Publishing Ethics
Research and Publication Ethics
Research Ethics
Research Involving Human Subjects
Institutional Review Board Statement
When describing research involving human subjects, the use of human materials, tissues, or data, authors must declare that the studies were conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki of 1975, revised in 2013. According to point 23 of this declaration, prior to conducting the study, approval must be obtained from a local Institutional Review Board (IRB) or another appropriate ethics committee to ensure that the research meets national and international guidelines. The minimum requirements for the statement include providing the project code, approval date, and the name of the ethics committee or IRB, which must be stated in the "Institutional Review Board Statement" section of the article.
Example of an Institutional Review Board Statement: "The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of XXX (project identification code) on [approval date]."
For non-interventional studies (e.g., surveys, questionnaires, social media research), all participants must be fully informed about whether their anonymity is assured, the purpose of the research, how their data will be used, and if there are any risks involved in participating. As with all research involving human subjects, ethical approval from the relevant committee must be obtained prior to conducting the study. If ethical approval is not required, authors must either provide an exemption from the ethics committee or refer to local or national legislation that confirms that approval is not necessary for this type of study. If an exemption is granted, the name of the ethics committee providing the exemption, along with a detailed explanation, must be included in the "Institutional Review Board Statement" section of the article.
Informed Consent Statement
Manuscripts describing research involving human subjects, data, or tissues must include a statement of informed consent for participation in the study. Verbal informed consent may be acceptable in certain cases (e.g., ethnographic research). Authors must justify the use of such consent in the "Informed Consent Statement" section. In the case of verbal informed consent, a copy of the script used to obtain consent must be provided during the manuscript submission stage.
For all manuscripts containing identifiable information about patients/participants (such as personal details, images, or video materials related to a specific individual), written consent for publication of this information must be obtained from the patients/participants (or their relatives/guardians) prior to submission to the journal "Cardiology of Uzbekistan" When submitting the manuscript, a blank version of the consent form (without the names or signatures of patients/participants) must be provided. You may use the consent form template provided by the journal and consult your institution before using the appropriate form.
For the purposes of publishing in the journal "Cardiology of Uzbekistan" the consent, permission, or waiver form must include unlimited permission for publication in all formats (including print, electronic, and online), in sublicensed and reprinted versions (including translations and derivative works), and in other open access works and products. To protect the privacy of patients/participants and other individuals, signed consent forms should not be sent.
Personal information that identifies participants should not be included unless the data is relevant to the research (e.g., photos of participants’ faces showing a specific symptom). Patients'/participants' initials or other personal identifiers should not appear in images. Patient/participant data must be anonymized as much as possible, for example, by not specifying exact age, ethnicity, or profession if they are irrelevant to the conclusions. Measures to protect privacy may include data de-identification, adding noise, or blocking parts of the database. Editors reserve the right to reject any manuscript that does not meet these requirements.
The editorial office reserves the right to request additional documentation if necessary. The submitted manuscript will be reviewed by the editorial office, and upon request, documentary evidence (signed consent forms and any related documents from the ethics committee) must be provided.
Example of an Informed Consent Statement: "Informed consent for participation was obtained from all subjects involved in the study," or "Informed consent for participation is not required in accordance with local legislation [state local legislation]," or "Verbal informed consent was obtained from participants. Verbal consent was given instead of written because [state reason]," or "Informed consent for publication was obtained from all identifiable participants involved in the study."
Requirements for Studies Involving Vulnerable Groups and Organ Transplants
If a study involves vulnerable groups, the manuscript will undergo additional review by the editorial office. Upon request, the author is required to provide documentary evidence, including blank consent forms and any related discussion documents reviewed by the ethics committee or other relevant bodies. Additionally, when studies categorize groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, disability, disease, or other characteristics, the article must clearly explain why such categorization was necessary.
Articles describing research on human organ transplants must comply with all policies related to research involving human subjects. Furthermore, authors must specify the institution(s), clinic(s), or department(s) from which the organs or tissues were sourced. "Cardiology of Uzbekistan" does not accept manuscripts containing data on organs and/or other materials obtained through illegal commercial activity, executed prisoners, or other unethical practices related to organ donation. Manuscripts discussing such practices, such as editorials or reports on their secondary consequences, may be considered at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief but require written appeal to the editorial office before submission. For additional resources on organ transplantation, "Cardiology of Uzbekistan" follows the glossary maintained by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/patients/glossary/).
