Retraction Rate Research Articles

Impact of palatoplasty techniques on tympanic membrane findings and hearing prognosis in children with cleft palate.

Children with cleft palate (CP) are at high risk of developing otitis media with effusion (OME) due to Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction. Palatoplasty has been reported to decrease the frequency of middle ear disease and improve ET function, and although various techniques have been developed, there is no consensus on the differences in the impact of different techniques on the middle ear. The purpose of this study was to determine the differential effects of palatoplasty on middle ear function and hearing. We performed a retrospective observational survey of pediatric patients who underwent palatoplasty for CP between June 2010 and October 2018at Tohoku University Hospital. Cases were divided into three groups depending on the palatoplasty procedures performed: the push-back palatoplasty group, the two-flap palatoplasty group, and the Furlow double-opposing Z-plasty group. We examined the differences in clinical characteristics between patients who underwent each procedure. The primary outcome variable was tympanic membrane (TM) findings, and the secondary outcome was hearing test results. Children who underwent the two-flap palatoplasty had a higher tympanostomy tube (TT) insertion rate and a higher total number of TT insertions than those who underwent the Furlow double-opposing Z-plasty or the push-back palatoplasty. The TM retraction rate tended to be lower in the Furlow double-opposing Z-plasty group than in the push-back palatoplasty group or the two-flap palatoplasty group. The hearing test results at the last visit were not significantly different among the three groups. Children who underwent the two-flap palatoplasty had a higher rate of TT insertions, potentially increasing the risk of TM perforation. In contrast, the Furlow double-opposing Z-plasty group had a lower tendency for TM regression, possibly due to improved ET function and reduced incidence of OME. It is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each technique before selecting one suitable for the child's cleft and arch width. Additionally, it is important to conduct regular follow-up of TM findings and hearing test results even after palatoplasty.

Article retractions rates in selected MeSH term categories in PubMed published between 2010 - 2020

ABSTRACT Background Academic article retractions occur across all disciplines, though few studies have examined the association between research topics and retraction rates. Objectives We assessed and compared the rate of retraction across several important clinical research topics. Methods Information about the number of publications, the number of retractions, the retraction rate, and the time to retraction was collected for articles identified by 15 Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. These articles were published between 1 January 2010, and 31 December 2020. The searches took place between 18 September 2021, and 24 October 2021. The MeSH terms were selected based on our clinical experience with the expectation that there will be multiple publications during the timeframe to use for the searches. Additional topics were selected based on the frequency of controversy in the public media and were identified by the Altmetric Top 100 report. Results The mean number of publications for all categories was 181,975 ± 332,245; the median number of publications was 67,991 [Q1-Q3; 31951.5, 138,981.5]. The mean number of retractions was 100.3 ± 251.3, and the median number of retractions was 22 [Q1, Q3; 6.5,53]. The mean time to retraction ranged from 114 days to 1,409.5 days; the median was 857.3 days [Q1, Q3; 684.7, 1098.6], depending on the topic. The various MeSH term categories used in this study had significant differences in retraction rate and time to retraction. The “Neoplasms” category had the highest total number of retractions (993) and one of the highest retraction rates (75.4 per 100,000 publications). Discussion All PubMed categories analyzed in this study had retracted articles. The median time to retraction was 857 days. The long delays in some categories could contribute to potentially misleading information which might have adverse effects on clinical decisions in patient care and on research design. Conclusion Rate of retraction varies across research topics and further studies are needed to explore this relationship.

Effect of visual perception training on binocular visual function reconstruction in patients after strabismus surgery.

