Case report 10 years Acta Dermatoven APA Acm dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica etAdriatica At the occasion Q/f 0th anniversa,y A. Kansky SUMMARY The dermatological journal the ACTA DERMATOVENEROLOGICA ALPINA, Pannonica et Aadriatica (Acta Dermatoven APA) has in fact a 28-year history. In 1974 J. Fettich and S. Bunta have started the Yugoslav dermatological journal (Acta derm lug), which appeared during 18 years, four times yearly in Serbian and Croat languages. After the outbreak of civil war in former Yugoslavia it became clear that in this shape the journal had no future. The then Chief Editor A. Kansky transferred the Editorial office from Zagreb to Ljubljana, renewed the registration under a more suitable name corresponding to the changed political situation and assigned to the journal a broader field of activities: additionally to the exchange of information it should induce and help the authors to prepare their manuscript according to international standards and to use strictly the English language. With the help of prominent colleagues from Ljubljana, Maribor, Graz, Trieste as well as others, the Acta Dermatoven APA started to appear in 1992 in Ljubljana, four issues yearly. The Edi- tors had to cape with many problems, they managed however to survive and to enter into its 11 th year of existence. The journal was financially supported by the then Ministry of Science and Technology of Slovenia as well as by advertisements, mostly from pharmaceutical companies. In 1994 the journal was accepted into the information basis of EMBASE/Excerpta Medica and Biomedicina Slovenica. The Editors made efforts in 1993 and again in 1998 to be accepted into the information basis of lndex Medicus and Current Contents, but did not succeed. They were however able to attract authors contributing manuscripts and readers in Southeastern Europe and in former socialist countries. Changes in the Editorial Office which are planned, are expected to exert an even stronger impact in affirmation of the journal. The dermatological journal Acta dermatovenerolo- gica Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica (Acta Dermatoven APA), which comes out four times a year in English language in Ljubljana has entered into its 11th year of existence. It actually evolved from its predecessor, the Acta dermatovenerologica Iugoslavica (Acta derm Jug), reflecting in a certain way the economic, cultural and however political development in this specific area of Europe. The project of founding the Acta derm lug was real- Acta Dermatoven APA Vol 11, 2002, No 4 ---------- --------J33 JO years Acta Dermatoven APA Table 1. Editors of the ACTA DERMATOVENEROLOGICA IUGOSLAVICA 1974-1991. ]. Fettich J. Fettich A. Kansky S. Bunta S. Bunta M. Kristan 1974 - 1981 1982 - 1983 1984 1985 - 1986 1987 J. Laloševic volumes 12 J. Laloševic A. Kansky S. Konstantinovic, I. Dostanic, D. Karadaglic and 13 are not available Ljubljana Ljubljana Belgrade 1988 - 1991 S. Konstantinovic, I. Dostanic, D. Karadaglic V. Čajkovac Ž. Pavičic Belgrade Zagreb ized through efforts of three Slovenian dermatologist'i: J. Fettich was chairman of the University Department of dermatology, A. Kansky has returned from a one- year study spent at the NYU Medica! Center in New York, while S. Bunta was a gifted organizer with adequate political connections. At that tirne the founding of a new journal was a daring and complicated enterprise, as many administrative and bureaucratic as well as finan- cial obstacles had to be overcome. For such reasons many leading Yugoslav dermatovenereologists were rather skeptically viewing this enterprise. Nonetheless the journal was started in 1974, appear- ing four times yearly. F. Kogoj contributed to the first issue the introductory words (1) Manuscripts could be for technical reasons submitted using the Serbian and Croatian languages, but texts in English were also ac- cepted. The editors took care that all the published manuscripts contained comprehensive and structured summaries in English. The term