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| Year : 2009 | Volume
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| Issue : 3 | Page : 443 |
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| Russian pathology and scientific misconduct |
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Sergei V Jargin
Department of Pathology, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Russia
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Web Publication | 12-Aug-2009 |
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How to cite this article:
Jargin SV. Russian pathology and scientific misconduct. Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2009;52:443 |
Sir,
There is a persisting interest in the topic of scientific misconduct (SM). The following main forms of SM are known: plagiarism, falsification or fabrication of data, manipulations with statistics, misquoting, false or gift authorship. [1] Of particular concern is the plagiarism, which is spreading everywhere today. [2] Previously we have criticized several cases of SM from the former Soviet Union, mainly in the field of pathology. [3],[4] Russian pathology has rich traditions, but its development is inhibited by drawbacks persisting from the past. Some textbooks, manuals and other professional publications are outdated, imprecise, or contain plagiarism. Manipulation with statistics can be proven in several publications. In some textbooks, extensive literal translations from Robbins' Pathologic Basis of Disease and other foreign sources were found. Several chapters are represented almost entirely by verbatim translation from a foreign edition. Some diagrams and tables were reproduced without reference. Examples of plagiarism and corresponding copies from the sources have been published online. [3] Knowledge abroad about these facts is limited; but it can be of interest because foreign students and postgraduates, also from the Indian subcontinent, are studying or practicing in Russia, confronting the issues described in this letter. Another problem for Russian pathology and medicine in general is a restricted access to foreign literature. Only a limited number of journals, textbooks and manuals can be obtained from the central medical library in Moscow and other libraries. [5] Costs of full-text articles via the Internet are usually not covered by employers. In recent times, due to an improvement in the economy, some hospitals have started purchasing foreign handbooks, but their quantity remains insufficient. On the other hand, acquisition of literature by medical libraries has decreased since the 1980s. No surprise that foreign literature is on average scarcely quoted in Russian scientific publications today: Well-known phenomena, disease entities, morphological changes etc. are described without referring to foreign publications, which can be misunderstood as global newness. In some extensive reviews just singular foreign sources are quoted, most of them books translated into Russian. [5] Limited availability of foreign professional literature hinders advancement of research and practice as well as integration with the international scientific community. It should be commented in conclusion that postgraduate training in pathology remains rather limited in Russia. The usual way to the status of a medical specialist is a two-year ordinatura, in pathology without preceding internship as a rule. Less widespread is a three-year aspirantura which includes scientific research to obtain the grade. Specialist certificates have been introduced about 12 years ago. Before that, one could become a specialist after a "target" internship (one year) or a course of primary specialization lasting six months or less. Physicians with this kind of postgraduate training have later obtained specialist certificates. Trainees in the ordinatura are not prepared systematically: There is no rotation system, so that many domains of practice and theory remain outside their field of vision. [6] All said, Russian pathology has many positive aspects. There is a lot of true unselfishness among our doctors and medical technologists. Pathologists work in close contact with clinicians and know their needs. [7] Today, an improved economy allows purchasing modern equipment and introducing new methods into practice and research. In spite of persisting shortages and drawbacks, there are grounds for optimism, and we hope that this letter will be only of historical interest in the near future.[8]
 References | |  |
| 1. | Von Elm E. Research integrity: c0 ollaboration and research needed. Lancet 2007;370:1403-4.  |
| 2. | Handa S. Plagiarism and publication ethics: d0 os and don′ts. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2008;74:301-3. [PUBMED]  |
| 3. | Jargin SV. Examples of plagiarism from the former Soviet Union. Dermatopathology: Practical and Conceptual [online journal]. 2008;14(2):19. Available from: http://derm101.com (search after the author′s name) |
| 4. | Jargin SV. Cell culture as a testing system for lipid-lowering substances. Abstracts of the 3 rd Intercontinental Congress of pathology, Barcelona 2008. Virchows Arch 2008;452:S34. |
| 5. | Jargin SV. Cell culture as a testing system for anti-atherogenic substances: a0 brief communication. Acta Pharmaceutica Sciencia 2008;50:237- 40. Available from: http://www.actapharmasciencia.org/archive.asp |
| 6. | Jargin SV. Limited Access to Foreign Medical Literature in Russia. CILIP Health Libraries Group Newsletter. Available from: http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/health/newsletter/ |
| 7. | Jargin SV. Legal regulations of pathology in Russia. Int J Legal Med 2008;122:535-6. |
| 8. | Omutov M., Jargin SV. The practice of pathology in Russia. Abstracts of the 21 st European Congress of Pathology, Istanbul 2007. Virchows Archiv 2007;451:277. |
Correspondence Address:
Sergei V Jargin
Clementovski per 6-82, 115184 Moscow
Russia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0377-4929.55024
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| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
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| Sergei V. Jargin | | Dose-Response. 2011; 1(-1): 1 | | [VIEW] | [DOI] | |
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