Instructions for Authors

 “Iranian Journal of Toxicology” is the official scientific bimontly journal and is aimed to promote the scientific level and encourage communication among the researchers of medical sciences. This Journal is the official scientific bimontly publication of Arak University of Medical Sciences with corporation of Iranian Society of Toxicology. It accepts Original Papers, Review Articles, and Case Reports in the fields of Basic Toxicology; Forensic, Environmental Biology, Agriculture, Industry, Clinical and Drug Toxicology just in English version.

General principles:

•   Papers submitted for publication should not be previously published elsewhere, and also not be sent to another journal at the same time.
•  Main submission file must be prepared in Microsoft Word 2000 or upper document file format.
•  Papers should be prepared between 1000-5000 words (with one table or diagram for each 1000 words).
• Abbreviation (except for measurements) and acronyms are discouraged and if used in the paper must be explained as footnotes.
•  If the paper is from a thesis, it must be mentioned clearly at the end of the paper.

Paper evaluation process:

• All manuscripts will be acknowledged upon presenting to the Journal office, provided that all stated requirements are met. After primary editorial consideration, the manuscript is peer-reviewed by three expert reviewers out of the editorial board. The whole review process depends on receiving referees, com­ments and revising the manuscripts based on these comments by the author. On receipt of the revised article from the author, and after final approving by one of the referees, the letter of acceptance is issued to the author.
• The journal has the right to edit, accept, or reject papers.
• Papers cannot be sent back.

General characteristics of the paper:

Each paper should include following parts:

• Manuscript must be accompanied by a covering letter to the Editor-in-Chief, including title and author(s) name and undertaking that it has not been published or submitted elsewhere.

• The first page or Title page: The first page of the paper should contain the complete title of the article (without abbreviations), the name(s), title(s), degree(s),affiliation and addresses (Mobile, Fax, and Email) of the author(s).Each author can use only one affiliation. Also the corresponding author must be determined (Authors characteristics must not be presented anywhere else).
• The second page or Abstract page: The abstract (not less than 150 and not more than 250 words) in structured format as Background, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion followed by 3 to 6 Keywords, must be presented. The abstract must not contain references, also abbreviation are discouraged and if necessary must be explained in parenthesis.
• The following pages and after that, should contain different parts of the paper.
• Acknowledgement should be presented at the end of the paper.

Research Articles

A research article should include; Title, Abstract, Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgement and References.

Abstract: An abstract should accompany each original article. The abstract should be limited to 250 words. It should include the background, materials and methods, results, conclusion, and key words sections separately. It should describe the research purposes or motivation, basic methods (study method, sampling, and data gathering methods), the main findings or viewpoints and central conclusions. It should be factual, and give quantified findings in preference to descriptive language. It should contain no references. On the abstract page, authors should include a list of 3-10 keywords, which will be published with the paper and used for indexing. Key words should confirm to the MeSH.

Background: Introduction should clearly describe the reason for undertaking the work. After addressing some scientific background and an abstract of studies supporting and opposing the project, the reason for undertaking the work must be clarified. It must be followed by a sentence about the purpose of the study.

Materials and Methods: Study method, samples and sampling method and its related control methods should completely be described. In clinical trials, type of interventions (randomization, the intervention itself, and blinding) should be carefully explained. Data gathering methods and instruments must be described.  Also  if  need they must have references, methods of determining validity and reliability must be explained. In the case of using a questionnaire or checklist, it must be attached. The used materials and instruments, and their manufactory must be named. Data analysis (including statistic methods) must be explained completely. Ethical considerations based on standard protocols must be explained carefully.

Results: Results must be provided in a reasonable manner in the form of text, tables, diagrams or pictures. Data of tables and diagrams should not be repeated in the text again. In analytical studies and clinical trials, at first the case and the control group must be compared and then followed by the research findings.

Discussion: The new and important findings of the study must be explained and then compared to the results of other studies (by references) in Iran and the world. The viewpoints other than the study findings must be avoided. Study limitations and its generalization must be discussed.

Conclusion: The paper must be end by a clear conclusion of the results. Suggestions for next studies can also be concluded.

Acknowledgement : Should be presented at the end of the paper and appropriately thanked the partners or sponsors. Also authors must declare any sources of funding and conflict of interest, such as receiving funds or fees by, or holding stocks and shares in, an organization that may profit or lose through publication of the paper.

References: Should be at least 20 numbers and at most 35, each one in separated rows.

Tables, Diagrams, and Pictures

Tables, Diagrams, and pictures must be presented in separate pages at the end of the paper. They must be numbered in the order in which they are cited in the text.

• Tables: Tables in limited numbers should be only used if needed. Tables should supplement, not duplicate, the text. They should be typed double spaced. Table title should be in the top and middle place of the table and fully descriptive of the contents, and whenever possible should be comprehensible without reference to the text.
• Diagrams and Pictures: Diagrams and pictures should be prepared in a professional manner. In all diagrams and pictures, words, numbers, and symbols should be in English and clear and large enough, so when they are getting small to be published still be readable. Diagrams and pictures must be black and white color. Their titles and explanations must be complete and out of diagrams and pictures. Diagrams must have titles and measurement units for both horizontal and vertical axis. Diagrams must not have unusual shapes or be tridimensional. Each diagram must be fully descriptive of the contents, and whenever possible should be comprehensible without reference to the text. Sending the original diagram or its print is necessary. Original pictures must be sent. The number of the picture and its title must be attached in the back side of each picture. Pictures must not be adhered anywhere and also not folded.

Case Reports

A case report should include: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Case, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgement and References.

