PREVENTION AND CONTROL BEGINS ITS THIRD YEAR AMBITIOUS FOR MORE GROWTHPrevention and Control, the World Heart Federation’s quarterly journal of cardiovascular health, began its third year in January. It did so with expectations of expanding its subscriber base and attracting more manuscript submissions especially from writers in the low- and middle-income countries that are its principal focus. The journal has a new and improved web site at http://www.precon-journal.com where potential subscribers can view certain content for free and then subscribe for delivery at home or at the office. The current free content includes an article about the management of hypertension in low- and middle-income countries, an editorial arguing for a reassessment of approaches to statin therapy and an analysis of Argentina’s tobacco epidemic. With 80% of deaths from cardiovascular disease occurring in low- and middle-income countries, the magazine’s niche in the problems of those countries becomes all the more important. Formally launched at the Sixth International Conference on Preventive Cardiology in Iguaçu, Brazil, the self-described “forum for dialogue and education” is “committed to providing an opportunity for writers from low- and middle-income countries to publish,” said Editor-in-Chief Andy Wielgosz. Dr. Wielgosz stressed that writers from those economically developing countries should not be reluctant to submit articles because their command of English may be incomplete. He and his colleagues are more than willing to provide editing assistance to those whose mother tongue is not English. “Their submissions won’t be rejected on that basis,” Dr. Wielgosz said. “At the same time, we’re committed to providing constructive feedback on how they can improve their methodology.” By visiting the Prevention and Control web site and clicking on “author information,” writers can read about the submission process, including guidelines for manuscripts and the proofing of manuscripts and how to send their submissions by e-mail. The web site says that the main focus of submissions should be on prevention. Submissions “should adDr.ess not only the extent or epidemiology of the problem, but also describe interventions to effectively control and prevent cardiovascular disease and their antecedent factors.” “The emphasis should be on approaches that can be applied in settings with limited resources,” the web site continues. “Economic evaluations of successful interventions will be particularly welcome. Important negative findings will also be considered. Manuscripts that adDr.ess “community-based activities” are preferred to” reports of hospital or clinic-based treatments,” the web site says. “Submissions on cardiovascular surveillance and health policies, professional education, ethical issues and technological innovations particularly those related to prevention are encouraged.” The current issue, Volume 2, Number 2, which appeared in early February 2007, contains articles about cardiovascular diseases mortality in Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico and among Hispanics in the United States of America; the Isfahan Healthy Heart Programme; obesity in Syria; tobacco control in Pakistan; and smoking and perception of risk among Nigerian medical students. | |||||||
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