Mapping research trends of retinal vein occlusion from 2009 to 2018: a bibliometric analysis

The role of serum metrics in anti- VEGF treatment for macular edema induced by retinal vein occlusion

AIM

To evaluate association between pretreatment serum metrics and best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA) of patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion and its subtypes after intravitreal ranibizumab or conbercept implant.

METHODS

This prospective research included 201 patients(201 eyes) who were diagnosed with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion at Heibei Eye Hospital between January 2020 and January 2021, who all received intravitreal anti- vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. Serum metrics were measured before the first treatment, and correlations between BCVA and each of four parameters- platelets, neutrophil- to- lymphocyte ratio(NLR), platelet- to- lymphocyte ratio(PLR) and monocyte- to- lymphocyte ratio(MLR)- were analyzed to identify predictors of effective intravitreal injection treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

The mean platelets was significantly different in the effective and ineffective group for RVO-ME (273.02 ± 41.49 × 109/L,214.54 ± 44.08 × 109/L P < 0.01),BRVO-ME (269.43 ± 49.52 × 109/L,214.72 ± 40.42 × 109/L P < 0.01), and CRVO-ME (262.32 ± 32.41 × 109/L,209.27 ± 42 0.91 × 109/L P < 0.01). The cutoff value of the platelets was 266.500, the area under the curve was 0.857,and the sensitivity and specificity were 59.8% and 93.6%, respectively. The mean PLR was significantly different in the effective and ineffective group for RVO-ME (154.66 ± 49.60, 122.77± 44.63 P < 0.01),BRVO-ME (152.24 ± 54.99, 124.72 ± 41.46 P = 0.003), and CRVO-ME (152.06±44.23, 118.67 ± 41.80 P = 0.001). The cutoff value of the platelets was 126.734, the area under the curve was 0.699, and the sensitivity and specificity were 70.7% and 63.3%, respectively. There were no statistical differencies between the effective and ineffective group(RVO- ME and its subtypes) in NLR and MLR.

CONCLUSION

Higher pretreatment platelets and PLR were associated with BCVA in patients with RVO- ME and its subtypes who were treated with anti- VEGF drugs. The platelets and PLR may be used as predictive and prognostic tools for effective intravitreal injection treatment outcomes.

Mapping the Hot Spots and Evolution Main Path of Whole-Body Vibration Training Since the 21st Century: A Bibliometric Analysis

To evaluate the global scientific output of the research on whole-body vibration training (WBVT) and explore the current status and trends in this field over the past decades using bibliometric methods, we retrieved the literature related to WBVT from 2000 to the present in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). We analyzed annual publications, citations, countries, organizations, productive authors, and source 14 journals by the Web of Science online bibliometric analysis. We visualized the WBVT research trends and explored influential organizations and authors through VOSviewer. Then, we constructed a citation chronology map by HistCite to obtain the knowledge base of this field and made a primary citation path analysis by Pajek. Finally, we mined the hot spots of WBVT by BICOMB and gCLUTO. Overall, there were 1,629 publications included in this study between 2000 and 2022. The United States contributed the most publications in this field, and the country with the most active partnership was Spain. The University of Cologne ranked highest among top productive organizations. Bernardo-Filho, Mario, from Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, ranked first among the top productive authors. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research topped the list of journals with the most publications on WBVT by a wide margin. The WBVT research field started from Rittweger’s study on the acute physiological effects of WBVT in 2000, which was divided into two stages. The first stage focused on improving athletic ability, and the second stage gradually turned to the application in medicine. A keyword analysis showed the exercise rehabilitation of several aging chronic diseases was the research trend and hot spot of WBVT. The current study provided a time-based development and a global network hub for WBVT research, contributing to identifying core target diseases of WBVT and providing various insights for researchers in the future.

Mapping theme trends and knowledge structure of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), a bibliometric analysis from 2010 to 2021

BACKGROUND

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease with a complicated pathophysiology, and treatment strategies are in desperate need of improvement. In this research, we provide the literature topic trends and knowledge structure connected to Sjögren's syndrome from the perspective of bibliometrics for further research.