of the Slovenian Edi- tors expired by the end of 1983 and the editorial office was moved to Belgrade. While the volume 11 appeared regularly (2), during the following two years inadequate care was dedicated to the regular appearance of the journal. In the 1988-1991 period it appeared again regu- larly in Zagreb, as A. Kansky became Chief Editor (3). The names of all the editors and other relevant data are presented in table 1. In the 1991 the nationalistic passions cumulated into a civil wars, although A. Kansky succeeded to edit all the four issues (3), it became clear that due to the new political situation the Acta derm Iug had no future. He believed however that activities aimed at promotion of dermatovenereology and continuing international co- operation in this area, were even more needed. Far this reason he moved back to Ljubljana and was able to re- new the registration with the Slovenian Ministry of In- formation. In his endeavors he obtained support of prominent dermatologists as H. Kerl (Graz) and his as- sociates H.P. Soyer and S. Hodi, C. Scarpa (Trieste), J. Fettich (Ljubljana), M. Berčič (Maribor), G. Burg (Zi.irich), M. Lamuta (San Giovanni Rotondo) as well of some others. The name ofthe journal was discussed. In order, not to be obliged to undergo the tedious process of a new registration, the name ACTA was uphold , the words Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica were chosen to designate the rather broad regional orientation. As it often happens in turbulent times, some mem- bers of the then Section of Dermatology of the Slovenian Medical Society were pessimistic regarding the future of the new journal and turned down the motion to act as publishers. Far this reason on the behalf of the Slovenian Welding Society, its president P. Štular, generously gave his consent to act as temporary publisher. In spring 1992 the first issue of the Acta Dermatoven APA appeared, it comprised 2 manuscripts on labora- tory and clinical studies, 2 review articles and 2 short reports. The editorial policy was explained in the issue No.2. (4). As primary aims ofthe journal were declared an exchange of scientific and professional information, intention to help young dermatologists to prepare their manuscripts in English language, and also to promote understanding and an exchange of ideas between pro- fessionals of various nationalities. Reporting on regional Table 2. Editors of the ACTA DERMATOVENEROLOGICA ALPINA, PANNONICA ET ADRIATICA during the period 1992 - 2001. 1992 1993 2001 A. Kansky A. Kansky A. Kansky M. Berčič, H.P. Soyer S.Hodi S. Hodi M. Berčič, M. Lamuta, A. Pesarico, H.P. Soyer M. Berčič,M . Lomuto, M. Marschalko, M. Potočnik, H.P. Soyer, G. Trevisan, C. Veller-Fornasa Case report .fJ4 ---------------------- ----------Acta Dermatoven APA Vol 11, 2002, No 4 Case r eport JO years Acta Dermatoven APA Table 3. Guest Editors of the ACTA DERMATOVENEROLOGICA ALPINA, PANNONICA ET ADRIATICA during the period 1992 - 2001. Year Isue Guest Editor Topic 1994 No 1-2 G. Trevisan Borreliosis 1995 No 3 H. Hren-Vencvelj , M. Potočnik, J. Solts Szots STDs 1996 No 3-4 R. R. Miillegger 2001 No4 R.R. Mullegger, G. Trevisan pathology and on border-sciences were also priorities . October 17, 1992 the editors and members of the Editorial Board met in Hotel Savoy in Grado (Italy) in order to approve the editorial policy and the organiza- tional concept of the Editorial Office. The fist two is- sues were reviewed and discussed, the guide lines for the fu ture activities were defined. The editorial policy as it was published in details in the issue No. 2 of the journal , was approved. A. Kansky was confirmed as Chief Editors, S. Hod! was appointed Editor, w hile M- Berčič , M. Lomu to, A. Peserico and H.P. Soyer became Associate Editors. T. Pahor was appointed as English reader and Mrs Melita Uran as responsible for design and setting for p rint. Borreliosis Borreliosis During the following period the journal was com- ing out regularly, four times a year, the arising prob- lems were solved