Vagus nerve stimulation as a therapeutic option in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

The vagus nerve forms intricate neural connections with an extensive number of organs, particularly the digestive system. The vagus nerve has a pivotal role as a fundamental component of the autonomic nervous system, exhibiting an essential effect. It establishes a direct link with the parasympathetic system, consequently eliciting the synaptic release of acetylcholine. Recent studies have revealed the potential anti-inflammatory function of the vagus nerve. The activation of the hypothalamic system through the stimulation of vagal afferents is fundamentally involved in regulating inflammation. This activation process leads to the production of cortisol. The other mechanism, defined as the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, is characterized by the involvement of vagal efferents. These fibers release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at particular synaptic connections, involving interactions with macrophages and enteric neurons. The mechanism under consideration is ascribed to the α-7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The fusion of acetylcholine receptors is responsible for the restricted secretion of inflammatory mediators by macrophages. A potential mechanism for anti-inflammatory effects involves the stimulation of the sympathetic system through the vagus nerve, leading to the control of immunological responses within the spleen. This article offers an extensive summary of the present knowledge regarding the therapeutic effectiveness of stimulating the vagus nerve in managing inflammatory rheumatic conditions based on the relationship of inflammation with the vagus nerve. Furthermore, the objective is to present alternatives that may be preferred while applying vagus nerve stimulation approaches.

YouTube as a Source of Information on Public Health Ethics.

BACKGROUND: Public health ethics (PHE) is a dynamic area within bioethics that addresses the complex moral implications of public health measures in the face of growing health threats. YouTube is a powerful and widely used platform for disseminating health-related information. The primary objective of this study is to assess videos related to PHE on YouTube. The aim is to gauge the extent of misinformation in collecting PHE videos on the platform. METHODS: On October 25, 2023, a thorough investigation on YouTube was undertaken, employing pre-determined search phrases involving 'public health,' 'healthcare,' 'health services administration,' and 'health policy and ethics.' The research encompassed a total of 137 videos that were selected according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The videos were evaluated using the Global Quality Scale to measure quality and the modified DISCERN tool to evaluate reliability. The researchers identified video sources and compared several video attributes across different quality groups. RESULTS: A total of 137 videos were analyzed, and 65 (47.45%) were classified as high quality, 52 (37.23%) as moderate quality, and 21 (15.32%) as low quality. In high-quality videos, academic, government, physician, and university-hospital sources predominated, whereas Internet users and news sources were connected with low-quality videos. Significant differences in DISCERN score, per day views, likes, and comments were seen across the quality groups (P = 0.001 for views per day and P = 0.001 for other characteristics). According to the findings, low-quality videos had higher median values for daily views, likes, and comments. CONCLUSION: Although nearly half of the videos were high-quality, low-quality videos attracted greater attention. Critical contributors to high-quality videos included academic, government, physician, and university-hospital sources. The findings highlight the importance of quality control methods on social media platforms and strategies to direct users to trustworthy health information. Authors should prioritize appropriate citations and evaluate YouTube and other comparable platforms for potential promotional low-quality information.

Epidemiology and risk factors of 28-day mortality of hospital-acquired bloodstream infection in Turkish intensive care units: a prospective observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To uncover clinical epidemiology, microbiological characteristics and outcome determinants of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HA-BSIs) in Turkish ICU patients. METHODS: The EUROBACT II was a prospective observational multicontinental cohort study. We performed a subanalysis of patients from 24 Turkish ICUs included in this study. Risk factors for mortality were identified using multivariable Cox frailty models. RESULTS: Of 547 patients, 58.7% were male with a median [IQR] age of 68 [55-78]. Most frequent sources of HA-BSIs were intravascular catheter [182, (33.3%)] and lower respiratory tract [175, (32.0%)]. Among isolated pathogens (n = 599), 67.1% were Gram-negative, 21.5% Gram-positive and 11.2% due to fungi. Carbapenem resistance was present in 90.4% of Acinetobacter spp., 53.1% of Klebsiella spp. and 48.8% of Pseudomonas spp. In monobacterial Gram-negative HA-BSIs (n = 329), SOFA score (aHR 1.20, 95% CI 1.14-1.27), carbapenem resistance (aHR 2.46, 95% CI 1.58-3.84), previous myocardial infarction (aHR 1.86, 95% CI 1.12-3.08), COVID-19 admission diagnosis (aHR 2.95, 95% CI 1.25-6.95) and not achieving source control (aHR 2.02, 95% CI 1.15-3.54) were associated with mortality. However, availability of clinical pharmacists (aHR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.90) and source control (aHR 0.46, 95% CI 0.28-0.77) were associated with survival. In monobacterial Gram-positive HA-BSIs (n = 93), SOFA score (aHR 1.29, 95% CI 1.17-1.43) and age (aHR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.08) were associated with mortality, whereas source control (aHR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.87) was associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Considering high antimicrobial resistance rate, importance of source control and availability of clinical pharmacists, a multifaceted management programme should be adopted in Turkish ICUs.

