A Web of Science-based scientometric analysis about mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway in kidney disease from 1986 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is vital for the regulation of cell metabolism, growth and proliferation in the kidney. This study aims to show current research focuses and predict future trends about mTOR pathway in kidney disease by the methods of scientometric analysis. METHODS: We referred to publications from the Web of ScienceTM Core Collection (WoSCC) Database. Carrot2, VOSviewer and CiteSpace programs were applied to evaluate the distribution and contribution of authors, institutes and countries/regions of extensive bibliographic metadata, show current research focuses and predict future trends in kidney disease's area. RESULTS: Until July 10, 2020, there are 2,585 manuscripts about mTOR signaling pathway in kidney disease in total and every manuscript is cited 27.39 times on average. The big name of course is the United States. Research hot spots include "diabetic nephropathy", "kidney transplantation", "autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease", "tuberous sclerosis complex", "renal cell carcinoma" and "autophagy". Seven key clusters are detected, including "kidney transplantation", "autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease", "renal transplantation", "renal cell carcinoma", "hamartin", "autophagy" and "tuberous sclerosis complex". CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic nephropathy, kidney transplantation, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, tuberous sclerosis complex, renal cell carcinoma and autophagy are future research hot spots by utilizing scientometric analysis. In the future, it is necessary to research these fields.

[The essence of Professor Wu Lian-Zhong's acupuncture manipulation].

The painless needle insertion technique, summarized by Professor WU Lian-zhong during his decades of acupuncture clinical practice is introduced in this article, which is characterized as soft, flexible, fast, plucking and activating antipathogenic qi. The Sancai (three layers) lifting and thrusting manipulation technique is adopted by Professor WU for getting the qi sensation. And features of 10 kinds of needling sensation such as soreness, numbness, heaviness, distension, pain, cold, hot, radiation, jumping and contracture are summarized. Finger force, amplitude, speed and time length are also taken as the basis of reinforcing and reducing manipulations. Moreover, examples are also given to explain the needling technique on some specific points which further embodies Professor WU's unique experiences and understandings on acupuncture.

[Dynamic observation on therapeutic features of thalamic pain by mind calming, blood activating and pain relief acupuncture and carbamazepine].

OBJECTIVE: To observe therapeutic features of thalamic pain by mind Calming, blood activating and pain relief acupuncture and Carbamazepine. METHODS: Crossover trial design was adopted. Eleven patients with confirmed diagnosis of thalamic pain were randomly assigned to two groups according to the minimal unbalance index method, i.e., Group I (Six patients received acupuncture first and then Western medicine.) and Group II (Five patients received Western medicine first and then acupuncture). The therapeutic course for each group was ten days. There was a ten-day elution phase between the two therapeutic methods. The total therapeutic course was thirty days. Eleven patients were enrolled in the two groups for statistical analysis. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS) and the pain assessment scale of Anderson Cancer Center in the USA (MD Pain Evaluation value) respectively. The VAS and MD values of the two groups were recorded every day to get the dynamic curve. RESULTS: The VAS and MD values obviously decreased in the two groups after treatment (P<0.05). The pain curves of the two groups showed a declining trend during the treatment. A gradual and stable descending process was shown in the acupuncture group. But a greater decrease first appeared in the Western medicine group, then a comparatively greater decrease occurred after one platform stage, showing ladder-shaped curve. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative potency may be the main analgesic effects of acupuncture. Western medicine may possibly play a role by rapid initiate effect.

[Acupuncture treatment of regulating spirit, activating blood and relieving pain for thalamic pain].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect of acupuncture treatment and western medicine Carbamazepine for thalamic pain. METHODS: Crossover trial design was used, 11 cases diagnosed as thalamic pain were randomly divided into two groups according to the mini-unbalance-index method, group I (with 6 cases received acupuncture first and then western medicine) and group II (with 5 cases received western medicine first and then acupuncture). When the effects were evaluated, the two groups were named as acupuncture group and western medicine group, 11 cases in each group. The method of clearing away the heart fire, regulating the spirit, activating blood and relieving pain was adopted in acupuncture treatment, Ximen (PC 4), Yinxi (HT 6), Xuehai (SP 10) and Zhaohai (KI 6) were selected; the western medicine group was treated with oral administration of Carbamazepine, and one course as well as the eluting period were both 10 days. The effects were evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS) and evaluation scale of Anderson Cancer Center pain in US (MD Pain Evaluation value) respectively. RESULTS: The VAS and MD value in two groups were obviously decreased after treatment (both P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between two groups; the markedly effective rate of pain relieving in acupuncture group was 63.6% (7/11), which was higher than that of 36.4% (4/11) in western medicine group, but there was no significant difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture treatment of regulating spirit, activating blood and relieving pain has a better therapeutic effect for thalamic pain, and can reach to the same therapeutic effect with western medicine Carbamazepine.