Expression of Concern: "Optimization of Thymoquinone-Loaded Self-Nanoemulsion for Management of Indomethacin-Induced Ulcer".

Abstract

Sage Publishing and the Journal Editor hereby issue an expression of concern for the following article: Radwan MF, El-Moselhy MA, Alarif WM, Orif M, Alruwaili NK, Alhakamy NA. Optimization of Thymoquinone-Loaded Self-Nanoemulsion for Management of Indomethacin-Induced Ulcer. Dose-Response. 2021;19(2). doi:10.1177/15593258211013655 Sage Publishing was made aware of a PubPeer post that cited concerns over possible image duplication. The post has noted that Figure 2C appears to be a vertically stretched version of Figure 2B. Another commentor on the post also noted that Figure 2B and 2C appear highly similar to Figure 7B and 7C of Fahmy et al.1 When we contacted the authors for comment, they stated that their institution has conducted an investigation into the concern. The institutional investigation states that this image duplication error occurred due to an error; the lab technician responsible for capturing the images sending the two author groups the same files by accident. The institutional investigation does not address why the image was stretched and duplicated within the same publication. The raw images provided by the institution have been attached as Supplementary Information. Due to the nature of the concern, Sage issue this expression of concern to alert readers.