Assessment of complementary and alternative medicine methods in the management of ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia syndrome.

A wide variety of musculoskeletal, arthritic, connective tissue, and vasculitic diseases fall under the umbrella of "rheumatic diseases". Ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia syndrome are the three members of this disease group with relatively high prevalence. Pharmacological options are at the center of therapeutic algorithms in treating rheumatic diseases, particularly in reducing inflammation. Despite significant advances in pharmacological treatment in recent years, achieving complete treatment success in a group of patients is impossible. Therefore, patients with rheumatic diseases frequently utilize alternative treatment options, such as complementary and alternative medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine is a broad category of health practices not part of the leading health system. Patients with rheumatic diseases turn to complementary and alternative medicine for various reasons, including restricted access to some treatments due to high prices and rigorous regulations, worries about drug side effects, and symptoms that continue despite pharmacological treatment. In addition, because complementary and alternative medicine options are considered natural, they are frequently accepted as well tolerated and have few harmful effects. Ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia syndrome are the primary foci of this comprehensive review. First, we attempted to summarize the non-traditional physical medicine and complementary and alternative medicine options that can be utilized to manage these diseases. Second, we addressed the link between exercise and inflammation in rheumatic diseases. We briefly discussed the possible benefits of exercise-based approaches. In addition, we highlighted the benefits of cooperation between rheumatology and physical medicine-rehabilitation clinics.

Evaluating the efficacy of hippotherapy: a promising intervention in rheumatology, pain medicine, and geriatrics.

Using animals for medical care has a long history. Animals have long been recognized for their ability to improve human health and well-being throughout nations and civilizations. Animal-assisted therapy is a concept that incorporates intentional and regulated interactions between individuals and animals to achieve therapeutic aims. Hippotherapy is an animal-assisted therapy consisting of medical procedures and practices that use horses to restore and enhance physical and mental health. The effectiveness of hippotherapy is evidenced by its ability to have a favorable influence on various domains, encompassing physical, psychosocial, and educational aspects. This multifaceted method entails the active involvement of the sensory, musculoskeletal, vestibular, and visual systems. Hippotherapy is an unconventional modality, leveraging horses' cyclic and repetitive motions to activate the postural reflex structures of individuals. Various studies have mostly focused on determining the efficacy of hippotherapy in the context of neurological conditions, neuro-rehabilitation, and psychiatric disorders. The primary objective of this study was to present the effectiveness of hippotherapy in the fields of rheumatology, pain medicine, and geriatrics. In addition, we provided a summary of the potential underlying mechanisms of hippotherapy. Finally, we conducted a comparison of hippotherapy and horse riding simulator interventions to provide their respective strengths and restrictions.

Comparative Analysis of Central Asian Publication Activity Using SCImago Journal & Country Rank Data in 1996-2021.

