Bibliometric,database,publications,tuberculosis,mycobacterium

In recent years, studies reported that the incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) has increased despite the decrease in rheumatic heart diseases, great advances in medical and surgical treatment methods, and prophylactic antibiotic therapies. However, there is no bibliometric analysis based on the visual mapping method in the literature. In the study, we aimed to analyze the hot topics in IE, the distribution of publications in terms of country, institution, journal, author, and their relationships by assessing IE articles published in the 130 years between 1892 and 2022. Publications before 2023 were analyzed using the keywords “infective” and “endocarditis” in the Scopus database. Approximately 25% of the publications on IE were from the USA followed by Japan, France, and the UK. A total of 116 keywords were used at least 15 times and the keywords were categorized into 9 clusters by the VOSviewer program. The keywords used more than 100 times except “infective endocarditis” were “echocardiography,” “mortality,” “surgery,” “Staphylococcus aureus,” “cardiac surgery,” “epidemiology,” and “prognosis” 247, 191, 152, 142, 130, 122, and 119 times, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the study is the most comprehensive study globally on IE with the widest time range including the visual mapping method. Since our study reveals the changes in the literature related to infective endocarditis, we think that it will be a guide in planning new research studies. We believe that periodic repetition of bibliometric analyses and keyword mapping studies will contribute to the quantitative and qualitative development of scientific productivity globally.

Objective: Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection—also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)—is the causative agent of Kaposi’s sarcoma, especially in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) / acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. The prevalence of HHV-8/KSHV varies according to country and geographical region. However, despite the increasing amount of research on HHV-8/KSHV after identifying the virus, few studies have systematically collected data on the scientific production process. Therefore, this study aimed to make a bibliometric evaluation of the literature on HIV/AIDS-associated HHV-8/KSHV. Methods: Scientific publications produced in Turkey were analyzed using specific keywords of AIDS-related HHV-8/KSHV in the Scopus database between 2001 and 2020. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the collected data was reviewed using appropriate bibliometric indicators regarding the number of publications, publication language, most influential institutions, most cited publications, active authors, and active journals. In addition, the VOSviewer v.1.6.16 program (Leiden University’s Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden, Holland) was used to create a keyword network map and determine research interest areas and relationships. Results: There were 40 scientific publications produced in Turkey. The first publication of AIDS-related HHV-8/KSHV in Turkey was in 2001 (n=5, 5%). Most studies were conducted in 2013 and 2020 (n=5, 12.5%). The highest number of publications were in English (82.5%), and 7.5% were published in the Journal of Microbiology Bulletin. Generally, the publications were in article form (82.5%) and in the area of medical sciences (95%). Kaposi’s sarcoma was the most frequently used word in the map created with the network analysis of the keywords.

Background/Objectives: Kiperin Postbiotics, defined as non-viable metabolic products derived from probiotics, have gained attention as potential modulators of cellular responses involved in tissue repair. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a postbiotic supplement (PS)—composed of inactivated strains of Escherichia coli, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum—on fibroblast function, particularly in the context of bacterial secretomes from common pathogenic strains. Methods: Human fibroblast cell lines (HFF-1 and CCD-18Co) were treated with cell-free supernatants (CFS) from E. coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, either alone or in combination with the PS. Assessments included cell count, migration (via scratch assay), oxidative stress levels, and expression of immune-related genes (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, DRD4). Results: CFS from E. faecalis significantly increased fibroblast counts, whereas E. coli and S. aureus CFS reduced cell counts and elevated oxidative stress. Co-treatment with PS reversed these effects in a strain-dependent manner by lowering oxidative stress and partially restoring cell proliferation. Scratch assays demonstrated enhanced migration in PS-treated fibroblasts. Gene expression analyses revealed no statistically significant changes, though variable trends were observed across treatment groups. Conclusions: PS may mitigate the harmful effects of certain bacterial secretomes while preserving or enhancing beneficial ones. Its ability to reduce oxidative stress and promote fibroblast proliferation and migration suggests a potential pro-regenerative role in vitro. Although gene expression changes were limited, the results offer initial insights into the underlying molecular responses influenced by postbiotic supplementation.

Objective: Toxoplasma gondii, rubella, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are among the TORCH (Toxoplasma, Others, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex virus) group microorganisms. Knowing regional epidemiological data on TORCH group infections is important, especially when deciding whether to perform routine screening at the regional and national levels. Our study aimed to evaluate the frequency of T. gondii, rubella, and CMV IgM and/or IgG antibodies in female patients admitted to a state hospital in İstanbul. Method: T. gondii, rubella, and CMV IgG and IgM antibody results tested in patient sera between January 2017 and December 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The results of 33 636 samples were evaluated. The highest rate of seropositivity was detected in the 20-29 age group (n=4626, 26.72%). The highest of antibody positivity was reported in 2019 (33.29%). The IgG seropositivity rate was 24.1% for T. gondii, 93.5% for rubella, and 98.3% for CMV. Conclusion: Except for the differences in T. gondii seroprevalence, the results of our study seem to be similar to those of other studies both in our country and globally. The seronegativity rate (74.9%) for T. gondii was high in our research, which indicates that pregnant women should be carefully monitored for T. gondii infection in our region. We conclude that more comprehensive studies are needed to establish national screening programs for TORCH group agents. Keywords: CMV, rubella, TORCH, toxoplasma, seropositivity