Retraction: Hsa_circ_0003645 shows an oncogenic role by sponging microRNA-1299 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Jinhua Dai
Qiuyun Yu
Ming Shu
Journal: Journal of clinical laboratory analysis (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Retraction; Hsa_circ_0003645; Oncogenic role; MicroRNA-1299; Hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Affiliations: Department of Clinical Laboratory Hwa Mei Hospital University of Chinese Academy of Science (Ningbo No.2 Hospital) Ningbo China, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery Hwa Mei Hospital University of Chinese Academy of Science (Ningbo No.2 Hospital) Ningbo China

Abstract:  Retraction: "Hsa_circ_0003645 shows an oncogenic role by sponging microRNA-1299 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells", by Qiuyun Yu, Jinhua Dai, Ming Shu, Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, 2020, e23249 (https://doi.org/10.1002/jcla.23249). The above article, published online on 28 February 2020 in Early View in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor-in-Chief Junming Guo, and John Wiley &amp; Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed because the data and figures, including figure 7A, that the authors present in the paper are flawed. The authors' original data are not available. The conclusions drawn from the data and figures are unreliable. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 7 A - background between lanes is very similar. Could authors provide raw data, please?  , 
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 , 
 Retracted (no date or separate retraction note).  The above article, published online on 28 February 2020 in Early View in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor-in-Chief Junming Guo, and John Wiley Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed because the data and figures, including figure 7A, that the authors present in the paper are flawed. The authorsu2019 original data are not available. The conclusions drawn from the data and figures are unreliable. ,