Global Trends in mHealth and Medical Education Research: Bibliometrics and Knowledge Graph Analysis.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) is an emerging mobile communication and networking technology for health care systems. The integration of mHealth in medical education is growing extremely rapidly, bringing new changes to the field. However, no study has analyzed the publication and research trends occurring in both mHealth and medical education. Objective: The aim of this study was to summarize the current application and development trends of mHealth in medical education by searching and analyzing published articles related to both mHealth and medical education. Methods: The literature related to mHealth and medical education published from 2003 to 2023 was searched in the Web of Science core database, and 790 articles were screened according to the search strategy. The HistCite Pro 2.0 tool was used to analyze bibliometric indicators. VOSviewer, Pajek64, and SCImago Graphica software were used to visualize research trends and identify hot spots in the field. Results: In the past two decades, the number of published papers on mHealth in medical education has gradually increased, from only 3 papers in 2003 to 130 in 2022; this increase became particularly evident in 2007. The global citation score was determined to be 10,600, with an average of 13.42 citations per article. The local citation score was 96. The United States is the country with the most widespread application of mHealth in medical education, and most of the institutions conducting in-depth research in this field are also located in the United States, closely followed by China and the United Kingdom. Based on current trends, global coauthorship and research exchange will likely continue to expand. Among the research journals publishing in this joint field, journals published by JMIR Publications have an absolute advantage. A total of 105 keywords were identified, which were divided into five categories pointing to different research directions. Conclusions: Under the influence of COVID-19, along with the popularization of smartphones and modern communication technology, the field of combining mHealth and medical education has become a more popular research direction. The concept and application of digital health will be promoted in future developments of medical education.

Two Decades of Publications in Journals Dedicated to Autoimmunity: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Autoimmunity Field from 2004 to 2023.

To carry out an in-depth analysis of the scientific research on autoimmunity, we performed the first bibliometric analysis focusing on publications in journals dedicated to autoimmunity (JDTA) indexed by science citation index during the period 2004-2023. Using bibliometric analysis, we quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed the country, institution, author, reference and keywords information of publications in JDTA, so as to understand the quantity, publication pattern and publication characteristics of these publications. The co-occurrence networks, clustering map and timeline map were created by CiteSpace and VOSviewer software to visualize the results. The CiteSpace was also used to analyze the strongest citation burst of keywords, which could describe the frequency, intensity and time period of high-frequency keywords, and indicate the research hotspots in the field. A total of 5 710 publications were analyzed, and their annual distribution number was basically stable from 2004 to 2023, fluctuating around 300. The United States and Italy led the way in terms of the number of publications, followed by France and China. For international cooperation, the developed countries represented by the United States cooperate more closely, but the cooperation was localized, reflecting that there was no unified model of autoimmunity among countries. UDICE-French Research Universities had the greatest number of publications. Subsequently, the number of publications decreased slowly with the ranking, and the gradient was not large. Eric Gershwin and Yehuda Shoenfeld stood out among the authors. They had an excellent academic reputation and great influence in the field of autoimmunity. The results of keyword analysis showed that JDTA publications mainly studied a variety of autoimmune diseases, especially SLE and RA. At the same time, JDTA publications also paid special attention to the research of cell function, autoantibody expression, animal experiments, disease activity, pathogenesis and treatment. This study is the first to analyze the publications in JDTA from multiple indicators by bibliometrics, thus providing new insights into the research hotspots and development trends in the field of autoimmunity.

The impact of social isolation and loneliness on cardiovascular disease risk factors: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and bibliometric investigation.

