Mission and scope
The Liberia Medical & Dental Association Journal (LMDAJ) publishes contributions of Professionals, scientific and
educational interest to medical and dental practitioners and researchers and those in related disciplines, with
special focus on medical practice and research in Africa and its people. The aim of the Journal is to provide a
medium for international dissemination of research findings in Liberia, West Africa and elsewhere and to promote
corporation amongst and between medical researchers in Africa and elsewhere. The Journal is published in English
and French. Supplements are published upon arrangement with the Editor-In-Chief.
Information about previous publications
Manuscripts are considered on the understanding that they have not been published or are not under
consideration for publication by another journal. However, publication of the abstract of the paper elsewhere
does not disqualify the paper from consideration. When there is doubt about possible duplicative publication,
authors should attach a copy of the published paper to the manuscript on submission.
Submission of Manuscript
The Journal welcomes papers in the form of original research articles, commentaries, editorials, reviews and
educational materials as well as scientific, socio-political and economic contributions in matters that impact on
medical care, education, and research.
An electronic copy of the manuscript should also be sent to the email address of the Editor-In-Chief using the contact info below:
Asst. Professor Philip Z. Ireland
Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences. John F. Kennedy Medical Center University of Liberia
Teaching Hospital. Monrovia, Liberia.
Email: lmdajeditorinchief@lmdaj.org
Submissions: submissions@lmdaj.org
Revising A Manuscript
When revising a manuscript at the request of the Editor-in-Chief, authors should provide a covering letter detailing
the response to each of the points raised by the assessors or the Editors. A copy should be sent the Editor-In-Chief
by email. Information about electronic submission is available from the Editor-In-Chief.
An electronic proof of the edited manuscript may be sent to the corresponding author for corrections on request.
Such proofs must be returned to the Editor within three days of dispatch by the Editorial office. Typographical
corrections only should be affected when correcting galley proofs.
Manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the “Uniform requirements submitted to Biomedical Journals”
(1) The paper should be typed with 3 cm margins and double spaced throughout, including illustration and
references. Pages should be numbered and word-count provided for the abstract and the complete paper
excluding references, tables, and legends, point size 12 using Times New Roman should be used throughout the
manuscript, using Microsoft Word application.
All contributions are peer reviewed by assessors. Accepted manuscripts may be copy-edited according to the
Journal style. The authors are responsible for all statements and claims and statements are not necessarily shared
by the Editors or the Publishers or Owners of the Journal. Similarly, neither the Editors nor the Publishers
guarantee any claims made concerning advertised products or services.
The manuscript should be accompanied by a covering letter, which identifies the corresponding author and signed
by all co-authors. Only those who have contributed significantly should be included as authors (vide infra). All
authors should also sign the declaration and copyright when the contribution is finally accepted. The senior author
should provide an explanation for any of the authors unable to sign.
Offprints
Offprints are obtainable from the Editor-In-Chief at advertised rates. These should be paid for at all time of final
acceptance of contributions.
Types Of Contributions
Indicate the type of contribution in the covering letter as follows:
Section A: Original Research Article
An original research should concern itself with aetiology, pathogenesis, pathology, diagnosis, management and
prevention of medical disorders. Animal research contributions which impact on human health care are equally
welcome in this section. This type of manuscript should have a maximum of 4,000 words and a maximum total of
eight tables and/ or illustrations and no more than thirty references.
Section B: Brief Communication and Case Reports
Examples of these include unique case reports, clinical experiences, reports of adverse drug effects, and short
reports of original research. The text should not exceed 1,500 words, a total of three figures and/or tables and no
more than fifteen references. The format should be as for a standard paper.
Section C: Medical Education
Important innovations in medical education for clinicians as well as continuing professional improvement. Text
length and other requirements are as for original research publications.
Section D: Reviews and Meta-Analysis
Detailed systematic and critical evaluation and meta-analysis of the literature on clinical practice topics, drug
therapy, mechanisms of disease, current concepts on clinical topics, or other topics of scientific or clinical interest.
These will normally be submitted on request but the EIC will also entertain unsolicited contributions. Maximum
length should be 5,000 words and should contain sub-headings (maximum three sub-head). Maximum number of
60 references and 10 Tables/Illustrations.
Section E: Conference and Workshop Reports and Supplements
Conference and workshops reports should not exceed 5,000 word, and should be edited before submission.
Proceedings of grand rounds are also welcome in this section. The Journal will also publish special issues as
supplements upon a proposal having been accepted by the journal.
Section F: Editorials and Commentaries
Editorials and commentaries are normally commissioned. However, unsolicited ones are welcome and subject to
routine assessment. The theme should be topical or on papers published in the Journal. The maximum length
should be 1,000 words with no more than 20 references.
