Vascular Medicine

Manuscript Submission Guidelines: Vascular Medicine

This Journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics. This Journal recommends that authors follow the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly work in Medical Journals . There are no fees payable to submit or publish in this journal.

Please read the guidelines below then visit the Journal’s submission site http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/vascular-medicine to upload your manuscript. Please note that manuscripts not conforming to these guidelines may be returned.

1. SCOPE
2. ARTICLE TYPES
   2.1 ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLES
   2.2 REVIEW ARTICLES
   2.3 RESEARCH LETTERS
   2.4 IMAGES IN VASCULAR MEDICINE
   2.5 CASE REPORTS
   2.6 VASCULAR DISEASE PATIENT INFORMATION PAGE
   2.7 LETTER TO THE EDITOR
   2.8 FOCUSED ISSUE SUBMISSIONS
3. EDITORIAL POLICIES
   3.1 PEER REVIEW POLICY
   3.2 AUTHORSHIP
   3.2.1 Affiliations
   3.2.2Acknowledgements
   3.2.3 Writing assistance
   3.2.4 ORCiD identifiers
   3.3 FUNDING
   3.4 DECLARATION OF CONFLICTING INTERESTS
   3.5 RESEARCH ETHICS AND PATIENT CONSENT
   3.6 CLINICAL TRIALS AND DATA SHARING
   3.7 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)-ASSISTED TECHNOLOGY
   3.8 REPORTING GUIDELINES
4. PUBLISHING POLICIES
   4.1 PLAGIARISM
   4.2 PREPRINTS
   4.3 CONTRIBUTOR’S PUBLISHING AGREEMENT
   4.4 OPEN ACCESS (SAGE CHOICE)
   4.5 PERMISSIONS
5. PREPARING YOUR MANUSCRIPT
   5.1 STRUCTURE AND FORMAT
   5.2 JOURNAL STYLE
   5.3 ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDITING SERVICES FOR AUTHORS
6. SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT
   6.1 AUTHOR CORRESPONDENCE
   6.1.1 Publication of author ORCiD identifiers
   6.1.2 Publication of author social media handles
   6.2 FILE UPLOAD
   6.3 PREVIEW THE PDF
7. ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION
   7.1 SAGE PRODUCTION AND PROOFS
   7.2 ACCESS TO YOUR PUBLISHED ARTICLE
   7.3 ONLINE FIRST PUBLICATION
8. EDITORIAL OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION

 

1. Scope

Vascular Medicine, a fully peer-reviewed, MEDLINE and ISI-indexed journal, is dedicated to advancing the field of vascular medicine by publishing the latest clinical and scientific information in vascular medicine and related specialties.

The content of Vascular Medicine includes original research, review articles, and research letters as well as high-quality images and more.

Areas of interest include:

• Vascular biology and physiology
• Epidemiology of vascular disease
• Prevention and treatment of vascular disease
• Vascular imaging and diagnostic testing
• Medical treatments of vascular disease including exercise therapies
• Endovascular intervention
• Vascular surgery
• Clinical thrombosis and hypercoagulable states
• Clinical trials and substudies of clinical trials related to vascular disease
• Additional topics of relevance to the clinical subspecialty of vascular medicine

2. Article Types

2.1 Original Research

Original research articles include prospective and retrospective studies as well as meta-analyses. The journal publishes translational and clinical research relevant to vascular medicine. NOTE: Authors must follow standard reporting guidelines according to study type (i.e., CONSORT, STROBE, etc.).

• Approximately 2000-4000 words total (inclusive of entire main document)
• Structured abstract with 3-5 keywords
• Include clinical trial registration number or Prospero ID (for meta-analyses) at end of abstract, if applicable
• For financial support, describe role of sponsor and any required disclaimers (note: NIH-funded studies should include the disclaimer found here: https://grants.nih.gov/policy/federal-funding.htm)
• Additional requirements are detailed under Structure and Format

2.2 Review Articles

Review articles include narrative summary reviews and systematic reviews.

NOTE: Meta-analyses should be submitted as original research articles and structured according to PRISMA guidelines.

