Editorial Policies

The Philippine Journal of Cardiology publishes scientific papers and communications pertinent to cardiology and allied fields. These include basic research and clinical papers, case reports, articles on fundamental cardiovascular principles and reviews on recent developments in cardiology. Manuscripts should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief at the above address.

Manuscripts accepted for publication may be edited as the editors deem necessary and the copyright of the manuscripts becomes the property of the publisher. No part of any article or communication published in the journal may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher.

Statements and opinions expressed in articles and communications herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editors and the publisher disclaims any responsibility or liability for all published materials.

Exclusive Submission/ Publication Policy
The PJC accepts manuscripts with the understanding that they are not being considered or published elsewhere except as an abstract. A copyright transfer agreement signed by all authors should be submitted with the manuscript.

Ethics
All studies must comply with prescribed institutional and national guidelines for the ethical conduct of research work. Subjects should have written informed consent.

Conflict of Interest
Authors are also requested to indicate sources of research grants and any possible conflict of interest related to equity holdings of the sponsoring corporation or agency.

Instructions for Submission of Manuscripts
Manuscripts, figures, tables, photographs and references should be submitted (including legends and footnotes). Manuscripts should be emailed to philjc2021@gmail.com in MS-Word format. Photos should be submitted in PDF, JPEG, TIFF or PNG format. 

General Guidelines for Submission of Research

PAPERS
1. Manuscripts must not exceed 5000 words (including references and legends).
2. The manuscript should conform to the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals” (updated 2019). http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/

AUTHORSHIP
The authors of the papers are responsible for the accuracy of all data and concepts expressed. Only workers who have contributed significantly in the conduct of research and its report should assume authorship of the paper. Other colleagues who have assisted may be recognized in the section for acknowledgement.

COVER LETTER
This should include why the article merits publication and the section the authors wish to place the article.

TITLE PAGE
The first page should contain the title, subtitle (if any), author(s), degrees, fellowship positions, or academic rank, hospital or academic institution, and necessary acknowledgment of financial support. The full name, postal address, telephone and fax numbers of the author to whom communications, proof and requests for reprints may be sent should also be indicated.

STYLE
The use of abbreviations should be minimized and confined to tables only; non-standard abbreviations must be accompanied by legends. Standard abbreviations such as LVH, CAD or MI may be used after the terms are spelled out once each in the abstract and text. Generic names of the drugs are preferred; trade names may be given at the end of the paper or in the acknowledgement.

KEYWORDS
Authors should provide, and identify as such, 5-8 key words or short phrases that will assist a researcher in identifying an information material. This will likewise, assist the user in cross-referencing the article especially in an electronic format (i.e., CD-ROM). Key words may be derived from terms commonly used in the article relevant to the subject. Terms from the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) list of Index Medicus should be used. For terms not recently included in the MeSH, present terms may be used.

ABSTRACT
The author’s abstract must be typed at the beginning of each article after the title page. It must contain the objectives, methods, results and conclusion and key words and must not exceed 250 words. It must be self-explanatory without resource to the text, abbreviations, footnotes or references.

INTRODUCTION
The introduction should briefly state the objectives of the study. It should not include extensive review of the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This section should be clear and detailed enough so that the reader can understand it without studying the references directly. Well-accepted research methods may be referred to for further clarification of the study design. It should also be stated that the study conforms with institutional and other applicable protocols and guidelines.

RESULTS
Precise presentation of results is imperative. Table and figures which are essential for a better understanding of the text, may be used. They should have brief descriptive titles and should be numbered as they appear in the text.

DISCUSSION
The discussion should focus on the study being reported and should not include a general review of the topic. This section should interpret and highlight the relevance of the results and contain a brief discussion of the limitations of the study.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors may indicate all proper acknowledgments following the discussion. This should be limited to 100 words.

REFERENCES
References are to be cited consecutively in the text as superscript numbers. At the end of each article, references should be listed consecutively at the order of numerals as they appear in the text. The form of references should be as follows:
For journal articles: surname and initials of author(s). title of article, name of journal, year; volume number, page thus:
1. Tupasi TE, Kanekiao O. Velmonte MA. Streptococcal surveillance in the school population: The asymptomatic carrier. Philipp J Cardiol 1977; 5:144. 

For books: surname and initials of author(s). title and subtitle, edition, city, publishing house, year; page, as specific references, Thus:
2. Friedberg CK. Disease of the Heart (3rd ed) Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 1966; p. 25.

