Efficacy of Double-Blind Peer Review in an Imaging Subspecialty Journal.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Many scientific journals use double-blind peer review to minimize potential reviewer bias concerning publication recommendations. However, because neuroradiology is a relatively small subspecialty, this process may be limited by prior knowledge of the authors' work or associated institutions. We sought to investigate the efficacy of reviewer blinding and determine the impact that unblinding may have on manuscript acceptance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For manuscripts submitted to the American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR) from January through June 2015, reviewers completed a brief anonymous questionnaire after submitting their evaluations, assessing whether they were familiar with the research or had knowledge of the authors or institutions from which the work originated. RESULTS: The response rate for 1079 questionnaires was 98.8%; 12.9% of reviewers knew or suspected that they knew authors, and 15.3% knew or suspected that they knew the associated institutions. Reviewers correctly identified the authors in 90.3% of cases and correctly stated the institutions in 86.8% of cases. Unblinding resulted from self-citation in 34.1% for both authorship and institutions. The acceptance rate when reviewers knew or suspected that they knew the authors was 57/137 (41.6%) and 262/929 (28.2%) when reviewers did not. The acceptance rate when reviewers knew or suspected that they knew the institutions was 60/163 (36.8%) and 259/903 (28.7%) when they did not. The Fisher exact test showed that author (P < .038) and institution (P < .039) familiarity was associated with greater manuscript acceptance. CONCLUSIONS: While the AJNR process of double-blind peer review minimizes reviewer bias, perceived knowledge of the author and institution is associated with a higher rate of manuscript acceptance.

Screening for self-plagiarism in a subspecialty-versus-general imaging journal using iThenticate.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Self-plagiarism is a form of research misconduct that can dilute the credibility and reputation of a scientific journal, as well as the represented specialty. Journal editors are aware of this problem when reviewing submissions and use on-line plagiarism-analysis programs to facilitate detection. The American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR) uses iThenticate to screen several submitted original research manuscripts selected for review per issue and retrospectively assesses 3 issues per year. The prevalence of self-plagiarism in AJNR was compared with that in Radiology; the necessity and cost of more extensive screening in AJNR were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The self-duplication rate in AJNR original research articles was compared with that in Radiology, a general imaging journal that screens all submitted original research manuscripts selected for review by using iThenticate. The rate of self-duplication in original research articles from 2 randomly selected 2012 AJNR issues was compared with the rate in the prior year to gauge the need for more extensive screening. A cost analysis of screening all submitted original research manuscripts selected for review by using iThenticate was performed. RESULTS: Using an empiric 15% single-source duplication threshold, we found that the rate of significant self-plagiarism in original research articles was low for both journals. While AJNR had more articles exceeding this threshold, most instances were insignificant. Analyzing 2 randomly chosen issues of AJNR for single-source duplication of >15% in original research articles yielded no significant differences compared with an entire year. The approximate annual cost of screening all submitted original research manuscripts selected for review was US $6800.00. CONCLUSIONS: While the rate of self-plagiarism was low in AJNR and similar to that in Radiology, its potential cost in negative impact on AJNR and the subspecialty of neuroradiology justifies the costs of broader screening.

Use of "N-in-One" dosing to create an in vivo pharmacokinetics database for use in developing structure-pharmacokinetic relationships.

The purpose of this work was (1) to determine if useful in vivo pharmacokinetic data could be obtained after simultaneous administration of 5-22 compounds of a chemically congeneric series to dogs and (2) to determine if structure-pharmacokinetic relationships could be derived from such studies. Mixtures of structurally related alpha-1 antagonist compounds (5-22) were administered intravenously to conscious dogs. Blood samples were taken over the next 24 h and analyzed by LC/MS to determine plasma levels and pharmacokinetics of each compound. The pharmacokinetics of 17 of these compounds were also determined after individual administration. Results obtained in the N-in-One format for 17 compounds correlated well with results obtained when these same compounds were administered individually. The N-in-One method is a useful method for obtaining pharmacokinetic data on 5-20 molecules in a single animal at one time. The increased throughput in obtaining important pharmacokinetic information should enhance the drug discovery process. In addition, it was possible to determine the extent to which various chemical substitutions did or did not affect pharmacokinetic parameters.

S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine in urine of rats and workers after exposure to benzene.

An HPLC method for the determination of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine in urine is described. The sensitivity is 6 mumol/L (CV = 9%) urine. Exposure of rats to six different concentrations of benzene, ranging from 0-30 ppm, was highly associated with urinary excretion of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine (r = 0.86) and with total phenol (r = 0.81). A background level of phenol was found in urine of both non-exposed rats and of non-exposed referents. However, no background excretion of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine was found, either in rats or in humans. In urine of exposed rats, the level of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine was approximately five times lower than the phenol level. Workers occupationally exposed to benzene, showing high levels of urinary phenol, revealed low concentrations of urinary S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine. The biological monitoring of industrial exposure to benzene by determination of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine in urine is not better than the determination of phenol in urine.