METHODS

We acquired 3753 publications from the PubMed database and 3880 catalogs from the Web of Science Core Collection, with a time limit of 2010 to 2021 and the search term as "Sjögren's syndrome." Using the VOSviewer and bibliographic item co-occurrence matrix generator, we conducted cocited analysis, extracted major MeSH terms, generated matrices and performed biclustering analysis, visual matrix, drawn strategy diagram, and social network analysis.

RESULTS

Through the clustering of the major MeSH terms, a total of five categories and 10 research topics were identified. Cocitation analysis suggests that diagnosis and clinical manifestations have been the main basis over the past 12 years and also are the mature content in the first quadrant of the strategy map. Ultrasonography, immunosuppressive agents and therapy, mechanism and therapeutic targets, and diagnostic autoantibodies are examples of the third quadrant, which wields great potential to progress. Genetic predisposition and psychology, in the fourth quadrant, need to be developed additionally. The subject keywords near the network's edge, such as "Salivary Glands, Minor/pathology," "Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use," and "Autoantibodies/blood," are all growing research hotspots with much space, according to social network analysis.

CONCLUSION

Through bibliometric analysis of the literature related to Sjögren's syndrome in the past 12 years, we obtained the knowledge basis, undeveloped topics, and emerging hotspots, which can suggest recommendations for future research. Key Points • We disclosed the topic trends and knowledge structure of Sjögren's syndrome literature over the past 12 years. • Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome are included in mature and comprehensive studies, whereas ultrasonography, immunosuppressants and treatments, mechanisms and therapeutic targets, and diagnostic autoantibodies are studies with high potential for advancement. Additional research in genetics and psychology is needed. • We identified potential future research hotspots, including "Salivary Glands, Minor/pathology," "Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use," and "Autoantibodies/blood."

Publication Trends on Mitophagy in the World and China: A 16-Year Bibliometric Analysis

In the past 16 years, research on mitophagy has increasingly expanded to a wider range of subjects. Therefore, comprehensively analyzing the relevant progress and development trends on mitophagy research requires specific methods. To assess the hotspots, directions, and quality of results in this field worldwide, we used multiple tools to examine research progress and growing trends in research on the matter during the last 16 years (from 2005 to 2020). We also compared the quantity and quality of the literature records on mitophagy published by research institutions in China and other developed countries, reviewed China’s contribution, and examined the gap between China and these developed countries. According to the results of our bibliometric analysis, the United States and its research institutes published the most papers. We identified cell biology as the most commonly researched subject on mitophagy and AUTOPHAGY as the most popular journal for research on mitophagy. We also listed the most cited documents from around the world and China. With gradually increased funding, China is progressively becoming prominent in the field of mitophagy; nevertheless, the gap between her and major countries in the world must be closed.

Bibliometric analysis and mapping knowledge domain of pterygium: 2000-2019

AIM

To track the knowledge structure, topics in focus, and trends in emerging research in pterygium in the past 20y.

METHODS

Base on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), studies related to pterygium in the past 20y from 2000-2019 have been included. With the help of VOSviewer software, a knowledge map was constructed and the distribution of countries, institutions, journals, and authors in the field of pterygium noted. Meanwhile, using co-citation analysis of references and co-occurrence analysis of keywords, we identified basis and hotspots, thereby obtaining an overview of this field.

RESULTS

The search retrieved 1516 publications from WoSCC on pterygium published between 2000 and 2019. In the past two decades, the annual number of publications is on the rise and fluctuated a little. Most productive institutions are from Singapore but the most prolific and active country is the United States. Journal Cornea published the most articles and Coroneo MT contributed the most publications on pterygium. From co-occurrence analysis, the keywords formed 3 clusters: 1) surgical therapeutic techniques and adjuvant of pterygium, 2) occurrence process and pathogenesis of pterygium, and 3) epidemiology, and etiology of pterygium formation. These three clusters were consistent with the clustering in co-citation analysis, in which Cluster 1 contained the most references (74 publications, 47.74%), Cluster 2 contained 53 publications, accounting for 34.19%, and Cluster 3 focused on epidemiology with 18.06% of total 155 co-citation publications.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the research of pterygium is gradually attracting the attention of scholars and researchers. The interaction between authors, institutions, and countries is lack of. Even though, the research hotspot, distribution, and research status in pterygium in this study could provide valuable information for scholars and researchers.