For articles in books: surname and initials of author(s). title of article, chapter number (if any), title of book, edition (other than first), editor, city, publishing house, year; page. Thus:
3. Cury PVL. Fundamentals of arrhythmias-modern methods of investigation (Chap. 3). In Cardiac Arrhythmias: The Modern Electrophysiological Approach. Krickler DM, Goodwin JE cda. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company Ltd. 1975; p. 39.

References to press articles must state the name of the journal.

OTHERS
Footnotes must be minimized and should be typed at the foot of the appropriate page and separated from the text by a line. Tables should be typed on separate sheets with the corresponding numbers and titles. Symbols for unites must be confined to column headings. All data should be checked for accuracy.
Captions or legends of figures should be typed consecutively on a separate page.

Checklist for the Author
• Cover letter (should include section for which manuscript is submitted)
• Copyright transfer statement signed by all authors
• Original article
• Title page
• Structured abstract, 250-word maximum
• Text (including Methods, Results, Discussion)
• References
• Illustrations
• Tables
• Informed consent to publish patient’s case and photographs

Case Reports
These should include a written informed consent from the subject and is limited to 6 text pages and 20 references. An abstract is not required.

State-Of-The-Art Review (by invitation)
State-of-the-Art Reviews are articles by invited authors which aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current and emerging scientific evidence in a particular topic in cardiology. The review also presents a critical assessment and appraisal of the scientific literature about a subject or issue, as well as new perspectives on a given topic by the author.
Word limit for State of the Art Reviews is 4000 words. Structure must include Title, Abstract, Body Text, Conclusion, References and Acknowledgement.

Perspectives Article (by invitation)
Perspectives articles are written by invited authors focusing on a research topic of high interest in which the author's perspective provides insights on key findings in research and current trends and developments in cardiovascular science. The author can also present viewpoints and opinions on current topics in line with his/her area of expertise.
Word limit for Perspectives articles is 4000 words. Structure must include Title, Abstract, Body Text, Conclusion, References and Acknowledgement.

CV Images
Articles describing and discussing interesting images in cardiology may be sent for publication. Images may include any image of diagnostic procedures in cardiology, including electrocardiographs, echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, angiography, etc. Images sent must be high quality. Articles which will include a short description, and discussion should not be more than 1000 words, and must include appropriate references when needed.

Letters/ Reader’s Comments
The Editor encourages the reader to send comments regarding articles published in the PJC limited to 500 words. It should include why the letter should be published and the writer’s full name and city. The letter regarding a particular article should be received within 2 months of its publication.

Reprints
Twenty-five reprints are given free to senior authors of this journal. Additional reprints will be furnished to contributors when ordered in advance. An order form showing cost of reprints, is sent with proofs. Individual reprints of an article may be obtained by writing directly to the author at the appropriate address.

The Philippine Journal of Cardiology handles manuscripts and peer review through the following process:

1. Submission of Paper: The corresponding or submitting author submits the paper to the journal. This is usually via email to the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) secretariat or the Philippine Journal of Cardiology (PJC) email (philjc2021@gmail.com). Researches submitted to the PHA for the research contests of the Annual Convention are all considered submitted to the PJC and will be processed after the results of the research contest are announced subject to consent of the author.
2. Editorial Office Assessment: The Editorial Office checks that the paper adheres to the requirements described in the journal’s Author Guidelines. The quality of the paper is not assessed at this point. The editorial team then assesses the paper, considering its scope, originality and merits. The paper may be rejected at this stage.
3. Invitation for peer reviewers: The managing editor sends invitations to individuals he or she believes would be appropriate reviewers. Potential reviewers consider the invitation against their own expertise, conflicts of interest and availability. They then accept or decline the invitation to review. If possible, when declining, they might also suggest alternative reviewers. As responses are received, further invitations are issued, if necessary, until the required number of reviewers is secured – commonly this is 2.
4. Review is Conducted: The Journal utilizes a double-blind internal peer-review process. The reviewer sets time aside to read the paper several times. The first read is used to form an initial impression of the work. If major problems are found at this stage, the reviewer may feel comfortable rejecting the paper without further work. Otherwise, they will read the paper several more times, taking notes to build a detailed point-by-point review. The review is then submitted to the journal, with the reviewer’s recommendation (e.g. to revise, accept or reject the paper).
5. Journal Evaluates the Reviews: The handling editor considers all the returned reviews then makes a recommendation to the editor-in-chief. If the reviews differ widely, the editor may invite an additional reviewer so as to get an extra opinion before making a decision.
6. The Decision is Communicated: The editor sends a decision email to the author including any relevant reviewer comments. Comments will be anonymous. If the decision is to revise, the revised manuscript will be reviewed by the handing editor before recommending a decision. The final decision will be made by the editor-in-chief.

