title: A comprehensive analysis of articles retracted between 2004 and 2013 from biomedical literature - a call for reforms.
abstract: Science is a dynamic subject and it was never free of misconduct or bad research. Indeed, the scientific method itself is intended to overcome mistakes and misdeeds. So, we aimed to assess various factors associated with retraction of scientific articles from 2004 to 2013. Data were retrieved from PubMed and Medline using the keywords retraction of articles, retraction notice, and withdrawal of article in April 2014 to detect articles retracted from 2004 to 2013. Statistical analysis was carried out using t-test and Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results showed that a total of 2343 articles were retracted between 2004 and 2013, and original articles followed by case reports constituted major part of it. Time interval between submission and retraction of article has reduced in recent times. Impact factor and retraction do not have any significant correlation. We conclude that although retraction of articles is a rare event, its constant rise in scientific literature is quite worrisome. It is still unclear whether misconduct/mistakes in articles are increasing hastily or the articles are retracted at a rapid rate in recent times. So, it should be considered as an urgent issue and it is the responsibility of journal editors to track misconduct by following Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and making an effective strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Dasmesh Institute of Research and Dental Sciences, Faridkot, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Harkanwal Preet
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Chandra Dental College, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahendra
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, SGT Dental College, Gurgaon, Haryana.
authors.forename: Bhupender
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Dental College, Ludhiana, Punjab.
authors.forename: Harpreet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Manav Rachna Dental College, Faridabad, Haryana.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Career Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arora
keywords: Duplication of article; Plagiarism; Retraction of articles; Self-correction