To explore the effect of visual perception learning software training (VPT) on binocular visual function reconstruction in children with intermittent exotropia after strabismus surgery. Ninety children with intermittent exotropia admitted to our hospital from June 2018 to December 2018 were included, and randomly divided into VPT and control groups. Children in the control group received basic binocular vision training, while those in the VPT group received VPT after strabismus surgery. Tertiary visual function, visual perception function, Newcastle Control Score (NCS), and ocular position retraction rate were compared at 3 and 12mo after the surgery. At 3 and 12mo after the surgery, the proportion of simultaneous perception, binocular fusion version and binocular stereo vision in the VPT group was conspicuously higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After the vision training, the binocular visual perception functions of children in both groups were significantly improved compared with that before training (P<0.05). Interestingly, the grating sharpness, texture perception and texture motion perception in the VPT group were dramatically better than control group (P<0.01). The NCS in the VPT group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The ocular position retraction rate in the VPT group was significantly lower than that in the control group at 12mo (8.89% vs 26.67%, P=0.03). VPT effectively promotes binocular visual function reconstruction in intermittent exotropia children after strabismus surgery and reduces the strabismus severity and ocular position retraction rate.

Comparison of GUMMETAL® and stainless steel alloy during canine retraction: A pilot split-mouth randomized controlled trial

A TiNb alloy wire (GUMMETAL® [GM], Toyota Central R&D Labs, Inc., Nagakute, Japan) was recently developed with unique properties for orthodontic applications. This pilot split-mouth randomized controlled trial compared maxillary canine retraction during space closure using sliding mechanics on GM vs. stainless steel (SS) archwires. Subjects who met the inclusion criteria were treated with fixed appliances and maxillary first-premolar extractions between September 2020 and March 2022. After leveling and aligning, maxillary archwires, fabricated by crimping together segments of 0.016×0.022" GM and SS archwires, were placed and canine retraction initiated using nickel-titanium coil springs. Digital models of the maxillary arch were superimposed at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks and the amount of canine movement (mm), rate of movement (mm/month), and 3-dimensional changes (rotational, vertical extrusion, tip) were measured and compared statistically. Of the 12 subjects recruited, only six completed the study with a median age of 15.8 years (12.0-17.4 years). At 12 weeks, the median canine retraction was 3.41mm (IQR: 2.10, 4.76) with GM versus 3.71mm (IQR: 1.62, 6.45) with SS. The retraction rate was 1.14mm/month (IQR: 0.69, 1.59) with GM, versus 1.24mm/month (IQR: 0.54, 2.15) with SS. The median rotational, vertical and tip changes of the canine were 7.90̊, 0.59mm and 6.15̊ with GM, and 7.25̊, 0.29mm and 2.05̊ with SS. Intergroup differences with all measurements were not statistically significant. No significant differences were found between GM and SS during maxillary canine retraction. GM demonstrated clinical potential for space closure mechanics, however, future larger studies are needed.

The Immediate Contraction of the Expanded Forehead Flap.

Flaps contract immediately after harvest, which added difficulty to flap design. This study aims to investigate the immediate contraction rate of the expanded forehead flap used in nasal reconstruction. Patients undergoing nasal reconstruction with expanded forehead flaps from September 2021 to January 2023 were included. Objective measurements of the pedicle width, maximum width, maximum length, and flap size of the expanded forehead flap before and after harvest were conducted. Fourteen patients, including 9 males and 5 females, were included. The average expansion period was 4.6 months, and the mean injection volume was 658.6ml. The average retraction rate of pedicle width, maximum width, maximum length, and size of the flap after harvest were 16.15%, 30.26%, 26.86%, and 50.89%, respectively. This study presents the contraction rate of the expanded forehead flap used for nasal reconstruction. The data from the measurement will help surgeons to design the expanded forehead flap. Level-Level IV.

Surveillance of clinical research integrity in medically assisted reproduction: a systematic review of retracted publications.