Ethical Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Research
Editors require that the potential benefits from any research causing harm to animals must significantly outweigh the harm caused to the animals, and that the procedures used should not cause objections from the majority of readers. Authors must particularly ensure that their research adheres to the widely accepted 3R principles:
- Replacement of animals with alternatives wherever possible.
- Reduction in the number of animals used.
- Refinement of experimental conditions and procedures to minimize harm to animals.
Authors are required to include information in the manuscript regarding the housing conditions, animal care, and pain management.
"Cardiology of Uzbekistan" supports the ARRIVE guidelines (arriveguidelines.org/) for reporting experiments involving live animals. Authors and reviewers must use these guidelines as a checklist, which can be found at https://arriveguidelines.org/sites/arrive/files/documents/Author%20Checklist%20-%20Full.pdf. "Cardiology of Uzbekistan" requires authors to submit a completed checklist with their manuscript, and it will be made available to reviewers. Editors reserve the right to reject manuscripts that do not adhere to these guidelines due to ethical concerns or animal welfare issues, or if the described procedures are not justified by the value of the work presented.
For further guidance, authors should refer to the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Procedures, the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, or the European Animal Research Association.
If national legislation requires it, research involving vertebrates or higher invertebrates must only be conducted after obtaining approval from the relevant ethics committee. The minimum requirements include providing the project identification code, approval date, and the name of the ethics committee or institutional review board, which must be stated in the "Institutional Review Board Statement" section. Research procedures must be conducted in accordance with national and institutional regulations. Animal welfare statements should confirm that the study complies with all relevant legislation. Clinical studies involving animals and interventions beyond routine care require oversight from the ethics committee, in accordance with the American Veterinary Medical Association. If the study involves client-owned animals, informed client consent must be obtained and certified in the research report. Owners must be fully informed of any risks associated with the procedures and the fact that the research results will be published. If available, a high standard of veterinary care must be provided. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of the information provided in the manuscript.
If ethical approval is not required by national laws, authors must provide an exemption from the ethics committee if available. In the case of exemption, the name of the ethics committee providing the exemption should be stated in the "Institutional Review Board Statement" section, along with a full explanation of why ethical approval was not required.
If the country lacks an animal ethics committee, the ethical evaluation will be carried out by reviewers and editors. Authors must provide a statement justifying the research from an ethical perspective, using the same utilitarian approach applied by ethics committees. Authors may be asked to provide this justification even if ethical approval has been granted.
Sources:
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Animal Research Review Panel. Three Rs. Available online
- Home Office. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Code of Practice
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. The Scientific Basis for Regulation of Animal Care
- European Animal Research Association. EU Animal Research Legislation
Research Involving Cell Lines
In the methods section of articles describing research using cell lines, it is necessary to state the origin of the cell lines. For established cell lines, the source must be specified, and references must be provided to either published papers or commercial sources. If previously unpublished de novo cell lines were used, including those gifted from another laboratory, details of institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee approval must be provided, along with confirmation of obtaining written informed consent if the cell line is of human origin.
Example of Ethical Statement:
- The HCT116 cell line was obtained from XXXX.
- The MLH1+ cell line was provided by XXXXX, Ltd.
- The DLD-1 cell line was obtained from Dr. XXXX.
- The DR-GFP and SA-GFP reporter plasmids were obtained from Dr. XXX, and the Rad51K133A expression vector was obtained from Dr. XXXX.
Research Involving Plants
Experimental research on plants (both cultivated and wild), including the collection of plant material, must comply with institutional, national, or international guidelines. We recommend that authors follow the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
For each submitted manuscript, information on the genetic data and origin of the plants must be provided. In manuscripts focused on research involving rare or non-model plants (for example, Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana benthamiana, Oryza sativa, or other typical model plants), plant specimens must be deposited in an accessible herbarium or museum. These specimens may be requested for verification by future researchers to confirm the identity of the material used (especially in cases of taxonomic changes). Specimens should include information on the populations sampled at the collection site (GPS coordinates), the date of collection, and details of the parts of the plants used in the research. For rare, endangered, or threatened species, this requirement may be waived, but the author must mention this in the cover letter.
