Aims & Scope
Research Scope
Hepatic Pathophysiology
- Viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B, C, and emerging strains)
- Autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis
- Metabolic liver diseases (Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, galactosemia)
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH)
- Cirrhosis pathogenesis and complications
- Hepatic encephalopathy mechanisms
Molecular mechanisms of hepatocyte injury in NASH progression; biomarker validation for cirrhosis staging; immune responses in chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatobiliary Oncology
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biology and therapeutics
- Cholangiocarcinoma pathogenesis
- Tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy
- Molecular profiling and precision oncology
- Surveillance strategies and early detection
- Locoregional and systemic treatment outcomes
Genomic predictors of HCC recurrence post-resection; immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in advanced liver cancer; liquid biopsy for early HCC detection.
Splenic Disorders & Immunology
- Splenomegaly etiology and management
- Hypersplenism and cytopenias
- Splenic infarction and vascular disorders
- Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) with splenic involvement
- Splenic abscess and infectious complications
- Functional asplenia and post-splenectomy outcomes
Predictors of response to splenectomy in ITP; imaging characteristics of splenic lesions; immune reconstitution after splenectomy in hematologic disorders.
Transplantation & Regenerative Medicine
- Liver transplantation outcomes and immunosuppression
- Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT)
- Graft rejection and tolerance mechanisms
- Hepatocyte transplantation and bioartificial liver
- Stem cell therapies for liver regeneration
- Machine perfusion and organ preservation
Long-term outcomes of LDLT in pediatric patients; biomarkers of acute cellular rejection; mesenchymal stem cell therapy for acute liver failure.
Advanced Diagnostics
Novel imaging modalities (elastography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, MRI), biomarker discovery, liquid biopsy technologies, and AI-assisted diagnostic tools for liver and spleen pathology.
Interventional Procedures
Minimally invasive techniques including transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency ablation, portal vein embolization, and endoscopic interventions for hepatobiliary disease.
Metabolic & Nutritional Aspects
Hepatic metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids; nutritional management in liver disease; metabolic syndrome and liver dysfunction; albumin and bilirubin metabolism.
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI), hepatotoxicity mechanisms, pharmacokinetics in liver disease, and therapeutic drug monitoring in hepatic impairment.
Surgical Innovations
Hepatobiliary surgical techniques, laparoscopic approaches, robotic surgery, splenectomy indications and outcomes, and surgical management of portal hypertension.
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease burden studies, screening programs, health disparities in liver disease, epidemiological trends in viral hepatitis, and population-based outcomes research.
Editorial Note: Manuscripts in emerging areas undergo additional editorial review to ensure alignment with journal scope and sufficient methodological rigor. Authors should clearly articulate relevance to hepatic or splenic research.
Artificial Intelligence Applications
Machine learning for disease prediction, deep learning in medical imaging interpretation, natural language processing for clinical data extraction, and AI-driven drug discovery in hepatology.
Microbiome-Liver Axis
Gut-liver interactions, microbiome alterations in liver disease, fecal microbiota transplantation, and microbial metabolites affecting hepatic function.
Precision Medicine
Pharmacogenomics in hepatology, personalized treatment algorithms, multi-omics integration, and patient stratification strategies for targeted therapies.
Bioengineering & Devices
Liver-on-chip models, 3D bioprinting of hepatic tissue, wearable biosensors for liver function monitoring, and implantable devices for hepatic support.
Primary Gastrointestinal Disorders
Rationale: Manuscripts focused on esophageal, gastric, small intestinal, or colorectal pathology without direct hepatic or splenic involvement (e.g., isolated gastroenteritis, appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer) are outside our scope. Consider gastroenterology-specific journals.
Pancreatic Disorders (Primary Focus)
Rationale: While we accept manuscripts on pancreatic disease with significant hepatobiliary implications (e.g., biliary obstruction from pancreatic cancer), primary pancreatic pathology (acute/chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer without liver involvement) should be submitted to pancreas-focused journals.
Gallbladder Disease (Isolated)
Rationale: Isolated gallbladder pathology (cholecystitis, cholelithiasis) without hepatic complications or biliary tree involvement is better suited for general surgery or gastroenterology journals. We accept manuscripts when gallbladder disease impacts liver function.
General Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome
Rationale: Manuscripts on obesity or metabolic syndrome without specific focus on hepatic manifestations (NAFLD/NASH) are out of scope. General metabolic research should target endocrinology or metabolism journals.
Hematologic Malignancies (Primary)
Rationale: While we consider splenic involvement in hematologic disorders, primary hematologic malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma) without significant splenic pathology focus should be submitted to hematology journals.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
High-Impact Contributions
Valuable Contributions
Limited Acceptance
Note: Case reports are considered only when they present unprecedented clinical scenarios, novel diagnostic approaches, or unique therapeutic insights with significant educational value. Single-patient observations without broader implications are typically declined.
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
Adherence to CONSORT (trials), STROBE (observational), PRISMA (reviews), ARRIVE (animal studies), and STARD (diagnostics) is mandatory.
Data Transparency
Raw data, code, and protocols must be deposited in recognized repositories. Data availability statements required for all empirical research.
Ethics Compliance
IRB/IACUC approval required. Clinical trials must be prospectively registered. Informed consent documentation mandatory for human subjects research.
Preprint Policy
Preprint posting encouraged and does not preclude consideration. Authors must disclose preprint DOI upon submission.
Peer Review
Single-blind peer review by minimum two independent experts. Authors may suggest or exclude reviewers with justification.
Conflict of Interest
Full disclosure of financial and non-financial competing interests required from all authors, reviewers, and editors.
Publication Metrics & Timeline
Article Processing Charges (APC): JSLR operates on an open-access model with transparent APC structure. Waivers available for authors from low-income countries and unfunded research. Contact editorial office for waiver requests before submission.
Submission Decision Framework
✓ Submit if your manuscript:
Addresses hepatic or splenic pathophysiology, diagnosis, or treatment; presents rigorous methodology with reproducible results; advances clinical practice or scientific understanding; fits within Tier 1 or Tier 2 scope areas.
❓ Uncertain? Contact us if:
Your research spans multiple organ systems; you're working in an emerging interdisciplinary area; your methodology is novel and may require specialized review; you need clarification on scope boundaries.
✗ Do not submit if:
Primary focus is on non-hepatic GI organs; research lacks liver/spleen relevance; methodology is preliminary or underpowered; manuscript is purely descriptive without mechanistic or clinical insights.
