Participation of the hospitals in the Republic of Ireland in international research over more than a decade: a bibliometric analysis

Subfascial versus extrafascial ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block in patients with post-mastectomy sympathetically mediated pain: A randomized clinical trial

Background

Despite being a well-described intervention, the optimal anatomical approach to perform a stellate ganglion block (SGB) has been disputed. We compared the subfascial and extrafascial ultrasound-guided (USG) SGB.

Methods

A randomised clinical trial was conducted, consisting of 50 patients in two groups. Group I received SGB via the subfascial approach while Group II received an SGB via the extrafascial approach. The primary endpoint was successful sympathetic blockade (as indicated by a measured temperature rise of ≥2°C). Secondary endpoints included analgesic efficiency (extent of early onset of pain relief as indicated by >50% improvement in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at 300's post-procedure); occurrence of Horner's syndrome; extent of local anaesthetic distribution; and adverse events.

Results

The mean increase in sympathetic blockade was significantly higher in the subfascial group (2.6 ± 0.6°C; p = .003). Analgesic efficacy was also significantly higher in the subfascial group (p < .001). The difference in the average dermatomal spread of local anaesthetic down to T2 and up to C4 between the groups was also statistically significant (p = .021 and p = .019, respectively).

Conclusions

The degree of temperature rise, pain relief and occurrence of Horner's syndrome were higher in the subfascial than the extrafascial group. The subfascial approach to SGB, with a limited volume of local anaesthetic agent, is a more reliable technique when compared to the extrafascial approach.

Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis of the Ecology of Men's Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Research in MENA (1985-2022): Outputs, Trends, Shortcomings and Hotspots

Background

To date, no previous research assessed the bibliometrics of men's sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRHC) across Arab countries. This study appraised the current standing of men's SRHC research in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

Methods

We performed a bibliometric analysis to assess qualitatively and quantitatively the peer-reviewed articles published from Arab countries from inception to 2022. In addition, we conducted a visualization analysis, and assessed outputs, trends, shortcomings and hotspots over the given time period.

Results

There was a generally low numbers of publications, 98 studies were identified, all with cross-sectional design, and two thirds explored prevention and control of HIV/other STDs. Studies were published in 71 journals, of which the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, Journal of Egyptian Public Health Association, AIDS Care and BMC public health were most common. The Journal of Adolescent Health, Fertility Sterility and Journal of Cancer Survivorship were among the highest IF ranking. Publishers were commonly USA or UK-based, median journal IF was 2.09, and five articles were in journals of IF > 4. Saudi Arabia had the highest published output followed by Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, while 10 Arab countries had no publications on the topic. Corresponding authors expertise fields were most commonly public health, infectious diseases and family medicine). Collaborations in-between MENA countries were notably low.

Conclusions

There is general paucity of published outputs on SRHC. More research across MENA is needed, with more inter-MENA collaborations, and with inclusion of countries that currently have no outputs on SRHC. In order to accomplish such goals, R&D funding and capacity building are required. Research and published outputs should address SRHC burdens.

Publication of abstracts presented at the Irish Paediatric Association conference

BACKGROUND

The proportion of abstracts presented at medical conferences that are subsequently published is a potentially useful surrogate for the quality of the material presented. The mean publication percentage for paediatric conference abstracts reported in the literature is 39%. The publication of abstracts presented at the Irish Paediatric Association's (IPA) annual conference have not previously been explored.

AIM

To identify the subsequent publication proportion for abstracts presented at the IPA annual conference and to identify factors associated with a higher likelihood of publication.

METHODS

As 95% of publications occur within 5 years of conference presentation, abstracts from the 2008 to 2012 IPA conferences were selected for analysis. A PubMed/Medline search was conducted using the author's names and, if required, abstract keywords. For comparability with previous studies, articles were deemed published if they were full journal articles, contained at least one similar author and reported similar outcomes.

RESULTS

Over the 5-year study period, 584 IPA abstracts were presented. The percentage of abstracts published was 19.7%. One hundred and fifteen articles were published in 45 different journals; 31 (27%) of these were published in the Irish Medical Journal. The percentage of abstracts published was significantly higher for oral presentations (23% vs. 15%; p = 0.012), university-associated abstracts (31% vs. 16%; p < 0.001) and interventional studies (52% vs. 18%; p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, only university association and interventional studies remained significantly associated with publication.

CONCLUSION

The percentage of IPA abstracts that were published was low when compared internationally. Further analysis is required to explore the reasons underpinning this.