as an e-mail attachment must adhere to the Guidelines for Electronically Producted Images. Manuscripts submitted as an e-mail attachment should be sent to Publications@SLS.org.

• Submit 1 hardcopy of the manuscript and the original artwork. Do not scan images into manuscript. Hardcopies are not required if manuscript is submitted as an e-mail attachment.

• Use 10 or 12 point font size on 8-1/2 x 11 inch white bond paper. Double-space throughout. Leave 1-inch margins. Justify only the left margin.

• Number each page.

• Do not include a running header or footer.

• Be concise and avoid medical jargon.

• Do not use acronyms or abbreviations in the title or abstract. Keep abbreviations and acronyms within the text to a minimum and spelled out, in parentheses, when first used.

• Use Systéme International (SI) measurements only.

• Use generic names for drugs.

• Text should avoid sexual and racial bias, and use gender inclusive language when possible.

• All persons listed as authors must meet the criteria for authorship outlined in the American Medical Association Manual of Style⁴ and/or “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals.”¹

• Authorship requires substantial participation in the work, with the ability to take public responsibility for the content. Substantial contribution must be made in the following areas: conception and design or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting of the manuscript or its critical revision for important intellectual content; and approving the version of the manuscript to be published.⁴

MANUSCRIPT FORMAT:

Each of the following elements should begin on a new page, numbered consecutively, beginning with the title page.

Title Page
Please include:

• Title of no more than 75 characters

• Full name(s) of author(s)

• Highest academic degree(s)

• Locations(s) by city, state, country

• Name and address to which correspondence and reprint requests should be sent

• Date on which the manuscript was submitted

• Word count for the text, exclusive of the title, abstract, references, tables, figures, and illustrations

• Source(s) of financial support, if applicable

Structured Abstract and Key Words
The abstract should not exceed 200 words and should not include abbreviations, footnotes, trade names, or references. After the abstract, include up to 4 key words or phrases, using standard Index Medicus terminology.

For research manuscripts and case reports use the format:

• Background and Objectives
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions [or Discussion]
• Key Words

For review articles use the format:

• Background
• Data Base
• Conclusions [or Discussion]
• Key Words

Text
Scholarly review articles should be well referenced and should avoid anecdotal reports and personal opinions. The authors should explain why the topic of the manuscript is important to the field. The main arguments or points should proceed logically and coherently, and the manuscript should conclude with a discussion of recommendations and/or implications for the field. For research articles, follow the format below.

Introduction: Typically the Introduction should include a brief review of the relevant literature to establish the need for the project. The research objectives and hypotheses should be explicitly stated. The author(s) should address the following questions:

• What issue is being addressed in the research?
• Why is the issue important?
• How will the field benefit from having addressed the issue?

Materials and Methods: The methods should be described in sufficient detail so readers can understand how the research was performed. For experimental investigation of human or animal subjects state in “Methods” that an appropriate institutional review board approved the project. For those investigators who do not have formal ethics review committees, follow the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. For investigation of human subjects, state the manner in which informed consent was obtained.

Results: Results should be presented in a coherent fashion and should be specifically tied to the objectives and methods described earlier in the manuscript.

Discussion: The discussion section should:
• Reiterate the principal findings of the research
• Comment on any methodologic weaknesses of the study
• Discuss the importance and/or implications of the findings

Conclusions: The conclusion section should not contain any deductions or inferences that are not specifically supported by the data reported in the study, although reasonable speculations and implications for further research, when identified as such, may be appropriate.

Acknowledgments
Acknowledge only those who made significant contributions to the work.

Disclosure Statement and Conflict of Interest
Authors must state any financial interest they have in any commercial device, equipment, instrument, or drug that is a subject of the article. Relevant financial support and any conflicts of interest must be disclosed by all authors and reviewers. Authors must also disclose if the manuscript discussion includes the use of products for which they are not labeled (i.e., off-label use).

References
Authors are responsible for bibliographic accuracy. References must be verified by the author against the original resources. Number the references in the order they are first mentioned. Abbreviate journal names as indicated in Index Medicus. List all journal authors when 6 or fewer. For journal references with 7 or more authors, list the first 3 and add “et al.” Manuscripts submitted, but not yet accepted for publication, can be noted as “unpublished data” in the text. However, do not include in the references any manuscripts that are in preparation, manuscripts submitted for publication but not yet accepted, or unpublished papers or observations. For articles in press, give the journal name and, if possible, the volume number and year followed by “in press.” For books in press, give the publishing company and, if possible, the year of publication.

Review articles may use up to 100 references. Use no more than 30 references for other articles. Double space the references and use the format recommended in the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals.”¹

Journal Reference
Kavic MS. Three dimensional ultrasound. Surg Endosc. 1996;10:74-76.

Book Reference
Zinsser W. On Writing Well. 4th ed. New York, NY: Harper Collins; 1990.

Book Chapter Reference
Kavic MS. Laparoscopic Appendectomy. In: Grochmal S., ed. Minimal Access Gynecology. Oxford, England: Radcliffe Medical Press; 1995:149-162.

Tables
Tables should be concise and sufficiently self-explanatory so that readers can understand them without reference to the text. They should not duplicate material presented in the text. Tables should be titled, cited in the text, and numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals, in order of appearance. Abbreviations used in the table should be spelled out in the table’s footnotes.

