Guide for Authors

The manuscript must be submitted electronically through the official Arta Medica website (https://artamedica.md/) by the corresponding author. At submission, authors must complete the Authorship Statement Form and the License Agreement. Authors are also requested to review and comply with the journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

The journal publishes the following types of papers:
• Original Articles
• Meta-Analysis Articles
• Review Articles
• Surgical Technique
• Case Reports
• Letters to the Editor

By invitation only:
• Guidelines
• Reports
• Great Debates
• Editorials
• Editorial Comments

All papers must be prepared as follows:

1. Manuscript preparation
Manuscripts should be prepared on A4 pages, with 1.5 line spacing, 2.0 cm margins, and 12-point Times New Roman font. Files should be submitted in Microsoft Word, OpenDocument, or RTF format.

Manuscripts should be organized as follows:
1) Title page;
2) Abstract and Keywords (each article type must include 3-6 keywords);
3) Main text, with sections appropriate to the article type, including:
    - Introduction;
    - Materials and Methods (or Patients and Methods);
    - Results;
    - Discussion;
    - Figures and figure legends, if applicable;
    - Tables and table legends, if applicable;
    - Conclusion(s);
4) References;
5) Acknowledgements (optional);
6) Author Contribution Statement;
7) Funding Statement;
8) Conflict of Interest Statement.

Important: The total word count specified below includes the title page, abstract, keywords, main text, figure and table legends, and references.

All manuscripts must comply with the following specifications:

A. Original Article (presents new and original scientific findings, describes the research methodology, and reports original data).
1) There is no fixed limit on the number of authors; however, the Editor-in-Chief may request justification for unusually large author lists.
2) Abstract (structured): 200-300 words, with the sections Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions.
3) Figures and tables: the combined number should not exceed 12.
4) The article should not exceed 20 pages or 7500 words and should include Introduction, Materials and Methods (or Patients and Methods), Results, Discussion, Conclusions, and Acknowledgements (optional).
5) The article should include no more than 40 references.

Important: Authors are strongly advised to consult Sections 2-12 below for detailed instructions on the structure of each part of the manuscript.

B. Meta-Analysis Article (a quantitative and formal study design used to systematically assess previous research and derive conclusions from the available evidence). More detailed information is available in the PRISMA Guidelines.
1) A maximum of 8 authors is recommended; exceptions may be allowed at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.
2) Abstract (structured): 200-300 words, with the sections Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions.
3) Figures and tables: the combined number should not exceed 12.
4) The article should not exceed 16 pages or 6500 words.
5) The article should include no more than 80 references.

Important: Authors are strongly advised to consult Sections 2-12 below for detailed instructions on the structure of each part of the manuscript.

C. Surgical Technique Article (reports a new surgical approach or a substantial modification of a previously described technique).
1) A maximum of 4 authors is recommended.
2) Abstract (structured): 200-300 words, with the sections Background, Description of Technique, Patients and Methods, Results, and Conclusions.
3) The article should include Introduction, Technique, Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion, and Conclusions.
4) The Introduction should explain the need for and rationale behind the new or modified technique.
5) Figures and tables: the combined number should not exceed 20.
6) The article should not exceed 10 pages or 3750 words.
7) The article should include no more than 20 references.

Important: Authors are strongly advised to consult Sections 2-12 below for detailed instructions on the structure of each part of the manuscript.

D. Review Article (provides an overview of a field or topic and synthesizes previously published research). For systematic reviews, authors should consult the relevant reporting guidelines.
1) A maximum of 8 authors is recommended; exceptions may be allowed at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.
2) Abstract: 200-300 words. The structure should be appropriate to the review type.
3) Figures and tables: the combined number should not exceed 12.
4) The review article should not exceed 20 pages or 7500 words.
5) The article should include no more than 100 references.

Important: Authors are strongly advised to consult Sections 2-12 below for detailed instructions on the structure of each part of the manuscript.

E. Clinical Case / Case Report (describes, for medical, scientific, or educational purposes, a clinical problem experienced by one or more patients). More detailed information is available in the CARE Guidelines.
1) A maximum of 4 authors is recommended.
2) Abstract: 200-300 words, with the sections Introduction, Case Presentation, and Conclusion.
3) Figures and tables: the combined number should not exceed 8.
4) The article should not exceed 5 pages or 1500 words.
5) The article should include no more than 20 references.

Important: Articles submitted as Case Report and Review of the Literature are included in this category and should follow the same general requirements as Case Reports.
Authors are strongly advised to consult Sections 2-12 below for detailed instructions on the structure of each part of the manuscript.

F. Guidelines (by invitation only).
1) There is no limit on the number of authors.
2) No abstract is required unless requested by the Editorial Office.
3) There is no fixed limit on the number of figures and tables.
4) There is no fixed page, word, or reference limit.

G. Letters to the Editor (should primarily comment on recently published Arta Medica articles).
1) A maximum of 4 authors is recommended.
2) No abstract is required.
3) Figures and tables are generally not required.
4) Letters should not exceed 2 pages or 600 words.
5) Letters should include no more than 10 references.

