Emerging trends and hotspots in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) research from 2012 to 2021: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

BackgroundMetabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease. MAFLD is a major risk factor for end-stage liver disease including cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. The pathogenesis of MAFLD is complex and has not yet been clarified. To the best of our knowledge, few studies have conducted quantitative bibliometric analysis to evaluate published MAFLD research. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of MAFLD publications over the past decade to summarize the current research hotspots and predict future research directions in this field.MethodsArticles into MAFLD published from 2012 to 2021 were identified from the Science Citation Index-Expanded of Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace software, VOSviewer, the “bibliometrix” R package, and the Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology were used to analyze the current publication trends and hotspots.ResultsWe retrieved 13959 English articles about MAFLD published from 2012 to 2021. Primary sites of publication were dominated by the United States until 2014, when China became the source of most published MAFLD-related research papers. The United States was found to be the most engaged country in international cooperative efforts. Shanghai Jiao Tong University was the most productive institution. Loomba R was the most productive author with 123 articles. The co-cited keyword cluster tag showed ten main clusters: #0 liver fibrosis, #1 hemoglobin, #2 metabolic associated fatty liver disease, #3 egcg, #4 myocardial infarction, #5 heart disease, #6 pnpla3, #7 hepatocellular carcinoma, #8 noninvasive marker, and #9 children. Keyword burst analysis showed that gut microbiota was the highest-intensity research hotspot.ConclusionIn the past decade, the number of publications on MAFLD increased dramatically, especially in the last three years. Gut microbiota became an important research direction for etiological and therapeutic investigations into MAFLD. Insulin resistance was also a key factor in studying the development of MAFLD in recent years. Liver fibrosis was an important focus of disease development. This study provides systematic information, helps guide future research, and helps to identify mechanisms and new treatment methods for MAFLD.

Gut Microbiome in the Progression of NAFLD, NASH and Cirrhosis, and Its Connection with Biotics: A Bibliometric Study Using Dimensions Scientific Research Database

“…These authors published the most on the relationship between the gut microbiome and NAFLD and its advanced pathological forms, as well as biotics. Although, as stated above, both the source of the data and the research topics are different from some major previous bibliometric papers, data on publication trends and productivity/cooperation of nations are comparable to the results of these previous publications [35][36][37]. The journal with the most publications was Nutrients (33), followed by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (29), the World Journal of Gastroenterology (27), Frontiers in Microbiology (20), Food & Function (20), and the Journal of Hepatology (20).…”

“…Different from previous bibliometric studies which analyze, by utilizing the Web of Sciences database, the emerging trends and hotspots in the field of metabolic-dysfunctionassociated fatty liver disease (MALD) [35], the field of gut microbiota and MALD [36], and the role of the gut-liver axis in NAFLD [37], we have analyzed a selection of articles specifically concerning the relationships between the gut microbiome, all stages of liver disease, from NAFLD to cirrhosis, and their connections with biotics (prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, postbiotics, and probiotics). Moreover, we have examined data extracted from the free access version of the Dimensions database [38,39].…”

Association Between Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and MACCEs in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers: An Ambispective Longitudinal Cohort Study

“… 16 , 23–25 Since introducing the new definition highlighting metabolic dysfunction issues, MAFLD has quickly become a research hotspot. 26 Theoretically, metabolic dysfunction should be related to the clinical prognosis in patients with DFUs. However, whether MAFLD is associated with MACCEs in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) remains unclear.…”

A bibliometric analysis of the neurotoxicity of anesthesia in the developing brain from 2002 to 2021

“…Bibliometric analysis is the quantitative analysis of the literature on a particular topic using mathematical and statistical methods, preferring to quantify the comprehensive body of knowledge on the topic studied and to guide future research directions by highlighting the latest research trends ( 9 – 11 ). However, there are no relevant bibliometric articles that summarized the latest progress in this field.…”