An Analysis of Recently Retracted Articles by Authors Affiliated with Hospitals in Mainland China

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the features of retracted articles by authors affiliated with hospitals in mainland China. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and Retraction Watch databases for retractions and identified the following characteristics of each retracted article: publisher, open access status, impact factor of the journal that retracted the article, any PubPeer comments recorded before the retraction, status of the hospital where the authors worked, and any response to the retraction from the authors. We found 521 retractions, primarily by authors at grade A, third-level hospitals located in a limited number of regions of mainland China, and found that the journals that had published and later retracted the articles tended to have a medium to high impact factor. The main reasons for retraction were data manipulation, fabrication, or fraud; errors made by the authors; or plagiarism. Few of the retracted publications had PubPeer comments before their retraction. This is the first report to focus on retracted research coming out of hospitals in mainland China. The large number of retractions for Chinese hospitals is worrying. The results suggest that some retractions were related to third parties that provided editorial and other services.

Identification of human gene research articles with wrongly identified nucleotide sequences

“…As most problematic articles from other countries were not affiliated with hospitals, these contrasting institutional profiles could highlight different publication pressures elsewhere. Our results combined with previous reports (25,49,50,51,52,53,54,55) indicate that publication pressure upon hospital doctors in China may be exerting measurable effects upon the human gene research literature.…”

“…We have previously proposed that wrongly identified nucleotide sequences in the context of repetitive and superficially justified gene research could reflect the external involvement of organisations such as paper mills ( 8 , 13 , 24 , 26 ). Although researchers in different countries may use paper mills to meet publication targets or quotas ( 47 ), paper mills have been most widely discussed in the context of academics and medical doctors in China ( 25 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ). Stringent publication requirements may represent a particular challenge for hospital doctors in China, where some hospital doctors have described limited time, training and/or opportunities to undertake research ( 25 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ).…”

“…Although researchers in different countries may use paper mills to meet publication targets or quotas ( 47 ), paper mills have been most widely discussed in the context of academics and medical doctors in China ( 25 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ). Stringent publication requirements may represent a particular challenge for hospital doctors in China, where some hospital doctors have described limited time, training and/or opportunities to undertake research ( 25 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ). While recognising that articles with wrongly identified sequences from hospitals in China may reflect broader literature trends ( 25 , 56 ), the large numbers of human gene research articles with incorrect nucleotide sequences that list hospital affiliations in China could reflect hospital doctors turning to paper mills to meet publication requirements.…”

“…Furthermore, because genuine pre-clinical gene research requires specialised expertise, time, and material resources ( 13 ), the mass production of fraudulent gene research articles could be quicker and cheaper by orders of magnitude ( 8 ). Given the number of human genes which can be studied either singly or in combination with other genes and topics such as drugs and analysed across different cancer types or other diseases, combined with unrealistic demands for research productivity ( 24 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ), the publication of fraudulent gene research articles could potentially outstrip the publication of genuine gene research.…”

Retractions, Fake Peer Reviews, and Paper Mills

“… 29 30 Many apparent paper mills have been found to be associated with hospitals in China. 31 Occasionally, paper brokers and paper mills include fake peer recommendations for the manuscripts they forge. 32 33 The production of these papers appears to be industrialized, having already churned out potentially thousands of paper-mill-derived submissions published in indexed journals that claim to follow the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and often with an IF.…”