Information for Authors

Information for Authors

Last updated: 17 August 2025

APALM is a double-blind, peer-reviewed, open-access journal in pathology and laboratory medicine. We accept electronic submissions only via our OJS system. Registration and login are required to submit and to track manuscripts. (See Submissions → Make a new submission.)

By submitting, authors confirm the work is original, not under consideration elsewhere, and that all authors meet ICMJE authorship criteria; research ethics, trial registration (where applicable) and data-sharing expectations must be addressed in the manuscript.

 

1. Scope & Article Types

We consider the following categories. Word counts exclude references and abstract unless noted.

  • Original Articles — IMRaD structure (Abstract, Introduction, Materials/Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion). Studies involving human/animal subjects must state prior ethics approval in Methods. ≤2,500 words; ≤30 references.

  • Review Articles — Systematic, critical syntheses of the literature (methods should describe sources/selection). ≤4,000 words; ≤50 references. Follow PRISMA 2020 if systematic. 

  • Case Reports/Case Series — Unusual/educational cases (≤6 cases): Introduction; Case Report(s); Discussion/Conclusion. ≤1,500 words; ≤15 references. Follow CARE Case Report Guidelines.

  • Editorials — Usually invited; concise perspectives on current topics or on articles in the issue.

  • Letters to the Editor — Focused comments or brief observations. ≤500 words; ≤5 references; no abstract.

  • Images in Pathology/Hematology/Cytopathology/Histopathology/Microbiology — Short case vignette with image(s), differential diagnosis, and brief discussion. ≤500 words; ≤5 recent references; no abstract.

  • Students’/Residents’ Corner — Brief educational narratives. ≤500 words.

  • Book Reviews — Critical appraisal (audience, strengths/limitations). 800–1,000 words.

Reporting checklists: CONSORT 2025 for randomized trials; PRISMA 2020 for systematic reviews; STROBE for observational studies; CARE for case reports; ARRIVE 2.0 for animal research. Upload the relevant checklist/flow diagram at submission.

2. Authorship, Contributions, ORCID

  • Authorship follows ICMJE’s 4 criteria (substantial contribution; drafting or critical review; final approval; accountability). List only those meeting all four.

  • Provide CRediT roles for each author at submission/acceptance (e.g., Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing–original draft). 

  • ORCID iDs: supply an authenticated ORCID for the corresponding author (recommended for all authors). We collect and display verified ORCID iDs per ORCID best practice.

  • AI tools are not authors. Any AI use (language editing, code, figure generation, etc.) must be disclosed in the manuscript/acknowledgements and remains the authors’ responsibility. 

3. Ethics, Trial Registration & Data-Sharing

4. Policies at Submission

  • Originality & overlap: Submissions must be original; duplicate/overlapping submissions are not allowed. 

  • Conflicts of interest & Funding: Include ICMJE-style COI and funding statements for all articles.

  • Data availability: Include a Data Availability Statement describing where data/code are available (or justified restrictions), consistent with our Data Policy. 

  • Preprints: Permitted; cite the preprint in the manuscript and note in the cover letter (double-blind limits perfect blinding).

5. How to Submit (OJS)

Submit through the journal’s OJS site (Submissions → Start New Submission). During submission, upload:

  1. Cover Letter & Title Page (single Word file)
    • Explain significance/novelty; confirm originality/ethics/COI; list suggested (and any opposed) reviewers with emails/affiliations (editors may or may not use them).
    • Title Page must include: article type; full title; short running title (<50 characters); all authors’ names, emails, and full affiliations (country included); corresponding author’s full contact (email, phone, postal address).

  2. Manuscript file for review (blind) — Word .doc/.docx, 12-pt Times New Roman, double-spaced, 2.5 cm margins, continuous page numbers. Do not include author names/affiliations in the manuscript or file properties. Keep figures/tables embedded for review; high-resolution files may be requested post-acceptance.

  3. Checklist(s) — CONSORT/PRISMA/STROBE/CARE/ARRIVE as applicable. 

  4. Declarations — ethics approvals/consents; COI; funding; data availability; trial registration; author contributions (CRediT); preprint statement (if any).

6. Manuscript Components & Formatting

Title — Concise; avoid abbreviations/formulae. (No author info in the blind file.)

Abstract (≤250 words) — Required except for Editorials/Letters/Images.
• Original Articles: structured (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion).
• Reviews/Case reports: structured or unstructured as appropriate.

Keywords (4–6) — Use MeSH terms when possible. 

Main Text —

  • Original Articles: Introduction; Materials/Methods; Results; Discussion; Conclusion.

  • Case Reports: Introduction; Case Report(s); Discussion/Conclusion.

  • Use SI units; define abbreviations at first mention; keep subheadings clear.

Acknowledgements — Name contributors who don’t meet authorship; confirm permission.

Declarations — Funding; COI; Ethics approvals/Consent; Data Availability; CRediT roles; Trial registration; Preprint info (if any).

References (Vancouver) — Numbered in order of citation; use NLM/Index Medicus journal abbreviations; avoid excessive textbook/very old citations. 

Figures & Figure Legends —

Include all types of images like clinical images. radiological images, microphotographs, graphs, charts etc as figures and number in order (Fig 1, Fig 2…). Donot write separate nomenclature for graphs and charts. For review, keep figures embedded in the Word file; avoid text on images. Legends ≤40 words; specify stain/magnification for photomicrographs. Avoid identifiers; mask faces; obtain permissions for third-party images and include credit lines. The number of images should be relevant and justifiable for the manuscript topic, editors may ask you to remove unnecessary images and merge images as found suitable.

Tables —

One per page after references; number sequentially (Table 1, 2…); include titles, column headers, and footnotes clarifying abbreviations/units. Avoid duplicating text. The number of tables should be less than five relevant and justifiable for the manuscript topic, editors may ask you to remove unnecessary tables and merge tables as found suitable. 

Supplementary Material — Submit as separate files with clear legends.

7. After Submission

All submissions undergo editorial screening (scope, formatting, ethics, similarity check). Eligible manuscripts proceed to double-blind external peer review by ≥2 independent reviewers, with statistical/methods review as needed. See Peer Review Policy for timelines and appeals. 

 

8. Templates

Please use the official APALM templates (Word):