Important Stage in the Development of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery and Its Science: Bariatric Surgery Cases and Reviews: A New Peer-Reviewed Journal

Andrian Reitia, Ievgen I. Fesenkob more
a Andrian Reiti

Editor in Chief, Kyiv, Ukraine. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1807-2470. Corresponding author’s address: Dr. Andrian Reiti, 95 Mykhaila Kotelnykova Street, Kyiv City Clinical Hospital #7, Kyiv, 03179, Ukraine. Email: a.reyti@gmail.com. Phone: +38 095 336 54 74

b Ievgen I. Fesenko

Managing Editor, Kyiv, Ukraine. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8901-1632.

December 11, 2024

Bariatr Surg Cases Rev. 2024;1: 100001: article in press.

Under a Creative Commons license

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Reiti A, Fesenko II. Important stage in the development of bariatric and metabolic surgery and its science: Bariatric Surgery Cases and Reviews: A new peer-reviewed journal. Bariatr Surg Cases Rev. 2024;1:100001. https://doi.org/10.23999/j.bscr.2024.1.1

ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH (PDF). ABSTRACT IN UKRAINIAN (PDF).

The purpose of this inaugural editorial is to introduce to the attention of the global surgical community a new open access and peer-reviewed journal titled Bariatric Surgery Cases and Reviews (BSCR). The term “bariatrics” was coined in 1961 by Dr. Raymond E. Dietz, from the Greek root “bar-” (“weight”), suffix “-iatr” (“treatment”), and suffix “-ic” (“pertaining to”). And the goal of bariatric surgeries is to modify the stomach and intestines to treat obesity and related diseases. Bariatric surgery is rapidly developing in the world in general and in Ukraine in particular. According to data, around the globe, the number of performed bariatric surgeries has doubled in 8 years. So, this journal is designed to meet the need of authors for a highly specialized journal dedicated specifically to the publication of case and review articles in metabolic and bariatric surgery. Together with the publisher, OMF Publishing, our editorial team adopted a publishing model that allows articles to be published in the Article in Pressstatus immediately after the review process and acceptance of the manuscript for publication. Thanks to article numbering, articles will not have to wait in line for typesetting but will be immediately published and assigned to a specific annual volume. Thus, similarly to other international open access journals, BSCR will operate in a continuous publication mode where articles are posted online as soon as they have completed the production process in a fully citable form with a digital object identifier (DOI). The article also provides an analysis of the publishing models of international surgical peer-reviewed journals with relevant conclusions for new journals. This paper sheds light on the process of choosing a name for a journal and the processes of state registration of a peer-reviewed online journal as an online media. Moreover, the original registration documents in Ukrainian are provided. In sum, we will paraphrase a quote from Noah Bowman: “Some people see surgeries as techniques, we see stories waiting to be told.” Thus, we sincerely invite national and foreign authors to submit their interesting manuscripts for peer review and further publication in this new unique bariatric and metabolic surgery journal.

KEY WORDS

Bariatric surgery, metabolic surgery, bariatric surgeon, peer-reviewed journal, online media

ARTICLE

Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching.

–Chad Hurley

Co-founder of the YouTube

 

Dear readers, we are happy to present to your attention the inaugural editorial of a completely new journal titled Bariatric Surgery Cases and Reviews (BSCR). The BSCR is launched as an open access and peer-reviewed publication (Fig 1) dedicated for bariatric surgeons and professionals of neighboring specialties. Learning and training are continuous life and professional processes of surgeons of all specialties. And peer-reviewed journals are core source of mastering the most modern techniques and surgical practices. In contrast to bariatricians (i.e., bariatric physicians), who specialize in the medical treatment of obesity and related disorders without surgical intervention, bariatric surgeons perform weight-loss surgeries [1].

The term “bariatrics” was coined in 1961 by Dr. Raymond E. Dietz [2], from the Greek root “bar-” (“weight”), suffix “-iatr” (“treatment”), and suffix “-ic” (“pertaining to”) [3].

 

Eisenberg and colleagues (2023) emphasized that metabolic and bariatric surgery is recommended for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m2, regardless of presence, absence, or severity of co-morbidities [4]. Metabolic and bariatric surgery should be considered for individuals with metabolic disease and BMI of 30-34.9 kg/m2 [4].

 

The BMI is a standard way to define overweight, obesity, and morbid obesity [5]. According to Torpy and colleagues (2005), bariatric surgery may be offered to patients with severe obesity when medical treatments, including lifestyle changes of healthful eating and regular exercise, have not been effective [5]. Also, bariatric surgery improves control of diabetes through both weight-dependent and weight-independent actions (Affinati and colleagues, 2019) [6].