Mapping Research Trends of Universal Health Coverage From 1990 to 2019: Bibliometric Analysis

Background

Universal health coverage (UHC) is one of many ambitious, health-related, sustainable development goals. Sharing various experiences of achieving UHC, in terms of challenges, pitfalls, and future prospects, can help policy and decision-makers reduce the likelihood of committing errors. As such, scholarly articles and technical reports are of paramount importance in shedding light on the determinants that make it possible to achieve UHC.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of UHC-related scientific literature from 1990 to 2019.

Methods

We carried out a bibliometric analysis of papers related to UHC published from January 1990 to September 2019 and indexed in Scopus via VOSviewer (version 1.6.13; CWTS). Relevant information was extracted: the number of papers published, the 20 authors with the highest number of publications in the field of UHC, the 20 journals with the highest number of publications related to UHC, the 20 most active funding sources for UHC-related research, the 20 institutes and research centers that have produced the highest number of UHC-related research papers, the 20 countries that contributed the most to the research field of UHC, the 20 most cited papers, and the latest available impact factors of journals in 2018 that included the UHC-related items under investigation.

Results

In our analysis, 7224 articles were included. The publication trend was increasing, showing high interest in the scientific community. Most researchers were from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, with Thailand being a notable exception. The Lancet accounted for 3.95% of published UHC-related research. Among the top 20 funding sources, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) accounted for 1.41%, 1.34%, and 1.02% of published UHC-related research, respectively. The highest number of citations was found for articles published in The Lancet, the American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The top keywords were “health insurance,” “insurance,” “healthcare policy,” “healthcare delivery,” “economics,” “priority,” “healthcare cost,” “organization and management,” “health services accessibility,” “reform,” “public health,” and “health policy.”

Conclusions

The findings of our study showed an increasing scholarly interest in UHC and related issues. However, most research concentrated in middle- and high-income regions and countries. Therefore, research in low-income countries should be promoted and supported, as this could enable a better understanding of the determinants of the barriers and obstacles to UHC achievement and improve global health.

The Role of Serum Inflammation-Based Factors in Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment for Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion and Its Subtypes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to evaluate the association between pretreatment inflammation-based factors and outcomes in patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and its subtypes after intravitreal ranibizumab or conbercept implant.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study included patients who were diagnosed with ME secondary to RVO at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2017 and January 2019, and who subsequently received intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment. Blood-based parameters were measured before treatment, and correlations between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and each of 3 parameters - neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) - were analyzed to identify predictors of effective intravitreal injection treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 315 treatment-naïve eyes treated with anti-VEGF drugs for RVO-ME were retrospectively analyzed in this study. The mean PLR value was significantly different in the effective and ineffective group for RVO-ME (138.03 ± 48.61 vs. 106.79 ± 27.28), branch RVO (BRVO)-ME (216.47 ± 53.04 vs. 185.94 ± 51.47), and central RVO (CRVO)-ME (231.07 ± 66.05 vs. 196.20 ± 60.44). The cutoff value of the PLR was 97.92, the area under the curve was 0.70, and the sensitivity and specificity were 81.5 and 44.3%, respectively. The mean NLR value was significantly different in the effective and ineffective groups for RVO-ME (2.20 ± 1.40 vs. 1.92 ± 0.89), and BRVO-ME (2.01 ± 0.80 vs. 1.82 ± 0.84), but not in patients with CRVO-ME (2.51 ± 2.02 vs. 2.12 ± 0.95). There are no significant differences between BRVO-ME and its subtype groups in MLR values. But the mean MLR value was significantly higher in the conbercept group than in the ranibizu-mab group among patients in the effective group (0.27 ± 0.11 vs. 0.25 ± 0.14).

CONCLUSION

Higher pretreatment PLR was associated with BCVA in patients with RVO-ME and its subtypes who were treated with anti-VEGF drugs. The PLR may be used as a predictive and prognostic tool for effective intravitreal injection treatment outcomes.