BACKGROUND: Central Asian countries (CACs) are less visible in the global scientific environment, despite their solid scientific nature. The current article aimed to assess the publication productivity of CACs since 1996 using SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR). METHODS: This is a descriptive study. The SJR portal was used to retrieve the data. The Country Rankings section was viewed, and the Asiatic Region option was chosen. The most active countries and CACs' number of documents, number of citable documents, citations, self-citations, citations per document, and H index data were obtained. The number of documents from CACs was recorded annually to determine the ten-year trend (2012 to 2021). Scientific categories in which CACs were prolific were defined. RESULTS: Between 1996 and 2021, 18,336,647 documents with Asian region origins were produced. The most active countries in the Asiatic Region were China (1st), Japan (2nd), India (3rd), South Korea (4th), and Taiwan (5th). According to the number of documents, Kazakhstan ranked 15th, Uzbekistan 19th, Kyrgyzstan 24th, Tajikistan 27th, and Turkmenistan 31st among the Asiatic Region countries. The total number of documents originating from CACS, which was 1,616 in 2012, increased to 9,780 in 2021 with an upward trend (6.05 fold increase). CONCLUSION: Despite a rising number of articles, CACs are not at the forefront of scientific productivity in the Asiatic Region. Kazakhstan is the leading country in scientific productivity among CACs. Nonetheless, the increasing quantity of articles from CACs over the last ten years suggests that these countries have the infrastructure and human resources to enhance scientific research and production.

Analysis of Retracted Publications in Medical Literature Due to Ethical Violations.

BACKGROUND: Retraction is an essential procedure for correcting scientific literature and informing readers about articles containing significant errors or omissions. Ethical violations are one of the significant triggers of the retraction process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of retracted articles in the medical literature due to ethical violations. METHODS: The Retraction Watch Database was utilized for this descriptive study. The 'ethical violations' and 'medicine' options were chosen. The date range was 2010 to 2023. The collected data included the number of authors, the date of publication and retraction, the journal of publication, the indexing status of the journal, the country of the corresponding author, the subject area of the article, and the particular retraction reasons. RESULTS: A total of 177 articles were analyzed. The most retractions were detected in 2019 (n = 29) and 2012 (n = 28). The median time period between the articles' first publication date and the date of retraction was 647 (0-4,295) days. The leading countries were China (n = 47), USA (n = 25), South Korea (n = 23), Iran (n = 14), and India (n = 12). The main causes of retraction were ethical approval issues (n = 65), data-related concerns (n = 51), informed consent issues (n = 45), and fake-biased peer review (n = 30). CONCLUSION: Unethical behavior is one of the most significant obstacles to scientific advancement. Obtaining appropriate ethics committee approvals and informed consent forms is crucial in ensuring the ethical conduct of medical research. It is the responsibility of journal editors to ensure that raw data is controlled and peer review processes are conducted effectively. It is essential to educate young researchers on unethical practices and the negative outcomes that may result from them.

Characteristics of Retracted Publications From Kazakhstan: An Analysis Using the Retraction Watch Database.

BACKGROUND: Retraction is a correction process for the scientific literature that acts as a barrier to the dissemination of articles that have serious faults or misleading data. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of retracted papers from Kazakhstan. METHODS: Utilizing data from Retraction Watch, this cross-sectional descriptive analysis documented all retracted papers from Kazakhstan without regard to publication dates. The following data were recorded: publication title, DOI number, number of authors, publication date, retraction date, source, publication type, subject category of publication, collaborating country, and retraction reason. Source index status, Scopus citation value, and Altmetric Attention Score were obtained. RESULTS: Following the search, a total of 92 retracted papers were discovered. One duplicate article was excluded, leaving 91 publications for analysis. Most articles were retracted in 2022 (n = 22) and 2018 (n = 19). Among the identified publications, 49 (53.9%) were research articles, 39 (42.9%) were conference papers, 2 (2.2%) were review articles, and 1 (1.1%) was a book chapter. Russia (n = 24) and China (n = 5) were the most collaborative countries in the retracted publications. Fake-biased peer review (n = 38), plagiarism (n = 25), and duplication (n = 14) were the leading causes of retraction. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of the publications were research articles and conference papers. Russia was the leading collaborative country. The most prominent retraction reasons were fake-biased peer review, plagiarism, and duplication. Efforts to raise researchers' understanding of the grounds for retraction and ethical research techniques are required in Kazakhstan.

Comparison of the effectiveness of a structured exercise program on nonspecific neck pain in string and woodwind players.

