Journal flags paper on painkiller for misused trial registry record

A pain journal has expressed concern over a 2018 paper by a group of researchers in China after a reader alerted the publication to problems with the article, including previously-reported data and a bogus trial registry record.  The article, “Population pharmacokinetic modeling of flurbiprofen, the active metabolite of flurbiprofen axetil, in Chinese patients with postoperative … Continue reading Journal flags paper on painkiller for misused trial registry record

University finds dozens of papers by late — and controversial — psychologist Hans Eysenck “unsafe”

More than two dozen papers by a controversial psychologist who died in 1997 are “unsafe,” according to a recent report by his former employer obtained by Retraction Watch. The research has been subject to question for decades, because the findings — including some that “bibliotherapy” could dramatically reduce the risk of dying from cancer — … Continue reading University finds dozens of papers by late — and controversial — psychologist Hans Eysenck “unsafe”

Drip, drip: Former Harvard stem cell researcher up to 18 retractions

Piero Anversa, a former star researcher at Harvard Medical School who left the institution under a cloud, is up to 18 retractions. But that’s barely half of the 31 papers by Anversa’s group that Harvard has requested journals pull over concerns about the integrity of the findings.  The two articles, published in the Proceedings of … Continue reading Drip, drip: Former Harvard stem cell researcher up to 18 retractions

Health care group withdraws rheumatoid arthritis drug report

An influential group that studies the economic burden of medical care has temporarily removed from its website a draft report about the cost-effectiveness of drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis amid questions about the modeling researchers used in their analysis.   The group initially did little to explain the move, despite having issued a press release for … Continue reading Health care group withdraws rheumatoid arthritis drug report

Weekend reads: Jailed for publishing a paper; pushing back on vaping research; “sugar daddy science”

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 lots of news involving Nature, including the retraction of a … Continue reading Weekend reads: Jailed for publishing a paper; pushing back on vaping research; “sugar daddy science”

Nature walks back mentorship prize for Spanish scientist with nine retractions

Nature is rescinding an award to a Spanish researcher whose group has at least nine retractions for problems with their published images.  The journal in 2017 gave Carlos López-Otín, of the University of Oviedo, its mid-career achievement mentoring prize for Spanish scientists — along with a physicist from Barcelona — citing:  the ability of these … Continue reading Nature walks back mentorship prize for Spanish scientist with nine retractions

Weekend reads: Retract papers, win major awards; “citation doping;” authorship abuse

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 a paper that used a mouse that doesn’t exist; the … Continue reading Weekend reads: Retract papers, win major awards; “citation doping;” authorship abuse

“Unjustified authorship” spikes paper by daughter of South Korea official

Following weeks of scrutiny, the daughter of a high-profile official in South Korea has had a paper she wrote as a high school student retracted, in part because the journal determined she had made no intellectual contributions to the study. Cho Kuk, who was officially appointed yesterday (September 9) as the top justice official in … Continue reading “Unjustified authorship” spikes paper by daughter of South Korea official

‘No scientific contribution’: Journal pulls paper alleging radiation coverup

The journal Magnetochemistry has retracted a 2019 article by a controversial researcher in New Zealand who argued that scientists are suppressing evidence that microwave radiation from smartphones and other devices cause harm to people.  The paper was titled “Conflicts of interest and misleading statements in official reports about the health consequences of radiofrequency radiation and … Continue reading ‘No scientific contribution’: Journal pulls paper alleging radiation coverup

Weekend reads: PhD sues alma mater for alleged retaliation; an unexpected rejection; saying no to peer review requests

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 a former postdoc who faked nearly 60 experiments; an apology … Continue reading Weekend reads: PhD sues alma mater for alleged retaliation; an unexpected rejection; saying no to peer review requests