Editor in Chief: Robert M. Califf, MD
Editor: Daniel B. Mark, MD, MPH
Executive Editor: Patricia K. Hodgson
Managing Editor: Rebecca L. HinesE-mail: AHJ@dcri.duke.edu

American Heart Journal Duke Clinical Research Institute

Express Mail and Deliveries:
DCRI Communications
300 West Morgan Street, Suite 800
Durham, NC 27701
Telephone: 919-668-5948
Fax: 919-668-7046
E-mail: AHJ@dcri.duke.edu
Website: www.mosby.com/ahj

Information for Authors

All articles except letters to the editor and supplements must be submittedonline at http://ees.elsevier.com/ahj. The AmericanHeart Journal no longer accepts submissions by mail. Letters to theeditor must be submitted directly to Becky Hines at AHJ@dcri.duke.edu. Supplements must be submitted to Craig Smith atC.Smith@Elsevier.com. The Journal will consider for publicationsuitable articles on topics pertaining to the broad discipline of cardiovasculardisease. Our goal is to provide the reader primary investigation,scholarly review, and opinion concerning the practice ofcardiovascular medicine. We especially encourage submission of 3types of reports that are not frequently seen in cardiovascular journals:negative clinical studies, reports on study designs, and studiesinvolving the organization of medical care. (For more information, see "What We Publish in the American Heart Journal and Why," by Daniel B. Mark, MD, MPH, [AM Heart J 2007;154:1-2].) The Journal does notaccept individual case reports or original articles involving benchlaboratory or animal research. All communications relating to theeditorial management of the Journal should be sent to Becky Hines, Managing Editor, at the above address.

Editorial policies. Statements and opinions expressed in the articlesand communications herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarilythose of the Editor(s) or publisher, and the Editor(s) andpublisher disclaim any responsibility or liability for such material.Neither the Editor(s) nor the publisher guarantees, warrants, or endorsesany product or service advertised in this publication; neitherdo they guarantee any claim made by the manufacturer of suchproduct or service. In accordance with the Copyright Act of 1976,which became effective January 1, 1978, the following statementsigned by all authors must accompany each manuscript acceptedfor publication: "The undersigned author(s) transfer all copyrightownership of the manuscript [title of article] to Elsevier Inc., in theevent the work is published. The undersigned warrant(s) that thearticle is original, does not infringe upon any copyright or other proprietaryright of any third party, is not under consideration by anotherjournal, and has not been published previously." When a manuscript is accepted for publication, the Copyright Release Form will be issued to authors from the publisher.

Conflict of interest. Authors of manuscripts submitted to AHJ mustinform us of funding sources for the research they intend to publish.We must also be informed of any relationships that might be construed as aconflict of interest (including but not limited to stock ownership, consultancies, speaker bureaus, etc.).

Registration of randomized clinical trials. Any manuscript submitted to the Journal that concerns the design or results of a randomized clinical trial must include the registration site (such as www.clinicaltrials.gov) and the registration number in the Methods section.

Review. All articles are pre-screened by the Editors and Associate Editors. Papers felt not to be competitive for publication or papers not consistent with the editorial priorities of the American Heart Journal will be returned ot the authors without review within 4 weeks of submission. All other articles are reviewed by external referees. Acceptance is based on significance, originality, and validity of the material. If the article is accepted for publication, editorial revisions may be made to aid clarity and understanding without altering the meaning.

Sections. The following sections are established features of the Journal.To ensure that the manuscript is considered for one of the followingsections, the name of the intended section should appear atthe top of the title page.

Clinical Investigations. Original, in-depth clinical investigations.Word limit is 5000 and includes title page, abstract, tables, figures, and references.

Curriculum in Cardiology. Concise, comprehensive, contemporaryarticles presenting core, updated information necessary for thecontinuing medical education of the modern clinical cardiologist.Maximum number of references is 50; word limit is 7500 and includes title page, abstract, tables, figures, and references.

Progress in Cardiology. Concise and comprehensive articles devotedto innovative new areas of development in cardiovasculardiseases important to the clinical cardiologist. Maximum numberof references is 50; word limit is 7500 and includes title page, abstract, tables, figures, and references.

Trial Designs. Brief descriptions of study protocols, including theconceptual issues underlying the hypotheses, the methodology, andplanned analysis of a trial. Word limit is 5000 and includes title page, abstract, tables, figures, and references.