Data on the association between social isolation, loneliness, and risk of incident coronary heart disease (CVD) are conflicting. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between social isolation and loneliness, and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in middle age and elderly using meta-analysis. The purpose of the bibliometric analysis is to systematically evaluate the existing literature on the relationship between social isolation, loneliness, and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in middle-aged and elderly individuals. A comprehensive search through four electronic databases (MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science) was conducted for published articles that determined the association between social isolation and/or loneliness and the risk of developing coronary heart disease from June 2015 to May 2023. Two independent reviewers reviewed the titles and abstracts of the records. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline to conduct the systematic review and meta-analysis. Data for the bibliometric analysis was obtained from the Scopus database and analyzed using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix applications. Six studies involving 104,511 patients were included in the final qualitative review and meta-analysis after screening the records. The prevalence of loneliness ranged from 5 to 65.3%, and social isolation ranged from 2 to 56.5%. A total of 5073 cardiovascular events were recorded after follow-up, ranging between 4 and 13 years. Poor social relationships were associated with a 16% increase in the risk of incident CVD (Hazard Ratio of new CVD when comparing high versus low loneliness or social isolation was 1.16 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.10-1.22). The bibliometric analysis shows a rapidly growing field (9.77% annual growth) with common collaboration (6.37 co-authors/document, 26.53% international). The US leads research output, followed by the UK and Australia. Top institutions include University College London, Inserm, and the University of Glasgow. Research focuses on "elderly," "cardiovascular disease," and "psychosocial stress," with recent trends in "mental health," "social determinants," and "COVID-19". Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of and worsen outcomes in incident cardiovascular diseases. However, the observed effect estimate is small, and this may be attributable to residual confounding from incomplete measurement of potentially confounding or mediating factors. The results of the bibliometric analysis highlight the multidimensional nature of CVD research, covering factors such as social, psychological, and environmental determinants, as well as their interplay with various demographic and health-related variables.

Analyzing research trends after the international journal transition of the Korean Journal of Medical Education: using topic modeling techniques.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the research trends of the Korean Journal of Medical Education (KJME) since it became an English-language journal. METHODS: A total of 274 articles published in KJME from 2016 to 2023 were analyzed. All article types were included in the analysis. NetMiner ver. 4.0 (Cyram Inc., Korea) was used for the main keyword and topic modeling analysis. RESULTS: Of the 274 articles, 170 (62%) and 104 (38%) were by domestic and international authors, respectively. The main keywords with high frequency were "students," "learning," "experience," "pandemic," and "perception." Three topics were derived using topic matching analysis: "residents' perception and attitude of the pandemic," "assessment of learning and achievement," and "learning experiences in the pandemic." CONCLUSION: Since the shift to English-language journals, medical education research has witnessed an increase in the number of articles published by international authors. Research on postgraduate education has increased. Research topics are relevant to situations such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. These findings can help researchers select research topics and encourage them to submit their research to the journal.

Research trends on alphavirus receptors: a bibliometric analysis.

Background: Alphaviruses are a diverse group of pathogens that have garnered considerable attention due to their impact on human health. By investigating alphavirus receptors, researchers can elucidate viral entry mechanisms and gain important clues for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. This study presents an in-depth analysis of the research progress made in the field of alphavirus receptors through bibliometric analysis. Methods: This study encompasses various aspects, including historical development, annual publication trends, author and cited-author analysis, institutional affiliations, global distribution of research contributions, reference analysis with strongest citation bursts, keyword analysis, and a detailed exploration of recent discoveries in alphavirus receptor research. Results: The results of this bibliometric analysis highlight key milestones in alphavirus receptor research, demonstrating the progression of knowledge in this field over time. Additionally, the analysis reveals current research hotspots and identifies emerging frontiers, which can guide future investigations and inspire novel therapeutic strategies. Conclusion: This study provides an overview of the state of the art in alphavirus receptor research, consolidating the existing knowledge and paving the way for further advancements. By shedding light on the significant developments and emerging areas of interest, this study serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers engaged in combating alphavirus infections and improving public health.

Research on the global trends of COVID-19 associated acute kidney injury: a bibliometric analysis.