Retraction is a significant consequence of scientific research, resulting from various factors ranging from unintentional errors to intentional misconduct. Previous reviews on retracted publications in obstetrics and gynecology have identified "article duplication," "plagiarism," and "fabricated results" as the main reasons for retraction. However, the extent of retracted articles in the literature on medically assisted reproduction (MAR) remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to assess the number and characteristics of retracted articles in the field of MAR. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed for this study. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on the PubMed database from 1993 to February 2023, limited to English articles and including all 283 terms from the International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care. To identify retracted studies, a specific query combining the 283 terms from the glossary with a retraction-related keyword was used. Only studies focused on MAR and involving human subjects were included. The electronic search yielded a total of 523,067 records in the field of infertility and fertility care. Among these, a total of 2,458 records were identified as retracted. The citation retraction rate was found to be 0.47% (2,458/523,067; 95%CI 0.45-0.49), and the citation retraction rate for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was 0.20% (93/45,616; 95%CI 0.16-0.25). A total of 39 retracted articles specifically related to MAR were identified. Among these, 41.0% were RCTs (n = 16), 15.4% were reviews (n = 6), and 10.3% were retrospective studies (n = 4) or prospective studies (n = 4). Most of the retractions occurred shortly after publication, with "plagiarism" being the most common reason for retraction, followed by "duplicate publication." The issue of retraction exists within the field of infertility and fertility care, including MAR. Our findings indicate that scientific misconduct, particularly plagiarism and duplicate publication, are the primary causes of retraction in MAR. Despite finding that the proportion of retracted citations is low, promoting scientific integrity should be a priority. The consequences of article retractions have significant implications for patient care and the scientific community. Hence, it is crucial to prioritize thorough screening of manuscripts before publication to maintain research integrity. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=185769, PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42020185769.

Efficacy of Combined Conjoint Fascial Sheath and Levator Muscle Composite Flap Suspension for Congenital Severe Ptosis.

Conjoint fascial sheath (CFS) suspension has been gradually recognized and accepted for the treatment of congenital severe blepharoptosis in recent years. To address the problem of postoperative upper eyelid position regression of only CFS suspension, the authors designed and implemented a CFS combined levator muscle (LM) complex flap, and analyzed the surgical efficacy of CFS with LM (CFS+LM) compared with frontalis myofascial flap (FMF) suspension surgery. Patients diagnosed with congenital severe ptosis and LM function of 4 mm or less were enrolled. The patients were assigned to either the CFS+LM group or the FMF group, to compare and statistically analyze the postoperative effects of CFS+LM versus FMF suspension. Data from 182 patients (220 eyes) were collected in this study, including 89 patients (103 eyes) in the CFS+LM group and 93 patients (117 eyes) in the FMF group. The full correction rate, patient satisfaction, postoperative upper eyelid excursion, and lagophthalmos in the CFS+LM group were significantly better than those in the FMF group. The eyelid retraction rate was significantly higher in the FMF group than in the CFS+LM group. The complication rate in the CFS+LM group was significantly lower than that in the FMF group. CFS+LM suspension had better outcomes than FMF suspension. Considering that the CFS tissue could be weak in patients younger than 5 years and have poor muscle elasticity in patients with LM function less than or equal to 1 mm, FMF suspension is recommended first. For patients older than 5 years with severe ptosis, CFS+LM suspension is recommended. Therapeutic, III.

Double-Pigtail Drainage Catheter: A New Design for Efficient Pleural Drainage.

Background and Objectives: The novel double-pigtail catheter (DPC) has an additional pigtail coiling at the mid-shaft with multiple centripetal side holes. The present study aimed to investigate the advantages and efficacy of DPC in overcoming the complications of conventional single-pigtail catheters (SPC) used to drain pleural effusion. Materials and Methods: Between July 2018 and December 2019, 382 pleural effusion drainage procedures were reviewed retrospectively (DPC, n = 156; SPC without multiple side holes, n = 110; SPC with multiple side holes (SPC + M), n = 116). All patients showed shifting pleural effusions in the decubitus view of the chest radiography. All catheters were 10.2 Fr in diameter. One interventional radiologist performed all procedures and used the same anchoring technique. Complications (dysfunctional retraction, complete dislodgement, blockage, and atraumatic pneumothorax) were compared among the catheters using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Clinical success was defined as an improvement in pleural effusion within three days without additional procedures. Survival analysis was performed to calculate the indwelling time. Results: The dysfunctional retraction rate of DPC was significantly lower than that of the other catheters (p < 0.001). Complete dislodgement did not occur in any of the DPC cases. The clinical success rate of DPC (90.1%) was the highest. The estimated indwelling times were nine (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.3-10.7), eight (95% CI: 6.6-9.4), and seven (95% CI: 6.3-7.7) days for SPC, SPC + M, and DPC, respectively, with DPC showing a significant difference (p < 0.05). Conclusions: DPC had a lower dysfunctional retraction rate compared to conventional drainage catheters. Furthermore, DPC was efficient for pleural effusion drainage with a shorter indwelling time.