• Approximately 4000-7000 words total (inclusive of entire main document)
• Unstructured abstract with 3-5 keywords
• At least 1 summary table or figure
• PRISMA guidelines should be followed for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (see note above).

Core Curriculum in Vascular Medicine Reviews

Additional criteria apply for Core Curriculum articles, which are generally invited by the editors. These articles are curated in a special collection available at https://journals.sagepub.com/topic/collections-vmj/vmj-1-core-curriculum...

2.3 Research Letters

Research letters communicate original research findings in the format of a letter.

• Approximately 500-800 words (inclusive of entire main document)
• No abstract or keywords
• No headings or subheadings
• Up to 10 references
• One table or figure
• One additional table or figure may be included as supplemental material (online only)
• Additional criteria apply for Core Curriculum articles, which are generally invited by the editors.

2.4 Images in Vascular Medicine

NOTE: Cases with corresponding clinical photographs, radiographic or ultrasound images, and/or histopathology are preferred.  Image submissions are reviewed by the Editor in Chief and Image Section editor.

• Approximately 400 words (inclusive of entire main document) describing the images; no separate captions allowed.
• No abstract or keywords
• Up to 5 references (minimum of 2)
• Maximum of four images , with no more than 4 panels per image
• Refer to each image as a Panel A, B, C, etc.
• For multi-panel images, use Panel A-1, A-2, etc.
• Panel labels should NOT be part of the image itself.

2.5 Case Reports

NOTE: Only novel and previously unreported clinical findings and/or highly innovative approaches to patient management will be considered for publication as a case report. For case reports that do not meet these criteria but have high quality images, the journal encourages authors to submit as images in vascular medicine section. Please note that the journal publishes approximately one case report per year.

• Approximately 800-1000 words (inclusive of entire document) describing the case(s) according to CARE guidelines
• Maximum of 10 references
• Maximum of four images with no more than four panels per image

2.6 Vascular Disease Patient Information Page

Vascular disease patient information pages are written in simple language for patients and non-specialists to understand. Available patient pages are curated on the SVM website in alphabetical order at https://www.vascularmed.org/patient-information-pages-vmj/

NOTE: These submissions are generally solicited by the patient page section editors. Authors who wish to propose a topic should contact the editorial office.

2.7 Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor include correspondence regarding an article published in the journal (with an appropriate citation) and should be 300-500 words.  Letters should clearly state a question or comment for the authors to address in a formal response.

2.8 Focused Issue Submissions

Vascular Medicine designates a special topic for a focused issue every year. Follow guidelines above for the appropriate article type, but select “focused issue” when submitting your article online and mention the appropriate article type in your cover letter.

3. Editorial policies

3.1 Peer review policy

Vascular Medicine adheres to a single-blind peer review process in which the reviewer’s name is routinely withheld from the author unless the reviewer requests a preference for his/her identity to be revealed. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two referees. All manuscripts are reviewed as rapidly as possible, and an editorial decision is generally reached within 8 weeks of submission.

Only manuscripts of sufficient quality that meet the aims and scope of Vascular Medicine will be reviewed.

The principal criteria for acceptance of material are originality and quality.

All manuscripts authored by editors are handled by a Guest Editor. Other manuscripts may be handled by a Guest Editor at the discretion of the Editor in Chief.

3.2 Authorship

Papers should only be submitted for consideration once consent is given by all contributing authors. Those submitting papers should carefully check that all those whose work contributed to the paper are acknowledged as contributing authors.
The list of authors should include all those who can legitimately claim authorship. This is all those who:

(i) Made a substantial contribution to the concept and design, acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data, AND

(ii) Drafted the article or revised it critically for important intellectual content, AND

(iii) Approved the version to be published; AND

(iv)Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Authors should meet the conditions of all of the points above. Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for appropriate portions of the content.
When a large, multicentre group has conducted the work, the group should identify the individuals who accept direct responsibility for the manuscript. These individuals should fully meet the criteria for authorship.

