Citation patterns and trends of systematic reviews about mindfulness.

OBJECTIVES: We performed a citation analysis of the literature about mindfulness aimed at describing the most significant topics and the impact of more relevant papers. METHODS: We classified 128 systematic reviews about mindfulness-based intervention retrieved in Scopus according to their object, the population included and the type of mindfulness proposed. The citation counting was reported. The cumulative citation numbers per chronological years and article life were analyzed thorough a linear regression model. RESULTS: 1) We observed a general increase in the number of reviews published from 2003 to 2016; 2) two reviews collected the 33% of the overall citations; 3) citation counting for clinical and mixed population collected the 90% of total citations; 4) clinical reviews had higher cumulative citation per publication/year growth. CONCLUSIONS: As mindfulness research advances, higher attention should be given to the mechanisms by which mindfulness interventions work so as to provide fruitful insights for future research.

A bibliometric analysis of two decades of aromatherapy research.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative data are lacking on the profile of published research in aromatherapy. The objective of the study was to investigate the profile of original and review articles under the topic aromatherapy using bibliometric analysis. METHODS: Articles on aromatherapy, published between 1995 and 2014, were retrieved from the Science Citation Index-Expanded database from the Web of Science. The records extracted were analyzed for citation characteristics, including the distribution of publication years, languages, countries or regions, journals, articles, and authors using HistCite 12.03.17. VOSviewer v.1.61 was used to construct bibliometric diagrams. RESULTS: A total of 549 original and review articles, published in 287 different peer-reviewed journals by 1888 authors, were identified. There was a steady increase in the number of published articles from 1995 to 2014. The majority of the articles was written in English (95.8%) and the United States was the leading country in the total number of published articles (n = 107, 19.5%) Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published the greatest number of articles on the topic (n = 31, 5.6%). The article that received the greatest number of citations was published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine. Visualization analysis based on co-occurrences of words in the title and abstract revealed three clusters of research topics, including essential oil, intervention, and complementary medicine. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided a systematic overview of productivity and visibility of research work in aromatherapy and the findings could be used for organizing and prioritizing future research efforts in aromatherapy research.

Do the CONSORT and STRICTA Checklists Improve the Reporting Quality of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Randomized Controlled Trials Published in Chinese Journals? A Systematic Review and Analysis of Trends.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether there had been an improvement in the quality of reporting for randomised controlled trials of acupuncture and moxibustion published in Chinese journals. We compared the compliance rate for the quality of reporting following the publication of both the STRICTA and CONSORT recommendations in China. METHODS: Four Chinese databases were searched for RCTs of acupuncture from January 1978 through to December 2012. The CONSORT and STRICTA checklists were used to assess the quality of reporting. Data were collected using a standardised form. All included RCTs were divided into three distinct time periods based on the time that CONSORT and STRICTA were introduced in China, respectively. Pearson's χ2 test and/or Fisher's exact test were used to assess differences in reporting among three groups. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 1978 RCTs were identified. Although the percentage of all the items has increased over time with the introduction of CONSORT and STRICTA in China, the actual compliance in several important methodological components, including sample size calculation (0% vs. 0% vs. 1.2%, for pre-CONSORT and pre-STRICTA, post-CONSORT but pre-STRICTA, and post-CONSORT and post-STRICTA, respectively), randomisation sequence generation (1.4% vs. 15% vs. 26.3%) and implementation (0% vs. 0% vs. 1.3%), allocation concealment (0% vs. 1.4% vs. 4.9%), and blinding (0% vs. 5.7% vs. 9.1%), remains low. Moreover, no RCTs have reported the setting and context of treatment and no descriptions of the participating acupuncturists have been provided thus far. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the quality of the reporting of RCTs of acupuncture and moxibustion published in Chinese journals has improved since CONSORT and STRICTA were introduced in China, though the actual compliance rate of some important items were still low as of 2012. In the future, Chinese journals should enhance the adoption of the CONSORT and STRICTA statement to improve the reporting quality of the RCTs of acupuncture and moxibustion and to ensure the truth and reliability of the conclusions.

Trends in publications on complementary and alternative medicine in the medical literature.

BACKGROUND: Public interest in and demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services have increased in recent years throughout the Western world. The aim of the study was to assess trends in publications on CAM in the medical literature between 1963 and 2012 and to compare them with overall trends in publications on medical issues. METHODS: A search of the literature was conducted on CAM and integrative medicine using the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines with key search terms. RESULTS: Articles on CAM began to appear in the medical literature 50 years ago. Over the years there has been an increase in the number of publications. On PubMed the increase was from 15,764 to 144,288 articles from 1963 to 2012. In the decade between 1963 and 1972 publications on CAM comprised 0.81% of all the articles appearing in PubMed. Over the course of the 50 years, the percentage increased more than twofold to 1.92% from 2003 to 2012. On Google Scholar there were 27,170 citations related to CAM between 1963 and 1972. This increased to 2,521,430 between 2003 and 2012. CONCLUSIONS: Over the last 50 years there has been an increase in scientific publications on CAM in general, and on specific CAM treatments in particular.

