Submit Your Hepatology and Gastroenterology Research
Join leading researchers advancing spleen and liver science through rigorous peer review and open access publishing
Complete your submission in 15 minutes • Expert hepatology reviewers • Immediate global visibility
Two Convenient Submission Methods
We offer two streamlined pathways for submitting your hepatology and gastroenterology research. Choose the method that best fits your workflow and manuscript complexity.
ManuscriptZone Portal
Our comprehensive manuscript management system designed for complete submission tracking and seamless communication with editors and reviewers.
- Real-time submission status tracking
- Auto-save functionality prevents data loss
- Direct access to reviewer comments and editor decisions
- Guided workflow with step-by-step instructions
- Secure document upload and version control
- Email notifications at every stage
Best for: Complex manuscripts, multi-author submissions, and researchers who want complete visibility into the review process.
Submit via ManuscriptZoneQuick Submission Form
A streamlined, single-page submission form for straightforward manuscripts that don't require extensive metadata or complex file management.
- No account registration required
- Simple one-page form
- Fast submission process (under 10 minutes)
- Ideal for case reports and short communications
- Automatic transfer to ManuscriptZone for tracking
- Email confirmation upon receipt
Best for: Case reports, letters to the editor, and researchers seeking the fastest submission path.
Use Quick Submission FormFirst-time submitting? We recommend the ManuscriptZone Portal for its comprehensive guidance and real-time tracking features. Both methods undergo the same rigorous peer review process and receive equal editorial consideration.
Article Types We Publish
The Journal of Spleen and Liver Research welcomes diverse manuscript types that advance our understanding of hepatic and splenic pathophysiology, clinical management, and therapeutic innovations. Each submission undergoes rigorous peer review by experts in hepatology, gastroenterology, and related disciplines.
Original Research Articles
Comprehensive studies on liver disease mechanisms, splenic disorders, hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis pathogenesis, portal hypertension, or novel therapeutic approaches.
Clinical Case Reports
Unique presentations of rare hepatic or splenic conditions, unusual disease manifestations, novel diagnostic approaches, or unexpected treatment outcomes in liver disease management.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Comprehensive evidence synthesis on hepatology topics including treatment efficacy, diagnostic accuracy, epidemiological trends, or prognostic factors in liver disease.
Clinical Trials
Randomized controlled trials, observational studies, or interventional research evaluating treatments for hepatic diseases, liver transplantation outcomes, or splenic disorders.
Technical Notes & Methods
Novel surgical techniques for liver resection, innovative diagnostic protocols, laboratory methodologies for hepatic biomarker analysis, or imaging advances in liver disease.
Review Articles
Comprehensive overviews of current knowledge in hepatology subspecialties: viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver disease, metabolic liver disorders, or hepatobiliary malignancies.
Short Communications
Preliminary findings, pilot studies, or brief reports on emerging hepatology topics, novel observations in liver pathology, or time-sensitive clinical insights.
Editorials & Commentaries
Expert perspectives on controversial topics in hepatology, critical appraisals of recent research, or opinion pieces on clinical practice guidelines and liver disease management.
Manuscript Preparation: All submissions must follow ICMJE guidelines. Clinical trials require registration in recognized databases (ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN). Animal studies must comply with ARRIVE guidelines. Human studies require ethics committee approval and informed consent documentation.
Peer Review Timeline
We are committed to transparent, efficient peer review that respects your time while maintaining rigorous quality standards. Our editorial team includes hepatologists, gastroenterologists, hepatobiliary surgeons, and liver pathologists who ensure expert evaluation of your work.
Submission Received
Your manuscript is logged into our system and assigned a unique tracking number. You receive immediate email confirmation with submission details and portal access.
Day 0Initial Editorial Screening
The Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editor reviews your manuscript for scope alignment, technical completeness, and adherence to submission guidelines. Plagiarism screening via iThenticate is performed (similarity index must be below 15% for hepatology research).
Days 1-3Reviewer Assignment
Manuscripts passing initial screening are assigned to 2-3 expert reviewers specializing in your research area (e.g., viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation). Reviewers are selected based on publication history, expertise match, and absence of conflicts of interest.
Days 4-7Peer Review Process
Reviewers evaluate scientific rigor, methodological soundness, clinical relevance, and contribution to hepatology literature. They assess study design, statistical analysis, interpretation of results, and adherence to reporting standards (CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA as applicable).
Days 8-28Editorial Decision
The handling editor synthesizes reviewer feedback and makes a decision: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject. You receive detailed reviewer comments, editor recommendations, and clear guidance for revisions if applicable.
Days 29-35Revision Submission (if required)
Authors submit revised manuscripts with point-by-point responses to reviewer comments. Revised manuscripts are typically returned to the same reviewers for re-evaluation, ensuring consistency in quality assessment.
Author timeline variesRe-review & Final Decision
Reviewers assess whether revisions adequately address their concerns. The editor makes a final decision based on reviewer recommendations and author responses to feedback.
Days 36-50Acceptance & Production
Accepted manuscripts enter production for copyediting, typesetting, and final formatting. Authors review proofs and provide final approval before publication. Articles are published online immediately upon completion.
Days 51-60Publication & Indexing
Your article is published online with a DOI and submitted to PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for indexing. Open access ensures immediate global visibility to the hepatology research community.
