Tracing persistent citation of a retracted clinical trial with faked data

We will estimate how retracted research spreads through citation. Our goal is to understand how retracted research gets cited and used using the citation network for one particular article, Matsuyama et al. 2005, about a clinical trial with falsified data. We will update its citation network from 2014-2018, following the methods of the published paper "Persistent citation of the only published randomised controlled trial of Omega-3 supplementation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease six years after its retraction".Ope

Inflammatory Diseases

"Inflammatory Diseases - A Modern Perspective" represents an extended and thoroughly revised collection of papers on inflammation. This book explores a wide range of topics relevant to inflammation and inflammatory diseases while its main objective is to help in understanding the molecular mechanism and a concrete review of inflammation. One of the interesting things about this book is its diversity in topics which include pharmacology, medicine, rational drug design, microbiology and biochemistry. Each topic focuses on inflammation and its related disease thus giving a unique platform which integrates all the useful information regarding inflammation

Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

In the biochemical reactions that take place within all living beings, species called free radicals are generated. Denham Harman, in his study on the origin and evolution of life (Harman, 2001), proposes that these species are amongst the causes of the origin of life on our planet. Oxygen is a molecule that provides the primary source of energy in aerobic organisms and therefore is key to the development and evolution of life. On the one hand, it gives rise to life; on the other, due to its ability to form different free radicals, it is capable of damaging essential structures for development. To combat these radicals, our biological systems have developed antioxidant defenses. However, when the balance between free radicals and antioxidant defenses is broken in favor of the former, a phenomenon called oxidative stress occurs, which ends up damaging molecules such as DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids (Sies, 1983) (Halliwell and Gutteridge, 1985). This phenomenon is implicated both in the development of diseases and in their progression. In addition, inflammation phenomena are also involved in most pathologies, which, although they are essential for tissue repair and immunity, turn against our bodies when they become excessively active. For these reasons, in this special edition we showcase an extensive knowledge of the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation both in diseases such as aging, or for its role in health

Special Topics in Cardiac Surgery

This book considers mainly the current perioperative care, as well as progresses in new cardiac surgery technologies. Perioperative strategies and new technologies in the field of cardiac surgery will continue to contribute to improvements in postoperative outcomes and enable the cardiac surgical society to optimize surgical procedures. This book should prove to be a useful reference for trainees, senior surgeons and nurses in cardiac surgery, as well as anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and all the related health care workers who are involved in taking care of patients with heart disease which require surgical therapy. I hope these internationally cumulative and diligent efforts will provide patients undergoing cardiac surgery with meticulous perioperative care methods

Citations and retractions. Why are retracted articles cited?

In 2006 Jon Sudbø was exposed for commiting research fraud. An investigation of all of Sudbø's scientific articels followed. The result was that a majority of them had to be retracted. Ten years after the scandal people are still citing Sudbø. This paper explore the nature of citations with Sudbø as case, in the goal of understanding why retracted articles are cited

European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps 2020

The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020 is the update of similar evidence based position papers published in 2005 and 2007 and 2012. The core objective of the EPOS2020 guideline is to provide revised, up-to-date and clear evidence-based recommendations and integrated care pathways in ARS and CRS. EPOS2020 provides an update on the literature published and studies undertaken in the eight years since the EPOS2012 position paper was published and addresses areas not extensively covered in EPOS2012 such as paediatric CRS and sinus surgery. EPOS2020 also involves new stakeholders, including pharmacists and patients, and addresses new target users who have become more involved in the management and treatment of rhinosinusitis since the publication of the last EPOS document, including pharmacists, nurses, specialised care givers and indeed patients themselves, who employ increasing self-management of their condition using over the counter treatments. The document provides suggestions for future research in this area and offers updated guidance for definitions and outcome measurements in research in different settings. EPOS2020 contains chapters on definitions and classification where we have defined a large number of terms and indicated preferred terms. A new classification of CRS into primary and secondary CRS and further division into localized and diffuse disease, based on anatomic distribution is proposed. There are extensive chapters on epidemiology and predisposing factors, inflammatory mechanisms, (differential) diagnosis of facial pain, allergic rhinitis, genetics, cystic fibrosis, aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease, immunodeficiencies, allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and the relationship between upper and lower airways. The chapters on paediatric acute and chronic rhinosinusitis are totally rewritten. All available evidence for the management of acute rhinosinusitis and chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps in adults and children is systematically reviewed and integrated care pathways based on the evidence are proposed. Despite considerable increases in the amount of quality publications in recent years, a large number of practical clinical questions remain. It was agreed that the best way to address these was to conduct a Delphi exercise . The results have been integrated into the respective sections. Last but not least, advice for patients and pharmacists and a new list of research needs are included

Advanced Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery

Bariatric surgery has gained importance in the last 20 years because of the high prevalence of global obesity, and the vast understating of the physiological and pathological aspects of obesity and associated metabolic syndromes. This book has been written by a number of highly outstanding authors and pioneering bariatric surgeons from all over the world. The intended audience for this book includes all medical professionals involved in caring for bariatric patients. The chapters cover the choice of operation, preoperative preparation including psychological aspect, postoperative care and management of complication. It also extends to concept and result of metabolic surgery and scarless bariatric surgery