Abstract: The abstract (no more than 150 words) in structured format as background, case and conclusion followed by 3 to 6 Keywords must be presented.

Introduction: Introduction should include background, importance and causes of uniqueness of the case, followed by some previous statistics.

Case: Shouldinclude detailed report of the history, clinical and preclinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of the individual patient.

Discussion: The characteristics of the case are discussed. The results of the case are compared to similar results of other reports.

Conclusion: Should include the final conclusion and suggestions.

Acknowledgement:  Should be presented at the end of the paper and appropriately thanked the partners or sponsors. Also authors must declare any sources of funding and conflict of interest, such as receiving funds or fees by, or holding stocks and shares in, an organization that may profit or lose through publication of the paper.

References: Should be at least 20 numbers and at most 35, each one in separated rows

Review Articles

A review article should include: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Text, Conclusion, Acknowledgement and References.

The first author of a review article must at least have three research articles relating the title. Review articles must have at least 30 references.

Abstract: Including background, text and conclusion followed by 3 to 5 Keywords must be presented.

Introduction: Including authors` purpose of the review and the concept and fact which is going to be explained.

Text: Should include an analysis and collection of the current state of the research on the topic and representing the main people working in a field, recent major advances and discoveries, significant gaps in the research, current debates, and ideas of where research might go next.

Conclusion: Should include a summarization of facts and concepts in the text.

Acknowledgement: Should be presented at the end of the paper and appropriately thanked the partners or sponsors. Also authors must declare any sources of funding and conflict of interest, such as receiving funds or fees by, or holding stocks and shares in, an organization that may profit or lose through publication of the paper.

References: Should be at least 30 numbers, each one in separated rows

Guide to writing References:

References must be written carefully with the characteristic in following examples.If there is more than six authors, six of them are named and followed by the phrase; et al.The name of Journals should write in Standard Abbreviation . Can be using this links:

http://www.library.illinois.edu/biotech/j-abbrev.html

Examples guide:

Journal article, personal author(s): Rose ME, Huerbin MB, Melick J, Marion DW, Palmer AM, Schiding JK, et al. Regulation of interstitial excitatory amino acid concentrations after cortical contusion injury. Brain Res 2002;935(1-2):40-6.

Journal article, organization as author: Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. Hypertension, insulin, and proinsulin in participants with impaired glucose tolerance. Hypertension 2002;40(5):679-86.

No author given Anonymous. Coffee drinking and cancer of the pancreas (Editorial). Br Med J 1981; 283: 628 . Book, personal author(s): Murray PR, Rosenthal KS, Kobayashi GS, Pfaller MA. Medical microbiology. 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 2002.

Book, organization as author and publisher: Royal Adelaide Hospital; University of Adelaide, Department of Clinical Nursing. Compendium of nursing research and practice development, 1999-2000. Adelaide (Australia): Adelaide University; 2001.

Chapter in a book: Meltzer PS, Kallioniemi A, Trent JM. Chromosome alterations in human solid tumors. In: Vogelstein B, Kinzler KW, editors. The genetic basis of human cancer. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2002. p. 93-113.

Dictionary entry: Dorland's illustrated medical dictionary. 29th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 2000. Filamin; p. 675. CD-ROM: Anderson SC, Poulsen KB. Anderson's electronic atlas of hematology[CD-ROM]. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2002.

Journal article on the Internet: Abood S. Quality improvement initiative in nursing homes: the ANA acts in an advisory role. Am J Nurs [serial on the Internet]. 2002 Jun[cited2002 Aug12];102(6):[about3p.].Available from:http://www.nursingworld. org/AJN/ 2002/june/ Wawatch.htm Thesis Samei-zadeh T. [Effect of relative presence at bedside of primiparous woman on labor duration].

Thesis: Thesis for MSc. Degree of midwifery, Mashhad school of nursing and midwifery, 1999.

Book on the Internet :Foley KM, Gelband H, editors. Improving palliative care for cancer [monodiagram on the Internet]. Washington: National Academy Press; 2001 [cited 2002 Jul 9]. Available from: http://www.nursingworld.org/ AJN/2002/ june/Wawatch. htm.

Internet homepage/website: Cancer-Pain.org [homepage on the Internet]. New York: Association of Cancer Online Resources, Inc.; c2000-01 [updated 2002 May 16; cited 2002 Jul 9]. Available from: http://www.cancer-pain.org/

A whole conference: Kimura J, Shibasaki H, eds. Recent advances in clinical neurophysiology. Proceedings of the 10 the International Congress of EMG and Clinical Neurophysiology; 1995 Oct 15-19; Kyoto, Japan. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 1996.

A conference paper: Bengtsson S, Solheim BG. Enforcement of data protection, privacy and security in medical informatics. In: Lun KC, Degoulet P, Piemme TE, Reinhoff O, eds. MEDINFO 92. Proceedings of the 7 the World Congress on Medical Informatics; 1992 Sep 6-10; Geneva, Switzerland. Amsterdam: North-Holland; 1992; 1561-5. Submissions:

             Submissions:

• Submission is only acceptable via Journal URL: www.ijt.arakmu.ac.ir

• Authors must complete the submission preparation checklist and after scanning, send it along with the article.
• Follow up of articles is possible via Journal URL and website of the University.

Website of the University: “www.arakmu.ac.ir”

Journal URL: “www.ijt.ir” or   “http://ijt.arakmu.ac.ir”

Email: “ijt@arakmu.ac.ir”    &    “tox.journal@ymail.com” & “tox.journal@gmail.com”

Information: Iranian Journal of Toxicology office, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Basij Sq.,Sardasht, Arak, Iran.                                                                Tel e Fax: +98 86 34173509   

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