To investigate the effect of a structured exercise training program on pain, functional status, physical function and quality of life (QoL) in string and woodwind players with nonspecific cervical pain. This study had a prospective cohort design and conducted on 40 musicians (26 male, 14 female) aged between 18 and 65 years with persistent nonspecific neck pain in the previous 3 months. Forty musicians were assigned to either violin (n = 20, median age; 26.5 year, height; 1.67 m, body mass; 65 kg, BMI; 23.04 kg/m2) or ney group (n = 20, median age; 27.5 year, height; 1.81 m, body mass; 75 kg, BMI; 23.35 kg/m2) and followed the same structured exercise program (3 days/per week for 8 weeks). The primary outcome was neck pain intensity and assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes; cervical range of motion (ROM) was measured using a goniometer, the jaw-to-sternum and jaw-to-wall distances were used for the assessment of cervical mobility, neck, shoulder and back muscles strength were assessed with a hand-held dynamometer, the Northwick Park Neck Pain and Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires were also used. Normality of data distribution was checked using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. For evaluating the training effectiveness on outcome measures, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon test were used compare pre-test and post-test values with/within groups, respectively. The primary outcome (pain intensity) was lowered %33 in both groups. However, the mean change was found similar (median mean changes; -2 for both groups) (p > 0.05). The secondary outcomes; cervical mobility, cervical flexion ROM, disability and muscle strength of the left middle trapezius, left hand grip, anterior and middle parts of the right deltoid, and cervical flexors also significantly improved in both groups (p < 0.05). Only the mean changes of right serratus anterior, middle trapezius and cervical flexor muscles were higher in violin group than ney group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the cervical extension, right rotation, left rotation, right lateral flexion and left lateral flexion after the treatment in both groups (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups after the exercise program in terms of pain, mobility, range of motion and SF-36 subdomains (p > 0.05). Specific exercise program had similar positive effects on pain, cervical mobility, cervical fexion ROM and disability in string and woodwind players. Although several muscles showed similar improvements in strength, some muscle groups recovered differently. Physical needs specific to the instrument and performance should be taken into account when prescribing exercises to musicians having the same problem, but playing different instruments.

The relationship between cervical proprioception and balance in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

Proprioceptive abnormalities, balance, and postural disorders have been previously reported in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Unlike previous research, the aim of this study was to compare the proprioception of the cervical region of patients with FMS with a healthy control group. The relationship between cervical proprioception impairment and loss of balance was also examined. A total of 96 female FMS patients and 96 female healthy control subjects were enrolled in this case-control study. The cervical joint position error test (CJPET) was administered to the patient and control groups for cervical proprioception evaluation. FMS patients were assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS), fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), and fatigue severity scale (FSS). Balance tests were applied to both groups. FMS patients had significantly impaired CJPET results in all directions (p < 0.001). There were significant positive correlations between FIQ scores and CJPET results (r = 0.542 and p < 0.001 for right rotation; r = 0.604 and p < 0.001 for left rotation; r = 0.550 and p < 0.001 for flexion; r = 0.612 and p < 0.001 for extension). Significant correlations were found between CJPET measurements and balance tests (for sit-to-stand test; r = 0.510 and p < 0.001 for right rotation; r = 0.431 and p < 0.001 for left rotation; r = 0.490 and p < 0.001 for flexion; r = 0.545 and p < 0.001 for extension), (for timed up and go test; r = 0.469 and p < 0.001 for right rotation; r = 0.378 and p < 0.001 for left rotation; r = 0.410 and p < 0.001 for flexion; r = 0.496 and p < 0.001 for extension) and (for one-legged balance test; r = -0.479 and p < 0.001 for right rotation; r = -0.365 and p < 0.001 for left rotation; r = -0.392 and p < 0.001 for flexion; r = -0.469 and p < 0.001 for extension). Cervical proprioception and balance were impaired in FMS patients. As the disease activity and fatigue level increased, so the deterioration in cervical proprioception became more evident. There were correlations that demonstrated an association between impaired cervical proprioception and poor balance tests. Therefore, proprioception and balance assessments should be integrated into the physical examination processes of FMS patients.