Spirituality, religion, and health: over the last 15 years of field research (1999-2013).

OBJECTIVE: Although several studies have examined the contribution of specific countries, journals, and authors in different scientific disciplines, little is known about the contribution of different world countries, journals, and authors to scientific research in the field of "Spirituality, religion, and health" (S/R). The present study aims to analyze the last 15 years of research in the field of spirituality and religiousness (S/R) through a bibliometric analysis. METHODS: Using the Pubmed database, we retrieved all articles related to S/R field for the period 1999-2013. We then estimated the total number of publications, number of articles published per year, articles published per country, journals with most publications in S/R field, most productive authors, and most used keywords. RESULTS: We found a growth of publications in the last years, most from the United States and the United Kingdom and published in the English language. Noteworthy, some developing countries such as India, Brazil, Israel, and Iran are at higher positions in this list. The S/R articles were published in journals embracing all fields of research, including high impact journals. CONCLUSION: In the present study, we took a closer look at the field of "Spirituality, religion, and health," showing that this field of research has been constantly growing and consolidating in the scientific community.

Characteristics and trends in peer-reviewed publications in the field of psychosomatic medicine.

BACKGROUND: The field of psychosomatic medicine/consultation-liaison psychiatry, now a subspecialty in psychiatry, has focused its efforts on clinical care, education, and research at the interface of psychiatry, medicine, and neurology. OBJECTIVE: We sought to categorize characteristics and trends (over the past decade) in several journals intended primarily for practitioners of psychosomatic medicine. METHODS: We reviewed all articles published in 3 peer-reviewed journals (i.e., Psychosomatics, General Hospital Psychiatry, and the Journal of Psychosomatic Research) in 2002 and 2012. RESULTS: Each of the 3 journals has a different approach to publication of original research, clinical reviews, and case reports. CONCLUSIONS: The 3 journals demonstrate differing levels of international involvement, publish a different number of articles of different types (e.g., case reports, reviews, and original research), and focus on different types of medical-psychiatric problems.

The current status of ethnobiological research in Latin America: gaps and perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Recent reviews have demonstrated an increase in the number of papers on ethnobiology in Latin America. Among factors that have influenced this increase are the biological and cultural diversity of these countries and the general scientific situation in some countries. This study aims to assess the panorama of ethnobiological research in Latin America by analyzing its evolution, trends, and future prospects. METHODS: To conduct this study, we searched for papers in the Scopus (http://www.scopus.com) and Web of Science (http://www.isiknowledge.com) databases. The search was performed using combinations of keywords and the name of each Latin American country. The following countries were included in this study: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, and Uruguay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: According to our inclusion criteria, 679 ethnobiological studies conducted in Latin America were found for the period between 1963 and 2012. Of these studies, 289 (41%) were conducted in Brazil, 153 in Mexico (22%), 61 in Peru (9%), 58 in Argentina (8%), 45 in Bolivia (6%), and 97 (14%) in other Latin American countries. The increased number of publications related to this area of knowledge in recent years demonstrates the remarkable growth of ethnobiology as a science. Ethnobiological research may be stimulated by an increase in the number of scientific events and journals for study dissemination and by the creation of undergraduate courses and graduate programs to train ethnoscientists who will produce high-quality studies, especially in certain countries.

Trends in scientific publications of Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important component of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The fast economic growth of mainland China in the past two decades has promoted the use of TCM beyond Chinese-speaking countries. Chinese researchers have published more TCM research studies in CAM-related professional journals, including the American Journal of Chinese Medicine (AJCM), the highest impact journal in Chinese medicine. The consistent increase of the impact factor of the AJCM suggests a growth in TCM popularity. This study analyzed articles published in the AJCM between 2004 and 2011. Our data show that while enthusiasm towards cardiovascular, nervous system and inflammation related research remained high, more herbal investigations and cancer studies were published. Furthermore, a reduction in TCM formulation studies was replaced by increasing botanical single constituent research. Examples of frequently cited studies, including those before 2004, are presented. These data are not only important to the scientific community for recognition of trends in TCM research, but also for providing information to TCM researchers who are targeting potentially highly cited studies.

Placebo effect was influenced by publication year in three-armed acupuncture trials.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between the placebo effect and the trial or patient characteristics. DATA SOURCES: We identified randomized clinical trials with acupuncture, sham and no-treatment groups in which no-treatment or conventional therapy was applied to the no-treatment group. Thirty-one trials in which no treatment was applied in the no-treatment group were categorised as 'strict' trials. Thirty-nine trials in which no-treatment or conventional therapy was applied to the no-treatment group were categorised as 'less strict' trials. We calculated the treatment effect, defined as the difference in the effect size between the acupuncture and no-treatment groups, and the placebo effect, defined as the difference in the effect size between the sham and no-treatment groups. Then, a random effect meta-regression analysis was performed on the two effects with respect to trial or patient characteristics. RESULTS: The treatment effect was not found to be associated with any factors in both the strict and less strict trials. However, the placebo effect was found to be associated with the publication year in both the strict and less strict trials (P=0.009 and 0.005, respectively). The placebo effect increased by 0.05 in effect size per year in trials that were published more recently. CONCLUSION: While the treatment effect was not influenced by any trial or patient characteristics, the placebo effect was associated with the publication year.