Critically ill COVID-19 patients may exhibit various clinical symptoms of renal dysfunction including severe Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). Currently, there is a lack of bibliometric analyses on COVID-19-related AKI. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the current research status and hot topics regarding COVID-19 AKI. The literature was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Subsequently, we utilized Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, Citespace, and Pajek software to revealed the current research status, emerging topics, and developmental trends pertaining to COVID-19 AKI. This study encompassed a total of 1507 studies on COVID-19 AKI. The United States, China, and Italy emerged as the leading three countries in terms of publication numbers, contributing 498 (33.05%), 229 (15.20%), and 140 (9.29%) studies, respectively. The three most active and influential institutions include Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University and Harvard Medical School. Ronco C from Italy, holds the record for the highest number of publications, with a total of 15 papers authored. Cheng YC's work from China has garnered the highest number of citations, totaling 470 citations. The co-occurrence analysis of author keywords reveals that 'mortality', 'intensive care units', 'chronic kidney disease', 'nephrology', 'renal transplantation', 'acute respiratory distress syndrome', and 'risk factors' emerge as the primary areas of focus within the realm of COVID-19 AKI. In summary, this study analyzes the research trends in the field of COVID-19 AKI, providing a reference for further exploration and research on COVID-19 AKI mechanisms and treatment.

Hotspots and trends in health-oriented physical literacy research: a visual analysis based on the WOS database.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization has proposed that physical activity is a meaningful way to improve the quality of human life and reduce the probability of chronic non-communicable diseases and that humans should change their mindset from the actual effectiveness of physical activity in promoting health to the new view that "physical activity makes life more meaningful." The introduction and development of physical literacy reveal the critical role of physical activity in improving human health and the importance of human initiative in physical activity for healthy development. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are (1) to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the literature on physical literacy, assessing the scope, frequency, and geographical distribution of research publications from various countries and institutions from 2015 to 2023; (2) to visualize keywords in articles on the topic of Physical literacy to analyze whether there is a link between physical literacy and health, and (3) based on the results of the visual analysis, we propose that proper health is built on the sense of physical literacy and further construct the circular path of physical literacy, physical activity, and physical health improvement. METHODS: Using VOSviewer software v.1.6.18, this study searched the core collection of the Web of Science database from 2015 to April 15, 2023, using "physical literacy" as a keyword to explore the current international research on physical literacy. RESULTS: A total of 3,446 articles were included, and a correlation map was derived based on the co-occurrence frequency of keywords, which showed that physical literacy was highly correlated with six concepts: health literacy, physical activity, health, children, adolescents, and prevention. CONCLUSION: Based on the analysis of literature visualization techniques, there is a high correlation between physical literacy and health, and international physical literacy research is in a trend of multi-point amplification, with research hotspots gradually shifting from the field of sports to the field of health and closely related to the field of health, indicating that physical literacy aims to promote the achievement of individual health by driving humans to increase physical activity.

[Construction of a global health talent training evaluation index system based on bibliometric analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the current research hotspots of global health training, and construct a global health talent training evaluation index system. METHODS: Publications pertaining to global health talent training evaluation were retrieved in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and Web of Science Core Collection from 2003 to 2022, and keywords were extracted from eligible publications for co-occurrence and cluster analyses using the CiteSpace software. Based on keywords clustering results, a global health talent training evaluation index system was constructed using a context, input, process, and product (CIPP) evaluation model as a theoretical framework. RESULTS: A total of 692 Chinese publications and 1 264 English publications were included. Keyword co-occurrence and cluster analyses yielded 10 Chinese and 10 English keyword clusters, and the 10 Chinese keyword clusters included analytic hierarchy process, health diplomacy, personnel structure, crossdiscipline, educational assessment, global health discipline development, training needs, curriculum program, quality evaluation and logistics support, while the English keyword clusters included evidence-based practice, capacity building, global health, quality of life, machine learning, leadership, sub-Saharan Africa, health equity, global health security and global health diplomacy. Based on keyword clustering, a global health talent training evaluation index system was constructed with CIPP as the theoretical framework, which contained 4 primary indicators, 15 secondary indicators and 59 tertiary indicators, and the primary indicators included 4 dimensions of context evaluation, input evaluation, process evaluation and product evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: A global health talent training evaluation index system has been constructed, which provides an effective evaluation tool and quantitative evidence for future global health talent training.