A Novel Method to Accelerate Orthodontic Tooth Movement Using Low-Intensity Direct Electrical Current in Patients Requiring en-Masse Retraction of the Upper Anterior Teeth: A Preliminary Clinical Report.

Shortening the duration of orthodontic treatment by speeding up the rate of tooth movement has become an essential goal for both orthodontists and patients. This preliminary report aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a new intraoral removable electrical device in accelerating the en-masse retraction of the upper anterior teeth using low-intensity direct electrical current. This prospective preliminary interventional clinical study was conducted at the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Syria, between March 2019 and February 2020. The sample consisted of six patients (four females and two males; mean age: 19.55 ± 0.89 years) whose initial diagnosis was class II division I malocclusion, and their treatment plansuggested the extraction of upper first premolars followed by en-masse retraction. The electrical stimulation was applied on the maxillary anterior region during the en-masse retraction phase using a specially fabricated removable device that was designed by two coauthors of this manuscript (RIS, MYH). Patients were asked to wear their own electrical devices inside their mouths for five hours daily. The primary outcomes were the en-masse retraction rate and duration. The secondary outcomes were safety and patient acceptance. The average total retraction rate during the treatment period was 0.97±0.06 mm/month. The total amount of retraction achieved during follow-up was 5.65 ± 0.85 mm, which was about 91.86% of the space resulting from the extraction of the upper first premolars. The mean treatment duration to complete the en-masse retraction was 5.66±0.81 months. No side effects of the electrical stimulation were found during the follow-up. Low-intensity direct electrical current could be an effective method to accelerate orthodontic movement. The electrical accelerating device used in this study effectively increased the en-masse retraction rate of the upper anterior teeth without any side effects and with high patient acceptance.

Universal scaling of droplet retraction dynamics on vibrating surfaces

Over the past decade, extensive efforts have been made in the study of droplet impact, especially on stationary surfaces, owing to its direct applications in thermal cooling, self-cleaning, and power generation. However, many practical applications, such as ultrasonic cleaning, aerosolized drug delivery, and vibration-assisted welding, involve the direct interaction of droplets with vibrating surfaces, on which droplets undergo spreading and retraction. Distinct from stationary surfaces where the retraction behaviors, such as the retraction velocity and rate, are mainly governed by the surface wettability and droplet inertia, the retraction behaviors on vibrating surfaces become complicated due to the vibration velocity, which dictates the outcomes of droplet impact, such as the pinning, bouncing, gyrating, and jetting. Here, we revealed the synergistic effect of droplet inertia and vibration velocity on droplet retraction. We found that the droplet retraction behaviors on both stationary and vibrating surfaces could be characterized by a universal scaling law, allowing us to analyze and predict the maximum droplet retraction velocities. Moreover, we found that the maximum retraction rate increased with the maximum spreading radius at low Weber numbers. We demonstrated that the droplet retraction dynamics at both low Weber numbers and high Weber numbers could be unified into one integrated model, which indicates the decisive role of the maximum droplet spreading in droplet retraction dynamics.

Montelukast Attenuates Retraction of Expanded Flap by Inhibiting Capsule Formation around Silicone Expander through TGF-β1 Signaling.