Editors reserve the right to reject any manuscript that does not comply with these requirements.
Example of Ethical Statement: In this study, Torenia fournieri plants were used. The white-flowered Crown White (CrW) and violet-flowered Crown Violet (CrV) cultivars, selected from ‘Crown Mix’ (XXX Company, City, Country), were kindly provided by Dr. XXX (XXX Institute, City, Country).
Mutant Arabidopsis lines (SALKxxxx, SAILxxxx, ...) were kindly provided by Dr. XXX (Institute, City, Country).
Clinical Trials Registration
Registration
"Cardiology of Uzbekistan" follows the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), which require and recommend the registration of clinical trials in a public clinical trial registry at or before the time of first patient enrollment as a condition for publication consideration.
Purely observational studies do not require registration. A clinical trial refers not only to studies conducted in a hospital or related to pharmaceuticals but also includes any study where participant randomization and group classification occur in the context of the intervention being assessed.
Authors are strongly encouraged to pre-register clinical trials in international clinical trial registries and reference the registration in the "Methods" section. Suitable databases include clinicaltrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials Register, and those listed by the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform.
Approval to conduct a study from an independent local, regional, or national review body is not equivalent to prospective clinical trial registration. "Cardiology of Uzbekistan" reserves the right to reject any paper without trial registration for further peer review. However, if the study protocol was published before patient enrollment, the registration can be waived with the correct citation of the published protocol.
CONSORT Statement
"Cardiology of Uzbekistan" requires authors to submit a completed CONSORT 2010 checklist and a study flow diagram as a condition for manuscript submission when reporting the results of a randomized trial. Templates for these can be found on the CONSORT website (http://www.consort-statement.org), which also describes several CONSORT checklist extensions for various designs and data types beyond two-group parallel trials. Your article should contain information that corresponds to each item in the checklist.
Dual-Use Research of Concern
"Cardiology of Uzbekistan" follows the practical framework defined in the Guidance for Editors: Research, Audit and Service Evaluations, developed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Research that could pose a significant threat with broad consequences for public health or national security must be clearly indicated in the manuscript, and any potential dual-use research of concern should be explained in the cover letter when submitting the article. Potential areas of concern include, but are not limited to, biosecurity, nuclear and chemical threats, and research with military purposes or applications, etc. For such manuscripts to be considered for peer review, the potential benefits to public health or society must outweigh the risks. Authors are responsible for adhering to relevant national and international laws.
Sex and Gender in Research
We recommend that authors follow the SAGER (Sex and Gender Equity in Research) guidelines and consider sex and gender aspects where relevant. Authors should carefully use the terms sex (biological attribute) and gender (shaped by social and cultural circumstances) to avoid confusion between the two. Article titles and/or abstracts should clearly indicate which sex the study applies to. Authors should also describe in the background section whether sex and/or gender differences are expected; report how these differences were accounted for in the study design; provide sex- and/or gender-disaggregated data where appropriate, and discuss the respective results. If a sex and/or gender analysis was not conducted, the rationale should be explained in the "Discussion" section. We suggest that authors consult the full guidelines before submitting their manuscript.
Borders and Territories
Potential disputes over borders and territories may be especially relevant to authors when describing their research or in the correspondence address of the author or editor and should be respected. Content-related matters are the responsibility of the editorial team, and in the case of potential or perceived disputes or complaints, the editorial team will strive to find a solution that satisfies all parties involved.
"Cardiology of Uzbekistan" maintains neutrality with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Publication Ethics
1.1.The publication of materials in peer-reviewed journals is not only a simple means of scientific communication but also makes a significant contribution to the development of the respective field of knowledge. Therefore, it is important to establish ethical behavior standards for all parties involved in the publication process, namely: Authors, Journal Editors, Reviewers, Publishers, and the academic community for the “Cardiology of Uzbekistan”.
