RETRACTION: Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Accelerates Matrix Degradation via a Neuro-endocrine Pathway in Human...

H.-J. Im, X. Li, P. Muddasani, G.-H. Kim, F. Davis, J. Rangan, C. B. Forsyth, M. Ellman, and E. J. Thonar, "Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Accelerates Matrix Degradation via a Neuro-endocrine Pathway in Human Adult Articular Chondrocytes," Journal of Cellular Physiology 215, no. 2 (2008): 452-463, https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.21317. The above article, published online on 24 October 2007 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Robert Heath; and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has occurred due to concerns related to the data presented in the article raised by the Office of Research Compliance at Rush University Medical Center following an investigation jointly conducted by Rush University and the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JBVAMC). Specifically, image elements of the experimental data in Figure 6 A were found to have been used by the same author(s) for publication elsewhere in a different scientific context. The corresponding author, Dr. Hee-Jeong Im Sampen, has been informed of the decision to retract but did not agree with it, as she is confident that any errors in the publication do not impact the reliability of the paper's findings. She also advised the editors that she stands ready to cooperate fully to make any necessary corrections. However, the article is retracted as the editors lost trust in the accuracy of the data and consider the conclusions invalid.