Author guidelines

Journal scope

Medicinski Glasnik publishes peer-reviewed medical and biomedical manuscripts, including clinical and translational research, evidence syntheses, and scholarly discussions relevant to medical practice and research.

Editorial policies

The journal uses double-blind peer review. Editorial decisions are based on scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical conduct, and clarity of reporting. The journal follows recognised publication ethics standards for managing plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated or falsified data, inappropriate image manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and authorship disputes.

Article types

Original Article

Original Articles report original research with clear objectives, appropriate study design, and transparent statistical analysis. The main text should not exceed 3000 words (excluding abstract and references). A structured abstract (Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusion) of up to 250 words is required. Provide 3–5 keywords using MeSH terms where applicable, listed alphabetically and avoiding words already used in the title.

Recommended structure:

  • Title page

  • Abstract and Keywords

  • Introduction

  • Materials/Patients and Methods

  • Results

  • Discussion

  • Mandatory Statements

  • References

Systematic review and meta-analysis

This article type includes systematic reviews with or without quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis) and other evidence syntheses that use predefined, reproducible methods, including scoping reviews, umbrella reviews (overviews of reviews), rapid reviews, and mapping reviews/evidence maps. Where relevant, it also includes network meta-analyses and qualitative evidence syntheses using meta-aggregation. Submissions must be based on a predefined protocol and a reproducible methodology.

Protocol registration in a publicly accessible registry prior to submission is mandatory; acceptable registries include PROSPERO and the Open Science Framework (OSF). The manuscript must state the registry name and registration number or persistent identifier and must describe and justify any deviations from the registered protocol. PRISMA reporting is mandatory for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and authors must submit the PRISMA checklist and flow diagram. For scoping reviews, authors should follow the appropriate reporting standard (for example PRISMA-ScR) and provide the relevant checklist and flow diagram.

The main text should not exceed 3500 words (excluding abstract and references). A structured abstract (Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusion) of up to 250 words is required, along with 3–5 alphabetical MeSH keywords avoiding title words.

At minimum, the manuscript must include explicit eligibility criteria, a reproducible search strategy (databases and search dates, with the full strategy for at least one database), a study selection process with a flow diagram, and a risk-of-bias assessment method where applicable. If meta-analysis is performed, effect measures and the statistical model must be reported, and heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses included where applicable.

Recommended structure:

  • Title page

  • Abstract and Keywords

  • Introduction (rationale and objectives)

  • Methods (protocol/registration, eligibility criteria, information sources, search strategy, selection process, data extraction, risk of bias, synthesis methods)

  • Results (study selection, study characteristics, risk of bias where applicable, results of individual studies, synthesis/meta-analysis if performed)

  • Discussion (summary, limitations, conclusions)

  • Mandatory Statements

  • References

Case report (selective)

Case reports are considered selectively and only when they provide clear educational or scientific value, such as a rare presentation, unexpected adverse event, novel diagnostic or therapeutic insight, or an important differential diagnosis. A systematic literature review is mandatory as part of the manuscript and must describe the search strategy, databases, dates, eligibility criteria, and a summary of included reports. The CARE checklist must be submitted. Written informed consent for publication is mandatory and must be stated in the manuscript; patient anonymity must be protected and identifying details removed unless explicitly consented. The recommended maximum length is 2000 words for the main text (excluding abstract and references). A structured abstract (Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusion) of up to 150 words is required. Provide 3–5 alphabetical MeSH keywords avoiding title words.

Recommended structure:

  • Title page

  • Abstract and Keywords

  • Introduction

  • Materials/Patients and Methods

  • Results

  • Discussion

  • Mandatory Statements

  • References

Materials/Patients and Methods must include case-related methods (clinical setting, data sources, diagnostic assessment, interventions, follow-up, outcome measures, as applicable) and systematic literature review methods (databases searched, search terms and dates, eligibility criteria, selection process, and data extraction approach).

Results must be presented in the following order: first the Case report (clinical course and key findings), followed by the Results of the systematic literature review (study selection and included reports; synthesis of evidence etc.).

Review (narrative; non-systematic)

Narrative Reviews provide an expert synthesis and critical discussion of a topic. Unsolicited reviews may be considered after consultation with the Editor-in-Chief. The main text should not exceed 3500 words (excluding abstract and references) and should generally not exceed 70 references. The abstract for narrative reviews is unstructured (up to 250 words).

Provide 3–5 alphabetical MeSH keywords avoiding title words.

Systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and related evidence syntheses must be submitted under Systematic review and meta-analysis and must meet the protocol registration and reporting requirements described above.

Editorial

Editorials discuss topical issues, policy, or interpretation of evidence. The main text should not exceed 1000 words and should not exceed 20 references. Editorials do not include an abstract. Provide 3–5 alphabetical MeSH keywords avoiding title words.

Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor provide a brief, evidence-based commentary related to a paper published in Medicinski Glasnik or to a topical issue relevant to the journal’s scope. Letters should be concise, constructive, and supported by appropriate references. When a letter comments on a specific published article, the authors of that article may be invited to respond.

The main text should not exceed 600 words and should include no more than 10 references. One table or one figure may be included if essential. Letters do not include an abstract. Keywords are not required. If a letter reports original data, it must meet relevant ethical and reporting requirements.

Erratum and Corrections

Corrections may be published when errors affecting the scholarly record are identified. Authors should contact the Editorial Office with a detailed description of the issue and the proposed correction.

Article submission

Before you submit

Submissions may be returned to authors before peer review if essential components are missing or inconsistent. Before starting a submission, ensure that the article type is appropriate and that all required files and statements are complete.

Core submission requirements

  • A Full manuscript file (Word) including the Title page as the first page

  • A Blinded manuscript file (Word) with no author identifiers (for double-blind review)

  • A cover letter confirming article type, authors’ approval, originality, and any prior posting (for example a preprint)

  • ORCID iDs for all authors (must be provided on the Title page and in the submission metadata)

  • A manuscript prepared using the journal’s submission template (available for download on the journal website)

  • Required registrations where applicable (clinical trials; systematic review protocols)

  • Required reporting documentation where applicable (PRISMA/CONSORT/CARE, etc.)

  • Figures uploaded as separate high-quality files (when applicable) and compliant with image integrity rules

  • Supplementary files where required or applicable (data, code, protocols, extended methods)

    Download Manuscript Template

Manuscript preparation

Manuscripts must be written in clear scientific English. Submit Microsoft Word files using Times New Roman 12, double spacing, 2.5 cm margins, and consecutive page numbering. Use SI units and generic drug names (trade names may be provided in parentheses if necessary).

For double-blind review, upload two manuscript files: Full manuscript (includes Title page and all content) and Blinded manuscript (removes all author identifiers, affiliations, and acknowledgements that reveal identity).

The main manuscript content should be organised as: Title page; Abstract and Keywords; Main text; Mandatory Statements (immediately before References); References; Tables; Figure legends. Figures must be uploaded as separate files.

A submission template is available on the journal website and authors are encouraged to prepare manuscripts using the template to ensure correct structure and required sections.

Title page (first page of the Full manuscript)

The title page must include the article type, full manuscript title, full author names and institutional affiliations, and corresponding author contact details (postal address and e-mail; telephone optional). ORCID iDs are required for all authors and must be provided exactly as registered. A running (short) title is mandatory.

Abstract and keywords

An abstract is required for all manuscript types except Editorials and Letters to the Editor. The default abstract format is structured as Aim, Methods, Results, and Conclusion. The only exception is the narrative Review, which uses an unstructured abstract.

Keywords are required for all manuscript types except Letters to the Editor. Provide 3–5 keywords using MeSH terms, listed alphabetically, and avoid using words already present in the manuscript title.

Figures, tables, and image integrity

Tables must be numbered consecutively, cited in the text, and include clear titles with abbreviations defined in footnotes. Figures must be uploaded as separate high-quality files and accompanied by legends in the manuscript file.

Image adjustments must be applied to the entire image and must not misrepresent the data; selective enhancement, deletion, or alteration of features is not permitted. Composite images must be clearly indicated. The journal performs image integrity checks where relevant and may request original, uncropped, unprocessed images and underlying data during peer review or prior to acceptance.

Mandatory statements

The following sections must be placed at the end of the manuscript, immediately before References, in this exact order:

  1. Acknowledgements (optional)

  2. Funding (required)

  3. Conflicts of interest (required)

  4. Author Contributions (CRediT) (required)

  5. Ethics statement (when applicable)

  6. Clinical trial registration (when applicable)

  7. Systematic review protocol registration (when applicable)

  8. Data Availability Statement (required)

Funding must provide the full name of the funding body and grant number. If no specific funding was received, state: “No specific funding was received for this study.” Conflicts of interest must disclose all relationships that could influence the work; if none, state: “None to declare.”

Ethics statement: Human research – ethics committee/IRB name, institution, and approval number/date (or justification if not required); Case Reports – a statement confirming written informed consent for publication was obtained; Animal research – animal ethics approval and compliance statement (as applicable).

The Data Availability Statement must indicate where the data can be accessed or explain ethical or legal restrictions. Examples of Data Availability Statements include: “The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.”, “All relevant data are within the article and its supplementary materials.”, “Data are available in [repository name], [DOI or accession number].”. If data cannot be shared, please provide a clear ethical or legal reason.

References

References must follow Vancouver / NLM style and be numbered consecutively in the order of first appearance in the text. Use the same reference number each time the source is cited again, and present the reference list in numerical order. Authors are strongly encouraged to use reference manager software to ensure consistent formatting (for example Zotero, Mendeley Cite, EndNote, or RefWorks). For official rules and examples, consult Citing Medicine: The NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7256/

Ethics, reporting, and registration requirements

For studies involving humans, manuscripts must state the ethics committee or IRB name, institution, and approval number and date, or justify why approval was not required. Informed consent is required when applicable, particularly for case reports and any potentially identifiable information or images; for minors, consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian. For animal research, manuscripts must state animal ethics approval and compliance with recognised animal welfare standards.