1.2.The editorial policy of the journal is based on the traditional ethical principles of Uzbek scientific periodicals, supports the Code of Ethics for Scientific Publications formulated by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and is built in accordance with the ethical standards for the work of editors and publishers as outlined in the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and the Code of Conduct for Journal Publishers, developed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
1.3.The Publisher assumes the responsibility for strict oversight of scientific materials. The journal's programs represent an impartial "report" on the development of scientific thought and research. The editorial board recognizes its responsibility for the proper presentation of these "reports," particularly in terms of the ethical aspects of publications outlined in this document.
Duties of Editors
2.1. Publication Decision
The editor of the “Cardiology of Uzbekistan” bears personal and independent responsibility for deciding which submissions will be published, taking into account the views of the academic community. The decision to publish is always based on the validity of the work under consideration and its significance to the scientific community. In their work, the editor is guided by the policies of the editorial board of the “Cardiology of Uzbekistan”, taking into account current legal requirements regarding copyright, legality, and plagiarism. The editor may consult with other editors and reviewers (or officers of the academic community) when making the publication decision.
2.2. Fairness
The editor must evaluate manuscripts solely on their intellectual content, regardless of the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.
2.3. Confidentiality
The editor and the editorial board of the “Cardiology of Uzbekistan” are obligated not to disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisors, and the publisher, as appropriate.
2.4. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
2.4.1. Unpublished data disclosed in submitted manuscripts must not be used in the editor's own research without the express written consent of the author. Information or ideas obtained during peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage.
2.4.2. Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts (i.e., request a co-editor or collaborate with other members of the editorial board to review and make decisions instead of personally handling the manuscript) when they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors or organizations related to the manuscript.
2.5. Oversight of Publications
2.5.1. An editor who identifies convincing evidence that the statements or conclusions presented in a publication are erroneous must inform the publisher (and/or the relevant academic community) to ensure prompt publication of corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, or other appropriate statements.
2.5.2. The journal reserves the right to retract articles if significant ethical violations, including plagiarism or data falsification, are identified. Retracted articles will be accompanied by relevant notices in the journal explaining the reasons for the retraction.
2.6. Involvement and Cooperation in Research
2.6.1. The editor, in cooperation with the publisher (or academic community), takes appropriate action in the event of ethical complaints concerning submitted manuscripts or published materials.
2.6.2. The journal applies strict measures against unethical practices, including citation manipulation and redundant publication. Suspected violations will be reviewed at the editorial level with the involvement of external experts.
Duties of Reviewers
3.1. Influence on Editorial Decisions
Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and, through collaboration with the authors, helps to improve the quality of their work. Peer review is an essential component of formal scholarly communication, lying at the heart of the scientific method. The publisher shares the view that all scholars wishing to contribute to publications must fulfill their fair share of reviewing duties.
3.2. Promptness
Any selected reviewer who feels unqualified to review the research reported in a manuscript or knows that it will be impossible to complete the review in a timely manner should notify the editor of the “Cardiology of Uzbekistan” and excuse themselves from the review process.
3.3. Confidentiality
Any manuscript received for review must be treated as a confidential document. It must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.
3.4. Standards and Objectivity
Reviewers must conduct their reviews objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should express their views clearly and with supporting arguments.
3.5. Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify any relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument has been previously reported should be accompanied by the relevant citation. Reviewers should also bring to the editor’s attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published work they have personal knowledge of.
3.6. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
3.6.1. Unpublished data disclosed in submitted manuscripts must not be used in a reviewer's own research without the express written consent of the author. Information or ideas obtained during peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage.
3.6.2. Reviewers should not consider manuscripts if they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions associated with the papers.
3.7. Responsibility for the Quality of Review
Reviewers should strive to make their feedback constructive, objective, and clearly articulated. Reviewers are obligated to inform the editorial office of any suspicions of plagiarism, data falsification, or other ethical violations identified during the review process. They should avoid overly harsh or personal remarks that may be offensive.
4.1. Manuscript Requirements
4.1.1. Authors must present only genuine research results based on facts and must not engage in data fabrication or falsification.