Tissue expansion has tremendous applications in plastic surgery, but flap retraction provides insufficient tissue for use. Inspired by the use of montelukast to suppress capsular contracture, the authors investigated the effects of montelukast on capsule formation around the expander and retraction of the expanded scalp of the rat. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control and montelukast groups. In each group, 12 expanded flaps with or without capsules were harvested for histologic and molecular analysis; the six remaining expanded flaps were transferred to repair defects. Myofibroblast and transforming growth factor-β1 expression in the capsule was determined using immunofluorescence. Capsule ultrastructure was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Related protein expression in the capsules was detected using Western blot analysis. A comparison of control and montelukast groups revealed that areas of the harvested expanded flaps with capsules were greater (2.04 ± 0.11 cm 2 versus 2.42 ± 0.12 cm 2 , respectively; P = 0.04); the retraction rate decreased (41.3% ± 2.16% versus 28.13% ± 2.17%, respectively; P < 0.01). However, the increased areas and decreased retraction disappeared after capsule removal. The number of myofibroblasts declined. Thin, sparse collagen fibers were observed in the capsules. The expression of COL1, COL3, TGF-β1, EGR1, and phosphorylated ERK1/2 in the capsules decreased. Furthermore, the recipient area repaired by the transferred expanded flap was increased from 4.25 ± 0.39 cm 2 to 6.58 ± 0.31 cm 2 ( P < 0.01). Montelukast attenuates retraction of the expanded flap by inhibiting capsule formation through suppressing transforming growth factor-β1 signaling. This study provides novel insights into a method for increasing the area of the expanded flap.

Retractions relevant to COVID-19: does the retraction rate jump during the pandemic?

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019, the scientific community has acted promptly before many publications appeared in the scientific literature. It posed a question of whether the expedited research and publication process would impair the research integrity, further leading to the rise in retractions. Hence in this study, we aimed to examine the characteristics of retracted articles related to COVID-19 and provide some insight into the scientific publishing of COVID-19 literature. In this study, by searching Retraction Watch on 10 March 2022, the largest database on retraction, we included 218 COVID-19-related retracted articles. We found that the retraction rate of COVID-19 research was 0.04%. Of the 218 papers, 32.6% were retracted or withdrawn with a retraction notice giving no indication of the reason, and 9.2% due to honest mistakes made by authors. Retractions owing to misbehavior by authors comprised 33% of those retractions. We came to the conclusion that the changed publication norms certainly led to a number of retractions that could have been circumvented, the post-publication review and scrutiny were also enhanced.

Influence of rheology and micropatterns on spreading, retraction and fingering of an impacting drop.

Rheology and surface microstructure affect many drop impact processes, including in emerging printing and patterning applications. This study reports on experiments systematically addressing the influence of these parameters on drop impacts. The experiments involved drop impacts of water, glycerol, and shear-thinning carbopol solutions on ten different microstructured surfaces, captured using high-speed photography. The impact Weber number (We) was varied from 70 to 350, and the microstructures consisted of 20 μm wide pillars with circular and square cross sections arranged in square arrays. The data focus on maximum spreading, retraction rates, threshold conditions for asymmetric (non-circular) spreading, and fingers protruding from the spreading rim. The extent of spreading was reduced by the presence of micropillars, and was well-explained using a hybrid scaling model. The drop retraction rate () showed moderate agreement with the inertial regime scaling  ∝ We-0.50, but did decrease with effective viscosity. Retraction was slower when the contact line was pinned on surfaces that were flat or had relatively tall or closely-spaced pillars, and was disrupted by drop break-up at We ≳ 250 for low-viscosity fluids. Impact velocities at the onset of asymmetric spreading had weak dependence on viscosity. Fingers were more numerous for greater We, lower effective viscosity, lower pillar height, and for pillars with square cross-sections. Fingers were favoured in directions parallel to the rows of the pillar array, especially near the onset of finger formation. Consistent comparisons between Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids were enabled by calculating an effective Reynolds number.

Improving stretchability of associative polymers through tuning density of the secondary interactionsa)

The macroscopic stretchability of ionomer melts strongly relies on the structural evolution during the elongational flow. It has been noted that the introduction of the secondary associations weaker than the ionic association can improve the stretchability. To understand the mechanism, this study examines the stretchability of unentangled ionomers containing a fixed number of ionic groups per chain, fion≅4, but a varied number of hydrogen bonds per chain, fH = 5.5–27. The stretchability that is reflected in the maximum Hencky strain achieved before rupture shows nonmonotonous change with fH: the stretchability improves with increasing fH from 5.5 to 14 while it decreases upon further increasing fH to 27. The former improvement is attributed to the slowing down of chain retraction after the strain-induced dissociation of ionic groups. The slowing down would suppress the formation of defects or small cracks that potentially grow into the fracture. This mechanism, i.e., strain-induced dissociation followed by the chain retraction, holds only in a window where the elongational rate is faster than the ionic dissociation rate but slower than the chain retraction rate. This window narrows down with increasing fH, which probably leads to the decrease of stretchability at high fH = 27.

