WORLD HEART FEDERATION AND NATURE MARK ANNIVERSARYThe World Heart Federation celebrates the first anniversary of its adoption of Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine as an official publication. Started by Nature Publishing Group in November 2004, Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine became an official World Heart Federation publication in April 2006. The journal specializes in providing physicians with comprehensive overviews of the most up-to-date literature relevant to the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiovascular disease. Published monthly in print and online, it includes opinion pieces, highlights from current literature, commentaries on the application of recent research to practical patient care, comprehensive reviews and in-depth case studies. The journal’s editor-in-chief is the immediate Past President of the World Heart Federation, Valentin Fuster. Heart Beat interviewed Publisher Peter Ashman: What makes Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine different?The premise is that busy physicians don't have time to keep abreast of the enormous amount of clinical research that's being published. We scan more than 350 journals each month to identify the original research that is most relevant to practising clinicians. By scanning not only cardiovascular journals but journals from allied specialties, we're able to highlight what physicians might not naturally consider to be of relevance to their specialty. We also work closely with Dr Fuster and our Advisory Board, who keep us informed of important clinical developments and new research being published. Are there kinds of articles that you’d like to tell us about?The kind that I'd particularly like to mention is Practice Points, where we look in-depth at an original research article that has been published elsewhere. Our editors write a structured synopsis (which is a one-page description of the article). Then, we invite a leading specialist to write a one-page commentary, which puts the original article into context with other research that's been published in the area, as well a one-line Practice Point. The Practice Point is the take-away message. If you read nothing else, the Practice Point will tell you how the original article changes the way you treat your patients. Anything else?From this year, we're inviting people to submit original research articles. We intend to publish up to two per month. We’re looking to attract the highest possible quality research -- and only research that will have an impact on the way doctors treat their patients. We will only consider Phase III and Phase IV trials, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and epidemiological studies. Articles will be subject to rigorous peer review and statistical analysis and, if accepted for publication, will appear online in advance of publication to ensure that we bring the research to readers as fast as possible. Does the journal offer discounts to readers in low- and middle-income countries?Yes, it is available online free or at a substantial discount to institutions that are signed up to HINARI http://www.who.int/hinari/en/. We also offer substantial discounts to members of World Heart Federation member organizations. If you could send one message to the World Heart Federation’s members, what would it be?It has to be: subscribe! Reading it will help you keep up to date with the key developments in your field and help you treat your patients. For more information, send me an e-mail at p.ashman@nature.com.
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