4.1.2. Scientific reviews and articles must be accurate and objective.
4.2. Access to Data and Data Storage
Authors are required to provide access to raw data, methodology, and other materials that may be necessary for reproducing the research. This must be indicated in the manuscript, and the data must be available in an appropriate repository. Repositories should be publicly accessible, with the link provided in the article to ensure the possibility of verification and reuse in future research.
4.3. Originality and Plagiarism
4.3.1. Authors must submit original work, and when using the statements and/or works of others, they must properly cite and reference them according to accepted standards.
4.3.2. Plagiarism in all forms (from presenting someone else's work as one's own, copying or paraphrasing substantial parts of someone else's work without attribution, to claiming credit for the results of others' research) is considered unethical and unacceptable behavior.
4.4. Multiple, Redundant, and Concurrent Publications
4.4.1. An author should not submit the same manuscript describing the same research (or part of it) as an original publication to more than one journal. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals is a violation of ethics.
4.4.2. In general, an author should not submit a previously published article to another journal for consideration.
4.4.3. The publication of certain types of articles (e.g., translations) in different journals is ethical if the authors and editors of the concerned journals agree on secondary publication under the condition that the same data and interpretations as in the original work are maintained. The bibliography of the original work must be included in the secondary publication. More detailed information on acceptable forms of secondary (repeat) publications can be found on the https://cardiojournal.uz/ website.
4.5. Acknowledgment of Sources
The contribution of others to the author’s research must always be acknowledged through citations to scientific sources that influenced the execution and results of the work submitted for publication. Information obtained privately, such as in conversation, correspondence, or discussions with third parties, must not be used or reported without the express written permission of the source. Information obtained from confidential sources, such as manuscript reviews or grant applications, must also not be used without the express written permission of the authors of the work related to these confidential sources.
4.6. Authorship of the Publication
Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All co-authors must review and approve the final version of the article before its publication. All co-authors must give their approval and consent to the content of the article before submitting it for publication.
4.7. Risks Associated with Research and Research Subjects
4.7.1. If the work involves procedures or equipment that may pose any unusual risks, the author must clearly indicate this in the manuscript.
4.7.2. If the work involves the participation of human subjects, the authors must ensure that the manuscript states that all stages of the research comply with relevant legislation and institutional guidelines and have been approved by the appropriate bodies. The manuscript must clearly state that informed consent has been obtained from all human subjects involved in the research. The rights to privacy of the research participants must always be respected.
4.8. Disclosure Policy and Conflicts of Interest
4.8.1. Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose all financial and non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of the research results. Non-financial conflicts of interest may include personal, professional, or academic relationships that could affect the objectivity or perception of the research results.
4.8.2. Examples of potential conflicts of interest that must be disclosed include employment, consultancy, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications or registrations, grants, and other financial support.
4.8.3. Authors are required to disclose all information about the financial support received during the research, including sponsors, to eliminate potential influence on the results or interpretation of the study.
4.9. Significant Errors in Published Works
If an author discovers significant errors or inaccuracies in a publication, the author must inform the editor and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the publication promptly. If the editor or publisher learns from a third party that a publication contains significant errors, the author must promptly retract or correct the errors.
4.10. Protection of Personal Data
Authors must ensure that the collection, processing, and storage of personal data of research participants are conducted in strict compliance with applicable data protection laws.
5.1. The publisher must adhere to principles and procedures that support the ethical responsibilities of editors, reviewers, and authors of the “Cardiology of Uzbekistan” in accordance with existing general requirements.
5.2. The publisher must support the editors of the “Cardiology of Uzbekistan” in addressing ethical issues related to published materials and assist in interacting with other journals and/or publishers if this aids in fulfilling the editors’ responsibilities.
5.3. The publisher must promote good research practices and implement appropriate standards to improve ethical guidelines, retraction procedures, and error correction.
5.4. The publisher must provide appropriate specialized legal support (consultations or opinions) to editors when necessary.
5.5. The publisher must ensure the safe and long-term storage of all materials related to publications, including raw data and metadata, to ensure their future accessibility.