p rimarily through joint efforts of the Editors, while members of the Editorial Board were also helpful. Sessions took p lace on the average two times yearly in Graz, Maribor, Ljubljana, Trieste, Grado and once also in Budapest. In 1995 the Dermatovenerologic section of the Slovenian Medica! Society took over as publisher„ In 1999 the Dermatovenerologic society of Slovenia was founded and it became publisher of the journal. In the same year the journal was embellished with a new design (5). The names of the Editors and further relevant data are presented in tables 2 and 3. During the 1992 - 2001 period 271 manuscripts were Figure 1. The first session of Editors, October 17, 1992, Grada (ltaly). Fram left to right: H.P. Soyer (Graz), C. Scarpa (Trieste), M. Lamuta (San Giovanni Rotondo), A. Kansky (Ljubljana), M. Berčič (Maribor), A. Peserico (Padua), S. Hodi (Graz). Acta Dermatoven APA Vol 11, 2002, No 4 --- - ------- - ----------,JJ 1 O years Acta Dermatoven APA Table 4. Numbers of manuscripts published during the 1992-2001 period according to the residence of the authors. 80 were from Slovenia, 66 from Italy and 46 from Aus- tria, while the remaining manuscripts came from 20 countries. The detailed numbers are presented in table No. 5. Slovenia Italy Austria Germany Hungary Croatia Yugoslavia USA Switzerland Holland Denmark Finland Poland Spain Japan Great Britain Russia Czech Republic France Slovakia Latvia Rumania Bosnia 80 66 46 13 12 12 11 10 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 The journal is covered by Biomedicina Slovenica and the M-base (Excerpta medica) . Unluckily the two attempts in 1993 and 1998 to enter the infarmation ba- sis of Current Contents and Index Medicus have failed An application far inclusion into its information basis was submitted to D. Lindberg, Chief Editor of Index Medicus , but the Literature Selection Technical Review Committee did not approve this moti on. Following their advice to retry after 24 months, the editors did it, but were again turned down. A similar unsuccessful attempt was made in 1996 and 61998 with the Institute for Sci- entific Infarmation Philadelphia). According to the re- plies obtained, the negative answers were mainly due to the insufficient number of citations. Far this reason during the last two years the Editors are appealing to the authors and members of the Editorial Board to cite in their publications the articles published in our Acta. In this respect R. Schwartz (Newark) deserves credit, it remains to hope that others will also increase their ef- farts . published, 64 being clinical, laboratory or epidemio- logical studies, 66 were reviews, 72 case reports, while the remaining were various therapeutical and other short reports. According to the country of authors ' residence At the session of Editors in May the idea was put forward to reorganize the Editorial Office, the non-co- operating members of the Editorial Board should also be replaced (6). The present ChiefEditor and the presi- dent of the Slovenian Dermatologic Society were in- vited to elaborate proposals far such a reorganization which should be discussed sometimes later this year probably at a joint session of members of the Board of Directors of the Slovenian Dermatologic Society and the Editors of the ACTA Dermatoven APA. l ;;, E1 Ji~ER E 'f\U''E O l. . ;,; _.· . . ...J 1 . . :..1:. 't l..1 _,; --..:, AUTHOR ' S ADDRESS l. F. Kogoj. Našim Acta dermatovenerologica Iugoslavica. Acta derm lug 1974;1:1 2. Acta derm iug 1984;11: 3. Acta derm iug 1991;19:165-227. 4. Letter to the readers of the Acta DermatovenerologicaAlpina, Pannonica et Adriatica. Acta Dermatoven APA I9n;I:39. 5. Acta Dermatoven APA 1999;8:l-39. 6. Session of the Editors, Maribor, May 2002. Acta dermatoven APA 2002;11: Aleksej Kansky, MD, PhD, projessor oj dermatology, Dept. oj Dermatology, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, SI-1525 e-mail: aleksej.kansky@mjuni-lj.si Case rep o rt ./J6 ---- --- - - -------------- - - - - -----Acta Dermatoven A PA Vol 11, 2002, No 4