H. Great Debate (by invitation only).
1) There is no limit on the number of authors.
2) No abstract is required unless requested by the Editorial Office.
3) Figures and tables combined should not exceed 8.
4) The article should not exceed 12 pages or 5000 words.
5) The article should include no more than 80 references.

I. Editorial (by invitation only).
1) A maximum of 4 authors is recommended.
2) No abstract is required.
3) Figures and tables are generally not required.
4) The editorial should not exceed 4 pages or 1200 words.
5) It should include no more than 10 references.

J. Editorial Comment (by invitation only).
1) A maximum of 4 authors is recommended.
2) No abstract is required.
3) Figures and tables are generally not required.
4) The editorial comment should not exceed 4 pages or 1200 words.
5) It should include no more than 10 references.

2. Title page

Title
The title should be brief and descriptive (maximum 100 characters). Abbreviations should be avoided, even if widely known. The title must be written in the same language as the article and translated into English when the manuscript is submitted in another language.

Authors
List all authors using the full first name, middle-name initial or full middle name, and family name. Academic qualifications are optional. Author names must correspond exactly, in spelling and order, to the metadata entered in the submission system. All listed authors must meet the journal's authorship criteria (see Publication Ethics). For equal contributions, include a statement such as: "Author 1 and Author 2 contributed equally to this work."

ORCID iD
Authors are strongly encouraged to provide their ORCID iD during submission. The ORCID iD should be entered in its complete format for each author who has one.
Example: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-XXXX-XXXX
Authors who do not yet have an ORCID iD are encouraged to register free of charge at https://orcid.org/. The absence of an ORCID iD does not prevent manuscript submission or peer review.

Institution(s)
Provide the full official name of each institution and its location, including department, institution, city, and country. Use superscript numbers to link authors to their respective affiliations. Whenever available, authors should also provide the institution's ROR ID (Research Organization Registry identifier).
Example: https://ror.org/XXXXXXXXX
If the institution does not have a ROR ID, the affiliation should still be provided in full. The absence of a ROR ID does not prevent manuscript submission or peer review.

Corresponding author
The full name, institutional affiliation, e-mail address, and telephone number of the corresponding author should be provided at the bottom of the title page.

3. Abstract
The abstract should provide a concise and factual summary of the manuscript. Reference citations should be avoided unless strictly necessary. Abbreviations should be avoided except for standard SI units. The abstract must be written in the same language as the article and translated into English when the manuscript is submitted in another language.

For article types requiring a structured abstract, the following sections should be used:
1. Objectives: describe the problem addressed and the purpose of the study.
2. Methods: explain how the study was performed, including the basic procedures, study materials, and analytical methods.
3. Results: describe the main findings, including relevant numerical data and statistical significance where appropriate.
4. Conclusions: state the main conclusions of the study.
5. Keywords: provide 3-6 keywords for indexing.

4. Main text

Abbreviations and acronyms
The use of abbreviations should be limited to standard SI units and terms used repeatedly throughout the manuscript. Each abbreviation should be defined at first mention in the text and, where relevant, in tables and figures. Abbreviations should not be used in headings unless essential.

Introduction
The Introduction should state the purpose of the study, provide a concise overview of the relevant literature, and clearly define the aim and objectives.

Materials and Methods (or Patients and Methods)
The methods should be described in sufficient detail to allow readers to understand and, where appropriate, reproduce the study. Relevant information about patients, participants, experimental animals, materials, and statistical methods should be provided.

For all studies involving human participants or animals, the Methods section must include a statement confirming approval by the relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee (EC). The name of the institution, approval date, and approval number should be provided. For studies involving human participants, authors must also state whether written informed consent was obtained or waived by the IRB or EC.

Generic names of drugs and equipment should be used throughout the manuscript. When first mentioned, proprietary names and the manufacturer's name and location (city, country) may be provided in parentheses.

Results
Results should be reported clearly and concisely. Data may be presented in tables and figures and summarized in the text, but unnecessary repetition should be avoided. The underlying data should be retained and made available to the editors or reviewers upon reasonable request, subject to ethical and legal restrictions.

Discussion
The Discussion should interpret the findings in the context of relevant published evidence. It should address the significance of the results, their clinical or scientific implications, and the strengths and limitations of the study.

Conclusions
The Conclusions should summarize the main findings and should be supported by the results presented in the manuscript.

5. Tables and figures
All tables and figures must be cited in the text and accompanied by an appropriate title or legend.

Tables
Tables must be included in the manuscript file as editable text, not as images. They should be numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals and accompanied by a concise title. Footnotes may be used where necessary. Abbreviations should be defined below the table. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of all data presented in tables.

Figures
For Original Articles, Meta-Analyses, and Reviews, each figure should contain no more than four panels. For Case Reports and Surgical Technique articles, up to six panels per figure may be accepted when justified.

Minimum resolution should be 300 dpi for color or grayscale images and 1000 dpi for line drawings, supplied at an appropriate publication size.