Polyunsaturated fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease

Background: Evidence on the health effects of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is equivocal. Fish oils are rich in omega-3 PUFA and plant oils in omega-6 PUFA. Evidence suggests increasing PUFA-rich foods, supplements or supplemented foods can reduce serum cholesterol, but may increase body weight, so overall cardiovascular effects are unclear. Objectives: To assess effects of increasing PUFA intake on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in adults. Search method: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Embase to April 2017 and ClinicalTrials.com and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform to September 2016, without language restrictions. We checked trials included in relevant systematic reviews. Selection criteria: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing higher with lower PUFA intakes in adults with or without CVD that assessed effects over ≥12 months. We included full-text, abstracts, trials registry entries and unpublished data. Outcomes were all-cause mortality, CVD mortality and events, risk factors (blood lipids, adiposity, blood pressure), and adverse events. We excluded trials where we could not separate effects of PUFA intake from other dietary, lifestyle or medication interventions. Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently screened titles/abstracts, assessed trials for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We wrote to authors of included studies for further data. Meta-analyses used random-effects analysis, sensitivity analyses included fixed-effects and limiting to low summary risk of bias. We assessed GRADE quality of evidence. Main result: We included 49 RCTs randomising 24,272 participants, with duration of one to eight years. Twelve included trials were at low summary risk of bias, 33 recruited participants without cardiovascular disease. Baseline PUFA intake was unclear in most trials, but 3.9% to 8% of total energy intake where reported. Most trials gave supplemental capsules, but eight gave dietary advice, eight gave supplemental foods such as nuts or margarine, and three used a combination of methods to increase PUFA. Increasing PUFA intake probably has little or no effect on all-cause mortality (risk 3.4% vs 3.3% in primary prevention, 11.7% vs 11.5% in secondary prevention, risk ratio (RR) 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89 to 1.07, 24 trials in 19290 participants), but probably reduces risk of CVD events from 5.8% to 4.9% in primary prevention, 23.3% to 20.8% in secondary prevention (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.01, 20 trials in 17,073 participants), both moderate quality evidence. Increasing PUFA may reduce risk of CHD events from 13.4% to 7.1% primary prevention, 14.3% to 13.7% secondary prevention (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.06, 15 trials, 10,076 participants), CHD death (5.2% to 4.4% primary prevention, 6.8% to 6.1% secondary prevention, RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.06, 9 trials, 8810 participants) and may slightly reduce stroke risk (2.1% to 1.5% primary prevention, RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.44, 11 trials, 14,742 participants), but has little or no effect on cardiovascular mortality (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.26, I2 31%, 16 trials, 15,107 participants) all low quality evidence. Effects of increasing PUFA on major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and atrial fibrillation are unclear as evidence is of very low quality. Event outcomes were all downgraded for indirectness, as most events occurred in men in westernised countries. Increasing PUFA intake reduces total cholesterol (MD -0.12 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.23 to -0.02, I2 79%, 8072 participants, 26 trials) and probably decreases triglycerides (TG, MD -0.12 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.20 to -0.04, I2 50%, 3905 participants, 20 trials), but has little or no effect on HDL (MD -0.01 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.01, I2 0%, 4674 participants, 18 trials) and LDL (MD -0.01 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.06, I2 44%, 3362 participants, 15 trials). Increasing PUFA probably causes slight weight gain (MD 0.76 kg, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.19, I2 59%, 7100 participants, 12 trials). Effects of increasing PUFA on serious adverse events such as pulmonary embolism and bleeding are unclear as the evidence is of very low quality. Authors' conclusions: Increasing PUFA intake probably reduces risk of CVD events, may reduce risk of CHD events and CHD mortality,and may slightly reduce stroke risk, but has little or no effect on all-cause or CVD mortality. The mechanism may be via lipid reduction, but increasing PUFA probably slightly increases weight

The Spread of Retracted Research into Policy Literature

Retractions warn users against relying on problematic evidence. Until recently, it has not been possible to systematically examine the influence of retracted research on policy literature. Here, we use three databases to measure the extent of the phenomenon, and explore what it might tell us about the users of such evidence. We identify policy relevant documents that cite retracted research, we review and categorise the nature of citations, and we interview policy document authors. Overall, we find 2.3% of retracted research is policy cited. This seems higher than one might have expected, similar even to some notable benchmarks for ‘normal’ non-retracted research that is policy-cited. The phenomenon is also multifaceted. Firstly, certain types of retracted research (those with errors, types 1 and 4) are more likely to be policy-cited than other types (those without errors, types 2 and 3). Secondly, although some policy relevant documents cite retracted research negatively, positive citations are twice as common and frequently occur after retraction. Thirdly, certain types of policy organisations appear better at identifying problematic research, and are perhaps more discerning when selecting and evaluating research