Empirical developments in retraction

This study provides current data on key questions about retraction of scientific articles. Findings confirm that the rate of retractions remains low but is increasing. The most commonly cited reason for retraction was research error or inability to reproduce results; the rate from research misconduct is an underestimate, since some retractions necessitated by research misconduct were reported as being due to inability to reproduce. Retraction by parties other than authors is increasing, especially for research misconduct. Although retractions are on average occurring sooner after publication than in the past, citation analysis shows that they are not being recognised by subsequent users of the work. Findings suggest that editors and institutional officials are taking more responsibility for correcting the scientific record but that reasons published in the retraction notice are not always reliable. More aggressive means of notification to the scientific community appear to be necessary

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRIMARY HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS’ KNOWLEDGE ON HYPERTENSION AND COMPLIANCE WITH SODIUM RESTRICTED DIET THERAPY, AT A REFERRAL HOSPITAL IN SWAZILAND

One of the major health concerns in the healthcare field is the increasing number of primary hypertensive patients. Primary hypertension is a condition that occurs without underlying health problems, it is an asymptomatic, chronic, debilitating, and silent killer disease if it is uncontrolled. However, primary hypertension can be prevented and successfully controlled. This descriptive correlational study assessed: the primary hypertensive patients’ knowledge about hypertension, level of compliance with sodium restricted diet therapy, and the relationship between the primary hypertensive patients’ knowledge and compliance with sodium restricted diet therapy. The study was conducted at the Mbabane Government Hospital. The systematic probability sampling method was utilized to obtain a sample of N = 90 primary hypertensive patients. The researchers selected every fifth participant. There were 74 (82%) females and 16 males (18%), between 35 and 65 years of age. Subjects’ knowledge scores on hypertension was 58%, and compliance with sodium restricted diet therapy was 64% among both males and females. The correlation coefficient indicated a relationship that was not statistically significant (r = .09, p > .05).between knowledge and compliance. The findings suggest that there may be other factors that influence self-care on compliance, besides knowledge on hypertension

National guidelines for cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of Iranian traumatic brain injury patients

Background: Individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often have prolonged cognitive impairments, resulting in long-term problems with their real-life activities. Given the urgent need for evidence-based recommendations for neuropsychological management of Iranian TBI patients, the current work aimed to adapt eligible international guidelines for cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of the TBI patients in Iran. Methods: The project was led by an executive committee, under the supervision of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME). Following a systematic literature search and selection process, four guidelines were included for adaptation. Clinical recommendations of the source guidelines were tabulated as possible clinical scenarios for 90 PICO clinical questions covering all relevant phases of care. After summing up the scenarios, our initial list of recommendations was drafted according to the Iranian patients� conditions. The final decision-making, with the contribution of a national interdisciplinary panel of 37 experts from across the country, was conducted in two rounds using online and offline survey forms (Round 1), and face-to-face and telephone meetings (Round 2). Results: A total of 63 recommendations in six sections were included in the final list of recommendations, among which 24 were considered as key recommendations. In addition, some of the recommendations were identified as fundamental, meaning that proper implementation of the other recommendations is largely dependent on their implementation. Conclusion: Iranian health policy makers and rehabilitation program managers are recommended to address some fundamental issues to provide the necessary infrastructure to set up an efficient cognitive rehabilitation service system. © 2020 Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved

Microbiota and neurologic diseases : potential effects of probiotics

Background: The microbiota colonizing the gastrointestinal tract have been associated with both gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal diseases. In recent years, considerable interest has been devoted to their role in the development of neurologic diseases, as many studies have described bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gut, the so-called "microbiota-gut-brain axis". Considering the ability of probiotics (i.e., live non-pathogenic microorganisms) to restore the normal microbial population and produce benefits for the host, their potential effects have been investigated in the context of neurologic diseases. The main aims of this review are to analyse the relationship between the gut microbiota and brain disorders and to evaluate the current evidence for the use of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of neurologic conditions. Discussion: Overall, trials involving animal models and adults have reported encouraging results, suggesting that the administration of probiotic strains may exert some prophylactic and therapeutic effects in a wide range of neurologic conditions. Studies involving children have mainly focused on autism spectrum disorder and have shown that probiotics seem to improve neuro behavioural symptoms. However, the available data are incomplete and far from conclusive. Conclusions: The potential usefulness of probiotics in preventing or treating neurologic diseases is becoming a topic of great interest. However, deeper studies are needed to understand which formulation, dosage and timing might represent the optimal regimen for each specific neurologic disease and what populations can benefit. Moreover, future trials should also consider the tolerability and safety of probiotics in patients with neurologic diseases

