Focus and Scope

Western Journal of Medicine, published by BMJ Publishing Group.. collaborates with American Medical Association. are dedicated to providing physicians with the best research and important information in the world of medical research and science and to present the information in a format that is understandable and clinically useful. Committed to publishing multidisciplinary research that spans the entire spectrum of healthcare and medicine access, Western Journal of Medicine aims at an international audience of pharmacists, clinicians, medical ethicists, regulators, and researchers, providing an online forum for the rapid dissemination of recent research and perspectives in this area.

Western Journal of Medicine Evidence seeks to advance clinical trial research and clinical practice by:

• Publishing high-quality studies from the front lines of medical research.
• Challenging the medical community to take new approaches to clinical trial design and execution that yield more powerful clinical evidence.
• Sparking debate and conversation around areas of medicine where clinical decisions are made without sufficient evidence.
• Engaging physicians in a more sophisticated and meaningful way with clinical evidence.

Adhering to the rigorous peer-review and quality standards expected from Western Journal of Medicine Evidence publishes:

• Original research, clinical trials, and other clinically grounded work (e.g., epidemiology studies, first-in-human trials, meta-analyses) that validate or challenge prior clinical findings.
• Standard reviews, systematic reviews, and other review types that contextualize research findings with the aim of accelerating clinical adoption of new evidence.
• Case studies and reviews of clinical trial methodology that enhance understanding of trial strengths and weaknesses.
• Curbside consult series that addresses common patient care issues.
• Morning Report series solicited case presentation articles that are delivered in a morning report format.

Generation of Evidence

The process of generating evidence is a key area of focus for Western Journal of Medicine Evidence. We encourage readers to evaluate the reasoning behind the complex decisions that investigators make in trial design and execution, and to assess the quality of evidence produced in trials. Our goal is to build a community that takes a rigorous approach to evaluating evidence and assessing its impact on clinical decision-making.

Statistical Methods

Western Journal of Medicine Evidence guides readers toward a deeper understanding of the statistical methods used in trials. We provide concise, digestible explanations of research methods to inform the interpretation of the resulting data. In addition, we introduce readers to emerging statistical methods and types of data that will play an increasingly prominent role in future trials.

Multidisciplinary Coverage

Western Journal of Medicine Evidence publishes content relevant across all medical disciplines to advance the discussion of how to generate evidence that informs patient care. Physician-scientists, trialists, and general medicine and subspecialty clinicians will all benefit from this publication.

Western Journal of Medicine covers themes including, but not limited to:

1. Core Internal Medicine Subspecialties

• Cardiology:
• Landmark clinical trials for heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension.
• Novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches (e.g., transcatheter valve procedures).
• Large-scale studies on cardiovascular prevention and lipid management.
• Pulmonology & Critical Care:
• Management of ARDS, sepsis, and shock in the ICU.
• Major trials in asthma, COPD, and interstitial lung disease.
• Research on emerging respiratory infections and pandemics.
• Gastroenterology & Hepatology:
• Novel treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and viral hepatitis.
• Advances in cancer screening (e.g., colorectal, liver).
• Large cohort studies on the gut microbiome and its impact on health.
• Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism:
• Phase III/IV trials for new diabetes medications and technologies (e.g., glucose sensors, insulin pumps).
• Major findings in osteoporosis, thyroid disease, and obesity management.
• Research on the metabolic syndrome and its systemic effects.
• Nephrology:
• Breakthroughs in the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and glomerulonephritis.
• Studies on dialysis, kidney transplantation, and acute kidney injury (AKI).
• Infectious Diseases:
• Research on HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria with global health implications.
• Studies on antimicrobial resistance, vaccine efficacy, and emerging pathogens.
• Hematology & Oncology:
• Pivotal trials for novel chemotherapies, immunotherapies, and targeted cancer agents.
• Advances in hematologic malignancies, coagulation disorders, and anemia.
• Rheumatology & Immunology:
• Novel biologic and small molecule therapies for autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus).
• Fundamental discoveries in immunology with broad clinical relevance.

2. Surgical and Procedural Specialties

• General Surgery:
• Comparative effectiveness of surgical techniques (e.g., open vs. robotic vs. laparoscopic).
• Large outcome studies for common procedures (e.g., hernia repair, cholecystectomy).
• Cardiothoracic Surgery:
• Long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) vs. PCI.
• Innovations in lung and heart transplantation.
• Neurosurgery:
• Major trials in stroke intervention, traumatic brain injury, and brain tumor treatment.
• Orthopedic Surgery:
• Studies on joint replacement (hip, knee), fracture management, and sports medicine.
• Urology:
• Research on prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer management.
• Studies on common conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and kidney stones.
• Otolaryngology (ENT):
• Research with broad impact, such as treatments for head and neck cancers or advances in hearing restoration (e.g., cochlear implants).
• Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine:
• Studies on patient safety, pain management, and improving outcomes after surgery.

3. Neurological, Sensory, and Mind-Related Specialties

• Neurology:
• Groundbreaking treatments for multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy.
• Major findings in stroke prevention and acute management.
• Psychiatry & Behavioral Science:
• Large clinical trials for depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
• Epidemiological studies on mental health trends and suicide prevention.
• Ophthalmology:
• New treatments for common causes of blindness like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
• Dermatology:
• Novel systemic treatments for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
• Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and other skin cancers.

