A new Editorial Board of Monaldi archives for chest disease.

Until 1993 “Archivio Monaldi” was an Italian scientific journal founded in Naples by Prof. Monaldi, one of the most famous phtisiologists in the last century. Then, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri (FSM), a Scientific Institute devoted to rehabilitation of disabling illnesses, whether cardiovascular, respiratory or neuro-muscolar, took over the tradition of the old Monaldi [1]. As a result, the journal was deeply renewed and started its current format of publication. Today Monaldi is a scientific journal that can be considered the “house organ” of the FSM. It is entirely based in Italy, with both the Editorial Office and the Publishers at the headquarters of the FSM in Pavia. Monaldi is indexed in Index Medicus Medline and in Excerpta Medica, although it has no Impact Factor. The journal is now also available full text on internet (www.archest.it) by registering for free on the web site. In recent years, Monaldi has reached a widespread diffusion and consolidated its reputation as a good quality scientific journal in the field of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Many of these achievements are due to the hard work of many pulmonary physicians, most of them, including the last two former Editors, Claudio F. Donner and Ciro Rampulla, part of the FSM and distinguished leaders of research groups in their field. Commercing in 2002, Monaldi has divided the published issues in a Cardiologic and in a Pulmonary Series, issued separately. This year, FSM decided to renew also the Editorial Board of the Pulmonary series. Beginning with the present issue we (Antonio Spanevello and Bruno Balbi) are the two new Co-Editors. We are currently Head and Scientific Secretary, respectively, of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department, the organization that comprises the Pulmonary Physicians working at FSM. As Editors we will work together with two Deputy Editors (Dr. Mirco Lusuardi, Head of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Health Authority of Reggio Emilia and Dr. Maurizio Luisetti, Head of Biochemistry and Genetics in Pulmonary Medicine, University of Pavia) and two Executive Editors (Dr. Giuseppe Brunetti and Dr. Luca Bianchi, both at FSM). This “under fifty” Editorial Board, is deeply committed to doing the best for our Journal and to continue and extend the precious work done by the previous Editors. We heritage a healthy and well-nourished scientific journal. It is an honor and a privilege to take over as Editors from Ciro Rampulla and we thank him for his wise and culturally rich contribution to Monaldi. As Editor in Chief of the past Editorial Board in the last 2 years Ciro worked hard and refined the editorial and administrative procedures, with the full support of the FSM. His example will be a guide for us to chair the Editorial Board of the Journal. What is the mission of a journal like Monaldi today? What are our goals? We believe that the mission of Monaldi is to be a forum for the issues related to pulmonary medicine in general, with a special focus on topics strictly related to the tradition of FSM. Some of these topics, that are common ground with many other pulmonary physicians in Europe and in other Countries, are pulmonary rehabilitation, health status evaluation, educational activities, the fight against the tobacco epidemic and against TB. Generally speaking, our goal is to obtain the same support together with the trust of the readers, authors and reviewers that the previous Editorial Boards were successful in gaining. Moreover, the educational mission of Monaldi, has recently gained more importance due to the recent regulations issued from the Italian Ministry of Research establishing the rules for the Scientific Institutes of Care and Research, as it is FSM. For this reason FSM is interested in supporting this editorial activity with a special focus on the educational mission of the Journal. What are our commitments to FSM and to the readers ? We will: – stimulate scientists and clinicians to submit articles covering the full area of respiratory medicine and linking basic to clinical science; – insert a review series on the “hot topics” in respiratory medicine and respiratory biomedical science; – give more space to the “case report” section stimulating more clinicians to publish their data; Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2004; 61: 1, 2-3.