Postpublication errors in imaging-related journals.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Assessment of postpublication errors in peer-reviewed journals is difficult and the numbers and types are unknown. We reviewed published errata in major clinical imaging journals in an attempt to understand the numbers and sources of errors in published articles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five clinical imaging journals with the highest IFs were searched on-line using the terms "erratum" or "errata" anywhere in the title, abstract, or author listing for a total of 5 years. Each erratum was reviewed and categorized by type and source of responsibility. RESULTS: The following journals were assessed: JNM, Radiology, AJNR, AJR, and RadioGraphics. There were a total of 158 total errata and each was placed in 1 of the following categories: typographical (94), factual (6), image-related (48), statistical calculation (7), or serious foundational errors (3). Errata were also labeled as author (107) or journal responsibility (51). One hundred forty-eight errata were categorized as minor (typographical, factual, and image-related) and 10 as major (statistical calculation, foundational errors). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the 8910 articles published by the 5 journals during the study period, revealed the number of minor and major errors were few, 1.66% and 0.11%, respectively. Of these errors, 93.7% were considered minor and 6.3% major. Most major errors were judged to be the responsibility of the authors, whereas most minor ones were the responsibility of the journals.

Development of capillary gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric methodology for the simultaneous determination of ibuprofen and [ar-2H4]ibuprofen in serum: demonstration of kinetic equivalence in the beagle.

A capillary gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the determination of ibuprofen and tetra-deuterated ibuprofen in serum is described. Ibuprofen, [ar-2H4]ibuprofen and the internal standard, [ar-2H4,3,3,3-2H3]ibuprofen, are extracted (after acidification) from serum onto a cross-linked styrene divinyl benzene resin by an automated sample processor. After elution and evaporation of the organic phase, samples are reconstituted with solvent and analyzed without derivatization by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This methodology was used to evaluate possible kinetic isotope effects after the coadministration of an equimolar mixture of ibuprofen and the deuterium-labeled covariant in the beagle. No significant differences in absorption or elimination were observed.

[Interobserver comparison of quantitative analysis of local wall function of the left ventricle in stress cineventriculography]. / Interobserververgleich der quantitativen lokalen Wandfunktionsanalyse des linken Ventrikels bei der Belastungscineventrikulographie.

During diagnostic heart catheterization biplane cineventriculograms of 46 patients at rest and directly after bicycle ergometry (72.8 +/- 27.8 W) were performed. The aim of the study was to determine the value of local wall motion analysis under physical exercise. Therefore two observers independently analyzed global and local left ventricular parameters. 38 patients had coronary artery disease, 23 with a history of myocardial infarction. Enddiastolic (EDV) and endsystolic volume (ESV) were evaluated and ejection fraction (EF) was calculated. Local wall motion was analyzed using a radial model with 60 radii in the 30 degrees RAO- and 60 degrees LAO-Projektion. A systolic segmental shortening was determined for the anterobasal (AB), anterolateral (AL), apical (AP), diaphragmatic (DP), posterobasal (PB) (30 degrees-RAO), septal (SE) and posterolateral (PL) area (60 degrees-LAO). Global functional parameters (EDV, ESV, EF) revealed good correlations between both observers with correlation coefficients (r) varying from 0.83 to 0.92. Local wall motion had sufficient correlations (r) at rest and during exercise (data in brackets) in the RAO-projektion: AB: 0.88 (0.73), AL: 0.69 (0.72), AP: 0.82 (0.78), DP: 0.77 (0.75), PB: 0.78 (0.78) and in the septal segment (LAO-projection): 0.69 (0.71). Less sufficient correlations were found in the posterolateral segment (LAO, especially at rest: 0.50 (0.69). Thus, global ventricular parameters can be determined at rest and during exercise independently of the observer. Local wall motion, too, can be quantified with sufficient accuracy with exception of the posterolateral area in the LAO-projektion.

An improved HPLC assay for the assessment of liver slice metabolic viability using 7-ethoxycoumarin.

The use of precision-cut liver slices constitutes a new in vitro metabolism technique for the study of coupled phase I and phase II biotransformations. This technique has the advantage of being easily amenable to studies with human tissue. As a means of characterizing the metabolic viability of diverse liver samples, a standard substrate capable of undergoing oxidative and conjugative pathways of metabolism would be desirable. An assay based on 7-ethoxycoumarin was developed whereby the metabolites--7-hydroxycoumarin, 7-hydroxycoumarin sulfate, and 7-hydroxycoumarin glucuronide--could be quantitated using a single HPLC analytical method. This required the synthesis of metabolite standards. 7-Hydroxycoumarin glucuronide was prepared by coupling 7-hydroxycoumarin with methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1-bromo-1-alpha-D- glucopyranuronate, under phase transfer conditions, to give the protected conjugate that was then hydrolyzed to give the glucuronide as the sodium salt. Assignment of configuration at the anomeric center was based on analysis of the simulated 1H and gated 13C NMR spectra, in addition to enzymatic hydrolysis. The sulfate conjugate was prepared by treatment of 7-hydroxycoumarin with Bu4N+ HSO4-/dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/pyridine. 7-Ethoxycoumarin, 7-hydroxycoumarin, and the glucuronide and sulfate conjugates were resolved by HPLC on a C8 Hypersil BDS column using ion-pairing conditions. Incubation of 7-ethoxycoumarin with rat or human liver slices in Krebs-Henseleit buffer resulted in the formation of these metabolites that were readily quantitated in the media with UV detection at 320 nm, using external standard curves. Although the sulfate was seen as the major metabolite in rats, the glucuronide predominated in human tissue. Two different human livers were examined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)