Clinical trial registration

For manuscripts reporting results from Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), registration in a publicly accessible registry is mandatory prior to submission. Authors must provide the trial registration number from a recognised repository (for example, WHO ICTRP or ClinicalTrials.gov). Manuscripts lacking trial registration may be rejected without further review.

Systematic review protocol registration

For Systematic review and meta-analysis submissions, protocol registration in a publicly accessible registry prior to submission is mandatory. The registry name and registration identifier must be stated in the manuscript, and any deviations from the registered protocol must be described and justified.

Reporting guidelines

Reporting guidelines and checklists are available through the EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research): http://www.equator-network.org/. Authors are encouraged to consult the EQUATOR Network to identify the most appropriate guideline for their study design. Where applicable, authors must follow and submit the relevant reporting checklist and supporting documentation, including CONSORT for randomised trials, STROBE for observational studies, PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, STARD for diagnostic accuracy studies, ARRIVE for animal research, CARE for case reports, COREQ for qualitative studies, and SQUIRE for quality improvement studies. For scoping reviews submitted under Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, authors should provide the relevant checklist (for example PRISMA-ScR) and flow diagram.

Data, code, and reproducibility

To support transparency and reproducibility, authors are required to provide underlying materials where applicable. This includes raw data, analysis code, original source files, and study protocols, either as supplementary files or via a trusted repository link. Restrictions on sharing must be clearly explained in the Data Availability Statement.

Plagiarism screening and integrity checks

All submissions are screened for plagiarism using Turnitin. The journal may also conduct integrity checks, including image integrity checks where relevant, and may request original underlying files during peer review or prior to acceptance.

Policies relevant to submission

Authorship criteria and contributor policy

The journal aligns with the ICMJE Recommendations. Authorship is limited to individuals who meet all four criteria: substantial contribution to the work; drafting or critical revision; final approval; and accountability for all aspects of the work. Individuals who do not meet all criteria should not be listed as authors but may be acknowledged. Any request to change the author list after submission must be justified and confirmed in writing by all authors, including those added or removed.

Preprint policy

The journal welcomes manuscripts that have previously been shared as preprints. Authors must disclose in the cover letter if the manuscript has been posted as a preprint and provide the preprint link or identifier. Authors should clearly label preprints as not peer reviewed.

Submitting the manuscript

Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system and must include a cover letter confirming the article type, authors’ approval, originality, and any prior posting (for example as a preprint). The submission must include a Full manuscript file and a Blinded manuscript file, and separate figure files where applicable. ORCID iDs are required for all authors and must be entered in the submission system and listed on the title page.

After submission

All submissions undergo technical checks, scope screening, plagiarism screening, and double-blind peer review. Manuscripts that are out of scope or do not meet basic quality and ethical requirements may be rejected without external review. For revisions, authors must submit a revised manuscript and a detailed point-by-point response to reviewer comments.

Decisions regarding manuscripts

The journal may issue the following decisions:

  • Accept

  • Minor revision

  • Major revision

  • Reject (after completion of the peer review process)

  • Desk reject (without external review)

  • Desk reject with invitation to resubmit (after technical or formal corrections)

Desk rejection may be applied when a manuscript is out of scope, fails to meet basic standards of scientific quality or reporting, raises serious concerns regarding research integrity or publication ethics, or does not comply with normative good publication practice and the journal’s author guidelines.

Desk rejection with invitation to resubmit may be used when a submission has potentially publishable content but does not meet technical, formatting, administrative, or documentation requirements (for example missing files, missing mandatory statements or registrations, incomplete reporting documentation, or insufficient anonymisation for double-blind review). In such cases, authors may be invited to resubmit a corrected version as a new submission.

Appeals and complaints

Appeals may be submitted against editorial decisions, and complaints may be submitted regarding editorial or production processes (including delays) or publication ethics and the conduct of authors, reviewers, or editors. The journal aims to acknowledge receipt within five working days and to provide a considered response as soon as reasonably possible. Information is treated confidentially to the extent possible.

After acceptance

PDF proofs will be sent to the corresponding author and should be returned within three business days. Only essential corrections are allowed at proof stage. If serious issues are identified after publication, the journal may publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction in line with standard editorial practice.

Article processing charges (APC)

An APC is charged only after acceptance. The APC is 250 EUR (except for members of the Medical Association/Chamber of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina). A colour page charge of 102.30 EUR per page applies to pages containing colour figures.

All articles are published under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Authors retain copyright and grant the Publisher a non-exclusive licence to publish and distribute the article and identify itself as the original publisher. Permissions are required for reuse of third-party copyrighted content; authors must provide documentation and include permission statements in legends or footnotes.

Last update: February, 2026.