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Bela Lombay Laszlo Szabo Alex Yeboah

How to get it on paper and in print Sir, We were pleased to read Dr. Griscom's paper, ªHow to get it on paper and in printº [1], because it gave us much useful advice on preparing a paper. We found this paper exciting because the theme is generally not taught in medical schools or in the departments. We agree with all the author's statements, but would like to make a few comments concerning the paper. 1. Writing well is difficult in the United States, but it is even more difficult in nonEnglish-language countries. In Europe, for example, we not only have to be clear and exact with our research results, but also need to have a good knowledge of the language (different types and versions of English). Many valuable articles are refused because of language problems, but we have to accept this fact. We also have the opposite example where the editors (Pediatric Radiology) help the authors to correct the paper. Thus, we agree that the writing style to use should be simple, short phrases. 2. Writing a paper is very important for doctors (both juniors and seniors) who want to be well-qualified radiologists (clinician) because writing and reading (current literature) go together (if somebody does not write, he/she also does not read and vice versa). However, nowadays it is difficult to choose an appropriate theme that can contain some new information and also be useful for clinical practice. We in Hungary prefer that a person who wants to write a paper presents the theme at a scientific meeting or congress first where the questions and comments of the discussion will help him/her to recognize the problems of the paper. Secondly, it is obligatory, not mandatory, that the authors show their papers to the chief of the department because

he/she should be responsible not only for the scientific research in the department, but the career of the staff member. Domestic journals only receive papers with the signature of the chief. 3. The low interest in pediatric radiology in Radiology and AJR is a real surprise; the pediatric pages make up 5 % and 7 %, respectively, of the monthly published pages of these journals. It would be interesting to know the percentage other subspecialties receive (neuro, gastro, skeletal, etc). This fact is also proved by the circulation of Pediatric Radiology (2000), which is 6 % and 8 % of Radiology and AJR, respectively. Because of these facts there is a very low impact factor (IF), less interest and fewer citations, although we are convinced that papers published in Pediatric Radiology are as valuable and of as high a standard as papers in the abovementioned journals. Some popular international journals play a very important role in the development of subspecialties (pediatric radiology, nephrology, neurology, etc.) and have high scientific standards, but are at a disadvantage with regard to journals with a general profile. The IF would be more reliable if these subspecialty journals were to get a supplementary point (e. g., +1). The IF plays a central role in the scientific career of (pediatric) radiologists, but everybody knows that the present practice does not serve the real needs. It is important that the authorities reconsider and modify the system of scientific assessment.

References 1. Griscom NT (1999) Your research: how to get it on paper and in print. Pediatr Radiol 29: 81±86

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Bela Lombay ( ) × Laszlo Szabo × Alex Yeboah County Teaching Hospital, Department of Pediatric Radiology, P. O. Box 188, H-3501 Miskolc, Hungary Fax: +36-46-351-018

N. Thorne Griscom

Reply Sir, Dr. Lombay's cogent remarks lead to troubling thoughts and difficult questions. Those of us who grew up in an Englishspeaking environment are both blessed and cursed: blessed, because we are under no compulsion to learn any other language, but cursed, because we usually allow the personal enrichment of a second or third language to escape. In the western world, Latin was the language of learning for many centuries. Then French was dominant. Now it is English. What comes next? Will English, having the good fortune to peak as rapid world-wide communications were established and literacy became nearly universal, remain the international language of science and thought? Or will it split, as Latin did, into several mutually incomprehensible tongues? Or be replaced by Spanish or Mandarin Chinese or some purely digital language? Is English, its words derived from many other languages but its pronunciation erratic and its spelling chaotic, inherently superior to other languages? If so, is this superiority inevitable and perpetual, or fortuitous and ephemeral? Anyone with answers to these questions should make them known immediately. Meanwhile, I agree with Dr. Lombay's points. Short, simple sentences avoid many difficulties. Writing a paper helps one think more clearly and read more perceptively. Comments from the audience after material is presented orally make it easier to get it in writing and make the product better. Suggestions from one's chief and colleagues are nearly essential. The impact factor is beset with many fallacies. Many thanks to Dr. Lombay for his interest. N. Thorne Griscom, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA