RETRACTED: Sex-Based Differences in Plasma Autoantibodies to Central Nervous System Proteins in Gulf War Veterans versus Healthy and Symptomatic Controls (Brain Sciences, (2021), 11, 2, (148), 10.3390/brainsci11020148)

The Brain Sciences Editorial Office retracts the article, “Sex-Based Differences in Plasma Autoantibodies to Central Nervous System Proteins in Gulf War Veterans versus Healthy and Symptomatic Controls” [1], cited above. Following its publication, concerns were brought to the attention of the Editorial Office by a representative from Duke University and the surviving co-authors regarding the validity of the findings of this publication [1], due to concerns related to the Western Blot images in a connected publication [2]. Adhering to our complaints procedure, an investigation was conducted by the Editorial Office and Editorial Board. Based on the review by Duke University of the article’s findings, the co-authors have requested a retraction due to concerns about their ability to rely on the Western Blot images and produce verified, reliable results. The Editorial Board evaluated the correspondence from the co-authors and the Institution and decided that the findings of this article were heavily reliant on [2], consequently deciding to retract this article [1] as per MDPI’s retraction policy (https://www.mdpi.com/ethics#_bookmark30, accessed on 28 May 2024) and in line with the Committee on Publication Ethics retraction guidelines (https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines, accessed on 28 May 2024). This retraction was approved by the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Brain Sciences. The authors have agreed to this retraction.