open access text

Article Types & Format

In general the Manuscripts are classified in to following groups based on the criteria noted below. The author(s) are encouraged to request a particular classification upon submitting (please include this in the cover letter); however the Editor and the Associate Editor retain the right to classify the manuscript as they see fit, and it should be understood by the authors that this process is subjective to some degree. The chosen classification will appear in the printed manuscript above the manuscript title.

1. Editorial

  • Written by the OA Text Editors, Associate Editors, or Invited Guest Editors on a variety of subjects of interest to the Journal readers Typically shorter than one page

2. Letter to the Editor

  • Submitted by the Reader
  • Supports, refutes, or adds relevant information related to a previously published article
  • Authors correcting their own work or responding to a critique of their article by a reader(s)
  • An abstract is not required.
  • The letter should not be divided into sections.
  • The letter will undergo peer-review similar to other articles.

3. Commentary

  • Authors suggestion (scope is open to areas beyond science/technology)
  • Reviewers recommendation
  • Represents the “perspective” or “opinion” or “hypothesis” of the author(s)
  • Amount of original data is minimal, but corroborative literature data encouraged
  • Format: Does not follow the outline of Introduction, Materials/Methods, Discussion/Conclusions, and References

4. Review

  • Authors suggestion
  • Topic is relatively broad in scope
  • Review article should be on topic which is of interest to a wide readership.
  • Review articles should have a comprehensive coverage of a topic in clear and lucid language with representative figures and images.
  • Represents an overview of published information and data from many authors and sources
  • Does not contain original data (to any great extent)
  • Abstract and keywords are must
  • Usually includes a large number of references

5. Research

  • Follows the outline of Introduction, Materials/Methods, Discussion/Conclusions, and References
  • Supported by significant and relevant amount of data
  • Data should have been developed by the author(s)
  • Conclusions are based primarily on the data presented and compared to the published literature

6. Technology/Application (or Case Studies)

  • Describes a particular technology or application
  • Surgical techniques, new instruments, technical innovations
  • Contains original data generated in the process of developing the technology or in support of the application
  • Supported by a significant amount of data
  • May follow the outline of Introduction, Materials/Methods, Discussion/Conclusions, and References
  • Does the article impress upon the readers a new process/ or technology?
  • Case Studies- detailed description with data of the specific implementation of an application or the solution to a given practical problem

7. Case Series

  • The Case Series section of OA Text reports a series of 2-6 similar cases.
  • The cases should be unusual and give unique perspective on disease presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and treatment side effects.
  • The cases should address a challenging diagnostic and/or therapeutic problem with possible solutions to help and treatment side effects.
  • The case should address a challenging diagnostic and/or therapeutic problem with possible solutions to help clinician's in managing these cases much more effectively.
  • Case series must be accompanied with comprehensive review of literature.
  • Abstract is required.

8. Case Reports

  • Case Reports must provide an original description of previously unreported entity or report new presentation of a known disease or a new perspective of case which poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
  • Case Reports should include a comprehensive review of similar cases and state the differences between present case and previous cases.
  • Case reports should be accompanied by clinical, radiological and pathologic images.

9. Case in Images

  • For 'Case in Images' section , the manuscript must meet all the criteria of a case report given above with the difference that 10-25 figures can be submitted for this section (Case Report can have maximum of 7 figures).
  • The figures may include clinical images, radiology images (USG, CT, MRI, PET, SPECT etc.), pathology images (histopathology, cytopathology, hematopathology) or a series of images of a procedure or event.

10. Clinical Images

  • Clinical Images section includes clinical images, diagnostic or investigative images especially images in radiology, endoscopy, pathology and cytopathology.
  • The images should be accompanied by brief history and case discussion followed by conclusion.
  • Abstract is not required.
  • The Clinical Images will undergo peer review similar to other articles.

11. Policy Bridge

  • Articles focused on bridging scientific knowledge with policy issues, policy options, or policy analysis.

12. Conference Proceedings

  • This section includes the papers presented in the conference usually published in a volume.
  • It may be months before such information is published as a journal article, or it may never be published.

13. Announcements:

  • OA Text publishes announcements of conferences, meetings, seminars, symposia, courses, and other items. The announcements should be less the 150 words. They must be accompanied by name, address and email of a contact person.

OA Text also welcomes Special Issues, a set of related articles addressing themes or projects of broad interest, typically 4–10 articles in each group, usually including a synthesizing Commentary. Special Issues may fall within a single knowledge domain or be cross-listed under two or more domains; in either case, a single Editor-in-Chief will be responsible for the entire Special Issues. For more information, see ourSpecial Issues informational page.

For detailed information on structure and formatting for each article type, please see ourManuscript Preparation guidelines.