[Bibliometric analysis of researches on the Plasmodium falciparum repetitive interspersed families of polypeptides protein from 1993 to 2022].

OBJECTIVE: To perform a bibliometric analysis of researches on the Plasmodium falciparum repetitive interspersed families of polypeptides (RIFIN) protein from 1993 to 2022 and identify the hot topics in the RIFIN protein research, so as to provide insights into future researches on RIFIN protein. METHODS: RIFIN protein-associated publications were retrieved in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1993 to 2022 and all bibliometric analyses were performed using the software CiteSpace 6.2.4.0. The annual number of RIFIN protein-associated publications was analyzed from 1993 to 2022, and country, author and institution collaboration networks were created. Keywords were extracted from RIFIN protein-associated publications for plotting keyword co-occurrence, clustering, burst and timeline maps to identify the hot topics in the RIFIN protein research. RESULTS: A total of 745 English RIFIN protein-associated publications were included in the final bibliometric analysis, and there were 18 to 36 publications each year from 1993 to 2022. The top three countries with the highest activity in the RIFIN protein research included the United States, the United Kingdom and France, universities and research institutes were highly active in the RIFIN protein research; however, no authors were identified with a high activity in the RIFIN protein research. There were three keyword clusters in the RIFIN protein-associated publications, including repetitive DNA sequence, molecular epidemiology and antigenic variation. Keyword co-occurrence, burst and timeline analyses showed that previous RIFIN protein-associated publications mainly focused on gene properties and functions, involving keywords of repetitive DNA sequence and evolution, and recent hot topics for the RIFIN protein research shifted to genetic diversity and immune response, involving keywords of genetic diversity, antigenic variation and binding. CONCLUSIONS: The annual number of RIFIN protein-associated publications was relatively stable from 1993 to 2022. This bibliometric analysis may provide insights into future researches on the RIFIN protein.

Doctoral theses at the medical faculty of Tunis from 2015 to 2017: Scientific publication rates and associated factors.

INTRODUCTION: Medical doctoral thesis publication is a way to ensure knowledge dissemination and to increase the scientific research visibility. AIM: To determine thesis-related publication's rate at the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis (FMT), and identify associated factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional retrospective study including medical theses registered at the FMT over the study period (2015-2017). All publications related to the defended thesis were collated by scanning Scopus and Google scholar databases, up to April 2022. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess associated factors to publication. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) were presented with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Out of 878 defended theses, 11.8% (n=104) were published. Out of 130 publications in total, 90 (69.2%) interested Scopus-indexed journals with a mean Scimago Journal Rank (SJR) of 0.70. The publication was in English in 73.1% of cases. The median time between the thesis defense and the first scientific publication was 15 months. In multivariable analysis, associated factors to "at least one thesis-related publication" were the resident status of the candidate (AOR=2.35 [1.2-4.7]) and the grade assistant professor of the thesis supervisor (AOR=2.48 [1.1-5.6]). CONCLUSION: Compared to the number of defended theses, the thesis-related publication's rate at the FMT is relatively low. Thus, enhanced support for doctoral students to optimize their engagement in research and to consequently promote scientific publication is highly recommended.