Section G: Correspondence
Letters to the Editor should contain a maximum of 600 words, five references and no more than two illustrations
and/or tables. Letters may be on matters concerning clinical observations, other matters of clinical relevance or
reactions to articles published in the Journal. Correspondence should be typed doubled-spaced and submitted in
duplicate by e-mail. Accepted letters may be edited before publishing.
Section H: Miscellaneous
These include book reviews, prose (100 words) and poetry (60 lines). Socio-political issues related to
medical care and personal opinion or issues for debate (maximum 2,000 words).
Manuscript Format & Preparation
Type manuscript in English or French with double spacing all throughout (and for hard copies, white
bond paper with 3 cm margins. The paper should be set out as follows: (a) Title page, (b) Abstract, (c)
Keywords, (d) Abbreviations, (e) Text Introductions, Subjects, Materials and Methods; Results and
Discussions, (f) Acknowledgement, (g) Duality of Interest, (h) References (i) Tables, (j) Figures, and (k)
Legends to Figures and Tables. Number the manuscript pages consecutively starting from the title page
through the tables. Each of these subsections should be started on a new page in the sequence given
above.
Title Page
The abstract should contain (i) title of the manuscript, (ii) initial(s) and surname of each author, and his
affiliation; (iii) name, postal and e-mail addresses of corresponding author, (iv) a running title of not
more than 40 characters, (v) financial support information (e.g. agency, grant number). Avoid use of
abbreviations in the title. Provide a word count of both the abstract and the main text at the bottom of
the title page.
Abstract Page
The abstract should either be structured (maximum 250 words) or unstructured (150 words or less)
depending on the type or article. Articles that need structured abstracts include original research
papers, case reports, reviews and meta-analyses and brief reports. Other contributions may be
provided only with a 150-word summary in the conventional manner. In any event the abstract should
include the purpose, methods, results and conclusion. Editorials, Correspondence, commentaries, prose
and poetry and similar contributions need not carry abstracts.
Structured Abstracts should be provided as follows:
I. Abstract for original contributions, case reports and brief reports should consist of the following sections:
- Background and objectives
- Methods which should include design
- Subjects, materials, setting and measurements
- Results
- Conclusions
II. A review article abstract (including meta-analysis) should be organized into the following sections:
- Background/Purpose
- Data Source(s)
- Study selection
- Data extraction
- Results
- Conclusions
Keywords
Provide four to ten keywords or short phrases that can be used for indexing, immediately
following the abstract. Use terms from index Medicus Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Guidelines On Style
Headings in Text
Use a maximum of these levels of sub-headings.
Abbreviations
Should be sparingly used and only to save space and avoid repeating long names or
regimens used more than once. In a figure or table, define the abbreviation in a foot note. List in an
alphabetical order all non-standard abbreviations (with definitions) contained in the text after the keywords.
Accepted abbreviations can be used without definition. Avoid abbreviations in the title,
running title, titles of illustrations, and at the start of a sentence.
Drugs
Should be indicated by their generic names but not trade names except for drugs showing adverse
reaction or those used in comparison of different preparations of the same agent. In the latter case give
the generic name followed by the proprietary name and the manufacturer in brackets.
Tables
Should be submitted one each on a separate page, typed doubled line-spaced, and numbered
and referred to in the text by Arabic numerals. Their approximate positions in the text should be
indicated. A brief title describing the content in the table should be created using the tables function of
the word processing software Microsoft Word, not a spreadsheet.
Give each column of the table a short heading. The units in which results are expressed should be given
in brackets at the head of each column. Place explanation in the footnotes but not in the heading. For
footnotes, use the following symbols in the given sequence in order from left to right or from top to
bottom in the body of the table *, †,‡,§,¶,**,††,‡‡,§§ etc. No internal horizontal or vertical rules should
be used in the table. If a table must extend beyond a page, repeat the title followed by “cont’d” and
repeat the column headings.
Illustrations or photographs should be submitted in triplicates, and should be black and white glossy
prints of very high quality. However, professionally made line drawings are acceptable as photographic
prints. Originally drawings, X-ray films etc. are not acceptable. Illustrations should not be larger than an
A4 size. Letters, numbers and symbols should be even and clear throughout and of sufficient size that
when reduced for publication each item will still be legible. Illustration title and explanatory notes
should be in the respective legend and not in the figures themselves.
Provide photomicrographs with staining techniques, internal scale markers and/or a statement of
magnification. Symbols, arrows, or letters used in the photographs should contrast with the
background.
Figures should be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals according to the order in which they have
been cited in the text. Patients shown in photographs should have their identity concealed or should
have given their written consent for publication. Materials taken from other sources must be
accompanied by a written permission for reproduction by the publishers or copyright holder.
Color Figures will only be published at the expense of the authors.
Authors should write to inquire from the Editor-In-Chief.
On the back of each printed figure or below the electronic figure, authors should write the figure
number, the name of the senior author, the running title and an arrow to indicate the top edge.
