Global Trend in Research and Development of CDK4/6 Inhibitors for Clinical Cancer Therapy: A Bibliometric Analysis

Increasing trends of pharmaceutical payments to breast cancer specialists in Japan: A retrospective study from 2016 to 2019

INTRODUCTION

The introduction of new drugs often leads to aggressive promotion and potential financial conflicts of interest, which may bias treatment decisions and potentially harm patients. The breast cancer therapeutics market is rapidly evolving globally, and Japan is no exception. This study aimed to analyze trends in pharmaceutical payments to breast cancer specialists in Japan from 2016 to 2019, focusing on company-level data, relationships with new drug introductions, and individual specialist payment patterns.

METHODS

This retrospective study examined financial relationships between pharmaceutical companies and breast cancer specialists in Japan from 2016 to 2019. The analysis focused on certified specialists as of May 2023 and used payment data from 93 pharmaceutical companies for activities such as lecturing, writing, and consulting. First, a company-level analysis examined total payments, categories, and trends for all companies and the top 10 individually; second, a specialist-level analysis looked at payment amounts amount and counts. The Gini index was employed to assess the concentration of payments among specialists.

RESULTS

Total payments reached USD 13,329,911, growing at 10.1% annually, with 81.4% allocated to lecturing engagements. The top 10 companies, led by Chugai Pharmaceutical, Eisai, and AstraZeneca, accounted for 89.5% of all payments. Companies like Pfizer Japan and Eli Lilly Japan saw notable increases following the introduction of new drugs such as palbociclib and abemaciclib. Payment distribution was highly skewed, with an average of $7,692 per specialist but a median of only $2,884. A Gini index of 0.994 further confirmed that a small group of specialists received a disproportionately large share of the payments.

CONCLUSION

From 2016 to 2019, pharmaceutical payments to Japanese breast cancer specialists increased significantly, coinciding with new drug introductions. The concentration of payments among a select group of specialists raises concerns about potential influences on clinical decision-making and guideline recommendations.

A low-cost voltammetric sensor based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes for highly sensitive and accurate determination of nanomolar levels of the anticancer drug Ribociclib in bulk and biological fluids

In this study, we present the development and comprehensive characterization of the first electrochemical sensor utilizing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for the sensitive and precise detection of Ribociclib (RIBO), an important anticancer drug. The sensor underwent systematic optimization, focusing on critical parameters such as pH, deposition potential, and cumulative time to enhance its electrocatalytic activity and expand the linear range for RIBO determination. The MWCNTs/GCE sensor exhibited excellent reproducibility and repeatability, ensuring reliable and consistent results. The applicability and feasibility of the sensor for real sample analysis were extensively evaluated by analyzing human serum, urine, and tablet samples using the standard addition method. The obtained percent recovery values demonstrated the sensor's exceptional accuracy and precision. Furthermore, interference studies revealed the sensor's remarkable selectivity, with minimal impact from common interfering substances. The developed sensor displayed a wide linear range of 0.01 μM to 5.0 μM, with a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) calculated to be 0.69 nM and 2.31 nM, respectively, affirming its high sensitivity for detecting low RIBO concentrations. The MWCNTs/GCE sensor demonstrates substantial promise for diverse practical applications with its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and excellent analytical performance.

The application of tranexamic acid in joint arthroplasty: A 20-year bibliometric analysis

Background

With the arrival of the era of the aging population, the amount of joint arthroplasty surgery keeps rising, and the articles related to the application of tranexamic acid (TXA) in joint arthroplasty (we called the application of tranexamic acid in joint arthroplasty as TIA in this study) also show a blowout growth. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of TIA-related publications to identify the main research trends and hot spots in this field in the last 20 years.

Methods

In this study, publications in the field of TIA from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2021 were searched in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). A total of 1,013 publications were evaluated for specific characteristics with Microsoft Excel software, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology (http://bibliometric.com/).

Results

A total of 1,013 TIA-related articles were included in this study, and the number of articles in this field has increased yearly over the past 20 years. The USA and China dominated in the field of TIA. The Sichuan University published the most TIA-related articles among all the institutions. Of all the authors, Professor Pei was the most productive author with 64 articles. The lack of international cooperation was a significant problem in this field during the past 20 years. Furthermore, the results of the co-citation analysis and citation bursts analysis revealed that the safety and effectiveness of TIA and the optimal use strategy were the main trends and hotspots for the current and future.

Conclusion

This bibliometric study reviewed the evolution trend of TIA research, and identified the countries, institutions, authors and journals that have made significant contributions to this field in the past 20 years, as well as the limitations and deficiencies in this field. In addition, this study revealed that the effectiveness and safety of TIA and the optimal use strategy was the current or future research trend and hotspot in this field.

Bibliometric Analysis Reveals a 20-Year Research Trend for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Objective

A lot of research has focused on the field of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). In this study, we performed a bibliometric analysis of CIPN-related publications to identify the key research areas and trends over the last 20 years.

Methods

We searched the Web of Science core collection for publications related to CIPN that were published between January 2001 and September 2021. We then performed bibliometric analysis and visualization using Microsoft Excel 2019, VOSviewer, and the Bibliometric online analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com/).

Results

In total, we identified 2,188 eligible publications in the field of CIPN, with an increasing trend in the annual number of publications. The United States and Italy were dominant in the CIPN field. Supportive Care in Cancer was the most productive journal. G. Cavaletti and A.A. Argyriou published the largest number of papers. Of all institutions, the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, published the highest number of papers. Analysis of the co-occurrence of keywords revealed the specific characteristics relating to the four main clusters: oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, pain management, and quality of life (QOL). Newly emerging research focusses predominantly on neuroinflammatory mechanisms and non-pharmacological interventions for CIPN.

Conclusion

This bibliometric study reviewed the evolutionary trends in CIPN research and identified current research hotspots and research trends. In addition, we identified journals, institutions, and authors, with the highest levels of impact to enhance the collaboration and learning.