We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere congratulations on the launch of PAJPRAS journal. We are thrilled to hear about the maiden of this new scientific journal and the potential it offers to further research in our field of plastics,reconstruction and aesthetic surgery (PAJPRAS), as committed scholars and members of the academic community. We applaud you and your assemblage for taking on this project, and we’re excited to see what the PAJPRAS journal will bring to our field.

We ruminate that it’s indispensable to underscore the significance of ‘letter to the editor’ as a fundamental part of scholarly discourse as PAJPRAS journal sets out on its journey(1,2). ‘Letter to the editor’ provides a requisite platform on which readers can interact with published articles via asking questions, asserting criticisms, as well as offering further insights or viewpoints on the research that is being presented. Additionally, ‘letters to the editor’ emboldens critical thinking and open discussion, which in turn advances knowledge in the academic community in addition to fostering debate (3) to elicit how well this form of communication is being utilized. All letters to the editor published in; Clinical Otolaryngology, The Laryngoscope, The European Archives of Otorhinolarygnology and The Journal of Laryngology and Otology, for the year 2012, were examined and the individual journal guidelines for submission of letters were noted. Seventeen different countries produced a total of 92 letters for the year 2012. The majority
of letters originated from Otolaryngology/Head and Neck departments (78 %. It is exceedingly recommended that you proactively seek out and accept letters to the editor, as they significantly contribute to the scholarly conversation within PAJPRAS journal.

As we delight in the inauguration of the PAJPRAS Journal, we must also be mindful of the teething glitches that might crop up in the early going. Predatory journals are a captain threat to the integrity of scholarly publishing, and their proliferation is one such challenge(4,5). A number of unethical practices are frequently used by predatory journals, comprising the publication of meagre or plagiarized content, disingenuous marketing strategies, as well as lack of peer review. Furthermore, such journals take advantage of the publish-or-perish mentality that permeates academia and prey on researchers who want to publish their work fast and without adequate review(5,6). To safeguard the integrity of scholarly publishing and the credibility of our research, it is our prime responsibility as responsible scholars to be on the lookout for and steer clear of predatory journals.

Apart from journals that engage in predatory behavior, the phenomenon of perished articles poses a challenge to the academic community. The term “perished articles” describes works that have been withdrawn or amended as a result of wrongdoing, mistakes, or other problems that jeopardize their reliability or validity(7). Because they damage the credibility of scientific publications and the public’s
faith in research findings, retractions and corrections can have detrimental effects on researchers. To stop the spread of outdated articles and preserve the credibility of academic publishing, editors, reviewers,and writers must all abide by strict guidelines for research conduct and publication ethics.

We suggest several strategies that the PAJPRAS Journal can put into practice to decline the impact of predatory journals as well as perished articles. To guarantee the caliber and integrity of published research, austere peer review procedures ought to be established(2,8). This includes assessing the work’s scientific merit, carefully vetting submitted manuscripts for originality, validity, ethical compliance as well as asking competent reviewers for their input. Secondly, in order to foster trust and accountability among scholars, open editorial policies and practices need be instituted. This take account of clearly outlining the journal’s peer review process, publication criteria, and conflict of interest policies, as well as providing guidance on identifying and avoiding predatory journals(6). Thirdly, it is imperative to carry out continuous education and awareness campaigns to empower scholars, writers, and readers to successfully negotiate the intricate world of scholarly publishing. This involves offering materials, seminars, and training courses on research integrity, publication ethics, and responsible research practices.

Finally, we would like to register that you and your team have our complete untiring support and encouragement, even as you work through the opportunities and difficulties that come with PAJPRAS Journal. Through preferment of ethical publishing practices, exacting adherence to academic standards, as well as open discourse, PAJPRAS Journal has the potential to emerge as a leader in our field. We are eager to observe how PAJPRAS Journal will contribute to knowledge advancement and intellectual dialogue in our community and Africa at large.