Acquisition of funding, collection of data, or general supervision of the research group alone does not constitute authorship, although all contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed in the Acknowledgments section.

Please refer to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) authorship guidelines for more information on authorship.

3.2.1 Affiliations

Academic affiliations are required for all co-authors. When listing author affiliations, include the institution with the appropriate department and location.  It is customary to note affiliations as footnotes with corresponding superscripted numbers.  The superscripted numbers should be in chronological order. For example, if the first author has two affiliations, they should be numbered as 1, 2. 

3.2.2 Acknowledgements

All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed in an Acknowledgements section. Examples of those who might be acknowledged include a person who provided purely technical help, or a department chair who provided only general support.

Individuals named in the acknowledgements should grant permission to be named along with their affiliation details in the published manuscript.

3.2.3 Writing assistance

Individuals who provided writing assistance, e.g. from a specialist communications company, do not qualify as authors and so should be included in the Acknowledgements section. Authors must disclose any writing assistance – including the individual’s name, company and level of input – and identify the entity that paid for this assistance. It is not necessary to disclose use of language editing services.

Any acknowledgements should appear first at the end of your article prior to your Declaration of Conflicting Interests (if applicable), any notes and your References.

See also: Section 3.7. AI-Assisted Technology

3.2.4 ORCiD identifiers

The first author, corresponding author (if different), and senior author are strongly encouraged to link their ORCiD profile to their author account. It is free to create an ORCiD account if you do not have one at https://orcid.org/

3.3 Funding

Vascular Medicine requires all authors to acknowledge their funding in a consistent fashion under a separate heading.  Please ensure that a “Funding Acknowledgement” statement is included at the end of your manuscript.  If there is a sponsor funding, please address the role of the sponsor in the funding acknowledgement and include any required disclaimer(s).

In the event of no funding acknowledgement, please state that:  ‘This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

For guidance on funding statements, please visit the Funding Acknowledgements page on the Sage Journal Author Gateway.

3.4 Declaration of conflicting interests

Vascular Medicine requires all authors to declare conflicting interests in a consistent fashion under a separate heading. Please ensure that a ‘Declaration of Conflicting Interests’ statement is included at the end of your manuscript, after any acknowledgements and prior to the references.

If no conflict exists, please state that: ‘The Author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest.’

For guidance on conflict of interest statements, please see the ICMJE recommendations here

Disclosures for the Editorial leadership team, which includes the Editor in Chief, all Associate, Assistant, and Section Editors are updated annually. These disclosures are kept on file and used for preventing conflicts of interest during the peer review process.

3.5 Research ethics and patient consent

Medical research involving human subjects must be conducted according to the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki

Submitted manuscripts should conform to the ICMJE Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals, and all papers reporting animal and/or human studies must state in the methods section that the relevant Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board provided (or waived) approval. Please ensure that you have provided the full name and institution of the review committee, in addition to the approval number.

For research articles, authors are also required to state in the methods section whether participants provided informed consent and whether the consent was written or verbal.

Information on informed consent to report individual cases or case series should be included in the manuscript text. A statement is required regarding whether written informed consent for patient information and images to be published was provided by the patient(s) or a legally authorized representative.

Patients have a right to privacy that should not be infringed without informed consent. Identifying information, including patients' names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be published in written descriptions, photographs, and pedigrees unless the information is essential for scientific purposes and the patient (or parent or guardian) gives written informed consent for publication. Informed consent for this purpose requires that a patient who is identifiable be shown the manuscript to be published.

Identifying details should be omitted if they are not essential. Complete anonymity is difficult to achieve, however, and informed consent should be obtained if there is any doubt. For example, masking the eye region in photographs of patients is inadequate protection of anonymity. If identifying characteristics are altered to protect anonymity, such as in genetic pedigrees, authors should provide assurance that alterations do not distort scientific meaning and editors should so note. When informed consent has been obtained it should be indicated in the submitted article.

Please also refer to the ICMJE Recommendations for the Protection of Research Participants

All research involving animals submitted for publication must be approved by an ethics committee with oversight of the facility in which the studies were conducted. The journal has adopted the Consensus Author Guidelines on Animal Ethics and Welfare for Veterinary Journals published by the International Association of Veterinary Editors.

