Predatory journals (PJ) exploit the open-access model promising high acceptance rate and fast track publishing without proper peer review. At minimum, PJ are eroding the credibility of the scientific literature in the health sciences as they actually boost the propagation of errors. In this article, we identify issues with PJ and provide several responses, from international and interdisciplinary perspectives in health sciences. Authors, particularly researchers with limited previous experience with international publications, need to be careful when considering potential journals for submission, due to the current existence of large numbers of PJ. Universities around the world, particularly in developing countries, might develop strategies to discourage their researchers from submitting manuscripts to PJ or serving as members of their editorial committees.

We recently reported that the hypothalamic homeobox domain transcription factor Bsx plays an essential role in the central nervous system control of spontaneous physical activity and the generation of hyperphagic responses. Moreover, we found Bsx to be a master regulator for the hypothalamic expression of key orexigenic neuropeptide Y and agouti gene-related protein. We now hypothesized that Bsx, which is expressed in the dorsomedial and arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus, is regulated by afferent signals in response to peripheral energy balance. Bsx expression was analyzed using in situ hybridization in fed vs. fasted (24 h) and ghrelin vs. leptin-treated rats, as well as in mice deficient for leptin or the ghrelin signaling. Ghrelin administration increased, whereas ghrelin receptor antagonist decreased ARC Bsx expression. Leptin injection attenuated the fasting-induced increase in ARC Bsx levels but had no effect in fed rats. Dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus Bsx expression was unaffected by pharmacological modifications of leptin or ghrelin signaling. Obese leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice, but not obese melanocortin 4 receptor-knockout mice, showed higher expression of Bsx, consistent with dependency from afferent leptin rather than increased adiposity per se. Interestingly, exposure to a high-fat diet triggered Bsx expression, consistent with the concept that decreased leptin signaling due to a high-fat diet induced leptin resistance. Our data indicate that ARC Bsx expression is specifically regulated by afferent energy balance signals, including input from leptin and ghrelin. Future studies will be necessary to test if Bsx may be involved in the pathogenesis of leptin resistance.

Background: Several studies have reported that leptin levels, the leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 15‐3 are especially elevated in breast cancer patients with high body mass index (BMI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate BMI, leptin, L/A ratio and CA 15‐3 all together as reliable biomarkers for breast cancer. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 27:12–20, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Methods: Serum levels of leptin, adiponectin and CA 15‐3, as well as anthropometric and biochemical parameters were analysed in 88 female patients who participated in a mammography study. Predictive values of BMI, leptin, L/A ratio and CA 15‐3 were determined with a 95% confidence interval.Results: Women were diagnosed with either breast cancer (n = 40) or benign breast lesions (n = 48). Among anthropometric parameters, age (P ≤ 0.001), weight (P ≤ 0.05) and waist circumference (P ≤ 0.02) were higher in patients with breast cancer than in patients without this pathology. The 75th percentile values for BMI, leptin, L/A ratio and CA 15‐3 were 29.24 kg/m², 26.65 ng/ml, 2.37 and 18.45 IU, respectively. The suggested odds ratio for breast cancer patients with the values that were above the 75th percentile of the tetrad was 6.7 (0.7505–60.0665 confidence interval).Conclusion: When the four variables were analysed together, a sensitivity of 83.3%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value of 83.3% and negative predictive value of 80% were obtained. Results indicate that using the 75th percentile set points for BMI, leptin, L/A ratio and CA 15‐3 together could offer a reliable approach to determine which women are at high risk for developing breast cancer.