Upregulation of miR-98 Inhibits Apoptosis in Cartilage Cells in Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers

officially retracts the paper entitled, “Upregulation of miR-98 Inhibits Apoptosis in Cartilage Cells in Osteoarthritis,” by Gui-Long Wang, Yu-Bo Wu, Jia-Tian Liu, and Cui-Yun Li (Genet Test Mol Biomarkers. 2016;20(11)645-653; doi: 10.1089/gtmb.2016.0011).

In May of 2021, the authors of the article requested a correction to two figures and supplied new files, but the files were not workable. Over the course of several weeks, the Publisher contacted the authors on multiple occasions requesting new files, however the authors never responded to any of the requests. It is unclear what the specific errors were and if correcting the images in the article would be sufficient enough to properly address the problems. Readers were advised of the original communication from the authors: “In this article, there are picture typesetting errors. Figure 1B Normal group images, Figure 4B Anti-miR-98 NC and Anti-miR-98 miR-98 mimics NC group images misused the images of other groups. We are sorry for this error caused by our carelessness.”

Four months after the publication of the Expression of Concern, further questions were raised via the PubPeer platform¹ which led the Editor and Publisher to contact the corresponding author yet again, this time asking for the original raw data connected with their research for further evaluation. A response was not received.

The lack of the authors' response in both instances, combined with the comments presented on PubPeer, have led to the conclusion that the paper was submitted from a paper mill. This is a violation of the journal's standard protocols and is considered an infraction against the rigorous standards of scientific publishing.

The Editor and Publisher of Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers are committed to preserving the scientific literature and the community it serves and does not tolerate any misconduct.