The progress of ANAMS and its contribution to healthcare and science

Indexing of a scientific journal is a recognition of sustained quality, credibility, and reliability. The indexing agencies evaluate whether a journal consistently publishes scientifically sound, peer-reviewed, and relevant content within a clearly defined scope in a regular and timely manner. The uninterrupted publishing history reflects editorial stability and institutional commitment. A transparent, rigorous, and unbiased peer-review process, overseen by a competent and independent editorial board with clearly stated credentials and affiliations, is fundamental to establishing trust.

Ethical integrity is a non-negotiable requirement for indexing. Journals must clearly articulate and implement policies on authorship, conflicts of interest, plagiarism, data integrity, and research misconduct, along with mandatory ethical approval and informed consent statements for studies involving human or animal subjects. Adherence to internationally accepted publication ethics frameworks reassures indexing bodies of responsible editorial conduct.^1-9

Possession of a valid ISSN, assignment of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to all articles, standardized metadata, and secure long-term digital archiving are essential technical requirements. An efficient, informative, and user-friendly journal website that transparently displays editorial policies, author guidelines, peer-review processes, and publication timelines significantly strengthens a journal’s case for indexing.

Beyond formal requirements, indexing bodies increasingly assess a journal’s visibility, readership, and impact. Indicators such as citations, article downloads, international diversity of authorship and reviewers, and the journal’s contribution to clinical practice, education, research, or policy add substantial value. Ultimately, indexing is the outcome of sustained editorial discipline, ethical credibility, technical robustness, and consistent delivery of high-quality, relevant scientific content over time.^1-9

The Annals of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) has shown sustained and measurable progress in recent years, reflecting a focused commitment to quality, timeliness, and indexing readiness. Since 2016, the journal has maintained a quarterly publication schedule, with the latest issue, October–December 2025, available online in the first week of October 2025, demonstrating consistency and editorial stability. Significant improvements in editorial efficiency in 2025 are evident: peer-review turnaround time decreased from 164 to 99.5 days, acceptance-to-publication time from 141 to 83.5 days, and overall submission-to-publication time reduced by 53% (from 272 to 129 days). The journal’s visibility has expanded substantially, recording approximately 55,000 website hits and a 57% increase in article downloads in 2025 compared to 2024. Citation performance shows 348 citations across 395 published manuscripts, with an average of 38.67 citations per year, indicating growing scholarly impact. Annals is currently indexed by Google Scholar, CrossRef, ReadCube, and Portico, and its applications are under active review with EMBASE and Cabells, underscoring its trajectory toward higher international indexing. With multiple articles in production and content ready for upcoming issues, the journal is well-positioned for continued growth, provided it receives sustained support through high-quality submissions and active peer-review engagement from NAMS Fellows and members.

The present issue brings together a diverse and thought-provoking collection of articles that reflect the breadth, depth, and evolving priorities of contemporary medical science and clinical practice. Spanning orthopedics, infectious diseases, mental health, neurology, dermatology, radiology, public health, and health systems research, this issue underscores the journal’s commitment to promoting evidence-based medicine, interdisciplinary learning, and regionally relevant research with global implications.

We open the issue with a compelling Review Article on the evolution of Indian orthopedics and the legacy of its pioneers,^10, which traces the historical development of orthopedic practice in India while honoring the visionaries who laid its foundations. This narrative contextualizes modern orthopedic advancements within a rich indigenous legacy and inspires future generations of clinicians and researchers.

Building upon this foundation, two Original Articles address contemporary orthopedic challenges. The preliminary study evaluating injectable platelet-rich fibrin as an adjunct to healing in intracapsular femoral neck fractures explores a promising biological intervention with potential implications for fracture union and functional recovery.¹¹ Complementing this is an essential analysis of the roadblocks to early surgery in patients with cervical spine injury, highlighting systemic, logistical, and clinical barriers that directly influence neurological outcomes in time-sensitive trauma care.¹²

A dedicated section on Infection Special Articles reflects the growing urgency of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. The original research on emerging resistance to carbapenem antibiotics among gram-negative bacteria isolated from clinical samples provides crucial local surveillance data that can inform antibiotic stewardship programs.¹³ The case report on the role of lymph node aspiration in diagnosing lepromatous leprosy emphasizes the continued relevance of simple, minimally invasive diagnostic techniques in endemic regions.¹⁴ Further strengthening this section is an original study examining whether fluoroquinolone use should be curtailed in non-tuberculosis patients, based on resistance profiles observed in rifampicin-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis, underscoring the need for judicious antimicrobial prescribing.¹⁵

Mental health and psychosocial rehabilitation are addressed through two significant contributions. A Review Article on marriage and rehabilitation of persons with severe mental illness explores social reintegration, stigma, and long-term recovery beyond symptom control.¹⁶ This is complemented by an Original Article examining self-esteem among caregivers of mentally ill individuals, bringing attention to caregiver well-being as an essential yet often overlooked component of comprehensive mental healthcare.¹⁷

Neurology and pediatric care feature prominently in this issue. The study assessing the impact of long-term antiseizure medications on serum vitamin B12 and folate levels in children with epilepsy provides clinically actionable insights for nutritional monitoring and preventive care.¹⁸ Another original investigation evaluates plasma D-dimer levels in acute ischemic stroke and their correlation with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, offering valuable information on disease severity and prognostication.¹⁹

Advances in diagnostics and clinical observation are reflected in several noteworthy articles. The Perspective on rosettes in dermatology presents a nuanced discussion on polarized dermoscopy and its diagnostic significance in routine practice.²⁰ A rare case report describing serous detachment of the macula associated with chickenpox documents a novel ophthalmic manifestation of a common viral illness.²¹ Additionally, an original study exploring nausea, vomiting, and aspiration pneumonia in non-fasting patients undergoing non-emergent contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans challenges traditional fasting protocols. It has direct implications for patient safety and radiology workflows.²²

Health systems research forms an essential pillar of this issue. The article on the utilisation pattern of health benefit packages under Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provides insight into access, utilization trends, and implementation challenges of India’s flagship health insurance program.²³ The growing role of digital health is underscored by an original study that assessed the accuracy of facial index measurement using an Android application, demonstrating the potential of mobile technology in clinical assessment and anthropometric research.²⁴

The issue concludes with a rare yet instructive case report of accidental pigtail placement in the inferior vena cava, underscoring the importance of procedural vigilance, early recognition, and timely intervention in preventing catastrophic complications.²⁵

Collectively, these contributions exemplify the journal’s mission to publish clinically relevant, ethically sound, and scientifically robust work. We hope this issue stimulates critical thinking, informs clinical practice, and encourages further interdisciplinary research.

Prof. Anil Kumar Jain

Editor-in-Chief, Annals of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India).