Format and Style Instructions

Document Format

For documents to be uploaded to the journal’s website, the format shall be as follows:

  • Page type: letter (21.59 x 27.94 cm).
  • Word document margin settings (top-bottom: 2.5 cm; left-right: 3 cm).
  • Font: Verdana.
  • Font size: 12 points.
  • Line spacing: single.
  • Alignment: justified.
  • No additional spacing between paragraphs.

Guidelines for the Presentation of Tables, Figures, and Graphs

The Electronic Medical Journal requires that all visual elements—tables, figures, and graphs—be editable, clear, rigorous, and technically appropriate, in alignment with its commitment to open, reproducible, and ethically sound science. Authors must ensure that these elements complement—and do not repeat—the information in the text, and that they are coherently integrated into the manuscript narrative.

Tables

Each table must include a brief and descriptive title, placed above the table body, and must be cited in the text before its appearance, in sequential order (Table 1, Table 2, etc.). The design must be sober: no unnecessary borders, shading, or colors. Contrast must ensure readability, and table width must not exceed text width (with maximum side margins of 3.0 cm). No table should occupy more than one page (approximately 24 lines); the page must include title, source, legend, etc. If the information is extensive, it is recommended to split it or move secondary data to a supplementary file.

Tables must be submitted in editable format (Word or Excel) and never as fixed images (captured screens, scans, or PDFs). This allows the editorial office to make adjustments without compromising quality. In the table footnote, the following will be included, in this order: explanatory notes with asterisks (“*”) and, if necessary, additional symbols in the order †, ‡, §, etc.; explanations of abbreviations, symbols, or special data; and, only if the data are secondary, the full source (e.g.: p < 0.05; † adjusted data; Source: National Health Survey 2024). If the footnote contains internal commas, elements must be separated with semicolons. Statistical measures (such as standard deviation or standard error) must be clearly identified. Additionally, decimal numbers must be written with a comma (e.g., 3,14). If data from external sources are used, written permission from the rights holder is required and must be attached to the manuscript submission.

Figures and Graphs

All non-tabular visual elements are considered figures: graphs (bar, line, pie), illustrations, medical photographs, microphotographs, flowcharts (including PRISMA in systematic reviews), maps, drawings, among others. Each figure must be consecutively numbered (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc.) and referenced in the text before its appearance. It must be self-explanatory, but all critical information must appear in the legend, not overlaid on the image.

All figures must be submitted in high-resolution or editable formats: TIFF, EPS, vector PDF, PNG, or high-quality JPEG. Low-resolution embedded images or screenshots are prohibited. The minimum required resolution is 300 dpi for photographs or medical images and 600–1000 dpi for fine-line graphs or technical diagrams. The maximum allowed width is 580 pixels, and its size must not exceed one page. Graphs must be submitted in editable formats (e.g., Excel files or vectors). PRISMA diagrams must strictly follow the 2020 guideline and be delivered in editable format (PowerPoint, Illustrator, or vector PDF).

Each figure’s legend must be placed with the image and include: a brief title; explanation of symbols, arrows, or marks; scale bar in microphotographs; staining method (when applicable); and, if the figure was adapted or reproduced, the full source along with the corresponding permission. Even if authors are the holders of a previously published figure, formal authorization from the publisher is required, unless the work is under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license or similar. Diagnostic images must protect patient identity (see section “Patient Data or Photographs in the Electronic Medical Journal”) and guarantee high resolution. Microphotographs must include a visible scale marker and specify magnification and staining technique in the legend.

Ethics, Transparency, and Good Editorial Practices

Any use of artificial intelligence in generating or editing tables or figures must be declared both in the WAME Checklist and in a footnote of the corresponding visual element, specifying the tool and its purpose. In manuscripts with six or more authors—especially systematic reviews—contributions to table and figure creation must be explicitly attributed using the CRediT taxonomy (e.g., Data Curation, Visualization, etc.).