Brain Disorder Detection and Diagnosis using Machine Learning and Deep Learning - A Bibliometric Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Brain disorders are one of the major global mortality issues, and their early detection is crucial for healing. Machine learning, specifically deep learning, is a technology that is increasingly being used to detect and diagnose brain disorders. Our objective is to provide a quantitative bibliometric analysis of the field to inform researchers about trends that can inform their Research directions in the future. METHODS: We carried out a bibliometric analysis to create an overview of brain disorder detection and diagnosis using machine learning and deep learning. Our bibliometric analysis includes 1550 articles gathered from the Scopus database on automated brain disorder detection and diagnosis using machine learning and deep learning published from 2015 to May 2023. A thorough bibliometric análisis is carried out with the help of Biblioshiny and the VOSviewer platform. Citation analysis and various measures of collaboration are analyzed in the study. RESULTS: According to a study, maximum research is reported in 2022, with a consistent rise from preceding years. The majority of the authors referenced have concentrated on multiclass classification and innovative convolutional neural network models that are effective in this field. A keyword analysis revealed that among the several brain disorder types, Alzheimer's, autism, and Parkinson's disease had received the greatest attention. In terms of both authors and institutes, the USA, China, and India are among the most collaborating countries. We built a future research agenda based on our findings to help progress research on machine learning and deep learning for brain disorder detection and diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In summary, our quantitative bibliometric analysis provides useful insights about trends in the field and points them to potential directions in applying machine learning and deep learning for brain disorder detection and diagnosis.

A comprehensive exploration of astrocytes in migraine: a bibliometric and visual analysis.

BACKGROUND: Migraine, as a prevalent neurologic disorder, involves intricate and yet incompletely elucidated pathophysiological mechanisms. A plethora of research findings underscores the pivotal role played by astrocytes in the progression of migraines. In order to elucidate the current advances and directions in research pertaining to astrocytes in migraines, we conducted bibliometric analysis of relevant literature and visualized the results. Subsequently, we expound upon these findings to contribute to the evolving understanding of the role of astrocytes in migraine pathophysiology. METHODS: On November 21, 2023, we conducted a search on Web of Science (WOS), restricting the document type to articles or reviews and language to English. Following a meticulous selection process involving three researchers, we identified the literature to be included in our analysis. Subsequently, we employed Microsoft Office Excel programs, R, VOSviewer, Scimago Graphica, and CiteSpace software to conduct visualization analysis of basic information and trends regarding journals, countries/regions, and influential authors, institutions, keywords, and papers. RESULTS: As of November 21, 2023, relevant literature has been published in 71 journals across 27 countries/regions. This corpus comprises contributions from 576 authors affiliated with 220 institutions, encompassing 865 keywords and referencing 6065 scholarly articles. CEPHALALGIA stands out as the most influential journal in this field, while authors PIETROBON D and DALKARA T have significant impact. The United States is highly influential, with CNR and UNIV PADUA emerging as highly influential institutions. The predominant category is Neurosciences. CONCLUSIONS: Future investigators may continue to focus on migraines with aura, familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), and the crucial calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) system. Employing advanced observational techniques, such as imaging, researchers should pay attention to cellular and tissue structures, such as microglia and the trigeminal ganglion, as well as mechanisms involving inflammation and central sensitization. Moreover, animal models are paramount in obtaining high-quality evidence.

The 100 Most Impactful Articles on Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: An Altmetric Analysis.