4. Population and Lifecycle Specialties

• Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine:
• Pivotal vaccine trials and infectious disease studies in children.
• Research on common childhood conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes) and developmental disorders.
• Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN):
• Research on maternal-fetal medicine, pre-term birth, and pre-eclampsia.
• Major studies in contraception, infertility, and gynecologic cancers.
• Geriatrics:
• Studies on managing multimorbidity, frailty, and polypharmacy in the elderly.
• Research into preventing and managing dementia and delirium.

5. Diagnostic and Foundational Specialties

• Radiology & Medical Imaging:
• Studies on the utility and safety of new imaging modalities.
• Research using AI and machine learning for image interpretation.
• Pathology & Laboratory Medicine:
• Discovery and validation of novel biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis.
• Advances in genomic and molecular pathology that guide treatment (precision medicine).
• Emergency Medicine:
• Research on the acute diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions.
• Studies on emergency department efficiency, crowding, and systems of care.
• Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R):
• Studies on stroke rehabilitation, spinal cord injury recovery, and functional improvement.

6. Overarching and Cross-Disciplinary Themes

• Public Health & Epidemiology:
• Large-scale population studies identifying risk factors for disease.
• Research on health disparities, social determinants of health, and global health challenges.
• Genetics & Genomic Medicine:
• Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and research on the genetic basis of common diseases.
• Medical Ethics, Law & Health Policy:
• Analysis of pressing ethical dilemmas, health legislation, and healthcare system reform.
• Patient Safety & Quality Improvement:
• Research on preventing medical errors and improving the quality and value of care.
• Translational Medicine:
• "Bench-to-bedside" research that translates basic science discoveries into clinical applications.

7. Core Biochemistry & Metabolism

• Enzymology:
• Enzyme kinetics, mechanism, and regulation.
• Allosteric control and cooperativity.
• Design and engineering of novel enzymes.
• Coenzymes and cofactors.
• Metabolic Pathways and Regulation:
• Carbohydrate metabolism (glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogen metabolism).
• Lipid metabolism (fatty acid synthesis and oxidation, cholesterol metabolism).
• Amino acid and nucleotide metabolism.
• Bioenergetics, oxidative phosphorylation, and photosynthesis.
• Integration and hormonal regulation of metabolism.
• Biochemical Signaling:
• Signal transduction pathways (e.g., GPCRs, tyrosine kinases).
• Second messengers (cAMP, cGMP, Ca²⁺, inositol phosphates).
• Hormone and growth factor biochemistry.
• Cross-talk between signaling pathways.

8. Molecular Biology & Gene Expression

• DNA Replication, Repair, and Recombination:
• Mechanisms of DNA synthesis and proofreading.
• DNA damage and repair pathways (e.g., BER, NER, MMR).
• Homologous and site-specific recombination.
• Telomere biology and maintenance.
• Transcription and Gene Regulation:
• RNA polymerases and transcription factors.
• Promoters, enhancers, and transcriptional control elements.
• Chromatin structure, modification, and remodeling.
• Epigenetics (DNA methylation, histone modifications).
• RNA Biology and Processing:
• RNA splicing, polyadenylation, and capping.
• Non-coding RNAs (miRNA, lncRNA, siRNA) and their functions.
• RNA transport, localization, and decay.
• Ribozymes and RNA catalysis.
• Protein Synthesis and Post-Translational Modifications:
• Ribosome structure and function.
• Mechanism of translation initiation, elongation, and termination.
• Protein folding, misfolding, and chaperones.
• Post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination, etc.).
• Protein degradation (proteasome and autophagy).

9. Structural Biology and Biophysics

• Structure and Function of Macromolecules:
• Protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary).
• Nucleic acid structure (DNA and RNA conformations).
• Structure of carbohydrates, lipids, and complex assemblies.
• Biophysical Methods:
• X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy.
• Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM).
• Mass spectrometry and proteomics.
• Spectroscopy (fluorescence, circular dichroism).
• Single-molecule techniques.
• Computational Biology & Bioinformatics:
• Molecular modeling and dynamics simulations.
• Protein structure prediction (including AI-based methods).
• Genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics data analysis.
• Systems biology and network analysis.

10. Cellular and Systems-Level Molecular Biology

• Cellular and Molecular Basis of Disease:
• Molecular oncology (cancer biology).
• Neurobiochemistry and molecular basis of neurological disorders.
• Molecular basis of inherited genetic diseases and metabolic disorders.
• Molecular immunology and host-pathogen interactions.
• Membrane Biology and Transport:
• Structure and function of biological membranes.
• Membrane proteins, ion channels, and transporters.
• Vesicular trafficking, endocytosis, and exocytosis.
• Cell Biology at the Molecular Level:
• Molecular mechanisms of the cell cycle, cell division, and apoptosis.
• Cytoskeleton dynamics and molecular motors.
• Extracellular matrix and cell adhesion.

11. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology

• Synthetic Biology:
• Design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems.
• Genetic circuits and metabolic engineering.
• Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering:
• Recombinant DNA technology and protein engineering.
• Development of novel molecular tools and biosensors.
• Gene editing technologies (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9).
• Chemical Biology:
• Development and use of small molecule probes to study biological systems.
• Drug discovery and design.