Research trends of intestinal barrier in ulcerative colitis: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is intricately associated with the dysfunction of the intestinal barrier, making the restoration of barrier integrity a promising therapeutic target. Nonetheless, there is a notable deficiency in comprehensive and systematic investigations in this domain. Methods: A total of 1,554 articles were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus. We employed analytical tools such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer to identify leading topics and create visual representations of countries/regions, institutions, authors, keyword networks, and journals pertinent to this field of study. Results: Since 2020, there has been a marked increase in the annual publication rate, with China accounting for 72.13% of the total output. In terms of international collaboration patterns, China and the United States form the core cooperative system, which has served as the foundation for establishing a globalized research collaboration network. Frequently occurring keywords underscore the application of traditional Chinese medicine, repair of tight junctions, and the NF-κB/oxidative stress pathway. Contemporary studies are increasingly emphasizing targeted delivery and clinical translation, with epithelial barriers and organoid models emerging as prominent research foci. Influential publications have primarily concentrated on the pathological mechanisms and experimental models related to UC, while the journal “Inflammatory Bowel Diseases” has proven to be an essential platform for the dissemination of knowledge within this sphere. Conclusion: The intestinal barrier has surfaced as a significant therapeutic target for UC, fostering a multidisciplinary research network. Future endeavors should aim at enhancing the linkage between mechanistic studies and clinical implementations to yield improved practical outcomes. Additionally, promoting a more equitable distribution of international collaborations is vital for the advancement of targeted intervention strategies.