Footnotes are only allowed on the title page and in tables, but not within the text.
Footnote symbols should be used in the following order, horizontally and/or vertically: *, †,‡,§,¶,**, ††,‡‡,§§, etc. Use of
numbers or letters is not acceptable.
Legends for Figures
Type each legend for an illustration double-spaced, starting on a separate sheet,
with Arabic numerals corresponding to the figures. This should start with a short title, followed by a
short, cryptic description of the legend. All abbreviations and symbols should be explained in the legend.
Magnification and stain for any microphotograph should be given at the end of the legend for
the figure, where appropriate.
Units For Scientific Measurements
Present units of scientific measurements in the units in which the research was conducted (with the
conventional or SI equivalents in parentheses) in the text. In a table or figure, a conversion factor
should be provided as a footnote.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgement of general, financial and material support or technical and secretarial help etc. should
be indicated at the end of the main text. It is the responsibility of the authors to obtain consent of those
being acknowledged.
References
The references should be numbered in parentheses in the order in which they appear in the text, tables,
or legends. References should be in the Vancouver style, as laid down in the “Uniform Requirements for
manuscripts submitted to Biomedical Journals (1)”.
At the end of the article the full list of references should give the surname and initials of all authors
unless there are more than sis, when only the first six should be given, followed by the title of the
article, the title of the Journal abbreviated as in index Medicus, the year of publication, the volume
number and the first and last pages. For books, the references should follow the following format: the
author, title of book, place of publication, the publisher,
Examples of References
Standard Article
Musumatu G, Miakama T, Okoro P, Pneumonia in Lagos Children. West Afr J Med 1997-234:45-49
Special Format
Letters or abstracts: As for articles with letter or abstract Oshare, EO. Tetanus in Lagos (Letter) Niger Med J 1988: 1:301.
Books
List all authors or editor when six or fewer: when seven or more, list the first six and add et al.
Author of a book
Makamer EN. Diabetes mellitus for Medical Students. 6th ed. Nairobi, Princess Publisher: 1990
Chapter in a Book
(Note: Previous Vancouver style had a colon rather than a p before pagination).
Philip SI, Whisnant JP. Hypertension and stroke. In: Laragh JH. Brenner BM, editors. Hypertension:
Pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. 2nd ed. New York. Raven Press; 1995. P. 465-78
Volume with Supplement
Shen HM, Zhang QF. Risk assessment of nickel carcinogenicity and occupational lung cancer.
Environ. Health Perspect 1994: 102 (Suppl) 1275-82.
Issue with Supplement
Pyne DK, Sullivan MD, Massie MJ. Women’s psychological reactions to breast cancer. Semin
Oncol 1996; 23(1 suppl 2):89-97.
Volume with part
Ozben T, Nacitarhan S, Tuncer N, Plasma and urine sialic acid in non-insulin dependent diabetes
Mellitus. Ann Clin Biochem 1995; 32(Pt.3):303-6.
Type of article indicated as needed
Enzensberger W, Fischer PA. Metronome in Parkson’s disease (letter). Lancet 1996: 347:1337.
Ringsven MK, Bond D, Gerontology and leadership skills for nurses, 2nd ed. Albany (NY). Delmar
Publishers; 1996.
Editor(s), Compiler(s) as Author
Norman IJ, Redfern SJ, editors. Mental Health care for elderly people New York. Churchill
Livingstone; 1996.
Conference Proceedings
Kimura J, Shibasaki H, editors Recent advances in clinical neurophysiology, Proceedings of the
10th International Congress of EMG and Clinical Neurophysiology. 1995 Oct 15 – 19, Kyoto,
Japan. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1996
Conference Paper
Bengtsson S, Solheim BG, Enforcement of data protection, Privacy and security in medical
Informatic. In: Lun KC, Daguolet P, Piemme TE, Rienhoff O, editors. MEDINFO 92 Proceedings
Of the 7th World Congress on Medical Informatics 1992 Sep 6-10: Geneva, Switzerland.
Amsterdam, North Holland, 1992. P.1561 – 5.
Dissertation
Chaplain SJ, Post-hospital home health care: the elderly’s access and utilization (dissertation).
St Louise (MO): Washington University 1995. The Holy Bible, King James Version. Grand Rapids
(MI): Zondervan Publishing House; 1995. Ruth 3:1-18 1973.
Electronic Material
Journal article in electronic format Morse SS. Factors in the emergence of infectious diseases.
Emerg. Infect Dis (serial online) 1995 Jan-Mar (cited 1996 Jun 5); (1): (24) screens); available
From URL: http/www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EOD/eid.htm.
Manograph in Electronic Format
CDI, clinical dermatology illustrated (manograph on CD-ROM), Reeves JRT, Maibach H, CMEA
Multimedia Group, Producers, 2nd ed. Version 2.0 San Diego. CMEA; 1995. Hemodynamics III
The ups and downs of hemodynamics
It is the responsibility of all authors to ensure the accuracy of cited references.
