RETRACTED ARTICLE: External Qi of Yan Xin Qigong induces G2/M arrest and apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells by inhibiting Akt and NF-Œ∫B pathways
Authors: Jun Wang
Xin Yan
Xinqi Wu
Hongjian Jiang
Hua Shen
Dan Hu
Chengsheng Zhang
Journal: Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (2008)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Yan Xin Qigong; antitumor effects; molecular mechanisms; prostate cancer; apoptosis
Affiliations: Institute of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China.

Abstract:  Long-term clinical observations and ongoing studies have shown antitumor effects of external Qi of Yan Xin Qigong (YXQG-EQ) that originated from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In order to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of YXQG-EQ, we investigate the effects of YXQG-EQ on growth and apoptosis in androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 cells. We found that exposure to YXQG-EQ led to G2/M arrest associated with reduced cyclin B1 expression and apoptosis in PC3 cells. YXQG-EQ treatment inhibited constitutive and epidermal growth factor-induced Akt phosphorylation, basal and TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation, and downregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression. In contrast, exposure to YXQG-EQ increased phosphorylation of Akt and Erk1/2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and had no cytotoxic effect on either HUVEC or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). These results indicate that YXQG-EQ has profound effects on growth and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells by targeting survival pathways including the Akt and NF-kappa B pathways. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 I have serious concerns about this paper, another one by the same first author, Xin Yan. In this paper, a method called  External Qi or  YXQ-EQ is described as a way to kill breast cancer cells. The method itself is not clearly described; it just says:  Cells were treated by YXQG-EQ as described previously [4, 5, 14]. Briefly, cells were transferred from the incubator to the treatment room where they were treated by YXQG-EQ for 5 min.  Citation 4 is a 2004 paper,  Involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and insulin-like growth factor-I in YXLST-mediated neuroprotection - doi: 10.1016 j.brainres.2004.01.068. See Pubpeer entry: https: pubpeer.com publications 4A38BACBE9BF271554FD14FF78C72E The method appears to consist of the first author, Xin Yan, performing some type of force on cells in a closed room with nobody else present. There is no scientific description of what he does to the cells, so the methods are not reproducible. This study, co-authored by researchers from Harvard does not appear to describe a scientific and reproducible method, and should not have passed peer review. , 
 Via https: retractionwatch.com 2021 04 26 journal-retracts-paper-by-miracle-doctor-claiming-life-force-kills-cancer-cells u201cRetraction to: Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (2008) 310:227u2013234 https: doi.org 10.1007 s11010-007-9684-2 The Editor has retracted this article [1] due to concerns about the scientific validity and reproducibility of the findings. Post-publication peer review has concluded that there is no information on or plausible molecular mechanism which explains what the External Qi of Yan Xin Qigong is, how it is produced, and how it could be reproduced by others. All authors disagree with this retraction.u201c There is no plausible mechanism of how this could have been peer reviewed either. , 
 See also https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2019 05 24 external-qi , 
 https: twitter.com MicrobiomDigest status 1398000844793024512 ,