1. Introduction

The journal Czech urology is the official Journal of the Czech Urological Association (CUS). It is published quarterly in the online form at www.czechurol.cz. Manuscripts are peer reviewed by two independent reviewers, and the final decision regarding publication is made by the executive editorial board and the editorial board. Reviews are anonymous in both directions. All communication regarding acceptance and review by the editorial office uses the editorial system Actavia.

The journal is open, even for non-members of the CUS. It publishes original articles in Urology and related disciplines in the form of clinical and experimental studies as well as case reports. In addition, it publishes commentaries and editorials to published manuscripts, reports, and reviews on newly published textbooks, discussions, biographies of significant personalities, reports from the Committee of the CUS, personal communications, and letters to editor. Review papers are solicited by the editorial board. An author can submit their intent to publish a review paper to the Editorial Board Chair.

Video represents another form of original presentation; the Journal will publish the title, authors and institution, abstract, keywords in both the Czech and English language, and a link to the video. The reference to the video presentation will also be published on the web page of the Journal at www.czechurol.cz. Video submissions are limited to 7 minutes and must be in the format AVI, FLV, MP4 or DV.

Published articles are the property of the Journal. Re-printing of articles or their parts, figures, tables or graphs requires permission from the Editor.

Processing of original communications, invited reviews, and peer reviews is rewarded by honoraria.

2. Manuscript

It is the responsibility of the author to assure that the contribution is original and the content or its parts have not been previously published in other media (including electronic). The author will submit the manuscript using the electronic editorial system Actavia, which can be accessed via www.czechurol.cz. If the submitted manuscript fulfills the necessary criteria, the editor will immediately notify the author that the manuscript has been received and assigned to the review process. Based on the review process, Editors reserve the right to accept or reject the article within two months. Authors must guarantee that during review the manuscript is not submitted elsewhere. The author will be informed in writing regarding the final decision. This term may be extended if the author is asked to revise the manuscript according to reviewer comments. The entire communication between the author and reviewers (notification of acceptance of the manuscript by the editorial office, reviewer assignment, proofs for final review by authors), will be conducted using the Actavia system.

3. Types of Articles

• Review: Maximum of 5000 words (approx. 20 written pages), up to 50 citations.
• Original Article/Special Focus Article: Maximum of 3000 words, up to 30 citations. Subtract 200 words for every table and figure.
• Case report: Maximum of 1500 words, up to 10 citations.
• Videos – abstracts and key words in Czech and in English; a video of no more than 7 minutes duration (for more information, see the Video link).
• Images from urological practice – up to one standard page; no more than 1,800 characters including spaces, 5 citations, and 8 images (excluding the abstract and key words).
• Report from a scientific meeting or a conference: Maximum of 2 pages.
• Review: Maximum of 2 pages (500 words).
• Letter to the Editor/Discussion: Maximum of 2 pages (500 words), up to 7 citations.
• Messages/Personal Messages: Maximum of 2 pages.
• Jubilee of prominent personalities: Maximum of 3 pages + photograph.
• Abstract from scientific meetings can be published with the approval of the Editor-in-Chief. In selected cases, if justification is deemed sufficient by the Editor-in-Chief or one of the members of the Executive Editorial Board, an extended communication can be published.

4. Formatting Requirements

Manuscripts should be submitted using the MS Word Program. Use 1.5 line spacing, and ideally 12 point Times New Roman font. Use the Enter key exclusively at the end of a paragraph! Each page should be numbered.

Manuscripts must have the following components:

• Title Page
• Abstract and key words in Czech/Slovak language
• Abstract and key words in the English language
• Body of the manuscript (including acknowledgements if applicable)
• Literature cited
• Figure legends in Czech/Slovak language (figures, tables, graphs)
• Figure legends in English language (figures, tables, graphs)
• Figures

4.1. Title page of the manuscript

• Title
• Full names of author(s) (first name and family name)
• Official name(s) and address(s) of the institution(s) of the authors (in the case of multiple authors, mark the author and institution using a superscript number)
• Contact information for the corresponding author (first name, family name, address, phone, fax number, and email address)
• Statement of support (independent manuscript, state grant, grant from the industry)
• Key statement of work, a short description (max. 40 words) in Czech and English, which will be included on the home page.

4.2. Structured summary and key words

Structured summary in both Czech and English, limited to one page (250 words), including:

• Objective: One or two sentences summarizing the problem and study aims.
• Study Population (Materials) and Methods: Characteristics of the monitored study subjects and methods used.
• Results: The most important results expressed numerically including statistical significance.
• Conclusion: What the study shows.

Review articles and case reports do not have to be written according the structure described above.

Key Words: A total of 5, in alphabetical order, in both Czech and English listed under the text of the abstract (according to the Medical Subject Heading available at www.nlm.nih.govwww.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/MBrowser.html).

References and abbreviations should not be used in the abstract.

4.3. Text of the manuscript

Use the style according to usual medical journals. Divide scientific communications according to the following structure:

• Introduction
• Study Population (Materials) and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Literature

At the end, include a list of tables and figures and their legends.

Methods: Include the equipment and software used, with their type and manufacturer/distributor.

Names of equipment and drugs: Equipment/drugs should be accompanied by the name and addresses of the manufacture listed in brackets. In addition to commercial name, include the generic name.

Abbreviations: All abbreviations should be defined the first time they are used in the text (with the exception of common abbreviations i.e. kg or min). Abbreviations should be used sparingly in the abstract and the legend title.

Acknowledgement: Provide thanks to colleagues, sponsors and supporters.

