EXPRESSION OF CONCERN: Combined Metformin and Clomiphene Citrate Versus Laparoscopic Ovarian Diathermy for Ovulation Induction in Clomiphene-Resistant Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

EXPRESSION OF CONCERN: H. A. Hashim, N. El Lakany, L. Sherief, “ Combined Metformin and Clomiphene Citrate Versus Laparoscopic Ovarian Diathermy for Ovulation Induction in Clomiphene-Resistant Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research 37, no. 3 (2011): 169–177, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0756.2010.01383.x.

This Expression of Concern is for the above article, published online on 28 November 2010, in Wiley Online Library (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/), and has been issued by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Hiroaki Kajiyama; and John Wiley & Sons, Australia, Ltd. The Expression of Concern has been agreed upon following concerns raised by a third party and further investigation by Wiley's Integrity Assurance and Case Resolution team which revealed concerns about the validity of the statistical analysis and the data presented in the article. An institutional investigation at Mansoura University into the reliability of the published clinical trial was requested in 2021. In response to inquiries by the publisher, the authors have stated that the original data are no longer available and that their data presented in this article are valid. The author previously provided a letter from Mansoura University, dated March 17, 2012, which confirms the author did work and publish studies between 2009 and 2012 at the institute. In 2014, an internal investigation conducted by professors affiliated with Mansoura University reported serious inconsistencies in the research reported in this article. However, the publisher was unsuccessful in receiving a direct response from Mansoura University with regard to the current investigation, despite our attempts. The journal has decided to issue an Expression of Concern to alert the readers as the authenticity of the data could not be confirmed. The authors disagree with the Expression of Concern.