VULVAR LYMPHANGIOMA CIRCUMSCRIPTUM:A CASE REPORT

Lymphangioma circumscriptum is a benign lymphatic malformation which is localized to the skin and subcutaneous tissues. It consists of dilated lymph channels lined by normal endothelium.Primary vulvar involvement is very rare and only 28 cases have been reported till 2002. Here we report a case in an 18 years old girl who was referred to our gynecologic clinic with symptoms of pain,swelling and erythema of both labia majors of 5 years duration. She had taken various drugs but all had failed and the lesion was exterminated only after wide local excision surgery. Histological examination revealed multiple dilated vascular channels with an inflammatory infiltrate in papillary dermis and diagnosis of vulvar lymphangioma circumscriptum was made. After ten months follow up, there was no evidence of recurrence. Wide local excision may be the best treatment for extensive vulvar lymphangioma circumscriptum

Association of CYP3A5 Polymorphisms With Hypertension and Antihypertensive Response to Verapamil

In the CYP3A5 gene, the A\u3eG (*3) and G\u3eA (*6) polymorphisms result in severely decreased expression of CYP3A5 enzyme relative to a normal functional allele (*1). We sought to determine if the CYP3A5 genetic polymorphisms were associated with level of blood pressure (BP), risk of hypertension (HTN), and the antihypertensive response to verapamil. A total of 676 normotensive and hypertensive participants (mean age 49±8.2 years) from the Hypertension Genes study and 722 patients (mean age 66±9 years) from the International Verapamil/Trandolapril Study Genetic Substudy (INVEST-GENES) were genotyped for CYP3A5 to test for associations with BP, HTN, and in the latter cohort, antihypertensive response to verapamil. CYP3A5 haplotypes were determined using PHASE 2, with any allele containing either (*3) or (*6) designated as non functional. In the HTN genes population, there were no significant differences based on the number of functional CYP3A5 alleles, in systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among the normotensive whites or blacks (all P≥0.70) or in allele frequency between normotensives and hypertensives. In INVEST-GENES, when controlled for baseline BP, race, age, and gender, untreated BP in carriers versus non carriers of a CYP3A5 functional allele was 158.2±13.7 and 154.8±13.7 (P=0.061), respectively. CYP3A5 functional allele status was marginally associated with the SBP response to verapamil in blacks (P=0.075) and Hispanics (P=0.056), but not in whites (P=0.40), with the effect being largely driven by higher SBP in the carriers of two functional alleles. There was no association with DBP response and CYP3A5 allele status. CYP3A5 genotype does not contribute importantly to BP or risk of HTN, but may influence response to calcium channel blockers in populations in which carrier status of two functional alleles is common

β-Adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms and hemodynamic response to dobutamine during dobutamine stress echocardiography

Our objective was to determine if β1-adrenergic receptor (β1-AR) and β2-AR gene polymorphisms influence heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) response to dobutamine during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). Patients (n=163) undergoing clinically indicated DSE were enrolled. Dobutamine doses were titrated from 5 to 40 μg kg-1 min-1 at 3 min intervals and HR, SBP and DBP were measured. Genotypes were determined for β1-AR Ser49Gly, β1-AR Arg389Gly, β2-AR Arg16Gly and β2-AR Gln27Glu polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, pyrosequencing and single primer extension methods. β2 -AR Glu27 homozygotes had a greater HR response at the highest dobutamine dose than Gln27 carriers (P = 0.002). β2-AR Gly16 homozygotes had a lower HR response during 5-30 μg kg-1 min-1 of the dobutamine infusion protocol compared to Arg16 carriers (P = 0.03). Differences in SBP by β2-AR codon 16 genotype and DBP by β1-AR codon 389 genotype were found at baseline and were maintained throughout DSE (P = 0.06 and 0.02, respectively). However, the magnitude of SBP and DBP response to dobutamine did not differ significantly by β2-AR codon 16 or β1-AR codon 389 genotypes, respectively. These data suggest that the four selected β1- and β2-AR polymorphisms do not substantially influence the magnitude of hemodynamic response to dobutamine during DSE