Matsubara lab in Japan: Breathtaking reuse of histological images and fragments (part 2)

Matsubara lab in Japan: Breathtaking reuse of Western and Northern blot bands (part 1)

As we have learned in the previous posting, the language barrier is seriously hampering the impact of M3Blog’s investigative science reports on the English language scientific establishment. Therefore, a compilation in English of presumably manipulated articles (12 to date) from the Matsubara lab is warranted in order to inform the editors of the affected English language journals so that they will take appropriate measures.

I asked the Japanese blogger for some informations about M3Blog:
„M3Blog is run by one person. Most readers of this blog seem to be medical doctors or physicians. There was a similar Japanese blog before, but the blog was closed because the blogger was afraid of being sued. In Japan, there is not good culture to protect a whistleblower.“

Here are more irregularities as documented by M3Blog.

Article 6
Kamihata H, Matsubara H (corresponding author), Nishiue T, Fujiyama S, Tsutsumi Y, Ozono R, Masaki H, Mori Y, Iba O, Tateishi E, Kosaki A, Shintani S, Murohara T, Imaizumi T, Iwasaka T.
Implantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells into ischemic myocardium enhances collateral perfusion and regional function via side supply of angioblasts, angiogenic ligands, and cytokines.
Circulation. 2001 Aug 28;104(9):1046-52.
Department of Medicine II and Cardiovascular Center, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan.

Article 7
Kamihata H, Matsubara H (corresponding author), Nishiue T, Fujiyama S, Amano K, Iba O, Imada T, Iwasaka T.
Improvement of collateral perfusion and regional function by implantation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells into ischemic hibernating myocardium.
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2002 Nov 1;22(11):1804-10.
Department of Medicine II and Cardiovascular Center, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan.

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20111103/_12_

Simple 180° rotations helped to obscure self-plagiarism? Of note, in article 6, miniswine (20 kg) were treated with BM-MNC, CMEC, or medium injections. In article 7, domestic pigs (35 to 40 kg) were treated BM-MNC, PB-MNC or saline injections.

Article 8
Amano K, Matsubara H (corresponding author), Iba O, Okigaki M, Fujiyama S, Imada T, Kojima H, Nozawa Y, Kawashima S, Yokoyama M, Iwasaka T.
Enhancement of ischemia-induced angiogenesis by eNOS overexpression.
Hypertension. 2003 Jan;41(1):156-62.
Department of Medicine II and Cardiovascular Center, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan.

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20111108/2

Fig. 3 (corrected)

This is what I found in Fig. 3 (corrected):

Apparently, histological images have been modified by the exchange/addition of image fragments.
According to the figure legend, „five fields from two muscle samples of each animal (n=10) were randomly selected, and capillary density was shown as the capillary/muscle fiber ratio.“
Even scientists in good faith might not trust in the capillary densities as illustrated in the table at the bottom of fig. 3 (not shown here)

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20111020/_4_1

Another example of unacceptable image manipulation?
Can we call this practice experimental science or should we term it digital art?

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20111110/1

Fig. 3 (corrected)

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20111111/1

My deep respect for both, the artist and the detective

The ‘corrected’ Fig. 3 (see above) appears to be manipulated. The original version had been irregular as well (as shown below). Is’t this impudence provocative?

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20110627/___2_

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20111028/_3_

Densities of VEGF mRNA signals were also measured by densitometry and normalized relative to those of 28S rRNA signals (see original fig. 4).

If 28S rRNA bands were manipulated, though, normalized VEGF values cannot be correct, right?

Article 9
Iba O, Matsubara H (corresponding author), Nozawa Y, Fujiyama S, Amano K, Mori Y, Kojima H, Iwasaka T.
Angiogenesis by implantation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and platelets into ischemic limbs.
Circulation. 2002 Oct 8;106(15):2019-25.
Department of Medicine II and Cardiovascular Center, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan.

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20111028/_8_

The fluorescence signals might have been superimposed?
Unfortunately, no experimental details on fig 5A are presented.

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20111018/_2_

The upper images were derived from transgenic mice, the lower images from nude rats.

http://blog.m3.com/Retraction/20111019/_3_

Isn’t it intriguing how the authors filled in the void making the image fit for reuse?

part 3 will follow soon