Instructions for Authors

4.1 Cover Letter

Include:

• Importance and originality of the work.
• Confirmation the manuscript is not published and not under consideration elsewhere.
• Disclosure of conflicts of interest.
• Funding sources (if applicable).
• Confirmation of ethical approval and informed consent.
• Clinical trial registration details (if applicable).

4.2 Title Page

Must include:

• Full title and running head (short title).
• Full names of all authors.
• Affiliations for each author (Department, Institution, City, State).
• Corresponding author's full address and email.
• ORCID iDs (if available).
• Funding statement.
• Conflict of interest declaration.
• Author contribution statement (if required).

4.3 Manuscript File

For the specific requirements of each article type, please refer to the section Article Types. For most research articles, manuscripts should be structured as reported in the section Manuscript Structure.

Title

Clear, concise, and reflective of the study.

Abstract and Keywords

• Structured (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions) depending on the article (see "Article Types" section).
• 250–300 words unless otherwise specified by article type.
• No references or undefined abbreviations.
• Include 3–6 keywords (preferably MeSH terms where appropriate).

Main Text

Introduction

In the introduction section, the authors should situate the study within a broader scholarly context and clearly explain its relevance in relation to existing literature. They should explicitly state the objectives of the work and clearly articulate the specific hypothesis being tested. It is also essential to clarify whether the observations are grounded in previous research conducted by others or derived from the authors' own pilot study. Additionally, a concise summary of key findings from relevant prior studies should be included to provide a solid background for the research.

In summary, the introduction should clearly present:

• Context and rationale.
• Clear study objectives or research question.

Methods

The Methods section must provide a clear, transparent, and sufficiently detailed description of how and why the study was conducted in a particular manner. The rationale underlying the study design and methodological decisions should be clearly explained to allow readers to understand the scientific approach.

New or innovative procedures, instruments, or protocols must be described in adequate detail to permit replication. Well-established methods may be described more concisely, provided appropriate and up-to-date references are cited.

All methodological descriptions must include sufficient information to enable reproducibility by a knowledgeable reader.

Results

This section should present all findings obtained during the study and, where applicable, from follow-up analyses. All predefined outcomes and any additional relevant results must be clearly reported and supported by appropriate data. The presentation of results should be objective, concise, and directly aligned with the study objectives and hypotheses outlined in the introduction.

Both primary and secondary outcomes should be described in a logical sequence, ensuring that the data are accurately represented without interpretation or discussion. Quantitative results should include appropriate statistical indicators (e.g., measures of central tendency, variability, confidence intervals, and p-values where relevant), while qualitative findings should be clearly categorized and supported by representative evidence.

Tables and figures should be used to summarize the most important findings effectively, enhancing clarity and readability. They must complement, not duplicate, the text and should highlight key results. Additional technical details, extended datasets, methodological clarifications, or supplementary analyses may be provided as supplementary materials or appendices to maintain the focus and coherence of the main manuscript.

In summary, the Results should present:

• Clear presentation of findings.
• Avoid duplication between text and tables/figures.

Discussion

In the Discussion section, authors should go beyond merely restating the results and instead provide a comprehensive interpretation of the findings. The results should be critically analyzed, explained in depth, and contextualized within the broader scientific framework. Authors are expected to clarify the implications of their findings, anticipate the main conclusions, and emphasize the most significant and novel aspects of the study.

This section should integrate the study outcomes with existing literature, drawing comparisons with previously published research to highlight similarities, discrepancies, or advancements. Appropriate references to relevant studies are strongly recommended to support interpretations and to situate the work within the current state of knowledge.

Finally, a dedicated paragraph addressing the limitations of the study is strongly encouraged. A transparent discussion of methodological constraints, potential biases, and other weaknesses enhances the credibility and scientific rigor of the work, while also suggesting directions for future research.

In summary, the Discussion should present:

• Interpretation of findings.
• Comparison with existing literature.
• Strengths and limitations.
• Clinical or research implications.

Conclusions

In this final section, the authors should clearly summarize the main findings and overall outcomes of the study, emphasizing their scientific and practical significance. The conclusions must be directly supported by the results presented and aligned with the original objectives and research questions.

If the findings are preliminary or limited in scope, the need for further research should be explicitly acknowledged. Authors should outline potential directions for future studies, particularly where unanswered questions remain or additional validation is required.

Where appropriate, practical implications, recommendations, or suggestions for other researchers may be included to enhance the contribution of the work to the scientific community. A well-structured conclusion should provide a clear and meaningful synthesis of the study, reinforcing its relevance and value within the broader field of research.

In summary, the Conclusions should be:

• Concise and supported by results.

1. Acknowledgements

This section should include brief acknowledgements of individuals who made genuine contributions to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship (e.g., technical support, language editing, data collection assistance).

