Hepatitis B: global scientific development from a critical point of view.

Hepatitis B is the tenth leading cause of death worldwide. Countries with high endemicity, such as China and Taiwan show high scientific productivity in this field and dominate the top ten list of the most productive authors worldwide, providing four of them. This is remarkable, as the USA and Europe usually maintain leading positions, not only regarding country-specific scientific productivity, but also top ten ranking of most productive and most cited authors in other important medical sectors. So far, a scientometric analysis of the topic 'hepatitis B' has not been generated despite an increased need for it in times of modified evaluation criteria for academic personnel and a subsequent tendency to co-authorship and author self-citation. In this study, scientometric methods and large-scale data analysis were used to evaluate quality and quantity of scientific research dealing with the topic 'hepatitis B' and to contribute to distinguish relevant research output. Data were gained from Pubmed and ISI-Web. In the time span of 1971-2011, 49 166 items were published by 250 countries, of which the USA have been the most productive supplier with 28% of all publications, followed in considerable distance by Germany, China, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy and Taiwan, respectively. The USA have established their position as centre of international cooperation. Their cooperation with China proves to be the most productive one. The most prolific journals in the field of hepatitis b were 'Hepatology', the 'Journal of Hepatology' and the 'Journal of Medical Virology'. h-index, citation rate and impact factor, commonly used for assessment of scientific quality, were determined and discussed critically with regard to distortion by bias of self-citation and co-authorship.

A bibliometric analysis of bipolar affective disorders using density-equalizing mapping and output benchmarking.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar affective disorder (BaD) has a great impact on health systems worldwide. Although bibliometric studies have been done on this subject, these studies did not do an analysis of the contents of papers, the cooperation between countries, or of the names currently used to describe the condition. Furthermore, the number of publications since the last bibliometric study has doubled. AIM: This study was to examine the recent developments in the field, explore main topics/subject areas of the top 10 authors in this research field, and to compare diagnosis-defined data between International Classification of Diseases, 10(th) edition (ICD-10) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using distinct search terms, the Web of Science database developed by the Thompson Reuters Institute of Scientific Information was scanned for relevant items published between 1900 and 2008. Results were analyzed using scientometric methods and density-equalizing calculations. RESULTS: We found an important increase of publications on the subject over the last decade. Most published studies came from North America and Europe, while the countries cooperating with each other were comparable to other areas of medical research. Although there has been an increase in publications on BaD (m=3.3 publications per year in the last decade), the number of works using the term bipolar disorder (BD) was considerably higher (m=141.8 publications per year in the last decade). We found that the subject areas, genetics and pharmacology were focuses of research for the 10 most prolific authors, all of whom where psychiatrists. CONCLUSION: Research interest in BaD is rising. Reflecting the two main disease classification systems, DSM and ICD, both terms BD and BaD are used in research, with a preponderance of the former. The research of the most prolific authors engages genetic and pharmacological questions.

Depression and suicide publication analysis, using density equalizing mapping and output benchmarking.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a major cause of suicide worldwide. This association has been reflected by numerous scientific publications reporting about studies to this theme. There is currently no overall evaluation of the global research activities in this field. AIM: The aim of the current study was to analyze long-term developments and recent research trends in this area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We searched the Web of Science databases developed by the Thompson Institute of Scientific Information for items concerning depression and suicide published between 1900 and 2007 and analyzed the results using scientometric methods and density-equalizing calculations. RESULTS: We found that publications on this topic increased dramatically in the time period 1990 to 2007. The comparison of the different Journals showed that the Archives of General Psychiatry had the highest average citation rate (more than twice that of any other Journal). When comparing authors, we found that not all the authors who had high h-indexes cooperated much with other authors. The analysis of countries who published papers on this topic showed that they published papers in relation to their Gross Domestic Product and Purchasing Power Parity. Among the G8 countries, Russia had the highest male suicide rate in 1999 (more than twice that of any of the other G8 countries), despite having published least papers and cooperating least with other countries among the G8. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, although there has been an increase in publications on this topic from 1990 to 2006, this increase is of a lower gradient than that of psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.

[Scientometric analysis of the BMI]. / Eine szientometrische Betrachtung des BMI.