 

Anita P. Courcoulas (2023) reported about a 2022 joint statement from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders which summarises the most current literature and updates the indications for metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures [7].

 

Bariatric surgery is rapidly developing in the world in general and in Ukraine in particular. Around the globe, the number of performed bariatric surgeries has doubled in 8 years (Angrisani and colleagues, 2018; Ichikawa and colleagues, 2021) [8, 9]. This is evidenced by the presence and development of such journals as “Annals of Bariatric Surgery,” “Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care,” “Clinical Obesity and Bariatric Surgery,” “Journal of Bariatric Surgery,” “Journal of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,” “Obesity, Overweight and Bariatric Surgery,” and other bariatric medicine-related publications without a surgery/surgical word in the titles.

 

Analyzing the market of all existing journals specializing in metabolic and bariatric surgery, we were inclined to choose one of the following titles for the new journal:

 

  1. Ukrainian Journal of Bariatric Surgery (UJBS).

  2. Ukrainian Journal of Obesity Surgery (UJOS).

  3. Bariatric Surgery Cases (BSC).

  4. Case Reports in Bariatric Surgery (CRBS). 

  5. Obesity Surgery Cases (OSC).

  6. Bariatric Surgery Cases and Reviews (BSCR).

 

We chose the BSCR title for reasons such as:

 

  1. Analysis of such journals as “Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Cases,” “Radiology Case Reports,” “Otolaryngology Case Reports,” etc. demonstrates the effectiveness and high productivity of such publications that focus on case reports and case series. Primarily because it is easiest for authors to prepare a 3- or 4-page manuscript with a clinical case, which simplifies submission and review.

  2. As of 2024, there were no registered journals in the world dedicated to bariatric surgery with a focus on cases and reviews only.

  3. As a result of analysis of the publication history of the “Dentistry Review” open access journal and because review-based research has the highest citation level [10]. Miranda and Garcia-Carpintero (2018) emphasized that reviews are cited, on average, three times more often than original research papers [10].

  4. Since peer-reviewed journals as of 2024 are predominantly global publications due to English as an international language [11, 12], international composition editorial board [13], authors, and reviewers, the newly launched journals have no geographical reference in their titles.

 

Thus, our journal has chosen to specialize in case reports and review articles, which is reflected in the journal's title.

 

We feel blessed to be able to draw on the expertise of global publishing companies that specialize in peer-reviewed journals. Therefore, the editors of our Journal, together with the publisher (i.e., OMF Publishing) decided to launch this peer-reviewed Journal as a gold open access publication [14, 15]. Previously, such publications were called online-only open access journals [16]. Some journals that were not born immediately as a gold open access journals had to go through their evolution [16-23] or become hybrid journals with both subscription and open access articles [24], like the American Journal of Otolaryngology (Fig 2) [25], or to immediately refuse the subscription and hybrid journals model and switch from print and online formats to an online-only format of the journal's existence [19].

The recent example of American Journal of Otolaryngology (AJO) (Impact Factor 1.8) teaches us and the editors of other journals a lot. As of December 2, 2024, the journal's home page states the following: “From January 1, 2025, AJO will become a full gold open access journal freely available for everyone to access and read. All articles submitted after September 1, 2024, are subject to an article publishing charge (APC) after peer review and acceptance” [25]. As of December 2024, the APC of publishing an open access article for authors is $ 2,210 USD (discount may apply) [25].

 

That is, the journal, which was launched in 1979 as a print journal and subscription model, went also through a period in the status of a "hybrid journal" and after 45 years, the decision was made to become a fully open access journal with an APC for publishing manuscripts.

 

Talking about other the most recent digital transitions, it’s also worth to mention the example of the Journal of Hand Surgery, European Volume (JHSE) (Impact Factor 2.0) [26]. It moves to online only (fully digital form of publication) publishing model from January 2025 (i.e., after 56 years of print history and hybrid journal period) [26].

 

Therefore, by launching the BSCR journal we stand on the shoulders of titans and take into account the experience of multiple journal and international scholar publishers of what has already outlived its usefulness and become archaism, and what is promising and viable in the extremely competitive environment of peer-reviewed journals. The goal of BSCR is to serve authors and clinicians around the globe sharing the latest developments in the field of bariatric and metabolic surgery.

 

Since the Law of Ukraine “On Media” came into force on March 31, 2023, the new journals did not need to be registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, but only with the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting as print and/or online media [27].

 

Below are the main data of the BSCR journal that we obtained during 2024, the year of its state and international registration as a peer-reviewed publication:

 

  • Official journal title in English: “Bariatric Surgery Cases and Reviews.”