Letters to the Editor. Brief letters or notes to the Editor regardingpublished material or information of timely interest. Letters to the Editorshould concern only articles that have been published recently in theJournal. A response to the letter will be requested from the authors ofthe article in question, and both the letter and the response will be publishedtogether. Letters should be no longer than 500 words, includingreferences and tables. Letters to the Editor must be submitted by e-mailto Becky Hines at AHJ@dcri.duke.edu. Letters will be publishedon the Journal's Website only.

Editorials. Brief, substantiated commentary on special subjectslimited to 2000 words (including references and tables).

Supplements. Symposia are considered for publication on thebasis of importance of topic, expertise of participants, and scientificquality of articles presented. All supplements undergo peer review.Proprietary sponsorship must be indicated. Supplements must besubmitted by e-mail to Craig Smith at C.Smith@Elsevier.com.

Preparation of manuscripts. Only original manuscripts will be consideredfor publication. Correct preparation of the manuscript by the authorswill expedite the reviewing and publication procedures. Pleasenote the following requirements. Following the instructions for onlinesubmission at http://ees.elsevier.com/ahj, the article, including alltables, should be formatted in Microsoft Word. The use of appropriatesubheadings throughout the body of the text (Methods, Results, andDiscussion sections) is required. Figures and illustrations must also besubmitted electronically as separate files. File specifications are listedbelow in "Illustrations, figures and legends."

Style. Manuscripts must conform to acceptable English usage.Standard abbreviations should be used consistently throughout thearticle. Abbreviations should be spelled out the first time they appearin the text and followed in parentheses by the abbreviation.Consult the latest editions of Scientific Style and Format by the Council of Biology Editors, The Chicago Manual of Style by TheUniversity of Chicago Press, or the AMA's Manual of Style, 9th edition,for current usage.

Pagination. Begin numbering with the title page as page 1, thestructured abstract page as page 2, and continue throughout the references,figure legends, and tables. Place page numbers in the upperright corner of each page.

Title page. The title page should be typed double-spaced andinclude the title, authors' full names, highest earned academic degrees,institutional affiliations and location, and a short, abbreviatedtitle of 40 characters or fewer. Designate one author (provide address,business telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address) toreceive correspondence, galley proofs, and reprint requests.

Structured abstract. Each article must include a structured abstractof no more than 250 words. Use the following headings forsections of the abstract: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.The abstract may not contain data not presented in the manuscript. For review articles and trial designs, in place of a structured abstract, please provide a summary abstract paragraph (maximum word count 250 words). If abstract subheadings are not appropriate, they may be omitted.

References. The reference list must be numbered serially in theorder in which the references appear in the text and typed doublespacedon separate sheets. Reference format should conform to the"Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to BiomedicalJournals" (Ann Intern Med 1997;126:36-47 or http://www.icmje.org ).Reference citations to periodicals should include, in the followingorder: names of the first 3 authors (and et al as necessary to signifyany additional authors), title, journal, year, volume, and pages; forexample, Hope RR, Scherlag BJ, Lazzara R. Excitation of ischemicmyocardium: altered properties of conduction, refractoriness, andexcitability. Am Heart J 1980;99:753-65. Journal abbreviations mustfollow the style used in Cumulated Index Medicus. Book referencesshould include, in the following order: names of the first 3 authors,chapter title, editor(s), book title, volume (if any), edition (if any),city, publisher, year, and inclusive pages of citation (if any); for example,Sherry S. Detection of thrombi. In: Strauss HE, Pitt B, JamesAE, editors. Cardiovascular nuclear medicine. St. Louis: Mosby;1974. p. 273-85. Unpublished data and personal communicationsmay be cited in the text but not as references. Authors are responsiblefor the accuracy of references.

Illustrations, figures and legends. Figures and illustrations mustbe submitted in electronic format. All images should be at least 5inches wide. Images should be provided in RTF, TXT, TIFF, GIF,JPEG, or EPS format per the instructions for online submission at http://ees.elsevier.com/ahj . Macintosh or PC is acceptable.Graphics software such as Photoshop and Illustrator, not presentationsoftware such as PowerPoint, CorelDraw, or Harvard Graphics,should be used in the creation of the art. Color images need to beCMYK, at least 300 DPI, and be accompanied by a digital colorproof, not a color laser print or color photocopy. Note: This proofwill be used at press for color reproduction. Gray scale imagesshould be at least 300 DPI accompanied by a proof. Combinationsof gray scale and line art should be at least 1200 DPI accompaniedby a proof. Line art (black and white or color) should be at least1200 DPI with a proof.