Evaluation of visual reaction time in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) has previously been linked to cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this study was to compare visual reaction time (RT) between FMS patients and healthy subjects. The relationship was examined between RT and clinical parameters in FMS patients, and it was aimed to evaluate the effect of drugs used in the treatment of FMS on RT. A total of 112 FMS patients and 110 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional research. Cognitive performance was evaluated with visual RT measurements. FMS patients were assessed using the Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The drugs used in the treatment of FMS were recorded. Significantly prolonged visual RT measurements were detected in FMS patients (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in RT measurements between the patients who did not use drugs and those who were treated with serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, gabapentinoid and combination therapy (p > 0.05). RT was significantly correlated with FIQ, BDI and PSQI scores in FMS patients (rho: 0.290, p = 0.002 for FIQ; rho: 0.253, p = 0.007 for BDI and rho: 0.312, p = 0.001 for PSQI). No significant correlation was detected between RT scores and FSS values (p > 0.05). Visual RT measurements were seen to be deteriorated in FMS patients. As the disease severity, depression level, and sleep disturbance increased, so the impairment in visual RT values became more prominent. The drugs used in the FMS treatment did not influence the RT scores. Cognitive performance tests should be incorporated in the physical examination and follow-up courses of FMS patients.

Analysis of Retracted Publications in The Biomedical Literature from Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Retraction is a process for correcting the literature and provides a barrier to the dissemination of publications that include major faults or false-misleading data. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of retracted articles in the biomedical field sourced from Turkey. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all retracted publications from Turkey on PubMed were listed without date restriction. Data covering the article title, authors, publication date, retraction date, time between publication and retraction dates (in months), journal, article type, country of the corresponding author, peer review timeline (in days), reason for retraction, and subject area of the retracted item were recorded. Citation data were obtained using the Scopus database. The altmetric attention scores of the articles were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 102 articles were listed and after the implementation of exclusion criteria, 86 articles were included for analysis. The first retracted article was published in 2000 (n = 1), while the most retracted articles were published in 2020 (n = 11). The median time lag between publication and retraction was 10.33 (0.73-144.06) months. The main factors causing retraction were plagiarism (n = 23), duplication (n = 22) and error (n = 17). The total number of citations was 695. A total of 224 citations were in the pre-retraction period and 471 citations were in the post-retraction period. CONCLUSION: The retracted article counts showed a rising trend over the years. The leading causes of retraction for articles from Turkey were plagiarism, duplication, and error. It was found that the articles continued to be cited after the retraction. Researchers in Turkey should be educated on retraction, particularly plagiarism and duplication. Strategies should be developed to prevent articles from being cited after retraction.

Fibromyalgia syndrome: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) profoundly impacts patients' quality of life with its symptoms and clinical signs. Fibromyalgia syndrome impairs daily living activities, reduces work efficiency and raises health-related costs. Although the prevalence rates vary depending on geographical location and diagnostic criteria, it is a common disorder worldwide. Females have a higher prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome, with varied rates, and there is an increase in prevalence rates with age. Although its etiopathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, various hypotheses have been proposed that central sensitization is at the core of the process. Fibromyalgia syndrome diagnostic approaches have advanced significantly over time, moving away from pain assessments alone and emphasizing multiple clinical signs of FMS. This condition has raised physicians' and researchers' awareness of non-pain symptoms. Considering the complicated etiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia syndrome, diverse pathways connected with symptoms, and multiple clinical presentations, it becomes clear that drug and non-drug treatments should be chosen in combination.

Ankylosing spondylitis rehabilitation publications and the global productivity: a Web of Science-based bibliometric analysis (2000-2019).

Rehabilitation programs have an important place in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but there is no comprehensive bibliometric research that assesses publications on AS rehabilitation in a holistic way. The aim of this study was to investigate the quantity and quality of articles related to AS rehabilitation and to reveal the features of global productivity in this topic. This bibliometric study was conducted utilizing the Web of Science (WoS) database with the keywords 'ankylosing spondylitis rehabilitation', 'ankylosing spondylitis exercise', 'ankylosing spondylitis physical therapy' and 'ankylosing spondylitis physiotherapy'. The number of articles, citations, and main active countries were determined and trend analyses were performed. A total of 792 articles were reviewed. The articles originated from 51 different countries, 22 of which met the main active country criteria. A significant increase trend was detected in the number of articles between 2000 and 2019 (p < 0.001). The five most productive countries were Germany (n = 111; 14.02%), Turkey (n = 98; 12.37%), the United States (n = 71; 8.96%), the United Kingdom (n = 53; 6.69%) and the Netherlands (n = 53; 6.69%). The highest values in number of articles per million population were calculated in Norway, the Netherlands and Austria, respectively. In the analysis according to GDP, Norway, the Netherlands and Turkey were ranked as the first three. The top three countries for the average citation count were France, Netherlands and Germany. This bibliometric study can be considered as an assessment and summary of worldwide scientific production on AS rehabilitation. The data demonstrate an increasing trend in research productivity since 2000. European countries were seen to be at the forefront both quantitatively and qualitatively in this area.