All acknowledged individuals must have provided written consent to be named.

Authors must also confirm that permission has been obtained for the use of any copyrighted material (text, tables, figures, illustrations).

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Assisted Technology Statement

At submission, authors must disclose whether AI-assisted technologies (e.g., Large Language Models, chatbots, image generators) were used.

If AI was used:

• It must be disclosed in both the Cover Letter and this section.
• The purpose of use must be described.
• AI tools must not be listed as authors.
• Authors retain full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the content.

Example:

"The authors used [Tool Name, Version] for language editing. All outputs were reviewed and verified by the authors."

If no AI tools were used:

"No AI-assisted technologies were used in the preparation of this manuscript."

3. Authors' Contributions

For manuscripts with more than one author, a clear description of each author's contribution must be provided. Author names must not be abbreviated.

Contributions may include:

• Conceptualization and study design
• Data acquisition
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Drafting of the manuscript
• Critical revision for intellectual content
• Supervision
• Validation
• Final approval of the version to be published

All authors must have approved the final manuscript and agree to be accountable for its content.

4. Clinical Trial Registration

For clinical trials:

"This trial was registered at [Registry Name] (Registration No. XXX)."

5. Conflict of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence (bias) their work. Examples include:

• Consultancy roles
• Employment
• Stock ownership
• Honoraria
• Paid expert testimony
• Patent applications or ownership
• Grants or other funding

If conflicts exist, they must be fully described.

If no conflicts exist, authors must include the following statement:

"The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose."

6. Data Availability Statement

All articles containing original data must include a Data Availability Statement placed after the Conflict of Interest section. Acceptable formats include:

• "The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available in the repository [NAME], [persistent link]."
• "The datasets are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request."
• "Data are not publicly available due to [ethical/legal reason] but are available upon reasonable request."
• "Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed."
• "All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and/or its supplementary material."

Authors must ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

7. Ethics Approval

All research involving human participants or animals must include a formal ethics statement.

For human studies:

• Name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board.
• Approval number (if applicable).
• Confirmation of compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Example:

"This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board of [Institution Name] (Protocol No. XXX; date of approval)."

If ethical review was waived:

"Ethical review and approval were waived for this study due to [provide justification]."

For animal studies:

• Name of approving authority.
• Confirmation of compliance with relevant national/international guidelines.
• Adherence to ARRIVE guidelines.

8. Funding

Authors must clearly state all sources of funding and financial support related to the work. Examples:

• "This study was supported by [Funding Agency], grant number [XXXX]."
• "The writing of this manuscript was funded by [Organization]."
• "Initial data analysis was performed by [Name], employee of [Company], funded by [Organization]."

If no funding was received, authors must state:

"No funding was declared for this study."

Where applicable (e.g., NIH-funded research), grant numbers must be included.

9. Informed Consent

For studies involving human participants, authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained.

Example:

"All participants provided written informed consent prior to inclusion in the study."

For case reports:

"Written informed consent was obtained from the patient (or legal guardian) for publication of this case report and accompanying images."

10. ORCID ID

Authors are encouraged to provide their ORCID identifiers to ensure correct attribution of their work.

Format: Name Surname – ORCID: 0000-0000-0000-0000

11. Supplementary Material

If applicable:

"Supplementary material associated with this article can be found in the online version."

Figures

Figures must be submitted as separate files and must not be embedded in the main manuscript. Each file must include the figure number in the file name (e.g., Figure 1.jpg). Figures must be cited consecutively in the text using Arabic numerals.

Formats: TIFF, EPS, JPG

Minimum resolution at final size:

• Line art: 600 dpi
• Halftone photos (B/W or colour): 300 dpi
• Combination: 600 dpi

Images should be sharp and clear. Blurred or pixelated figures will not be accepted.

Figure Legends

Figure legends must be included in the main manuscript file (after the reference list), not within the figure file. Legends should be concise yet sufficiently detailed and must define all abbreviations used.

Tables

Tables must be included in the main manuscript, immediately after figure legends, and submitted in editable format (preferably Word). Tables must be self-contained, not duplicate the text, and be numbered consecutively.

• Define abbreviations in footnotes.
• Define statistical measures (e.g., SD, SEM) in the table heading.
• Footnote symbols order: †, ‡, §, ¶
• Reserve *, **, *** for p-values only.

Supplementary Material

Supplementary material may be submitted to support and enhance the scientific content of the manuscript. Examples include:

• Extended datasets
• Additional tables or figures
• Detailed methodological descriptions
• Statistical code
• Questionnaires or interview guides
• Multimedia files (e.g., video or audio material)

Submission Requirements

• Supplementary files must be submitted separately from the main manuscript.
• Each file must be clearly labelled (e.g., Supplementary Table 1, Supplementary Figure 2).
• All supplementary material must be cited in the main text.
• Files should be provided in commonly accessible, non-proprietary formats whenever possible.

