Peer Review Process

Upon submission of any manuscript for publication in 21^st Century Cardiology, the scientific editor first scans the databases of the Web of Science, Google and/or PubMed to ascertain the topical significance and timeliness of the content of the manuscript and to make an initial evaluation of possible academic misconduct related to the general features of the study. The conclusions of this preliminary quality check are either acceptance or rejection to enter into the peer-review process. The first phase in the process of peer review includes delivering the manuscript to 1 to 3 external reviewers with expertise in the subject and/or area of the paper. Duration of 14 to 28 days is assigned to the reviewers to carefully examine the manuscript and return comments to the editorial office, after which time the editorial director holds a decision-making meeting to evaluate the comments of the reviewers. Manuscripts which have received positive feedback and comply with the publication requirements 21^st Century Cardiology shall be forwarded directly to the editor-in-chief, who approves the manuscript and recommends that it be "accepted". If the manuscript fails to meet or does not meet the 21^st Century Cardiology requirements of the high-quality level assessed by the peer reviewers, it is rejected. Before they are formally accepted for publication and enter the development process, all manuscripts recommended for acceptance must undergo a final examination by the editor-in-chief.