Abstract
The following article has been retracted at the request of the Journal Editor and Publisher:
Fadda LM, Hagar H, Mohamed AM, Ali HM. Quercetin and Idebenone Ameliorate Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, DNA damage, and Apoptosis Induced by Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Rat Liver. Dose-Response. 2018;16(4). doi: 10.1177/1559325818812188.
Sage was contacted by a reader with concerns about possible image modification and duplication. Specifically, the following issue was noted: • In Figure 3 (panels B and C), comet trails appear to be overlapping.
An internal investigation also uncovered the following: • Figure 1 is highly similar to Figure 2A of an earlier publication.1
The authors were unable to provide the uncropped raw images for Figure 3, citing that these images were prepared by a private laboratory and are representative images illustrating general abnormalities. The actual values for comet assay results were recorded as numbered and statistically analyzed as represented in the article.
They also acknowledged that Figure 1 was taken from a previous publication1 and stated that the characterization was done by an external lab. The authors also noted that nanoparticle size does not interfere with the study parameters.
During investigation, Sage also became aware of an attempt to manipulate the peer review process.
Following review by the Journal Editor and due to the unresolved concerns about image integrity, that call into question the validity of the findings, along with evidence of a compromised peer-review process, the Journal Editor and Sage retract the article.
The authors did not respond to the decision to retract within the designated timeframe.
Reference
1. Skocaj M, Filipic M, Petkovic J, Novak S. Titanium dioxide in our everyday life; is it safe? RadiolOncol. 2011;45(4):227-247. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-011-0037-0