Reactive arthritis after COVID-19: a case-based review.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is deeply affecting the whole world. In this new case for the scientific world, scientists are investigating the etiopathogenesis of viral infection-induced damage and have started to focus on the short and long-term immune system effects and alterations after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The case is here reported of a 53-year-old female patient with acute monoarthritis after SARS-CoV-2 infection, who responded adequately to 150 mg/day diclofenac treatment, and the available case reports are comprehensively reviewed. With the focus on arthritis after SARS-CoV2 infection, which emerges as a new pathological condition associated with COVID-19, it was aimed to examine the possible immunological mechanisms of post-COVID-19 arthritis based on the current data on SARS-CoV-2 and the known pathogenetic background of viral arthritis.

YouTube as a source of information on COVID-19 vaccination in rheumatic diseases.

As the most well-known and popular video-sharing platform around the world, YouTube is an influential tool for the dissemination of health-related information. In addition, considering the increase in obtaining information from internet-based sources in pandemic conditions, YouTube has become more important in the presentation of information related to COVID-19. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate videos related to COVID-19 vaccination in rheumatic diseases (RD) on YouTube. In this descriptive study, 334 video URLs listed with six search terms were recorded (26 July 2021). Three quality groups (high, intermediate, and low) were created based on the Global Quality Scores (GQS). Video sources were identified and various video parameters were compared between the quality groups. Following the implementation of the exclusion criteria, 56 videos remained for further analysis; of which 37 (66.07%) were evaluated as high quality, 12 (21.42%) as intermediate quality, and 7 (12.51%) as low quality. No significant difference was determined between the quality groups in per day values of views, likes, dislikes, and comments. The sources of high-quality videos were pharmaceutical company (n = 1; 100%), pharmacist (n = 1; 100%), society-organization (n = 17; 85%), and academic (n = 3; 75%). Although two-thirds of the videos were high quality, it should be kept in mind that intermediate and low-quality videos are also available. Users should not assume the quality of the videos based on the number of views, likes, dislikes, and comments, but should focus more on video sources.

Bibliometric analysis of publication activity in the field of familial Mediterranean fever in 2010-2019: a Scopus-based study.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a systemic autoinflammatory disease, which presents with recurrent episodes of fever, serositis, synovial inflammation and various different clinical features. In parallel with the geographical distribution of FMF, the prevalence is notably higher in some population groups including Turks, Jews, Armenians and Arabs. The aim of this study was to assess FMF articles published between 2010 and 2019 bibliometrically and to present up-to-date data. This bibliometric research was conducted on the Scopus database. The key term ''familial Mediterranean fever'' was utilized to generate the publication list. The number of articles, active countries journals, prolific authors and citation data were determined. Visualization maps that revealed collaboration networks were also created. The number of FMF articles displayed a stable trend between 2010 and 2019 (p > 0.05). The top five countries according to the number of articles were Turkey (n = 473; 52.90%), Israel (n = 86; 9.61%), Japan (n = 39; 4.36%), Italy (n = 38; 4.25%) and the USA (n = 37; 4.13%. Italy, the USA and France were ranked as the top three countries for the average number of citations per article. Rheumatology International, Clinical Rheumatology, Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, Annals of Rheumatic Diseases and Pediatric Rheumatology were the top five journals according to the number of FMF articles. The geographical distribution of FMF was seen to affect the article production of countries. Although Turkey dominated the field in the number of articles, it was not at the forefront in the average number of citations. To increase the production of articles in the field of FMF, it is necessary to support researchers in countries other than those which are already strongly active.

Publication activity in the field of Sjögren's syndrome: a ten-year Web of Science based analysis.