3.6 Clinical trials and data sharing

Vascular Medicine conforms to the ICMJE requirement that clinical trials are registered in a WHO-approved public trials registry at or before the time of first patient enrolment as a condition of consideration for publication. The trial registry name and URL, and registration number must be included at the end of the abstract.

Reports of clinical trials should include a data sharing statement as described in the ICMJE’s policy.

3.7 Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Technology

Vascular Medicine follows the ICMJE policy on AI-Assisted Technology, which requires authors to disclose use of AI-assisted technologies (such as large language models [LLMs] for data collection/analysis, chatbots for writing assistance, or image creators for figure generation) in the production of the submitted manuscript.

See also https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/chatgpt-and-generative-ai

3.8 Reporting guidelines

The relevant EQUATOR Network reporting guidelines should be followed depending on the type of study.

For example, all randomized controlled trials submitted for publication should include a completed Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) flow chart as a cited figure, and a completed CONSORT checklist as a supplementary file.

Other resources can be found at NLM’s Research Reporting Guidelines and Initiatives.

4. Publishing policies

Sage is committed to upholding the integrity of the academic record. We encourage authors to refer to the Committee on Publication Ethics’ International Standards for Authors and view the Publication Ethics page on the Sage Author Gateway.

For further information including guidance on fair dealing for criticism and review, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

4.1 Plagiarism

Vascular Medicine and Sage take issues of copyright infringement, plagiarism or other breaches of best practice in publication very seriously. We seek to protect the rights of our authors and we always investigate claims of plagiarism or misuse of articles published in the journal. Equally, we seek to protect the reputation of the journal against malpractice. Submitted articles may be checked using duplication-checking software. Where an article is found to have plagiarised other work or included third-party copyright material without permission or with insufficient acknowledgement, or where authorship of the article is contested, we reserve the right to take action including, but not limited to: publishing an erratum or corrigendum (correction); retracting the article (removing it from the journal); taking up the matter with the head of department or dean of the author’s institution and/or relevant academic bodies or societies; banning the author from publication in the journal or all Sage journals, or appropriate legal action.

4.2 Preprints

Vascular Medicine will consider manuscripts that have been posted on a preprint server prior to submission, provided that (1) the preprint is clearly identified as not peer-reviewed and (2) the preprint can be linked to the article upon publication. Authors must inform the journal if the work has been posted on a preprint server and provide a link to it in the cover letter.

When a submitted manuscript not previously posted on a preprint server is under consideration, authors must not post the manuscript on any preprint servers.

See also https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/prior-publication

4.3 Contributor's publishing agreement

Upon acceptance and before publication, Sage requires the corresponding author, as the rights holder and on behalf of all coauthors, to sign a Journal Contributor’s Publishing Agreement. Sage’s Journal Contributor’s Publishing Agreement is an exclusive licence agreement, which means that the author retains copyright in the work but grants Sage the sole and exclusive right and licence to publish for the full legal term of copyright. For more information please visit our Frequently Asked Questions on the Sage Journal Author Gateway.

4.4 Open access (Sage Choice)

Vascular Medicine offers optional open access publishing via the SAGE Choice programme for a fee. For more information please visit the SAGE Choice website. For information on funding body compliance, and depositing your article in repositories, please visit SAGE Publishing Policies on our Journal Author Gateway.

Authors who wish to make their article open access immediately upon publication should contact the editorial office to make arrangements.

NOTE: Editorials, images, patient information pages, and Editor’s Choice articles are published as open access automatically. All other manuscripts will become open access 2 years after publication.

4.5 Permissions

Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission from copyright holders for reproducing or modifying any illustrations, tables, figures or lengthy quotations previously published elsewhere. Written permission should be supplied at the time of submission as a supplemental file.

Permission should also be obtained from individuals who are named in the acknowledgement section of the manuscript.