Influence of roughness and coating on the rebound of droplets on fabrics

We investigate the behavior of small water droplets impacting fabrics of different roughness and coating type in a range of impacting conditions, and compare it to measurements of static and roll-off angles. Fabrics with low roughness display lower static contact angle, no roll-off, a slightly slower retraction rate for impacting droplets, a narrower Weber number (We) range in which rebound occurs, and a limited maximum rebound at intermediate We. Rougher fabrics exhibit slightly higher static contact angles, lower roll-off angles, a slightly faster retraction rate for impacting droplets, and a larger We range for rebound; additionally, the restitution of kinetic energy upon rebound is proportional to 1/We, indicating a near-to-constant rebound height independent of the impact velocity. As regards coating type, roll-off angle, We range for rebound, and to a lesser extent restitution coefficient, depend on coating type, with the more environmentally-friendly wax-based coating being superior to silicone and perfluorobutyl-based ones in both drop impact and roll-off experiments. Our results thus provide hope that perfluorinated coatings can be eliminated in standard textiles, and provide an extensive view of how roughness, coating and impact conditions control the fate of small droplets falling on textiles.

Research on quantitative trading strategy based on prediction and dynamic programming model

Today, the digital currency market represented by bitcoin has become an important part of the capital market. As the COVID-19 pandemic has increased volatility in capital markets in the past two years, effective trend forecasting and risk-averse investment strategies can bring substantial profits to companies and individuals and reduce the possibility of financial risks. To achieve the above objectives, we established the following models: (1)price prediction models of gold and bitcoin; (2)trading market risk judgment model; (3)revenue valuation model based on dynamic programming. This paper uses ARIMA and LSTM neural network to establish the prediction model. After checking the historical data, the best parameter fitting values of ARIMA model were obtained by using the exhaustive method according to BIC criterion, which were ARIMA (4,1,3) (gold) and ARIMA (2,1,2) (bitcoin) respectively. Then LSTM recurrent neural network is used to modify the forecast results, and the price forecast graph with high fitting degree with the real data is obtained. Then, this paper combines the technical indicators commonly used in the financial market to form a market risk judgment model. On the basis of the eight laws of buying and selling, the weight index is introduced to put forward the bull and bear market judgment rules of gold and bitcoin trading, and the tendency distribution map of the market environment in the past five years is obtained. At the same time, the buying risk coefficient is quantified by combining the maximum retraction rate. On the basis of the first two sub-models, this paper establishes a revenue valuation model based on the idea of dynamic programming. By setting the policy trigger threshold to control the risk, the problem that local optimal solution may appear in the model is improved.

Effectiveness of platelet-rich concentrates on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Autologous platelet-rich concentrates (PRCs) are recently used as a local biological substance in orthodontics to accelerate the rate of tooth movement. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of PRCs on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Unrestricted search of five electronic databases supplemented by the manual and gray literature search were undertaken in March 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of PRCs on the rate of OTM with their side effect were included in this systematic review. Data items were extracted by two authors using a pre-piloted extraction form. Similar outcomes within a comparable time frame were synthesized in a meta-analysis. Fourteen studies were deemed eligible for inclusion and seven RCTs were pooled in a meta-analysis. Canine retraction rate was higher in the side of PRCs injection than the control side by 0.28 mm/month (95% CI: 0.16-0.40, I2 = 95.6 per cent, P < 0.001, 345 patients) in the first 4 months after PRCs injection. There was no statistically significant difference between the PRCs side and the control side regarding molar anchorage loss (MAL) (MD = 0.03 mm, 95% CI: -0.18 to 0.24, I2 = 46.3 per cent, P = 0.78, 44 patients), canine rotation (MD = -0.19o, 95% CI: -1.95 to 1.57, I2 = 45.4 per cent, P = 0.96, 48 patients), or en-masse retraction. Likewise, there was no difference between both groups in terms of the duration of de-crowding. The mandibular canine retraction was statistically higher on the PRCs side than on the control side by 0.17 mm/month (P < 0.001, one trial). Regarding root resorption, there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control sides within the follow-up time. Mild pain scores were reported by the patients in the first 24 hours after injections. Low-level evidence indicates that the effect of PRCs on OTM is minor and clinically insignificant. The findings should be interpreted with caution due to the inherent limitations in the included RCTs. PROSPERO (CRD42022300026).

