1. Scope and Mission
The Journal of Baltalimanı (JoB) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal published by İstanbul Metin Sabancı Baltalimanı Bone Diseases Training and Research Hospital. The journal aims to publish high-quality original research, clinical studies, reviews, meta-analyses, case reports, technical notes, and letters to the editor in the following areas:
The journal encourages interdisciplinary approaches and prioritizes comprehensive studies integrating clinical practice with biomedical engineering, health informatics, and digitalization in healthcare.
2. Article Types
Research Articles: Prospective or retrospective clinical studies, experimental research, cohort or case-control studies prepared using scientific methodology.
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Must comply with PRISMA guidelines.
Review Articles: Comprehensive literature evaluations authored by experts in the field.
Case Reports: Rare, novel, or diagnostically instructive cases.
Technical Notes: Introduction of new surgical techniques, equipment, or methods.
Short Communications: Preliminary results or findings requiring rapid publication.
Editorials: Opinion articles published upon invitation from the editor.
3. Language and Submission Format
Manuscripts may be submitted in Turkish or English. English submissions are encouraged to enhance international accessibility.
All manuscripts must be prepared in Microsoft Word (.docx) format:
Font: Times New Roman, size 12
Line spacing: 1.5
Margins: 2.5 cm
Page numbering: Centered at the bottom
4. Manuscript Structure
a. Title Page
Manuscript title (in Turkish and English)
Full names and institutional affiliations of all authors
Corresponding author’s email and phone number
ORCID numbers for all authors
Conflict of interest and funding statements
b. Abstract
Maximum 250 words
Structured abstract: Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusion
3–6 keywords (preferably MeSH terms)
c. Main Text
For Reviews:
Introduction
Literature Review
Discussion and Conclusion
For Research Articles:
Introduction
Materials and Methods (including ethical approval and statistical analysis)
Results
Discussion (limitations must be specified)
Conclusion
For Case Reports:
Introduction
Case Presentation
Discussion
Conclusion
d. References
Must be formatted according to APA style
Example:
Journal article: Smith J, Doe A. Outcomes of hip arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg. 2020;102(3):234-240.
Book: Murray PR. Medical Microbiology. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2016.
e. Tables and Figures
Each must be presented on a separate page
Must include descriptive titles and captions
Images should be high resolution (minimum 300 dpi), JPEG or TIFF format
Patient identifiers must be removed
5. Ethical Guidelines and Compliance
Ethical Committee Approval is mandatory for all studies involving human or animal data
Informed consent must be clearly stated in the manuscript
Authors must comply with ICMJE and COPE guidelines
Plagiarism screening is performed using Turnitin or iThenticate; the maximum similarity rate allowed is 15%
6. Data Sharing
Authors must state whether the data supporting the study are available and specify the platform for access.
7. Conflict of Interest and Funding
All authors must disclose potential conflicts of interest. If none exist, the following statement should be included: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”
Any financial support must be clearly indicated.
8. Peer Review and Publication Process
All manuscripts undergo:
Initial screening
Double-blind peer review by at least two reviewers
Evaluation by section editors and the editor-in-chief
Average review time: 4–6 weeks
9. Article Processing Charges and Open Access Policy
There are no submission or publication fees.
Articles are open access under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license.
FOR REVIEWS
A. Title and Author Information
Title: Informative, not exceeding 15 words
Authors: Contributions of all authors must be clearly stated
Include ORCID IDs and contact address
B. Structured Abstract
Maximum 250 words
Subheadings: Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusion
Keywords: Minimum 3, maximum 6, MeSH-compliant
C. Main Text Structure (Minimum 4,000 – Maximum 8,000 words)
Introduction – Explain the importance, scope, and aim of the review.
Methods – Specify databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, etc.), keywords, search strategy, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and PRISMA diagram (mandatory for systematic reviews).
Results – Summarize key findings from the literature; may be supported with tables or figures.
Discussion – Interpret findings, compare with literature, state limitations and recommendations.
Conclusion – Provide general inferences and recommendations.
D. References – At least 30 recent sources (last 5 years), APA 7 style, with DOIs.
E. Appendices – PRISMA diagram, ethical statement (even if not required, must include “This review does not require ethics committee approval”), author contribution statement, conflict of interest, and funding statements.
FOR RESEARCH ARTICLES
A. Title Page – Turkish and English title, author names, institutions, ORCID numbers, corresponding author contact, author contributions (CRediT taxonomy), conflict of interest, and funding.
B. Abstract – Maximum 250 words, structured as Objective, Materials and Methods, Results, Conclusion; keywords (3–6, MeSH-compliant).
C. Main Text
Introduction – Clearly state the importance, knowledge gap, aim, and hypothesis.
Materials and Methods – Study design (prospective/retrospective, randomized, etc.), participant details and sample size, measurement tools, statistical analysis, ethical approval, informed consent, and animal ethics if applicable.
Results – Present clearly and objectively, supported by tables and figures, with p-values where relevant.
Discussion – Compare with literature, state strengths and limitations, discuss clinical implications, originality, and future directions.
Conclusion – Summarize in 2–3 sentences, highlighting clinical impact and key message.
D. References – Prioritize recent sources (last 5 years), minimum 20, ideally 30–40, APA 7 style, with DOIs.
E. Tables, Figures, and Appendices – Separate pages, high-resolution images, supplementary materials (protocols, questionnaires, consent forms) as additional files.
FOR TECHNICAL NOTES
A. Title Page – Turkish and English title, authors, institutions, ORCID numbers, corresponding author contact, author contributions, conflict of interest, and funding.
B. Abstract and Keywords – Unstructured abstract (150–200 words in Turkish and English), 3–5 MeSH-compliant keywords.
C. Main Text (Max 2,000 words, up to 4 tables or figures)
Introduction – Identify the need for innovation, existing methods, and their limitations.
Technical Description – Step-by-step implementation, equipment and materials used, supported with illustrations; may include links to technical drawings/animations.
Clinical Application / Example (optional) – Short case summary with outcomes; ethical approval required.
Discussion – Comparison with existing techniques, advantages, limitations, learning curve, and future applications.
Conclusion – 2–3 sentence summary of practical contribution.
FOR CASE REPORTS
Introduction – Justification for the case, relevance in literature, originality, and clinical importance.
Case Presentation – Patient demographics, medical history, clinical findings, diagnostic workup, treatment, outcomes, and follow-up.
Discussion – Literature comparison, scientific contribution, differences from similar cases, and clinical recommendations.
Conclusion – Summarize the main message in 2–3 sentences.