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With this issue, we begin some significant changes in the content and format of the Journal. These changes have been made to reflect the philosophy of the editor, associate editors, and the editorial board.
First, we are eliminating the Clinical Memoranda department. We believe that case reports are important, but only to the extent that they alter our knowledge in some significant fashion. If an observation has this value, then it deserves "full" treatment—an original article format. The new Instructions for Authors reflects this change, and, henceforth, we will return short case reports, unreviewed, with a copy of this editorial and the Instructions for Authors.
Every journal has a backlog of accepted articles and a constant pressure to publish worthy communications as rapidly as is possible. By eliminating the Clinical Memoranda department, we will provide greater space for original articles and decrease the backlog.
The second change is also announced