BACKGROUND: The connection between overweight and health risks has been known since the beginning of the 19th century. In order to define overweight, the "body mass index" (BMI) in kg/m (2) was introduced. METHODS: The present study evaluates the quantity and quality of the published literature available, and its changes over the years. Basic bibliographic methods and recent visualizing techniques were used in order to analyse and categorise research in the field of the BMI. The data were extracted from "ISI Web of Science" by Thomson Reuters beginning from 1900 to 2008 by defined search terms. RESULTS: There are 63,845 articles on the subject available. It shows, that the number of annual publications is increasing continuously, starting in 1972. The bibliometric methods and the application of density equalising maps reveal global research productivity and citation activity with emphasis on the USA. CONCLUSION: The present study supplies a first bibliometric approach to visualise research activity in the field of BMI. Furthermore, it provides data that can be used for the identification of research clusters and to locate regions where more research needs to be done. Despite the controversial discussion, the analysed data suggest that the BMI is still an important, simple, and inexpensive measure for the assessment of the nutritional status that comes to a worldwide use.

[A scientometric analysis of leukoplakia and erythroplakia]. / Eine szientometrische Analyse der Leukoplakie und Erythroplakie.

BACKGROUND: The oral leukoplakia and erythroplakia is one of the most common epithelial precursor lesions of the oral squamous cell carcinoma. Transformation rates are approximately 0.9-17% in 10 years for leukoplakia and in 14-50% for the erythroplakia. Despite the clinical relevance of these lesions, currently exists no detailed bibliometric analysis. METHODS: The present study combines classical bibliometric tools with novel scientometric and visualizing techniques in order to analyse and categorize research in the field of leukoplakia and erythroplakia. RESULTS: All studies related to leukoplakia and erythroplakia and listed in the ISI database since 1900 were identified by the use of defined search terms. The bibliometric analysis of the collected data shows a continuous increase in quantitative marker such as the number of publications and cooperation and qualitative markers, such as citations and H-index. The combination with density equalizing mapping revealed a distinct global structure of research and citing activity. Radar chart techniques were used to illustrate bi- and multilateral cooperations and institution research collaborations. DISCUSSION: The present study demonstrates the first scientometric approach that visualizes research activities in the area of leukoplakia and erythroplakia. It provides data that can be used for geografical context and research networks.

Scientometric analysis of the world-wide research efforts concerning Leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a chronic disease that is found in various countries of the world. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of leishmaniasis on the world's research output. The present study assessed benchmarking of research output for the period between 1957 and 2006. Using large database analyses, research in the field of leishmaniasis was evaluated. Furthermore, cooperation between different countries was identified. RESULTS: The number of publications increased with time. Most publications came from Western countries such as the US, UK or Germany. Interestingly, countries like Brazil and India had a high research output. We found a substantial amount of cooperation between countries. CONCLUSION: Although leishmaniasis is of limited geographic distribution it attracts a wide research interest. The central hub of research cooperation is the USA.

Cannabis publication analysis using density-equalising mapping and research output benchmarking

Background. Cannabis has been a topic of political and medical controversy in many countries over the past century. Although many publications on this topic are available, there is currently no comprehensive evaluation of global research activities in the field. Objective. This study was conducted in order to provide a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the worldwide research output on cannabis. Methods. In a quantitative approach, items concerning cannabis published between 1900 and 2008 were retrieved from the ISI Web of Science databases developed by the Thompson Institute of Scientific Information and analysed using scientometric methods. In a second step, research fields of growing interest were identified. Results. We found that publications on this topic increased during the late 1960s, as well as during the period 1990 - 2008. We noted that South Africa was one of the countries with a high research output; having published numerous articles on cannabis. A comparison of cannabis with other drugs (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, cocaine and heroin) showed that in relation to the proportion of respective drug users, cocaine and heroin are overly represented in terms of research output. When analysing the main subjects of the publications; psychiatry was prominent, especially with regard to research on psychosis. Conclusion. There is increasing interest in research on cannabis. The research only partially reflects the drug's importance with regard to number of users