5. Preparing your manuscript

5.1 Structure and Format

5.1.1. Cover Letter

 All submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter that includes a full statement about all submissions and previous reports that may be regarded as redundant publication of the same or similar work including preprints; a statement of financial or other relationships that may be perceived as a conflict of interest; a statement to confirm that the requirements for authorship have been met by all authors (refer to authorship criteria above per ICMJE); contact information for the corresponding author; and any other information that the editors may need to know about the research or manuscript.

Changes to the author list should be avoided. If there is a change after the manuscript has been submitted, i.e., added or removed author or revised order during revision, then an explanation and approval from all authors must be documented on the cover letter.

5.1.2. Title page

 All submissions should have a title page. The title page should list all authors and their affiliation details (Division, Department, Institution, City, and State or Country).  Contact information for the corresponding author should also be included (email address, mail address, and twitter name, as appropriate). The affiliations should represent where each author worked when the research was conducted. If an author has moved to a new affiliation, please label the new affiliation as “Current.”

If multiple authors contributed equally to the manuscript, please include a note on the title page to indicate this.

The total word count should be included on the title page (inclusive of all pages in the main document).

5.1.3. Abstract and Keywords

For original research articles, the abstract format should be a structured paragraph with headings for the introduction or background, methods, results, and conclusion. For review articles, the abstract format should be a single summary paragraph with no subheadings. Please note that abstracts are not required for research letters, editorials, images, and patient information pages.

Review articles, letters, editorials, and patient information pages should include a minimum of three keywords. Authors must choose at least two terms from the VMJ Core Keyword List before selecting their own unique terms.

NOTE: The title, abstract, and keywords are key to ensuring readers find your article online through online search engines such as Google. Please refer to the information and guidance on how best to title your article, write your abstract, and select your keywords by visiting the Sage Journal Author Gateway for guidelines on How to Help Readers Find Your Article Online.

5.1.4. Main Document

The preferred format for the main text is Word (doc or docx).  The text should be double-spaced throughout and with a minimum of 3 cm or 0.75 in for left and right hand margins and 5 cm or 1 in at head and foot. Font size should be standard 12 point. Please do not include line numbers or page numbers. The main document should include:

• Title page (with authors and affiliations)
• Abstract and keywords
• Main text (i.e., Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion)
• Acknowledgments
• Data availability statement (required for clinical trials)
• Disclosures (financial and conflicting interests)
• References
• Tables
• Figure Legends

5.1.5 Statistics

Care should be taken that all statistical methods are appropriate, and that it is clear which methods were used for which analyses. Any statistical methods not in common use should be supported by references or described in detail. Results of statistical tests should be reported as well as the p values; where possible, confidence intervals should also be reported.

Report exact p values rather than categories, such as p < 0.05 or p < 0.01. Report the p value with two significant digits (e.g., p = 0.023, p = 0.58) . If the p value is very close to 1, report it as p > 0.99 rather than 1.00. Report OR, RR, HR, and their CIs with 2 significant decimal points.

5.1.6. Tables

Tables should be numbered as Table 1, 2, 3, etc. The tables should immediately follow the list of References. Tables should be in an editable format (i.e., word or excel). An explanatory title and footnote (as appropriate) should be included with each table. Be sure to include the appropriate units, explain how the data are presented (i.e., “data are presented as mean ± SD or n (%)”), define all abbreviations, and explain any other symbols within the footnotes below each table.

Excessively long tables (i.e., ≥ 3 pages) will need to be placed in supplemental material.

5.1.7. Figures

Figures should be numbered as Figure 1, 2, 3 (or 1A, 1B, etc.), and each figure should be mentioned in the text in numerical order. For Images in Vascular Medicine, the images should be labelled as Panel A, B, C (or A-1, A-2, etc). All patient identification information as well as time/date stamps on imaging studies should be removed.

Figure legends: Figure legends should be listed on a separate page at the very end of the manuscript. Include a short title for the figure, and explain/define all markers (e.g., arrow, arrowhead, asterisk) and abbreviations. The sample size and statistical tests used for analysis should be mentioned in the legend or indicated within the figure itself. For Images in Vascular Medicine, the main text serves as the figure legend, so there is no separate caption for each image.