Numbering of paragraphs: If you choose to number the paragraphs, use the following structure:

• Methods
• Patients
• Inclusion Criteria

Units: Use SI units. Always use the official symbol of the unit after the number.

Always spell the number at the beginning of a sentence. In the text, all numbers above 9 should be expressed as a numeral (18 patients, six patients). If you choose to use abbreviations, it should be placed in brackets (Fig. 1) following the first full word without brackets.

4.4. Statistical Analysis

The statistical methods used should be described in detail so that the readers will be able to clearly identify the method used to process the results. You might discuss the appropriateness of the methods used, experimental design and randomization. Explain the statistical signs and abbreviations which are unusual.

4.5. Tables

Tables should be numbered using Arabic numerals. Table legends should be provided in both Czech and English. Explanations for the abbreviations used should be provided in the area under the footer.

4.6. Graphs and Figures

• Figures should support and explain, rather than duplicate the text.
• Figures should be uploaded via the Actavia editorial system. They should have sufficiently high definition (see below). The figures must not contain any personal identifiers, chart numbers, or diagnostic test numbers. The editorial office requests all images to be in JPG, TIF, BMP or CDR (Corel Draw) format. Each graph or figure should be saved as an independent file, with the labeling corresponding to the order listed in the text, e.g. Fig. 1B. JPG. The minimal resolution of the images is 300 dpi (dots per inch), the color scale should be RGB or CMYK. For figures submitted in JPG format, we recommend low or no compression (“high resolution”).
• Microphotographs (histology slides) should include the magnification and type of stain used.
• The legend associated with the graphs, figures, and tables has to be provided in both Czech and English. The information provided should be understandable alone without the knowledge of the text. The use of abbreviations should be an exception.

4.7. Video

Video should be submitted via the Actavia system and must be associated with a cover letter, abstract in both Czech and English, key words in Czech and English, and if applicable, the text itself.

The length of the video should not exceed 7 minutes. It should contain the title, author’s names and institutions, and the date the video was created (at least the year). It is appropriate to provide captions or comments through the critical segments of the video for clarity. Submit the video in the best possible quality.

The abstract should be structured in the same format as that used in manuscript. It should contain information regarding the level of experience of the group with the technique, number of cases, etc.

A written text under 1000 words, including a maximum of 2 figures and 10 citations, does not have to be submitted as a component of the publication. If provided, the accompanying text can be used to provide a detailed description of the technique.

Copyright must always be secured for music. This must be declared in the cover letter.

4.8. Literature

The maximum number of citations is listed in section 3. Increased attention should be given to relevant Czech sources. This would be positively assessed in the review process.

References should be formatted according to the Vancouver style. It should include the names of all authors in cases where the number of authors does not exceed five. In cases where there are six or more authors, only the first three names should be listed followed by et al (family name and first letter of the first name). The citations should be listed in the order they appear in the text.

Cite journal articles according to (Index Medicus) the following order: Journal, title, year, volume (and number if applicable), first and last page number.

Citing a book: Author, title, edition number, time of edition, editor’s name, year released, in the case of multiple authors, it is acceptable to list the name of the main author followed by et al.

Use Arabic numerals in the text placed in round brackets (), not just the name of the author.

If possible, avoid unpublished communications. If necessary, include the unpublished communication in the text clearly marked as “personal communication Jan Stránský, Kroměříž in bracket.

Example – journal:

Manjurul Islam AHM, Kato H, Hayama M, Kobayashi S. Are neuroendocrine cells responsible for the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia? Eur Urol 2002; 42(2): 79–93

Example – book:

Matthews DE, Farewell VT. Using and understanding medical statistics. 3. ed. New York: WH Freeman 1996; 396.

Example – book chapter:

Huang GJ, Wu YK. Operative techniques for carcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia. In: Huang GJ, Wu YK, eds. Carcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia. Berlin: Springer; 1984: 313–348.

4.9. Conflict of interest

Along with the manuscript submission, each author has to provide a signed statement if the presented study was or was not supported by an industry partner. Each submission has to be accompanied by the following statement: “Author declares that this submission has not been or has been supported by the industry partner XY. Thank you for the support.”

4.10. Ethical Principles

All human studies have to be approved by the institutional review board and participants must sign a consent form. The author has to declare that the study was designed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki as signed in 1975 and revised in 2000. In cases of uncertainty regarding compliance with these principles, an explanation is warranted. Animal studies have to be conducted according to the ethical principles and approved by the institutional animal care and use committee. This has to be stated in the cover letter.

4.11. Human rights

Details regarding the study subjects such as name, date and place of birth, and personal identification number can’t be listed on the images and family trees unless the information is relevant to the scientific purpose of the manuscript and the patient has provided written consent. Individuals in photographs should not be identified.

5. Submitting the manuscript

Submit the final complete version of the manuscript by uploading it into the editorial system Actavia, http://www.czechurol.cz/revartsetting.php.

Every manuscript has to be accompanied by a cover letter, which contains following statements:

• A statement that the paper has not been submitted to another journal or published elsewhere except for conference abstracts and guidelines.
• For clinical trials or studies involving animals, a declaration that all study procedures were approved by the ethics committee of the relevant institution. In addition, the following statement has to be included in the Methods section: “The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the (name of the institution)…”
• Full name and the address of the department, phone and fax number, and email of the corresponding author.

You will be informed once the manuscript has been received by the editorial office and once it has been accepted for publication.

You can submit additional question to the following address:

Mgr. Adéla Holčáková
Care Comm s.r.o.
Klicperova 604/8
150 00 Praha 5
adela.holcakova@carecomm.cz
tel. 733 337 425