The Cultural Context of Plagiarism and Research Misconduct in the Asian Region

Plagiarism is one of the most frequent forms of research misconduct in South and East Asian countries. This narrative review examines the factors contributing to research misconduct, emphasizing plagiarism, particularly in South, East and Southeast Asian countries. We conducted a PubMed and Scopus search using the terms plagiarism, Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, research misconduct and retractions in January of 2022. Articles with missing abstracts, incomplete information about plagiarism, publication dates before 2010, and those unrelated to South, East, and Southeast Asian countries were excluded. The retraction watch database was searched for articles retracted between 9th January 2020 to 9th January 2022. A total of 159 articles were identified, of which 21 were included in the study using the database search criteria mentioned above. The review of articles identified a lack of training in scientific writing and research ethics, publication pressure, permissive attitudes, and inadequate regulatory measures as the primary reasons behind research misconduct in scientific publications. Plagiarism remains a common cause of unethical publications and retractions in regions of Asia (namely South, East and Southeast). Researchers lack training in scientific writing, and substantial gaps exist in understanding various forms of plagiarism, which heavily contribute to the problem. There is an urgent need to foster high research ethics standards and adhere to journal policies. Providing appropriate training in scientific writing among researchers may help improve the knowledge of different types of plagiarism and promote the use of antiplagiarism software, leading to a substantial reduction in the problem.

Bibliometric and Altmetric Analysis of Retracted Articles on COVID-19

Background@#With greater use of social media platforms for promotions of research articles, retracted articles tend to receive approximately the same attention. We systematically analyzed retracted articles from retractionwatch.com to look at the Altmetric Attention Scores (AAS) garnered over a period of time in order to highlight the role of social media and other platforms in advertising retracted articles and its effect on the spread of misinformation. @*Methods@#Retractionwatch.com was searched for coronavirus disease 2019 related retracted papers on November 6th, 2021. Articles were excluded based on lack of digital object identifier (DOI), if they were preprint articles, absent AAS, and incomplete AAS of pre retraction, post retraction, or both scores. @*Results@#A total of 196 articles were found on the Retraction Watch website of which 189 were retracted papers and 7 were expression of concern (EOC). We then identified 175 articles after excluding those that did not have a DOI and 30 preprint articles were also excluded giving 145 articles. Further exclusion of articles with absent AAS and incomplete AAS resulted in a total of 22 articles. @*Conclusion@#Retracted articles receive significant online attention. Twitter and Mendeley were the most popular medium for publicizing retracted articles, therefore more focus should be given by journals and their Twitter accounts to discredit all their retracted articles.Preprints should be reconsidered as a whole by journals due to the huge risk they carry in disseminating false information.

Knowledge and Perceptions of Reactive Arthritis Diagnosis and Management Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Survey

Background@#Reactive arthritis (ReA) is an often neglected disease that received some attention during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. There is some evidence that infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 can lead to “reactive” arthritis. However, this does not follow the classical definition of ReA that limits the organisms leading to this condition. Also, there is no recommendation by any international society on the management of ReA during the current pandemic. Thus, a survey was conducted to gather information about how modern clinicians across the world approach ReA. @*Methods@#An e-survey was carried out based on convenient sampling via social media platforms. Twenty questions were validated on the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and management of ReA. These also included information on post-COVID-19 arthritis. Duplicate entries were prevented and standard guidelines were followed for reporting internet-based surveys. @*Results@#There were 193 respondents from 24 countries. Around one-fifth knew the classical definition of ReA. Nearly half considered the triad of conjunctivitis, urethritis and asymmetric oligoarthritis a “must” for diagnosis of ReA. Other common manifestations reported include enthesitis, dermatitis, dactylitis, uveitis, and oral or genital ulcers. Threefourths opined that no test was specific for ReA. Drugs for ReA were non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, intra-articular injections, and conventional disease-modifying agents with less than 10% supporting biological use. @*Conclusion@#The survey brought out the gap in existing concepts of ReA. The current definition needs to be updated. There is an unmet need for consensus recommendations for the management of ReA, including the use of biologicals.