Bibliometric analysis is widely utilized to evaluate global research productivity in different research topics. However, to date, there has been no assessment of worldwide research productivity associated with Sjögren's syndrome. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the global research productivity in the field of Sjögren's syndrome using bibliometric analysis. The Web of Science database was scanned with the search terms 'Sjögren's syndrome' and 'Sjögren syndrome' for publications in the period 2010-2019. Original articles and reviews were selected for analysis. The most active countries were determined, and the number of articles, citations, research productivity adjusted by population and gross domestic product were analyzed. A total of 3856 articles were identified from 65 different countries. A statistically significant trend was observed in the direction of increase (in terms of the number of articles; from 282 to 461) in the 10-year period. A total of 3004 (77.90%) articles were from high-income countries. The five most productive countries were the United States (n = 714, 18.51%), China (n = 428, 11.09%), Japan (n = 308, 7.98%), Italy (n = 299, 7.75%) and France (n = 249, 6.45%). When the number of articles was adjusted according to population, Norway was the most productive country, followed by Greece and the Netherlands. In analysis according to gross domestic product, Greece was the leading country, followed by Norway and the Netherlands. The results of this study demonstrated a remarkable growth in global research productivity on Sjögren's syndrome between 2010 and 2019. More than three quarters of the articles were from high-income countries. When population and gross domestic product were considered, relatively small European countries came to the fore.

Bibliometric and Altmetric Analyses of Publication Activity in the Field of Behcet's Disease in 2010-2019.

BACKGROUND: Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis accompanied by oral-genital ulcers, ocular, cerebral, and gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate BD articles published between 2010-2019 bibliometrically and to provide up-to-date data. A secondary aim was to present a different perspective using altmetric assessments. METHODS: This bibliometric and altmetric research was performed with data obtained from the Web of Science database. The key terms "Behcet's disease," "Behcet's syndrome," and "Behcet" were used for listing the articles. The number of articles, citation data, and active countries were determined. Trend and correlation analyses were performed. Altmetric attention scores (AASs) and Mendeley readers count (MRC) of the articles were acquired for the altmetric evaluations. RESULTS: A total of 5,201 articles were listed. After the exclusion criteria, a total of 2,163 articles were obtained for further analysis. A significant and increasing trend was detected in the number of articles from 2010 to 2019 (P < 0.001). Turkey (28.24%), China (9.57%), South Korea (9.20%), Japan (6.38%), and Italy (5.64%) were the five most productive countries. France, the United States and, the United Kingdom were the top three countries in respect of the average number of citations per article. A weak significant correlation was detected between the number of citations and AAS (P < 0.001). The number of citations was significantly and strongly correlated with the MRC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: An increasing trend was found in BD research productivity. Although the Silk Road countries were prominent in the number of articles, a similar ranking was not valid for the average number of citations per article.

An analysis of the learning curve for robotic-assisted mitral valve repair.

BACKGROUND: Many cardiac surgeons receive training for sternotomy-based cardiac surgical operations in residency programs and only a few education programs offer training specifically in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. In this report, we aimed to search and analyze the learning curve for robotic-assisted mitral valve (MV) repair in cardiac surgeons. METHOD: Between January 2010 and July 2019, 60 robotic-assisted isolated MV repair surgeries were performed with DaVinci Robotic Systems in our center. Different kinds of surgical techniques were used. The assessment of the learning curve was based on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and transthoracic aortic clamp (CC) times. RESULT: There were 23 (38.3%) men and 37 (61.7%) women with a mean age of 48.3 years. The lesions of the MV were posterior leaflet prolapsus (n = 42, 70.0%), anterior leaflet prolapsus (n = 8, 13.3%), Barlow disease (n = 3, 5%), and annular dilatation (n = 7, 11.6%). The patients underwent notochordal implantation (n = 27, 45%), quadrangular or triangular resection (n = 23, 38.3%), isolated ring annuloplasty (n = 7, 11.7%), resection, and leaflet reduction (n = 2, 3.3%) or edge to edge repair (n = 1, 1.7%). The maturation of the learning curve appeared to be about 30 cases. The statistical analysis showed that the mean CPB and CC times for the first 30 cases were greater compared with the 30 after learning curve (155.3 vs. 118.9 min [p = .00], 102.3 vs. 80 min [p = .00], respectively). There was no case of conversion to open surgery. No perioperative mortality was observed. CONCLUSION: The maturation of the learning curve for robotic-assisted MV repair appeared to be about 30 cases in our group of patients. This study had encouraging results for surgeons who desire to start a robotic mitral surgery program.