If a manuscript is accepted, one glossy copy of each figure or illustrationmust be submitted to the Journal Office (see mailing addressabove). Glossies should be printed on high-quality laser printer paperor bond paper. For best possible reproduction, avoid using shading ordotted patterns; if unavoidable, submit this type of illustration in theform of a glossy photograph for best results. Use thick, solid lines andbold, solid type. Place lettering on a white background; avoid reversetype (white lettering on a dark background).

Illustrations should be numbered in the order of their mention inthe text and should be marked lightly on the back with the first author'slast name and an arrow to indicate the top edge. Special charges will bemade by the publisher for publishing figures in color. Before publicationthe corresponding author will be sent a cost estimate; at that timehe or she may decide to pay the costs or print the illustration in blackand white. Only good photographic prints of original drawings shouldbe supplied. All lettering must be done professionally. Do not sendoriginal artwork, x-ray films, or ECG tracings. Glossy photographs arepreferred; good black-and-white contrast is essential. Preferred size forsubmitted illustrations is 5 x 7 inches. Suitable figure legends shouldbe double spaced and included at the end of the manuscript. If a figurehas been taken from previously copyrighted material, the legend mustgive full credit to the original source and letters of permission must besubmitted with the manuscript by fax to the Journal Office at (919) 668-7046. Articles appear in both the print and online versions of the Journal,and wording of the letter should specify permission in both formsof media. Failure to get electronic permission rights may result in theimages not appearing in the online version.

Tables. Tables should be self-explanatory and numbered in Romannumerals in the order of their mention in the text. Provide abrief title for each. Type each double-spaced on a separate page.Abbreviations should be defined in a double-spaced footnote at theend of the table. If any material in a table or a table itself has beentaken from previously copyrighted material, a double-spaced footnotemust give full credit to the original source and permission ofthe author and publisher must be obtained.

Footnotes that require symbols must use those that are appropriatefor the Journal. The accepted symbols, in the order in whichthey should appear within the table and within the footnotes are: *,†, ‡, §, ∥, ¶, #, **, ††, etc. Fax letters of permission to (919) 668-7046 atthe time of manuscript submission.

Human research. Authors should identify that informed consentwas obtained when applicable. The manuscript should also includethe notation that the study was approved by the institutional committeeon human research. Photographs of identifiable persons mustbe accompanied by signed releases showing informed consent.These should be faxed to (919) 668-7046.

Reprints. Single reprints must be obtained from the author. Reprint order forms will be sent to authors along with their galley pages.

Open accessThis journal offers you the option of making your article freely available to all via the ScienceDirect platform. To prevent any conflict of interest, you can make this choice only after receiving notification that your article has been accepted for publication. The fee of $3,000 excludes taxes and other potential author fees such as color charges. In some cases, institutions and funding bodies have entered into agreement with Elsevier to meet these fees on behalf of their authors. Details of these agreements are available at http://www.elsevier.com/fundingbodies. Authors of accepted articles who wish to take advantage of this option should complete and submit the order form (available at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/openaccessform.pdf). Whatever access option you choose, you retain many rights as an author, including the right to post a revised personal version of your article on your own website. More information can be found here: http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights.

Checklist for the author

• Covering letter (should include section for which manuscript is submitted)

• Title page

• Section of Journal to be published in (or note if a review article)

• Title of article and short title (40 characters or fewer)

• Authors, academic degrees, and affiliations

• Author to whom correspondence and reprint requests are to besent, including address, business phone and fax numbers, ande-mail address

• Structured abstract, 250-word maximum

• Text (including Methods, Results, Discussion)

• References

• Legends

• Figures and illustrations, in RTF, TXT, TIFF, GIF, JPEG, or EPS format

• Tables (provide /DTief title for each)

• Permission to reproduce published material in all forms of media(Fax to Journal Office)

• Informed consent to publish patient photographs (Fax to Journal Office)

• Follow instructions for online submission at http://ees.elsevier.com/ahj

Updated October 2012