Questionable research practices of medical and dental faculty in Pakistan - a confession

PURPOSE

Intellectual honesty and integrity are the cornerstones of conducting any form of research. Over the last few years, scholars have shown great concerns over questionable research practices (QRPs) in academia. This study aims to investigate the questionable research practices amongst faculty members of medical and dental colleges in Pakistan.

METHOD

A descriptive multi-institutional online survey was conducted from June-August 2022. Based on previous studies assessing research misconduct, 43 questionable research practices in four domains: Data collection & storage, Data analysis, Study reporting and Collaboration & authorship were identified and investigated. Descriptive (Frequencies, Percentages, Mean, SD) and Inferential (chi square) statistics were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 654 faculty members responded. Every respondent reported committing at least one QRP in their career. The most common QRPs included deliberately failing to mention funding, publishing program evaluation data not meant for research purposes or approved by an ethical body, inappropriately storing identifiable information and non-disclosure of any conflicts. There was significant association of age, gender and academic rank with QRPs in 'Data collection and storage' and 'Data Analysis' domains.

CONCLUSION

Medical and dental faculty members participating in this study are involved in a range of questionable research practices (QRPs) in Pakistan. Their confession might have contributed to the faculty developing self-awareness and reinforcing academic integrity. There is a need for reviewing policies and practices to improve research culture. Future research should explore the factors resulting in such practices.

Effect of carbonated drinks on wound healing of oral epithelium

BACKGROUND

Carbonated drinks are the second most consumed non-alcoholic beverages in the world after tea. The effects of these drinks on hard tissues and vital organs of the body have been proved beyond doubt. This study, however, explains the effect of these drinks on wound healing of oral epithelium.

METHODS

Thirty-six male Wistar rats were considered for the study. A circular wound of 3.0 mm was created on the buccal mucosa of all animals and they were divided into two groups. Animals in group 1 were fed with chow pellet and water, while those in group 2 were fed with a commercially available carbonated drink instead of water. Six animals from each group were euthanized at 0, 7, and 21 days. Wound site was histologically assessed for differences in thickness and characteristics of the regenerating epithelium between two groups.

RESULTS

There was a marked difference in the healing pattern between the two groups. Animals in group 1 showed a normal healing pattern at the end of day 21. In the group 2, the regenerated epithelium showed hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis along with acanthosis at the end of the experiment with a subsequent delayed inflammatory reaction at day 21.

CONCLUSION

Consumption of carbonated drinks can disrupt oral wound healing. The contents in carbonated drinks have a proinflammatory action on the soft tissue. Results suggest that epithelial changes seen in experimental group 2 could be a result of constant irritation by the acidic and fizzy nature of carbonated drinks.

Morphological and quantitative features of mitral cells in the rat olfactory bulb after administration of propranolol

OBJECTIVE

To determine the cytoplasmic morphological changes in the mitral cells and quantitative changes (number of mitral cells and thickness of mitral cell layer in microns) in the rat olfactory bulb after administration of propranolol.

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

The Department of Anatomy, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, from January 2006 to January 2007.

METHODOLOGY

Twenty samples were obtained from two randomly divided groups of rats, each comprising 10 animals for control and experimental work respectively. Each group was treated with normal saline (5 ml/kg) and propranolol (1 mg/kg) respectively for one month. The skull was fixed in 20% formalin for 10 days and decalcified in 10% formalin/10% nitric acid. The olfactory bulb along with olfactory cortex was dissected. After processing, 10 microns thick sections were obtained. The slides were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin and Bielschowksy's silver stain (Glees-Marsland modification) and studied under light microscope. The morphology, quantitative analysis of mitral cell layer and the number of mitral cells were studied in the histological study and compared using t-test with significance at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

In the propranolol treated group changes observed in the morphology of the mitral cells included presence of cytoplasmic vacuoles at the periphery of the cells. There was significant increase in the thickness of mitral cell layer and number of the mitral cell in the propranolol treated group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study showed morphological and quantitative changes in the olfactory bulb in response to treatment with propranolol, hence it has implications in odour induced learning.