Anti-proliferation and anti-metastatic effects of sevoflurane on human osteosarcoma U2OS and Saos-2 cells
Authors: Yan Liu
Hailin Liu
Zhen Su
Ke Gao
Journal: Experimental and Molecular Pathology (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Metastasis; Osteosarcoma; PI3K/AKT pathway; Proliferation; Sevoflurane.
Affiliations: Department of Cardiovascular, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223300, P.R. China., Department of Anesthesiology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223300, P.R. China., Department of Anesthesiology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223300, P.R. China. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief and the authors. The journal was initially contacted by the corresponding author to request the retraction of the article as the results were reportedly not reproducible post-publication. Further investigation by the journal revealed also that the author name Hailin Liu was added to the authorship without editorial approval, after the article was accepted by the handling Editor. Other authorship issues as well as data realiability issues with the article were further revealed by the institutional investigation: http://med.china.com.cn/content/pid/291148/tid/1013/iswap/1. Given the concerns raised regarding panels from Figure 3A and also the comments of Dr Elisabeth Bik regarding this article “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”, the journal requested the authors to provide the raw data. However, the authors were not able to fulfil this request and therefore the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
  Fig. 3. Sevoflurane promotes apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. (A) Annexin V-FITC PI staining and flow cytometry was performed to measure apoptosis of U2OS and Saos-2 cells after sevoflurane (2.5%, 5% and 10%) treatment for 6 h. The hairballs and cigars located in the 3rd and 4th quadrants of each panel show many near-identical similarities, differing from one another only by a scattering of points. ![file] In each case 3 points (cells) can be seen in quadrants Q1 and Q2. The stated percentages of cells in each quadrant bear no relationship to these actual counts. Some elements are the same in all eight hairballs. ![file] ![file] , 
 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 , 
 In the absence of any action from the journal, the authors have been [reprimanded and disciplined by their hospital] . H t Google Translate. -------------------------------- Report on the investigation and handling of academic misconduct by Liu Yan, Gao Ke, and Su Zhen in the First People s Hospital of Huai an City Time: 2021-09-09 Publisher: Research Office In order to strengthen the construction of scientific research integrity, severely punish violations, and create a good environment for scientific and technological innovation, the relevant paper issues recently investigated and dealt with by this unit are hereby notified as follows. The paper  Anti-proliferation and anti-metastatic effects of sevoflurane on human osteosarcoma U2OS and Saos-2 cells published by Liu Yan as the corresponding author, and Gao Ke and Su Zhen as the co-first authors of the First People s Hospital of Huai an City, after investigation, It was Liu Yan forged data, Gao Engraved and Su Zhen improperly signed. The First People s Hospital of Huai an City handled the relevant responsible personnel, canceled Liu Yanu2019s application for science and technology plan projects and awarded qualifications for 5 years, postponed the appointment of a professional title for 2 years, gave Liu Yan a warning, and recovered the scientific research awards already issued; canceled Gao Immediately declare the science and technology plan projects and award qualifications for 2 years, postpone the appointment of the title for 1 year; cancel Su Zhenu2019s declaration of science and technology plan projects and award qualifications for 2 years, and postpone the appointment of the title for 1 year. , 
 http: med.china.com.cn content pid 291148 tid 1013 iswap 1 On September 17, the National Health Commission released the investigation and handling results of medical scientific research integrity cases in some institutions (September 17, 2021), and announced the investigation and handling results of 14 medical scientific research integrity cases. The results of the investigation and handling of medical scientific research integrity cases recently publicly notified by some medical institutions affiliated to the health administrative department are reproduced as follows: 1. The paper  Anti-proliferation and anti-metastatic effects of sevoflurane on humanosteosarcoma U2OS and Saos-2 cells published by Liu Yan as the corresponding author and Gao Ke and Su Zhen as the co-first author from the First People s Hospital of Huaian City, Jiangsu Province, After investigation, Liu Yan forged data, Gao Engraved and Su Zhen improperly signed. The First People s Hospital of Huai an City shall deal with relevant responsible personnel: 1. Cancel Liu Yan s application for science and technology plan projects and award qualifications for 5 years, postpone the appointment of the title for 2 years, give Liu Yan a warning, and recover the scientific research awards that have been issued; 2. Cancel the high-tech application for science and technology plan projects and award qualifications for 2 years, and postpone the appointment of the title for 1 year; 3. Cancel Su Zhen s application for science and technology plan projects and award qualifications for 2 years, and postpone the appointment of the title for 1 year. (Notification link: https: www.hasyy.cn content contentDetail?contentId=10446 menuId=32) , 
 So far cited 12 times, with no end in sight. ![file] , 
 Retracted - [5 July 2022] . No credit for Hoya *[sad emoji]*. ---------------------------- This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief and the authors. The journal was initially contacted by the corresponding author to request the retraction of the article as the results were reportedly not reproducible post-publication. Further investigation by the journal revealed also that the author name Hailin Liu was added to the authorship without editorial approval, after the article was accepted by the handling Editor. Other authorship issues as well as data realiability issues with the article were further revealed by the institutional investigation: http: med.china.com.cn content pid 291148 tid 1013 iswap 1. Given the concerns raised regarding panels from Figure 3A and also the comments of Dr Elisabeth Bik regarding this article u201cThis 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 panelsu201d, the journal requested the authors to provide the raw data. However, the authors were not able to fulfil this request and therefore the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article. ,