[Original articles on axonal neuropathy in 2010]. / Les actualités sur les polyneuropathies axonales en 2010.

During 2010, 15 articles were published which focused on chronic sensorimotor axonal neuropathy; some will be discussed in this review. Clinical diagnosis from signs and symptoms seems to be excessively variable, often overestimating the incidence of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Long-term use of Metformin is associated with malabsorption of vitamin B12. Metformin exposure may be a iatrogenic cause for exacerbation of peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. The neuroprotective role of vitamin E against cisplatinperipheral neurotoxicity has been suggested by a phase III study. Metallosis after hip arthroplasty with a cobalt-chromium alloy prosthesis can cause progressive sensory disturbance, hearing loss and hypothyroidism. The effects of electrical stimulation on neuromuscular recovery after nerve crush injury in rats do not support a benefit of the tested protocol using electrical stimulation during the period of motor nerve recovery following injury. The rate of motor vehicle accidents in patients with neuropathy, based on surveys from 260 subjects, demonstrated that 40.6% were involved in traffic accidents. Accident frequency and discomfort with driving are higher in neuropathy patients compared to age-matched national statistics. Peripheral neuropathy in primary (AL) amyloidosis may be the cause of stepwise progressive, multiple upper limb mononeuropathies.

Trends in publication of spirituality/religiosity articles in critical care populations.

Research on spirituality and religion (S/R) is receiving more attention as healthcare staff recognize the importance of treating the whole person. This is especially pertinent in critical care, where patients and families deal with a multitude of issues. As not all research comes exclusively from theologically educated authors, this study explored publication trends of S/R articles in critical care. Findings indicated medically credentialed professionals, not chaplains and/or pastoral care staff, constituted the majority of authors in S/R articles.

Herbal medicine: an overview of the literature from three decades.

OBJECTIVES: To generate information about what types of articles have been published in what languages on what topics. In addition, we assessed the methodological quality of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) over time. METHODS: Searches were carried out in Medline in order to (a) identify the number of articles published in English, Chinese, German, Russian, and Japanese during the years 1977, 1987, 1997, and 2007; (b) identify the number of five types of articles, namely, systematic reviews (SRs), reviews, clinical controlled trials (CCTs), RCTs, and case reports, published in the above-mentioned 4 years; (c) identify the types of herbal medicine that were most frequently tested in CCTs and RCTs. Twenty RCTs were retrieved from each of the above-mentioned 4 years and were quality assessed using Jadad score and were statistically compared. RESULTS: (1) The number of articles on herbal medicine has increased during the last three decades. (2) Review articles and RCTs were the most numerous types of publications toward the end of our observation period; CCTs were the least. (3) Guar gum, evening primrose oil, ginseng, and Ginkgo biloba were some of the main herbal medicines that were most frequently submitted to CCTs and RCTs. (4) The average Jadad score improved continually (F = 6.27, p = .014) between 1977 and 2007. CONCLUSION: These findings are consistent with the notion that the quantity and quality of RCTs of herbal medicine have been improving during the last three decades. We suggest that the adaption of the herbal-medicine-specific Consolidated Standard of Reporting Trials guidelines might further improve the situation in future.

Increasing contribution of China in modern biomedical research. Statistical data from ISI Web of Knowledge.

BACKGROUND: China is one of the most rapidly developing countries with a huge population spreading on a chaotic area. For centuries Chinese medicine was based on tradition, religion and experience. However, the last two decades under the pressure of globalization Chinese medicine is turning gradually to evidence-based medicine, contributing in international biomedical research. MATERIAL/METHODS: A bibliometric analysis through the ISI Web of Knowledge was performed. We collected data regarding the amount of Chinese publications in different biomedical fields, the presence of Chinese authors in high impact international journals, the contribution of China's universities in research and finally the number and the quality of local Chinese journals, which have entered the ISI database. RESULTS: According to ISI database a significant increase occurred in both the quantity and quality of the Chinese biomedical publishing activity. This was indicated by the major rise in the amount of published papers, the average augmentation of citations per paper and the constantly increasing presence of Chinese researchers in top medical journals. Chinese institutions appeared also more productive and local journals gained more representation in the ISI database. CONCLUSIONS: China's contribution in biomedical research really blossomed after 1990 and especially after 2000. The extent of this contribution may not be proportional to the total research activity performed in China, but it is this part of knowledge that becomes exported and interacts with the rest of the international research activity, promoting research potential in biomedicine.