  • Acronym: BSCR.

  • Standard abbreviation (ISO 4): Bariatr. Surg. Cases Rev.

  • Official journal title in Ukrainian: “Випадки і огляди баріатричної хірургії”.

  • Media Identifier (MI): R40-03081 (online media). MI received from the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting (Figs 3-5) (Decision dated March 7, 2024, No. 730).

  • International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 3083-5879 (online). The ISSN was assigned bythe ISSN National Center for Ukraine, Ivan Fedorov Book Chamber of Ukraine, State Scientific Institution.

  • Publishing model: Gold open access journal.

  • Publication frequency: One volume per year (i.e., annual journal) with a continuing publication and article numbering.

  • Language of the article body: English.

  • Language of the article summary/abstract: English and Ukrainian.

  • Website: www.bariatriccases.org.

  • Editorial office email: office@bariatriccases.org.

Thus, similarly to other international open access journals, BSCR will operate in a continuous publication mode where articles are posted online as soon as they have completed the production process in a fully citable form with a digital object identifier (DOI) [29].

 

To summarize this editorial, we will paraphrase a quote from Noah Bowman [30]: “Some people see surgeries as techniques, we see stories waiting to be told.” Thus, we sincerely invite authors from all over the world to submit their interesting and unique manuscripts for peer review and further publication in this new unique bariatric and metabolic surgery journal. Let's start this incredible journey together!

 

We have known Dr. Reiti since our time working at the Kyiv Regional Clinical Hospital and performing one joint surgery. Now we are starting cooperation in a new format, and this is more than inspiring.

–Ievgen Fesenko

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that they don’t have any conflicts of interest.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

AR and IF: Writing – original draft. AR and IF: Writing – review & editing.

ORCID

Andrian Reiti:

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1807-2470

Ievgen I. Fesenko:

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8901-1632

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АНОТАЦІЯ УКРАЇНСЬКОЮ МОВОЮ (PDF). ABSTRACT IN UKRAINIAN (PDF).

Метою цієї першої редакційної статті є представити увазі світової хірургічної спільноти новий рецензований журнал із відкритим доступом під назвою «Випадки та огляди баріатричної хірургії». Термін «баріатрія» був введений у 1961 році лікарем Реймондом Дітцем із грецького кореня «bar-» («вага»), суфікса «-iatr» («лікування») і суфікса «-ic» (« що відноситься до»). Метою баріатричної хірургії є модифікація шлунка та кишечника для лікування ожиріння та пов’язаних із ним захворювань. Баріатрична хірургія стрімко розвивається у світі загалом і в Україні зокрема. Згідно з даними, у всьому світі за 8 років кількість проведених баріатричних операцій подвоїлася. Таким чином, даний журнал започаткований, щоб задовольнити потреби авторів у вузькоспеціалізованому виданні, присвяченому публікації статей про клінічні випадки та оглядиметаболічної і баріатричної хірургії. Разом із видавцем, ТОВ «ОМФ ПАБЛІШИНГ», наша редакційна команда прийняла видавничу модель, яка дозволяє публікувати статті зі статусом «стаття у виробництві» одразу після рецензування та прийняття рукопису до публікації. Завдяки нумерації статей, статті не чекатимуть у черзі для верстки, а будуть одразу опубліковані та віднесені до певного річного тому. Таким чином, подібно до інших міжнародних журналів з відкритим доступом, наш журнал працюватиме в режимі безперервної публікації, коли статті публікуються в мережі інтернет, щойно завершиться процес рецензування та будуть прийняті корекції авторів, у повністю доступній для цитування формі з цифровим ідентифікатором об’єкта (англійською мовою, digital object identifier (DOI)). У статті також наведено аналіз існуючих видавничих моделей міжнародних хірургічних рецензованих журналів із відповідними висновками для нових журналів. У публікації висвітлено процес вибору назви для журналу та процеси державної реєстрації рецензованого онлайн-журналу як онлайн-медіа. Крім того, надаються оригінали реєстраційних документів українською мовою. Підсумовуючи, ми перефразуємо цитату Ноя Боумена: «Деякі люди дивляться на операції як на методики, ми ж бачимо їх історіями, які чекають, щоб їх розповіли». Тому ми щиро запрошуємо українських та іноземних авторів подавати свої цікаві рукописи для рецензування та подальшої публікації в цьому новому унікальному журналі з баріатричної та метаболічної хірургії.

КЛЮЧОВІ СЛОВА

Баріатрична хірургія, метаболічна хірургія, баріатричний хірург, рецензований журнал, онлайн-медіа