Accepted supplementary files will be published online alongside the article. Authors are responsible for ensuring accuracy, completeness, and appropriate anonymization of any shared data.

Nomenclature

Scientific terminology should follow internationally recognized standards relevant to the discipline. Authors should:

• Use accepted medical and scientific terminology.
• Prefer generic names over proprietary or brand names for drugs, devices, and equipment (brand names may be included in parentheses at first mention, if necessary).
• Ensure consistency in terminology throughout the manuscript.
• Use internationally accepted anatomical and clinical terminology.

Gene names, species names, and technical classifications must follow established conventions and formatting rules (e.g., italicization where appropriate).

Units of Measurement

All measurements must be reported using the International System of Units (SI).

• Units should be expressed consistently throughout the manuscript.
• A space should separate the numerical value from the unit (e.g., 10 kg, 5 mL).
• Decimal points (not commas) should be used in English-language manuscripts.
• Derived units and concentrations must follow standard scientific notation.

Citation in the Text

• References must be cited using Arabic numerals in square brackets, in the order in which they first appear in the text (e.g., [1], [2]).
• Multiple references should be separated by commas (e.g., [3,4,7]).
• Consecutive references should be indicated using a hyphen (e.g., [5–8]).
• References cited in tables or figure legends must follow the numbering sequence of their first mention in the text.

Reference List

The reference list must:

• Be arranged in numerical order corresponding to in-text citations.
• Include only references cited in the manuscript.
• Contain complete and accurate bibliographic details.
• Include DOI numbers whenever available.

Authors are encouraged to limit references to relevant and recent literature.

How to cite Journal Articles

Author(s). Title of article. Journal Title. Year;Volume(Issue):Page range. doi

Example: Infante M, Silvestri F, Padilla N, Pacifici F, Pastore D, Maia Pinheiro M, et al. Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential of the Second-Generation Incretin Analogs Semaglutide and Tirzepatide in Type 1 Diabetes and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults. J Clin Med. 2025;14(4):1303. doi:10.3390/jcm14041303

If there are more than six authors, list the first six followed by “et al.”

How to cite Books

Author(s). Title of Book. Edition (if not first). Place of publication: Publisher; Year.

Example: Ricordi C, Strom TB. Transplantation and Cellular Therapy in Metabolic Diseases. 2nd ed. New York: Springer; 2020.

How to cite Book Chapters

Author(s) of chapter. Title of chapter. In: Editor(s), editor(s). Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher; Year. p. page range.

Example: Infante M, Ricordi C. Role of oxidative stress in metabolic disorders. In: Moller DE, Flier JS, editors. Metabolic Diseases: Pathophysiology and Clinical Management. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2021. p. 245–262.

How to cite Online Resources

Online material should be used cautiously and only when from authoritative sources.

Author(s) or Organization. Title of document. Website name. Published year. Available at: URL. Accessed [Month Year].

Example: International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas (10th edition). International Diabetes Federation website. 2021. Available at: https://diabetesatlas.org. Accessed March 2026.

Where available, a DOI should be used instead of a URL.

Data Citation

Publicly available datasets must be cited in the reference list and include:

• Author(s);
• Year;
• Dataset title;
• Repository name;
• DOI or persistent link.

Unpublished Material

Personal communications, unpublished data, or manuscripts under review should not appear in the reference list. Such information may be cited in the text only, with written permission from the source.

Reference Accuracy

Authors must:

• Verify all references against original sources.
• Ensure consistency between in-text citations and reference list.
• Confirm correct spelling of author names, journal titles, volume numbers, and page ranges.

Incorrect or incomplete references may result in delays during production.

Please note:

• Ensure all references cited in the text are included in the reference list and vice versa.
• Follow the journal’s prescribed reference style consistently.
• Avoid excessive citation.
• Clearly identify preprints where applicable.
• Authors are responsible for reference accuracy.

Manuscript Files

• Cover Letter included
• Title Page submitted separately
• Blinded manuscript file uploaded
• Tables and figures prepared as required
• Supplementary material (if applicable)

Content and Structure

• Abstract within limits and correctly structured
• 3–6 keywords provided
• Word count within limits for article type
• Tables/figures cited in text
• References formatted correctly

Ethical and Legal Requirements

• Ethics approval statement included
• Informed consent statement included (if applicable)
• Trial registration details provided (if applicable)
• Conflict of interest statement included
• Funding statement included
• AI statement included (as applicable)

Double-Blind Compliance

• No identifying information in the manuscript file

Final Verification

• Manuscript proofread for language and clarity
• All required sections complete
• Corresponding author details accurate