Abstract

Original Research and Technical Developments manuscripts must include a structured abstract of 250 words or less. The abstract must be divided into four sections. (a) Purpose: State the purpose of the study. (Note: this purpose should be restated at the end of the introduction.) (b) Materials and Methods: Please give information, as in the text, regarding institutional review board approval, informed consent, and HIPAA compliance (U.S. studies). For studies involving animals, indicate appropriate committee approval. Briefly state what was done and what materials were used, including number of subjects, sex, and age. Also include the methods used to assess the data and to control bias, along with the statistical analyses performed. (c) Results: Provide the findings of the study, including indicators of statistical significance. Include actual numbers, as well as percentages. (d) Conclusion: Summarize in one or two sentences the conclusion(s) made on the basis of the findings.

For State of the Art, Review, or other similar submissions, an abstract of 100–200 words should summarize the content of the submission in a single paragraph; specific headings should not be included.