Day 60+Expedited Review Available: Clinical case reports of rare hepatic conditions and short communications on urgent hepatology topics may qualify for expedited review (10-14 days to first decision). Contact the editorial office to request expedited consideration.
Pre-Submission Checklist
Ensure your manuscript meets all requirements before submission to avoid delays in the review process. Complete manuscripts receive faster editorial screening and reviewer assignment.
Required Elements
- Manuscript File: Complete manuscript in Word (.docx) or LaTeX format, including title page, abstract (250 words maximum), keywords (5-8 terms), introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions. For clinical studies, include patient demographics and baseline characteristics.
- Figures and Tables: High-resolution figures (minimum 300 DPI) in TIFF, EPS, or PNG format. Tables in editable format (Word or Excel). All figures and tables must be cited in the text and include descriptive captions. Histopathology images should include magnification and staining information.
- Ethics Documentation: IRB/Ethics committee approval letter for human studies. Animal research must include IACUC approval and ARRIVE checklist compliance. Clinical trials require trial registration number and protocol availability.
- Author Information: Complete names, affiliations, ORCID IDs, and email addresses for all authors. Corresponding author must provide full contact details including institutional address and phone number.
- Competing Interests Statement: Declaration of financial relationships, consulting arrangements, or other potential conflicts of interest. If no conflicts exist, state "The authors declare no competing interests."
- Funding Information: List all funding sources including grant numbers. Acknowledge the role of funders in study design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript preparation.
- Author Contributions: Specify each author's contribution using CRediT taxonomy (Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing, etc.). All listed authors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria.
- Data Availability Statement: Describe how readers can access underlying data. For clinical trials, include protocol and statistical analysis plan availability. Genomic data should be deposited in public repositories (GEO, SRA).
- References: Format according to Vancouver style (numbered citations in order of appearance). Ensure all references are complete with author names, article titles, journal names, publication years, volume/issue numbers, and page ranges. Verify DOIs for all references where available.
Manuscript Preparation Guidelines
Formatting Requirements
Manuscripts should be prepared in Microsoft Word (.docx) or LaTeX format with the following specifications:
- Double-spaced text throughout (including references and figure legends)
- 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font
- Continuous line numbering for ease of review
- Page numbers in the bottom right corner
- Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
- SI units for all measurements (with conventional units in parentheses if appropriate)
Title Page Components
The title page should include:
- Title: Concise and informative (maximum 150 characters), avoiding abbreviations
- Running Title: Shortened version (maximum 50 characters) for page headers
- Authors: Full names with academic degrees and ORCID identifiers
- Affiliations: Department, institution, city, state/province, country for each author
- Corresponding Author: Complete contact information including email, phone, and postal address
- Word Count: Separate counts for abstract and main text (excluding references, tables, and figures)
- Keywords: 5-8 terms from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) when possible
Abstract Structure
For original research articles, use a structured abstract (250 words maximum) with the following headings:
- Background: Context and rationale for the study
- Methods: Study design, patient population, interventions, and primary outcomes
- Results: Key findings with specific data (include p-values and confidence intervals)
- Conclusions: Interpretation and clinical implications
Statistical Reporting
All statistical analyses must be clearly described and appropriately applied:
- Specify statistical software used (name and version)
- Define all statistical tests and significance thresholds (typically p < 0.05)
- Report confidence intervals (95% CI) for primary outcomes
- For clinical trials, include sample size calculations and power analysis
- Describe handling of missing data and sensitivity analyses
- For survival analyses, include hazard ratios with 95% CI
Figure and Table Guidelines
Visual elements should enhance understanding of your hepatology research:
- Figures: Submit as separate files in TIFF or EPS format (minimum 300 DPI). Histopathology images should be high-resolution with scale bars. Label all panels (A, B, C) and reference them in the caption.
- Tables: Create in Word or Excel (not as images). Include descriptive titles and define all abbreviations in footnotes. Use horizontal lines only (no vertical lines).
- Legends: Provide detailed figure legends that allow understanding without reference to the main text. Define all symbols, arrows, and abbreviations used.
- Color: Ensure figures are interpretable in grayscale. Use colorblind-friendly palettes when possible.
Ethical Considerations for Hepatology Research
Human Subjects Research
All clinical studies involving human participants must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and obtain appropriate ethical approval:
- IRB/Ethics committee approval required before study initiation
- Written informed consent from all participants (or legally authorized representatives)
- Patient privacy protection: remove identifying information from images and case descriptions
- For retrospective studies, document waiver of informed consent if applicable
- Clinical trials must be registered in recognized databases (ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN, etc.)
Animal Research
Studies using animal models of liver disease must adhere to ethical standards:
- IACUC or equivalent committee approval required
- Compliance with ARRIVE guidelines for reporting animal research
- Justification of animal model selection and sample size
- Description of measures to minimize pain and distress
- Statement of euthanasia methods used
Data Sharing and Transparency
We encourage open science practices in hepatology research:
- Deposit genomic data in public repositories (GEO, SRA, ENA)
- Share de-identified patient data when ethically permissible
- Provide study protocols for clinical trials
- Make statistical analysis code available upon reasonable request
- Declare data availability in the manuscript
Need Assistance?
Our editorial team is here to support you throughout the submission and review process. For questions about manuscript preparation, submission procedures, or journal policies, please contact: [email protected]
Ready to share your hepatology research with the world?
Begin Your Submission