Artwork specifications: All artwork should be supplied as separate image files (i.e., jpeg, png, gif, tiff, etc) in high resolution (at least 300 dpi). The dimensions and font size should be maximized (at least 5 inches wide and 16 or 18 point font). If applicable, image creation software should be mentioned in the legend or within the figure itself (e.g., “Created with BioRender).

Color figures: Figures should be in grayscale unless color is necessary. The cost of color printing may be billed to the author or funder. The cost is approximately $200 USD for the first figure and $130 for each additional figure.

Microscopic images: Describe the antibody or stain used, magnification, and include a scale/calibration bar. Add arrows or arrowheads to indicate relevant findings.

Immunoblots: If cropped immunoblots appear in the main figures, then authors must include the full, uncropped immunoblots as supplemental material.

Photographs: Patients in photographs should not be identifiable. Time/date stamps should be removed. Any identifiable photograph should be accompanied by written permission from the patient, parent, or guardian.

5.1.8 Supplementary material

This journal is able to host additional materials online (e.g., supplemental figures, datasets, podcasts, videos, images, etc.) alongside the full-text of the article. These will be subjected to peer-review alongside the article.  Please follow the guidelines above for supplemental tables, figures, or other data. However, if your article is accepted, supplemental data are not copyedited by Sage prior to publication. It is the author’s responsibility to ensure the supplemental data are accurate and properly formatted.

5.1.9. Revised Manuscripts

Revised manuscript submissions should include (1) a point-by-point response letter to the reviewers, (2) a copy of the manuscript that shows all changes made using tracking, highlighting, or colored text, and (3) a clean copy of the manuscript with all changes accepted.

Authors may use the revised manuscript checklist to ensure that their manuscript is prepared according to journal style before resubmitting it.

5.2 Journal Style

Vascular Medicine conforms to the Sage house style for punctuation and format, which is similar to the American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style. 

Click here to review guidelines on Sage UK House Style.

Points to note:

• 1. Use patient-first language throughout the manuscript (e.g., “patients with peripheral artery disease”, not “peripheral artery disease patients”).
  2. All tables, figures, references, and supplemental material should be called out in numerical order and appear in order. 
  3. Refer to tables and figures as Table 1, 2, 3 or Figure 1, 2, 3, or Supplemental Table 1, 2, 3, etc.
  4. Abbreviations should be kept to a minimum and must be clearly defined when used for the first time in the abstract, main text, and each table or figure.  Avoid using uncommon abbreviations.
  5. For numbers, all numbers under 10 should be spelled out except when attached to a unit of quantity (e.g. 1 mm or 3 months), and numbers of 10 or more should be written as digits except at the beginning of a sentence.
  6. Scientific measurements should be given in SI units, but blood pressure should be expressed in mmHg, hemoglobin as g/dL, creatinine, blood glucose, and lipid parameters as mg/dL.
  7. For statistics, report exact p values rather than significant categories, such as p < 0.05 or p < 0.01. Report the p value with two significant digits (e.g., p = 0.023, p = 0.58). If the p value is very close to 1, report it as p > 0.99 rather than 1.00. Report OR, RR, HR, and their CIs with 2 significant decimal points.
  8. Generic names should be used for drugs. Authors should be aware of national differences in drug names and availability and give alternative names or drugs in the text.
  9. For brand name drugs, equipment, and software, include the manufacturer’s name and location.
  10. For References, Vascular Medicine adheres to the Sage Vancouver reference style. Click here to review the guidelines on Sage Vancouver to ensure your manuscript conforms to this reference style. If you use EndNote to manage references, you can download the Sage Vancouver output file here.

      Some specific points to note for References are listed below:

  • References should include authors' last names and initials, article title, journal, year, volume, and page range.
  • When there are more than 4 authors, only list the first three authors followed by “et al.”
  • For journal references, abbreviations for titles of periodicals should conform to those used in the latest edition of Index Medicus.
  • For books, include the chapter, page range, city, and publisher.
  • For websites, include the date accessed (day month year format)

5.3 English Language Editing Services for Authors

Authors seeking assistance with English language editing, translation, or figure and manuscript formatting to fit the journal’s specifications should consider using Sage Language Services. Visit Sage Language Services on our Journal Author Gateway for further information.