Artwork
Artwork must be in high-quality, camera-ready, reproducible form. Professionally drawn illustrations are acceptable as are original copies of computer-generated laser graphics. Artwork must be no larger than 5x7 inches unmounted, with clarity and contrast in black and white. Rules should be at least .25 at final reproduction size. Reproduction will be in gray scale. No color should be used as JSLS is reproduced in black and white unless reproduction costs are arranged in advance and paid for by the author(s). The editor reserves the right to limit the number of illustrations or to reduce or enlarge illustrations.

Please do:

• Submit an original copy of each figure
• Label each figure with the (1) figure number, (2) a short form of the manuscript title, and (3) an arrow indicating the top of the illustration
• Number figures according to their order in the text
• Insert arrows, letters, and numbers with template run-on letters on a transparent overlay, not on the actual photograph
• Make sure all figures have good proportion, scale, contrast, and resolution
• Review the Guidelines for Electronically Produced Images before submitting digital artwork

Do not:

• Scan images into the manuscript
• Label the artwork with the author(s)’ name(s)
• Send x-rays (Instead, send black and white prints of the correct intensity)
• Write on the back of artwork

Legends
Legends of no more than 40 words each should be typed, double-spaced, on separate pages and identified by sequential number which illustration or figure they are meant for.

ELECTRONICALLY PRODUCED IMAGES AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR PRINT

General
Send images and illustrations separately from the text (do not embed images, illustrations, or graphics into text files). Original artwork is recommended; however, high quality printouts may be accepted. All images and illustrations should be included with your submission. Authors must be prepared to supply original artwork in the event the electronic artwork is not acceptable.

Digital Artwork
Artwork should be submitted in final size. Files should be submitted in TIFF or EPS format. Color files should be submitted as CMYK (not RGB). Files saved as JPG or GIF cannot be used. Line art should be saved at a resolution of at least 1200 dpi. Images saved at 72 dpi are not acceptable for printed publications. Save each figure in a separate file.

Halftone/Photographs
Photographs, CT scans, etc. must be submitted as TIFF or EPS, with a resolution of at least 300 dpi, and saved in a format which can be opened by Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. Each image must be contained in an individual file, separate from the text file. Always indicate the software and version used to create the artwork (e.g., PhotoShop 5.5, Illustrator 9.0).

Scans
Scanned reproductions of black and white photographs should be provided as 300 dpi TIFF files. Color illustrations should be saved as grayscale in a TIFF format. If color illustrations are mandatory, their reproduction costs must be paid for by the author(s). Format for color artwork is 24-bit color depth and saved as CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black).

Images From Videos
Frames from a video should be prepared in accordance to the guidelines outlined under Halftone/Photographs.

Unacceptable Files and Common Mistakes
Internet: JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) files downloaded from the Internet are unacceptable.

Digital Cameras: Photos taken with a digital camera must be saved as TIFF images. Shoot images at the highest resolution possible as these reproduce best for print. Images taken with 35mm film, printed into glossies, and then scanned, use the scanner to determine and set the dpi of the electronic file.

Color Images: Images submitted in color must be saved in CMYK, not RGB (Red Blue Green). RGB is the computer screen color spectrum and is not appropriate for printing. All images downloaded from the Internet are RGB and are therefore unacceptable for print.

• AUTHORS’ CONTACT INFORMATION
  A separate page must be submitted containing the names, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses for all authors for the manuscript. Clearly indicate who is the corresponding author.
  
  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
  The editor invites brief letters that comment on articles published in the journal. The letters should not exceed 500 words in length, and contain no figures or tables. Up to three references may be listed. The letter must identify the paper by naming the authors and title of the article in the text of the letter. No letter will be published more than 6 months after the publication of the article to which it refers.
  
  
  SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
• Copyright transfer agreement signed by all authors
• Authors’ contact information with corresponding author indicated
• 1 hardcopy of double-spaced manuscript (not applicable to email submission)
• Original artwork
• 3-1/2 diskette, zip disk, CD, or email containing all text and tables in Microsoft Word or in Rich Text Format
• Elements of the manuscript include:
  • Title page
  • Abstract and Key Words
  • Text
  • Acknowledgments
  • Statement of disclosure
  • References
    

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1. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals. JAMA. 1993;269:2282-2286 or Ann Intern Med. 1988;108:258-265 or Br Med J. 1988;296:4011-405.

2. Moher D, Schulz K, Altman D. The CONSORT statement: revised recommendations for improving the quality of reports of parallel-group randomized trials. JAMA 2001;285:1987-1991 or http://www.consort-statement.org/

3. Winker MA, Flanagan A, Chi-Lum B, et al. Guidelines for medical and health information sites on the internet. JAMA 2000;283:1600-1606

4. Iverson C, Flanagin A, Fontanarosa PB, et al. American Medical Association Manual of Style. 9th ed. Baltimore, MD: William & Wilkins; 1988.

5. 41st World Medical Assembly. Declaration of Helsinki; recommendations guiding physicians in biomedical research involving human subjects. Bull Pan Am Health Organ. 1990;24:606-609.

 

Updated 08/19/08   www.SLS.org  |   www.Laparoscopy.org The Laparoscopic Surgery Information Source