Arta Medica does not routinely redraw figures from accepted manuscripts. Figure preparation is the responsibility of the authors. The journal reserves the right to resize illustrative material. Photomicrographs, electron micrographs, and radiological images must be of sufficient quality for publication. Photomicrographs should include details of the staining method and a scale bar where appropriate. Any patient shown in an image must be unidentifiable unless explicit written consent for publication has been obtained. Embedded text must remain legible at final publication size.

6. References
Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all references.

References should be numbered in the order in which they first appear in the text and listed numerically in the reference list. Please use AMA style. Journal titles should be abbreviated according to PubMed/NLM conventions. If reference-management software has been used, field codes should be removed from the final submitted manuscript. Whenever available, DOI identifiers should be included.

Journal article
[1] Sousa-Uva M, Head SJ, Milojevic M, Collet JP, Landoni G, Castella M, et al. 2017 EACTS Guidelines on perioperative medication in adult cardiac surgery. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2018;53:5-33.

Book
[2] Cooley DA. Techniques in Cardiac Surgery. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1984:167-176.

Book chapter
[3] Rastan AJ, Borger MA, Haensig M, Kempfert J, Mohr FW. Recent developments in transcatheter aortic valve implantation. In: Moorjani N, Ohri SK, Wechsler A, eds. Cardiac Surgery: Recent Advances and Techniques. CRC Press; 2013.

Online publication
[4] Durko A, Mahtab E, Romeo J, Bogers A. Skeletonized internal mammary artery harvest with diathermy and cold dissection. Multimed Man Cardiothorac Surg. 2017;2017. doi: 10.1510/mmcts.2017.023

For references with more than six authors, list the first six authors followed by et al.
The reference list should contain more than 50% sources indexed in Scopus or Web of Science, more than 80% of references should include a DOI where one exists, and no more than 10% should consist of monographs or conference abstracts. References should comply with the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

References originally published in Cyrillic script should be transliterated into Latin script using a recognized romanization system. Where appropriate, an English translation of the title may be provided in square brackets, followed by an indication of the original language.

7. Acknowledgements
This section may be used to acknowledge individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet ICMJE authorship criteria, such as those who provided administrative assistance, technical support, language editing, or writing assistance.

8. Author Contribution Statement
An Author Contribution Statement must be included in manuscripts with two or more authors. Authors should describe individual contributions using the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy), as applicable. The relevant roles include: Conceptualization; Methodology; Software; Validation; Formal Analysis; Investigation; Resources; Data Curation; Writing - Original Draft; Writing - Review & Editing; Visualization; Supervision; Project Administration; and Funding Acquisition.

Each author's contribution should be identified using initials or full names.

Example:
Author Contributions: Conceptualization, A.B. and C.D.; methodology, A.B.; investigation, C.D. and E.F.; data curation, C.D.; writing - original draft, A.B.; writing - review and editing, C.D. and E.F.; supervision, A.B. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Contributors who do not meet internationally accepted criteria for authorship should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgements section rather than listed as authors.

9. Funding Statement
All manuscripts must include a Funding Statement, regardless of whether the work received financial support.

If the study received funding, authors should provide the official name of the funding organization and, where applicable, the grant number.

Example:
Funding: This research was funded by [name of funding organization], grant number [XXXX].

If no external funding was received, please use:

Funding: This research received no external funding.

10. Conflict of Interest Statement
All authors must disclose any financial, professional, personal, or other relationships that could influence, or could reasonably be perceived to influence, the work presented in the manuscript.

If no conflicts of interest exist, please use:

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

If a conflict of interest exists, authors must provide a concise description of its nature. Disclosure of a potential conflict of interest does not automatically preclude publication; the Editorial Board will assess its relevance to the submitted manuscript. For further information, see the Conflict of Interests Statement.

11. ORCID iD
Authors are strongly encouraged to provide an ORCID iD (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) during manuscript submission. The ORCID iD should be provided in its complete format for each author who has one.

Example:
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-XXXX-XXXX

Authors who do not yet have an ORCID iD are encouraged to register free of charge at https://orcid.org/. The absence of an ORCID iD does not prevent manuscript submission or peer review.

12. Institutional Affiliations and ROR ID
Authors must provide the complete official name of each institutional affiliation, including department where applicable, institution, city, and country. Whenever available, authors should also provide the institution's ROR ID (Research Organization Registry identifier).

Example:
Department of [...], [Official Institution Name], Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
ROR ID: https://ror.org/XXXXXXXXX

If an institution does not have a ROR ID, the affiliation should still be provided in full. The absence of a ROR ID does not prevent manuscript submission or peer review.

13. Authorship Statement and License Agreement
The manuscript must be accompanied by the Authorship Statement Form and License Agreement available on the journal website.

By submitting the Authorship Statement, the authors confirm that all listed authors meet the criteria for authorship, have made a substantial contribution to the work, have reviewed and approved the submitted version of the manuscript, and have disclosed all relevant sources of funding and potential conflicts of interest. They also confirm that the manuscript is original, has not been published previously except where explicitly disclosed, and is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.

The License Agreement must be completed in accordance with the journal's Open Access and copyright policy. The Editorial Office may request clarification or additional documentation when necessary.