PJC does not charge any fee to any of the articles published and does not charge any fees for authors submitting articles for publication.

The Journal is funded by the Philippine Heart Association.
PJC is open to advertisements by companies and institutions subject to approval by the Philippine Heart Association.

PJC is open to subscription of printed copies to non-members of the PHA for a fee.

PJC adheres to strict publication standards and commits to publish only original scientific papers. Authors are expected to double check their manuscripts for plagiarism before these are submitted to the Journal. PJC will however perform its own plagiarism check for the submitted paper.

The PJC recognizes the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on scientific work. The Journal is presently developing a formal policy on the use of artificial intelligence in the production of scientific papers submitted. PJC expects contributing authors to ensure the accuracy and originality of their submitted scientific work. Presently, the use of artificial intelligence technologies (Large Language Models, ChatGPT) does not fulfill the ICMJE and PJC criteria for authorship. Authors must disclose use of this technology in their cover letter. The use of AI tools which do not fall under generative AI (i.e. tools for grammar checking, citation, and plagiarism detection) may be allowed but must be disclosed in the cover letter. The Journal likewise does not allow use of generative AI in the peer review process.

In the event that an author decides to retract a publication due to errors or any other issues, he/she must inform the PJC and the editor in chief immediately and follow the instructions for retraction of publication.

For cases wherein information on serious errors or publication issues of a certain scientific work is made known to the Journal and the editor in chief, a formal investigation will be made by the Journal and the contributing author will be notified of the necessary steps to take.

Philippine Journal of Cardiology Policy on Declaration of Conflicts of Interest for Editors, Editorial Board, Reviewers and Authors

Editors, editorial board members, reviewers and authors of the Philippine Journal of Cardiology are required to disclose interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Interests within the last 12 months of the beginning the work (conducting the research and preparing the work for submission) should be reported. Interests outside the 12-month time frame should be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the submitted work.

Interests that should be considered and disclosed include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Funding: Research grants from funding agencies (please give the research funder and the grant number) and/or research support (including salaries, equipment, supplies, reimbursement for attending symposia, and other expenses) by organizations that may gain or lose financially through publication of this manuscript.
• Employment: Recent (while engaged in the research project), present or anticipated employment by any organization that may gain or lose financially through publication of this manuscript. This includes multiple affiliations (if applicable).
• Financial interests: Stocks or shares in companies (including holdings of spouse and/or children) that may gain or lose financially through publication of this manuscript; consultation fees or other forms of remuneration from organizations that may gain or lose financially; patents or patent applications whose value may be affected by publication of this manuscript.
• Non-financial interests: In addition, all those mentioned above are requested to disclose interests that go beyond financial interests that could impart bias on the work submitted for publication such as professional interests, personal relationships or personal beliefs (amongst others). Examples include, but are not limited to: position on editorial board, advisory board or board of directors or other type of management relationships; writing and/or consulting for educational purposes; expert witness; mentoring relations; and so forth.

Funding information (given that funding is a potential conflict of interest (as mentioned above)) needs to be disclosed upon submission of the manuscript in the peer review system. When all authors have the same (or no) conflicts and/or funding it is sufficient to use one blanket statement. Authors are responsible for correctness of the statements provided in the manuscript. The Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to reject submissions that do not meet the guidelines described herein.

PJC DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

EDITORIAL BOARD

RAMIREZ, MARCELLUS FRANCIS L.

AHERRERA, JAIME ALFONSO M.

PESTAÑO, NOEMI S.

OLEGARIO, IVAN NOEL G.

REVIEWERS:

ABLAZA, PAUL JOHN L.

ABRAHAN IV, LAURO L.

ALAJAR, ELAINE B.

BERNARDO, JASMIN MELISSA B.

BERMUDEZ-DELOS SANTOS, APRIL ANN

BUGARIN, ORLANDO R.

CHAN, KEITH ANDREW L.

CINCO, JUDE ERRIC L.

CUENZA, LUCKY R.

DE LEON, KAREN A.

EUROPA, MARY LAUREN R.

FOMANEG-SUAN, CHERYL K.

JIMENEZ, RODNEY M.

LLANES, ELMER JASPER B.

MAGNO, JOSE DONATO A.

MAPPALA, VIRGINIA C

PATAWARAN, JEFFREY L.

SANTOS, JASON S.

SEGUBAN, JOSEPH MARC

SISON, MARIA CONCEPCION C.

SY, ALLEN ANDREW T.

TIONGCO II, RICHARD HENRY PERLAS

VALLE, ANDREA OREL SANTIAGO

VICERA, JENNIFER JEANNE B.

YANEZA, LIBERTY O.