Peroneal Nerve Dysfunction in Patients with Clubfoot Deformity: Evaluation of Clinical Presentation and Treatment

Background@#Complete peroneal nerve dysfunction associated with congenital clubfoot is uncommonly reported. Our retrospective study highlights the recognition of clinical presentation and mid-term outcomes of treatment in these patients. @*Methods@#Eight out of 658 patients undergoing treatment for clubfoot were identified with unilateral complete peroneal nerve dysfunction associated with congenital clubfoot. Three patients presented primarily to our center; 5 were treated elsewhere initially.All patients were treated with Ponseti casts, Achilles tenotomy, and subsequent foot abduction bracing. Diagnosis of complete peroneal nerve dysfunction was confirmed using nerve conduction velocity studies in all patients. After full-time bracing, an insole polythene molded ankle foot orthosis was given. Three patients underwent tibialis posterior transfer to improve foot dorsiflexor power. @*Results@#The mean age at presentation was 1.3 years (range, 1 week–5 years). All patients had prominence of lateral 3 metatarsal heads and dimpling of intermetatarsal spaces. At a mean follow-up of 5.1 years, mean shortening of 1.2 cm in tibia (range, 1–2.5 cm) and mean calf wasting of 4.4 cm were observed. There was no relapse of any clubfoot deformity till the final follow-up. @*Conclusions@#Prominence of lateral metatarsal heads and dimpling of intermetatarsal spaces should raise early suspicion of peroneal nerve dysfunction. Standard Ponseti protocol is useful in treatment of these patients. Tibialis posterior transfer to dorsum partially restores the ankle dorsiflexion.

Role of Joshi's external stabilization system with percutaneous screw fixation in high-energy tibial condylar fractures associated with severe soft tissue injuries / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>PURPOSE</b>The treatment of high-energy tibial condylar fractures which are associated with severe soft tissue injuries remains contentious and challenging. In this study, we assessed the results of Joshi's external stabilization system (JESS) by using the principle of ligamentotaxis and percutaneous screw fixation for managing high-energy tibial condylar fractures associated with severe soft tissue injuries.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between June 2008 and June 2010, 25 consecutive patients who were 17e71 years (mean, 39.7), underwent the JESS fixation for high-energy tibial condylar fractures associated with severe soft tissue injuries. Out of 25 patients, 2 were lost during follow-up and in 1 case early removal of frame was done, leaving 22 cases for final follow-up. Among them, 11 had poor skin condition with abrasions and blisters and 2 were open injuries (Gustilo-Anderson grade I&II). The injury mechanisms were motor vehicle accidents (n=19), fall from a height (n=2) and assault (n=1). The fractures were classified according to Schatzker classification system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 7 type-V, 14 type-VI and 1 type-lV Schatzker's tibial plateau fractures. The average interval between the injury and surgery was 6.8 days (range 2-13). The average hospital stay was 13 days (range, 7-22). The average interval between the surgery and full weight bearing was 13.6 weeks (range 11-20). The average range of knee flexion was 121°(range 105°-135°). The normal extension of the knee was observed in 20 patients, and an extensor lag of 5°-8° was noted in 2 patients. The complications included superficial pin tract infections (n=4) with no knee stiffness.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>JESS with lag screw fixation combines the benefit of traction, external fixation, and limited internal fixation, at the same time as allowing the ease of access to the soft tissue for wound checks, pin care, dressing changes, measurement of compartment pressure, and the monitoring of the neurovascular status. In a nutshell, JESS along with screw fixation offers a promising alternative treatment for high- energy tibial condylar fractures associated with severe soft tissue injuries.</p>

Bilateral familial vertical Duane Syndrome with synergistic convergence, aberrant trigeminal innervation, and facial hypoplasia

A 5-year-old girl presented with bilateral familial vertical Duane retraction syndrome with alternating esotropia, elevation deficit, Marcusgunn phenomenon, and facial hypoplasia. Abnormal adducting downshoots on attempting abduction suggestive of a synergistic convergence were noted. Hypothesis suggests aberrant innervations or peripheral anatomic connections between inferior and medial recti