Background: To use the top 100 articles pertaining to total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) to understand the impact that social media platforms have on the dissemination of shoulder research while highlighting bibliometric factors associated with Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) to offer insight into the impact that social media platforms have on the dissemination, attention, and citation of shoulder research publications. Methods: In June 2023, the Altmetric database was searched using the following PubMed MeSH terms: "total shoulder arthroplasty" or "TSA." Articles with the highest AAS were screened to exclude other topics unrelated to TSA. The top 100 articles that met inclusion criteria were used in the final analysis. Bibliometric factors pertaining to each study were collected for further analysis of article characteristics in accordance with prior studies. Results: The Altmetric Database query yielded 1,283 studies. After applying our inclusion criteria, the top 118 articles with the highest AAS were identified. The mean AAS was 29.14 ± 42.35, with a range of 13 to 402. The included articles represented 27 journals, with 70 articles attributed to 2 journals: Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (JSES; 43%) and the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS; 16%). There was a significant increase in AAS for the presence of a conflict of interest (p = 0.042) and open access status (p < 0.01), but no association between the score and citation rate (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Top articles on TSA, as defined by high AAS, mostly comprise original clinical research performed in the United States or Europe. The presence of a conflict of interest and open access status is associated with an increase in AAS, but there was no association between AAS score and citation rate.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome and serotonin syndrome: a comparative bibliometric analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze and map scientific literature on Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) and Serotonin Syndrome (SS) from prestigious, internationally indexed journals. The objective was to identify key topics, impactful articles, prominent journals, research output, growth patterns, hotspots, and leading countries in the field, providing valuable insights for scholars, medical students, and international funding agencies. METHODS: A systematic search strategy was implemented in the PubMed MeSH database using specific keywords for NMS and SS. The search was conducted in the Scopus database, renowned for its extensive coverage of scholarly publications. Inclusion criteria comprised articles published from 1950 to December 31st, 2022, restricted to journal research and review articles written in English. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel for descriptive analysis, and VOSviewer was employed for bibliometric mapping. RESULTS: The search yielded 1150 articles on NMS and 587 on SS, with the majority being case reports. Growth patterns revealed a surge in NMS research between 1981 and 1991, while SS research increased notably between 1993 and 1997. Active countries and journals differed between NMS and SS, with psychiatry journals predominating for NMS and pharmacology/toxicology journals for SS. Authorship analysis indicated higher multi-authored articles for NMS. Top impactful articles focused on review articles and pathogenic mechanisms. Research hotspots included antipsychotics and catatonia for NMS, while SS highlighted drug interactions and specific medications like linezolid and tramadol. CONCLUSIONS: NMS and SS represent rare but life-threatening conditions, requiring detailed clinical and scientific understanding. Differential diagnosis and management necessitate caution in prescribing medications affecting central serotonin or dopamine systems, with awareness of potential drug interactions. International diagnostic tools and genetic screening tests may aid in safe diagnosis and prevention. Reporting rare cases and utilizing bibliometric analysis enhance knowledge dissemination and research exploration in the field of rare drug-induced medical conditions.

75 years' journey of malaria publications in English: what and where?

Malaria has inflicted serious morbidity and mortality across the globe. The major brunt of the disease has been on African, South-East Asian and South American countries. Proportionally, malaria has attracted global research priorities and this is evident from the number of publications related to malaria from across the globe, irrespective of its endemicity. However, formal and exhaustive analyses of these 'malaria publications' are rarely reported. The systematic review and secondary data analyses were done to retrieve information on what has been published on malaria, where is it published, and which countries are major contributors to malaria research.The study presents malaria publications from 1945 to 2020 retrieved using three databases: Web of Science™, Embase® and Scopus®. Exported data were examined to determine the number of publications over time, their subject areas, contributions from various countries/organizations, and top publishing journals.The total number of published records on malaria ranged from 90,282 to 112,698 (due to three different databases). Based on the number of publications, USA, UK, France, and India were identified as the top four countries. Malaria Journal, American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, and PLoS One were the most preferred journals, whereas the University of London (Institutions other than LSHTM), the National Institute of Health, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the University of Oxford appeared to be the top contributing organization.A disproportional contribution to malaria research was observed with non-malaria endemic countries making the largest contribution. Databases differed in their output format and needed standardization to make the outputs comparable across databases.

Emerging contaminants in water environments: progress, evolution, and prospects.

This article employs bibliometric tools like VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and CiteSpace for a comprehensive visual analysis of 1,612 documents on Emerging Contaminants in Waters from the Web of Science database. The objective is to elucidate the historical development, research hotspots, and trends in international studies of this field, offering valuable insights and guidance for future research directions. The analysis reveals a consistent increase in publications from 2003 to 2023, with the United States, China, and Spain being the most prolific contributors. A detailed examination of keyword co-occurrence and cluster analysis shows a predominant focus on themes such as pollutant detection, risk assessment, and biogeochemical cycling. Furthermore, the study underscores the significance of forming interdisciplinary networks among authors and institutions, highlighting its critical role in enhancing the quality and innovation of scientific research. The findings of this study not only chart the progression and focal points of research in this domain but also underscore the pivotal role of international collaboration, serving as an indispensable reference for shaping future research trajectories and fostering global cooperation.