Mechanical Stretch Induced Skin Regeneration: Molecular and Cellular Mechanism in Skin Soft Tissue Expansion.

Skin soft tissue expansion is one of the most basic and commonly used techniques in plastic surgery to obtain excess skin for a variety of medical uses. However, skin soft tissue expansion is faced with many problems, such as long treatment process, poor skin quality, high retraction rate, and complications. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of skin soft tissue expansion is needed. The key to skin soft tissue expansion lies in the mechanical stretch applied to the skin by an inflatable expander. Mechanical stimulation activates multiple signaling pathways through cellular adhesion molecules and regulates gene expression profiles in cells. Meanwhile, various types of cells contribute to skin expansion, including keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and mesenchymal stem cells, which are also regulated by mechanical stretch. This article reviews the molecular and cellular mechanisms of skin regeneration induced by mechanical stretch during skin soft tissue expansion.

Sustained Rise in Retractions in the Life Sciences Literature during the Pandemic Years 2020 and 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to all human endeavors, and scientific research has not been spared. We queried how the retraction of publications might have been affected during the pandemic years 2020–2021. Searches performed with Retraction Watch Database (RWD) revealed that the total number of retractions (as proxied by retraction-related notices) rose steadily from 2013 into the pandemic years 2020–2021. Interestingly, while retractions in the physical and social sciences tapered during 2020–2021, those of the basic life sciences and health sciences showed robust increases in 2020, with the former maintaining a steep rise in 2021. This rise in retractions belied a tapering of total relevant publications in the same year and is confirmed with a complementary search strategy in Scopus. The retraction rate in the medical sciences, particularly those relating to infectious disease, is clearly affected by the anomalous high retraction rate of COVID-19-related papers. However, the sustained increase in the retraction rate of the basic life sciences papers, could be due, at least partly, to retraction spikes in several journals. The rise in retractions in the life and medical sciences could be attributed to heightened post-publication peer review of papers in online platforms such as PubPeer, where numerous problematic papers have been revealed.

Characteristics of global retractions of schizophrenia-related publications: A bibliometric analysis.

ObjectivesThe growing rate of retraction of scientific publications has attracted much attention within the academic community, but there is little knowledge about the nature of such retractions in schizophrenia-related research. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of retractions of schizophrenia-related publications.Materials and methodsThe Web of Science was searched for eligible studies. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to describe the characteristics of the retractions using R software and Excel 2019. Content analysis was conducted to examine the essential components of retraction notices.ResultsA total of 36 retracted publications with 415 citations were identified from 1997 to 2021, of which, 83.3% occurred in the last decade. The overall retraction rate was 0.19%, with most of them (29; 80.56%) from the United Kingdom. The retractions were published in 33 journals, and the 2020 IFs ranged between 0.17 and 49.96 (Median = 3.93). The retractions involved 21 research areas, particularly in Psychiatry (19; 52.78%), Neurosciences and Neurology (10; 27.78%), and Psychology (7; 19.44%). Data issues (17; 42.22%), administrative errors of the publishers (5; 13.89%), and study design (4; 11.11%) were the top three reasons for retractions.ConclusionThis study provides an insight into retractions of schizophrenia-related publications. Institutional governance should be further strengthened to improve the scrutiny of publications, prevent continuing citations, and erroneous propagation after retraction.