Ethical Considerations
Consent
All manuscripts reporting experiments in human beings must be accompanied by a
statement in the method section that the authors have compiled with the requirements of the local
ethical committee. If investigators have no access to an ethics committee, the principles outlined in the
Helsinki Declaration (2) should be followed. Avoid using patient’s name, initials or hospital numbers. If
full-face photographs are to be used, such photographs must be accompanied by a signed or thumb
printed informed consent of the person. Animal experimenters must also follow the institution’s
guidelines on the use of laboratory animals in research.
Criteria for Authorship
The criteria for authorship are as expressed in the Uniform Requirements (1) which state that
authorship credit should be based only on substantial contribution to:
(a) Conception and design, or analysis and interpretation of data
(b) Drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content
(c) Final revision of the version to be published.
Authors should meet conditions a, b, and c. Collecting and assembling data reported in a paper are not,
by themselves, qualifications for authorship. The corollary also should not be overlooked ie those who
meet criteria for authorship should not be excluded.
Conflicts of Interest
Authors should list all financial support, including equipment and drugs on the title page. Details of
financial interest that might influence the conduct of reporting of the study should be given in the
covering letter. Reference (assessors of articles) should also inform the editor of any possible conflict of
interest.
Previous and Redundant Publications
Manuscripts that overlap substantially with previous publications should not be submitted for
consideration. Publication of the abstract arising from a conference does not disqualify the paper.
Authors should submit a copy of potential duplicate papers to the editor.
Copyright
On acceptance, the copyright of the paper will be vested in the Journal/Publisher. All authors of a submitted
manuscript are required to sign the “statement to be signed by all authors” form and the transfer of the
copyright.
Documents Cited
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform requirements for manuscript
submitted to Biomedical Journals. http://www.icmjc.org/urm-full
41st World Medical Assembly. Declaration of Helsinki’s recommendations guiding Physicians in
Biomedical Research and involving human subjects. Bulletin Pan-American Health Organization.
1990; 24: 606-9.
Submitting Manuscripts
In addition to the information for authors, contributors should note that all
submissions should be submitted electronically via the email referenced above.
All manuscripts submitted should be sent to the Editor-In-Chief (EIC) as an email attachment processed
in Microsoft Word and saved as Rich Text Format (RTF).
For initial processing, figures may be scanned or taken by digital cameras and attached separately from
the text. On acceptance we will arrange to receive quality graphics from authors if the need arises.
On receipt of the electronic version of your manuscripts, it will be mailed unedited to reviewers.
Therefore, ensure that the submission follows the guidelines provided for authors. Authors should send
two versions of the manuscripts: one with all the details prescribed and a second one without the
names and affiliations of the authors.
Review by Electronic Means.
The Journal actively encourages reviewers to complete the peer review process electronically. To this
end, the journal is seeking for reviewers with knowledge of and access to internet procedures to join the
team of our regular reviewers. If you would like to review for the Journal using electronic means, please
send me a mail to that effect and I would send you a formal invitation and the details of the review
process.
Keywords for Indexing
Author and subject Indexes are published for each issue and volume of the
Journal. To facilitate this, it is important that standard accepted keywords be supplied as indicated in
the section for information for authors. As stated therein, all keywords should follow those in the
MeSH of Index Medicus and/or as in Medline.
Review Articles in Specialties
The Journal is increasingly taking on its role in postgraduate medical education. To this end we solicit
review articles in specialized areas of medicine, surgery, dentistry, basic medical education including
continuing medical education. If you need further information, please contact the EIC.
Those wishing to write for us, should contact the EIC to discuss the chosen subject before submitting.
Our Policy On Processing Newly Submitted Manuscripts..
The Board of the Journal has decided that a token amount should be charged for processing a submitted manuscript
without prejudice towards the publication fee on final acceptance.
To this end, a processing fee of fifty dollars (USD 50.00) is to be paid by authors along with the
manuscript at submission as an initial deposit towards the peer review process total.
This policy takes effect as of 1st January 2024.
Solicited contributions are exempted from the payment of processing fees.
All payments should be made payable to the following account:
“Liberia Medical & Dental Journal Association”, with bank commissions borne by drawers.
Payments may also be made via the following electronic transfer:
Account Name: Liberia Medical & Dental Association Journal
Account Number: <bank acct number>
Name of Bank: United Bank of Africa, Liberia
In case of any difficulty, please contact us via email at the following email addresses:
Asst. Professor Philip Z. Ireland
Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences. John F. Kennedy Medical Center University of Liberia
Teaching Hospital. Monrovia, Liberia.
Email: lmdajeditorinchief@lmdaj.org
Submissions: submissions@lmdaj.org