An observational real-time study to analyze junior physicians' working hours in the field of gastroenterology.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, data from questionnaires have demonstrated increasing criticism from junior physicians regarding their work conditions. Ideally, such subjective statements should be compared to accurate objective data regarding workload. However, such data is not available in the research literature. Therefore the aim of the current study is to deliver exact data about physicians' work in different gastroenterology departments to analyze and to optimize work routines. METHOD: An observational real-time study was conducted by shadowing 21 gastroenterologists individually during weekday shifts at three hospitals in urban German settings. A total of 585 hours of observations were recorded by using an ultra mobile computer. RESULTS: The observation results have shown that a gastroenterologist's working day lasted on an average 9 hours 16 min (SD = 1:11:18 h). The following amount of time was given to varying tasks within this time period: 30.21 % for meetings (SD = 8.54 %), 13.42 % for documentation duties (SD = 7.74 %), 15.53 % for indirect patient care (SD = 6.32 %), 7.98 % for hospital admissions and ward rounds (SD = 5.49 %). Doctor patient communication was restricted to 4.05 % of the working day (SD = 2.71 %). CONCLUSION: This is the first real time analysis on how hospital gastroenterologists spend their working hours. Some of the problems with work routine reported by the doctors themselves were partly confirmed. With regard to the study results a rearrangement of job tasks coupled with technological solutions may prove helpful in reducing the burden on gastroenterologists and thereby improving the quality of medical care.

Cough as a symptom and a disease entity: scientometric analysis and density-equalizing calculations.

BACKGROUND: Cough is a prominent symptom of many allergic diseases and a major health burden but there is little information available on the current state of research in this area. OBJECTIVES: To analyze long-term developments in cough research and recent trends. METHODS: We searched the Thomson Reuters Web of Science databases for cough-related items published between 1900 and 2007 and analyzed the results using scientometric methods and density-equalizing calculations. RESULTS: We found 12 960 cough-related publications from 132 countries for the period studied. The most productive country was the United States of America (USA), followed by the United Kingdom (UK), France, Japan, Canada, and Germany. These 12 960 published items were cited 165 868 times. The average number of citations per item increased from 1976 to 1992, with peaks in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1989 and 1992. Each of these years was followed by a decrease in citation numbers. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation analysis using the radar chart technique showed a progressive increase in international co-authorship starting at the beginning of the 1990s, with a leading role by the USA and the UK. CONCLUSION: We detected a marked increased in cough-related research starting in the 1990s. While the majority of data originates from the US, other countries have taken a leading position in terms of research quality (number of citations per item).

[Always out of breath? An analysis of a doctor's tasks in pneumology]. / Immer ausser Atem? Eine Analyse der ärztlichen Tätigkeit in der Pneumologie.

BACKGROUND: Currently, data from questionnaires have demonstrated increasing criticism from respiratory physicians regarding their working situation. They complain about long working hours, income and an increasing amount of time spent on documentation and administrative duties in particular. Since these criticisms are only subjective perceptions they should be compared to data that are more objective. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to collect precise data about physicians' work in respiratory medicine in order to analyse working routines. METHOD: The working days of 60 physicians in a respiratory medicine hospital ward were observed unobtrusively for a total of 565 hours. An ultramobile personal computer was used to record the type and duration of all job tasks. RESULTS: The study results illustrate that a physician's working day amounted to an average of 9 hours 15 minutes (SD = 0 : 46 : 59 h). Within this time span different time periods were spent on administrative tasks, internal communication and meetings as well as on communication with patients, ward rounds and medical examinations. CONCLUSION: This is the first real-time analysis of job tasks in respiratory medical care. Some of the problems with work schedules reported by the doctors themselves were partly verified. Regarding the study results, a reorganisation of job tasks coupled with medical assistance systems may prove useful in reducing the workload of respiratory physicians.

[Erythropoietin - state of science]. / Erythropoietin - aktueller Stand der Wissenschaft.

After a century of research and medical use, erythropoietin (EPO) has more therapeutic approaches than ever in history. After cloning its gene in 1984, EPO obtained FDA license for clinical use in 1989. EPO and its analogues are mainly used for treatment of the anaemias of chronic renal failure and malignancies. Regarding research of the past 15 years, tremendous efforts were made for improvement of bioactivity, half-life and alternative application. Today, there are human cell-lined derived EPO, SEP, CEPO, CERA and drugs which are linked to different pathways of signaling. Due to the fact that these substances are not detectable with standardized methods of detection, it must be assumed that the abuse in sport is still possible. Moreover it was found out that the EPO receptor and EPO synthesis are also expressed by non-hematopoietic tissues, e. g. heart myocytes, ovarian and glial cells. On these tissues EPO is linked to promote cell proliferation and differentiation, angiogenesis or inhibition of apoptosis. This detection offered approaches in treatment for apoplexia and cardiac infarction and even in preventive treatment of cardiovascular diseases which led to an interest of manifold subject categories.