Search Results for: sting

Authors unhappy as “battlefield acupuncture” paper earns an expression of concern

A journal has slapped an expression of concern on a 2021 paper reporting on the utility of self-administered “battlefield” acupuncture in soldiers, citing readers who said the FDA has not approved the devices for that use – a point the authors, who object to the move, dismissed as irrelevant and misleading.  The study, which appeared … Continue reading Authors unhappy as “battlefield acupuncture” paper earns an expression of concern

AHA journal tones down abstract linking COVID-19 vaccines to risk of heart problems

The American Heart Association has published a corrected version of a controversial meeting abstract which claimed to show that Covid-19 vaccinations “dramatically” increased a person’s risk for serious heart problems.  The study was the work of Stephen Gundry, a cardiac surgeon who now sells dietary supplements of questionable efficacy on his website. Gundry also sees … Continue reading AHA journal tones down abstract linking COVID-19 vaccines to risk of heart problems

Revealed: The inner workings of a paper mill

In 2019, Retraction Watch ran an exclusive story of a Russian paper mill operating under the business name “International Publisher LLC”.  Since then, Retraction Watch and  other scientific news and blogging sites have continued to report on the activities of research paper mills, including International Publisher  and its primary website, 123mi.ru.  These mills provide an … Continue reading Revealed: The inner workings of a paper mill

Exercise researcher earns more retractions as investigations mount

Retractions are slowly stacking up for an exercise researcher in Brazil whose work has come under scrutiny by data sleuths, including a couple of his erstwhile co-authors. The concerns prompted an investigation by his former institution into one of his academic supervisors, who may be facing sanctions, Retraction Watch has learned.  In June 2020, the … Continue reading Exercise researcher earns more retractions as investigations mount

Student of yoga tourism won’t get PhD as he earns five retractions

For Pramod Sharma, the study of yoga tourism has proven to be a downward-facing dog.  Last year, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Roorkee blocked Sharma – who posed as a legit yoga researcher but in reality stole other people’s work – from receiving his PhD after determining that his thesis was “plagiarized and … Continue reading Student of yoga tourism won’t get PhD as he earns five retractions

Pentagon-funded Duke research on soldier brain damage under investigation

Duke University is investigating potential misconduct in a trio of studies of ways to identify brain damage in soldiers.  The studies were conducted by Mohamed B Abou-Donia and Brahmajothi Mulugu, and appeared in the February 2020 issue of Military Medicine, which has issued an expression of concern about the articles. The research was performed using … Continue reading Pentagon-funded Duke research on soldier brain damage under investigation

AHA “regrets any confusion” and is reviewing meeting policies after outcry over Covid-19 vaccine abstract

Days after a leading heart journal issued an expression of concern for a meeting abstract suggesting that vaccines against Covid-19 may cause cardiac damage, its publisher, the American Heart Association (AHA), says it is reviewing how it screens such submissions.  As we reported late last month, “Mrna COVID Vaccines Dramatically Increase Endothelial Inflammatory Markers and … Continue reading AHA “regrets any confusion” and is reviewing meeting policies after outcry over Covid-19 vaccine abstract

Abstract linking COVID-19 vaccines to heart trouble risk earns expression of concern

A leading heart journal has issued an expression of concern for a meeting abstract it published earlier this year by a cardiac surgeon who sells dietary supplements of questionable utility. The case is the second involving a recent meeting of the American Heart Association. The abstract, titled “Mrna COVID Vaccines Dramatically Increase Endothelial Inflammatory Markers … Continue reading Abstract linking COVID-19 vaccines to heart trouble risk earns expression of concern

Weekend reads: Nepotism in journals; the lessons of the ‘lab leak’ theory; four decades of research misconduct

Before we present this week’s Weekend Reads, a question: Do you enjoy our weekly roundup? If so, we could really use your help. Would you consider a tax-deductible donation to support Weekend Reads, and our daily work? Thanks in advance. The week at Retraction Watch featured: Nanotech paper retracted for duplicated images Group’s second paper on … Continue reading Weekend reads: Nepotism in journals; the lessons of the ‘lab leak’ theory; four decades of research misconduct

“Sand, sun, sea and sex with strangers” paper did not need human subjects research protection approval, says author

A now-temporarily retracted paper about how gay men seeking sex on the beach is damaging dunes that was criticized for its language — and for not mentioning any ethical approval — did not need such approval, one of the study’s authors said. The study was carried out in 2018. But the Human Research Ethics Commitee … Continue reading “Sand, sun, sea and sex with strangers” paper did not need human subjects research protection approval, says author