6. Submitting Your Manuscript

Vascular Medicine is hosted on Sage Track, a web-based online submission and peer review system powered by ScholarOne™ Manuscripts. Visit http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/vascular-medicine to login and submit your article online.

IMPORTANT: As part of the submission process, you will be required to warrant that you are submitting your original work, that you have the rights in the work, that you are submitting the work for first publication in the Journal and that it is not being considered for publication elsewhere and has not already been published elsewhere, and that you have obtained and can supply all necessary permissions for the reproduction of any copyright works not owned by you.

6.1 Author Correspondence

All authors are required to have a valid email address, preferably an institutional email address, and affiliation.  The email address you provide for each author will be used to communicate the status of your submission. 

NOTE: When entering authors during the submission process, the system will look for an existing author account using an email address.  If an account does not exist, you will be prompted to create a new author account.  Please avoid creating duplicate accounts for authors. 

The designated corresponding author is also required to provide a current mailing address.

6.1.1 Publication of author ORCiD identifiers

ORCiD identifiers are published for authors who have an ORCiD link attached to their ScholarOne account at the time of manuscript acceptance. ORCiD identifiers cannot be added manually at the proof check stage.

The first author, corresponding author (if different), and senior author are strongly encouraged to include their ORCiD profile at the time of manuscript submission.
 

6.1.2 Publication of author social media handles

Authors may provide their social media handles when submitting a manuscript to Vascular Medicine. The journal may include these when sharing the authors’ article on social media platforms (i.e., X, Instagram). Providing a social media handle for publication is entirely optional.

Vascular Medicine’s handle is @VMJ_SVM

NOTE: By providing your personal handle you agree to let Vascular Medicine and SAGE Publications use it in any posts related to your journal article. You may also be contacted by other social media users. Vascular Medicine and SAGE Publications will have no control over you or your posts at any time.

If you would like guidance on how to promote your article on social media please visit: http://www.uk.sagepub.com/journalgateway/files/using_social_media_to_pro....

6.2 File Upload

Please upload files in this order:

1. Cover Letter
2. Response letter (required for revisions)
3. Title Page
4. Main Document
5. Figures / Images – must be ready to publish as-is
6. Supplemental Material – must be ready to publish as-is
7. Permission Files

6.3 Preview the PDF

Before you can submit your manuscript, you are required to view the proof of your article. If there are missing files or if the manuscript is not displaying properly, your article will be returned. Please check to ensure that:

• All authors are listed on the title page and in the submission form.
• The main text is a clean copy (no track changes or comments except for revisions).
• All tables and figures are present, appear in order, and are legible.
• Make sure nothing is inadvertently cut off, such as table data or figure legends

7. Acceptance and Publication

In general, you will receive a decision within 8 weeks of submission, depending on how quickly the review process goes.  All authors will be notified by email when a decision is made.

7.1 Sage Production and Proofs

Following acceptance, the Sage Production Editor will keep you informed as to your article’s progress throughout the production process. Proofs will be sent by email to the corresponding author and should be returned promptly to ensure timely publication.

7.2 Access to your published article

After final proof corrections are received, Sage will provide authors with free online access to their published article. Please refer to the Publishing Policies section for information on open access publishing.

7.3 Online First publication

Online First allows articles in press to be published online prior to their inclusion in a final journal issue, which significantly reduces the lead time between submission and publication.

For more information please visit our Online First Fact Sheet.

8. Editorial Office Contact Information

Any correspondence, queries or additional requests for information on the manuscript submission process should be sent to:

Heather L. Gornik, MD, Editor-in-Chief
Valerie Clark, Managing Editor

VASCULAR MEDICINE EDITORIAL OFFICE

E-mail:  editor@vmj.vascularmed.org

Website:  http://journals.sagepub.com/home/vmj