All journal content is published under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 license, which allows reproduction for non-commercial purposes, provided the original source is cited. Furthermore, within the open peer review model, reviewers’ names will appear in the published article; therefore, the highest level of rigor and clarity is required for all visual materials, which will be subject to public scrutiny. Any image manipulation that distorts results—especially in diagnostic or laboratory material—is strictly prohibited.

Final Recommendations for Authors

To facilitate review and editing, it is recommended to submit:

  • Tables in Word or Excel (editable);
  • Graphs in vector or editable format (Excel, PowerPoint, EPS);
  • Images in TIFF or PNG with resolution ≥300 dpi;
  • Never convert tables or graphs to fixed images;
  • Verify that all visual elements are numbered, cited in the text, within the length limit, and accompanied by complete legends;
  • Declare the use of AI or digital tools in the WAME Checklist.

Technical Standards and Scientific Nomenclature

All manuscripts must use International System (SI) units: meters (m), centimeters (cm), kilograms (kg), liters (L), degrees Celsius (°C), and mm Hg for blood pressure. In clinical laboratory, results must be reported in SI units, and traditional units may be included in parentheses if desired (e.g., glucose: 5.55 mmol/L [100 mg/100 mL]).

Abbreviations must be limited to commonly used ones; less common abbreviations must be avoided, especially in title and abstract, and defined at first appearance (e.g., acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]). If they come from another language, their Spanish translation must be indicated. Measurement units do not require prior definition.

Scientific names of living organisms must be written in italics, with genus capitalized and species in lowercase (e.g., Escherichia coli). Diseases must be named according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), and drugs must be identified by their International Nonproprietary Name (INN), avoiding brand names.

In the acknowledgments section, persons, institutions, or entities that contributed to the work without meeting authorship criteria must be mentioned, provided they have explicitly authorized their inclusion. Any financial support or commercial links must be declared here.

Finally, bibliographic references must follow the Vancouver Style. Only reliable sources are accepted: peer-reviewed journals, academic books, or official sites (WHO, PAHO, etc.). Wikipedia, blogs, ResearchGate, social media, and non-reviewed sites are not accepted. More than 50% of references must be scientific documents available online, with URL or DOI. Citations in the text must appear as Arabic numerals in superscript within parentheses, e.g., (1). The final reference list must be manually prepared (without automatic numbering), and must always include the consultation date for electronic sources (e.g., Consulted on 05/06/2022).

Patient Data or Photographs in the Electronic Medical Journal

To publish personal data or patient photographs in a clinical case or other article in a scientific journal, several ethical and legal requirements must be met to guarantee patient privacy, dignity, and autonomy:

  1. Written informed consent: It is mandatory to obtain written informed consent signed by the patient (or legal representative if minor or decisionally impaired). This document must specify authorization for publication of clinical information and/or identifiable images for academic purposes. Consent must be specific for scientific publication, not just for medical treatment.
  2. Ethics Committee approval: In many cases, especially if the case involves sensitive details or identification risk, review and approval by a research Ethics Committee or institutional review board (IRB) is required.
  3. Patient identity protection: Even with consent, every effort must be made to protect patient identity. This includes:
    • Pixelating or hiding any identifiable data in images (e.g., faces, unique tattoos, distinctive marks).
    • Avoiding inclusion of names, ID numbers, exact dates, or other details enabling direct identification.
    • Slightly modifying easily identifiable demographic details (e.g., approximate instead of exact age, region instead of specific city).
  4. Justification for identifiable images/data: Journals usually require justification for why it is necessary to include images or data that could identify the patient. The image must be essential to illustrate a key diagnostic or treatment aspect.
  5. Compliance with local and international regulations: Local personal data protection legislation (e.g., GDPR in Europe or HIPAA in the U.S., depending on location) must be respected. Additionally, publication guidelines from organizations like the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), which establishes clear standards for patient image use, are recommended.

In summary: Written informed consent + anonymization whenever possible + ethical approval if applicable + clinical justification.

If consent is unavailable, no image or data allowing patient identification should be published, even if the case is of great scientific interest.