A bibliometric perspective on the occurrence and migration of microplastics in soils amended with sewage sludge.

The land application of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants has been recognized as a major source of microplastic contamination in soil. Nevertheless, the fate and behavior of microplastics in soil remain uncertain, particularly their distribution and transport, which are poorly understood. This study does a bibliometric analysis and visualization of relevant research publications using the CiteSpace software. It explores the limited research available on the topic, highlighting the potential for it to emerge as a research hotspot in the future. Chinese researchers and institutions are paying great attention to this field and are promoting close academic cooperation among international organizations. Current research hot topics mainly involve microplastic pollution caused by the land application of sewage sludge, as well as the detection, environmental fate, and removal of microplastics in soil. The presence of microplastics in sludge, typically ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of particles (p)/kg, inevitably leads to their introduction into soil upon land application. In China, the estimated annual accumulation of microplastics in the soil due to sludge use is approximately 1.7 × 1013 p. In European countries, the accumulation ranges from 8.6 to 71 × 1013 p. Sludge application has significantly elevated soil microplastic concentrations, with higher application rates and frequencies resulting in up to several-fold increases. The primary forms of microplastics found in soils treated with sludge are fragments and fibers, primarily in white color. These microplastics consist primarily of components such as polyamide, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The vertical transport behavior of microplastics is influenced by factors such as tillage, wind, rainfall, bioturbation, microplastic characteristics (e.g., fraction, particle size, and shape), and soil physicochemical properties (e.g., organic matter, porosity, electrical conductivity, and pH). Research indicates that microplastics can penetrate up to 90 cm into the soil profile and persist for decades. Microplastics in sewage sludge-amended soils pose potential long-term threats to soil ecosystems and even human health. Future research should focus on expanding the theoretical understanding of microplastic behavior in these soils, enabling the development of comprehensive risk assessments and informed decision-making for sludge management practices. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Microplastics in sewage sludge range from tens to hundreds of thousands per kilogram. Sludge land application contributes significantly to soil microplastic pollution. The main forms of microplastics in sludge-amended soils are fragments and fibers. Microplastics are mainly composed of polyamide, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Microplastics can penetrate up to 90 cm into the soil profile and persist for decades.

Global research progress on radiofrequency ablation in cardiology: A bibliometric analysis (2004-2023).

In recent years, significant advancements in radiofrequency ablation technology have notably enhanced arrhythmia treatment in cardiology. Technological advancements and increasing clinical adoption have made radiofrequency ablation a key therapy in improving life quality for patients with conditions like atrial fibrillation (AF). Consequently, there has been a marked increase in research output, underscoring the technology's significance and its potential in cardiology. Aims to comprehensively analyze cardiology's radiofrequency ablation research trends, identifying leading countries and institutions in international collaborations, key researchers' contributions, and evolving research hotspots. The study, based on the Web of Science Core Collection database, reviewed the literatures from 2004 to 2023. CiteSpace 6.2.R7 Basic was used for bibliometric analysis, which examined annual publication trends, international collaboration networks, key authors, leading research institutions, major journals, keyword co-occurrence and clustering trends. Analyzing 3423 relevant articles, this study reveals a consistent growth in cardiology radiofrequency ablation research since 2004. The analysis shows that the United States, Germany, and France hold central roles in the international collaboration network, with leading authors from premier US and European institutions. Keyword cluster analysis identifies "atrial flutter" and "ventricular tachycardia" as current research focal points. Cardiology radiofrequency ablation research shows a growth trend, led by the United States and European countries. Research hotspots are concentrated on the diverse applications of radiofrequency ablation technology and the treatment of AF. Future studies may increasingly focus on technological innovation and the deepening of clinical applications.