Affiliation:
1. Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
2. Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University) Ministry of Education Shanghai China
3. Department of Anesthesiology Chaohu Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University Chaohu Anhui China
4. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
5. Department of Dermatology Chaohu Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University Chaohu Anhui China
Abstract
AbstractAimsItch, a common uncomfortable sensory experience, occurs frequently in inflammatory or allergic disorders. In recent years, with the discovery of itch‐specific pathways in the peripheral and central nervous system, the association between immunology and neural pathways has gradually emerged as the main mechanism of itch. Although many studies have been conducted on itch, no bibliometric analysis study focusing on this topic has been conducted. This study aimed to explore the research hotspots and trends in the itch field from a bibliometric perspective.MethodsPublications relevant to itch, published from 2003 to 2022, were retrieved from the Science Citation Index‐Expanded of Web of Science Core Collection. Publications were critically reviewed and analyzed with CiteSpace software, Vosviewer, and the bibliometric online analysis platform. Visual maps were conducted in terms of annual production, collaborating countries or institutions, productive authors, core journals, co‐cited references, and keyword bursts.Results2395 articles on itch that met our criteria were identified and the quantity of publications has been increasing rapidly since 2012. The USA was the most influential country. University Hospital Münster was the institution with the most publications. Gil Yosipovitch was the most prolific author. Atopic dermatitis (AD), intradermal serotonin, chronic pruritus, mechanical itch, gastrin‐releasing peptide, substance p, interleukin‐31 receptor, histamine‐induced itch, bile acid, scratching behavior, and h‐4 receptor were the top 11 clusters in co‐citation cluster analysis. Keyword burst analysis suggested that treatment, inflammation, and AD are current research hotspots.ConclusionGlobal publications on itch research have increased steadily and rapidly over the past 20 years. Inflammation and AD are current research hotspots. The neuroimmunological and neuroinflammatory mechanisms of itch, as well as clinical assessment methods and therapeutic targets, will be novel research directions in the future. This study provides guidance for further itch research.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality
Subject
Pharmacology (medical),Physiology (medical),Psychiatry and Mental health,Pharmacology