Bibliometric research on analysis of links between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases

BackgroundPeriodontitis (PD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) rank among the most prevalent pathologies worldwide, and their correlation has been a subject of prolonged investigation. Numerous studies suggest shared etiological factors; however, a definitive causal connection remains unestablished. The objective of this study was to employ bibliometric and visual analyses in order to comprehensively examine the overarching characteristics, focal areas of research, and prospective trends pertaining to the PD-CVD relationship.MethodsWe sourced articles, reviews, and online publications on PD- and CVD- research from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) spanning from January 1, 1993, to May 15, 2023. A triad of analytical tools (R-Bibliometrix, VOSviewer 1.6.19, and CiteSpace 6.2.R3) were utilized to facilitate collaboration network analysis, co-citation analysis, co-occurrence analysis, and citation burst detection.ResultsOut of the 1,116 publications that fulfilled the eligibility criteria in the WoSCC database, the comprehensive characteristics analysis divulged a sustained growth trend in publication frequency. In the cluster analysis of reference co-citation and keyword co-occurrence, prominent themes such as “periodontitis”, “cardiovascular diseases”, “inflammation”, “Porphyromonas gingivalis”, and “atherosclerosis” consistently emerged. Contemporary topics such as “peri-implantitis,” “COVID-19”, “cardiovascular risk factors,” and “endocarditis” were pinpointed as burgeoning research hotspots.ConclusionBased on this bibliometric study, in the field of association studies between PD and CVD, the etiologic mechanisms of both diseases have been intensively studied in the last three decades. Periodontal pathogens might serve as potential initiating factors linking PD and CVD. Inflammation may constitute a significant etiological factor shared by both diseases. Several emerging topics, such as COVID-19 and peri-implantitis, exhibit promising potential. This exhaustive overview casts light on pivotal research arenas, augmenting the field's understanding and stimulating further scholarly investigations

Numerical Investigation on the Urban Heat Island Effect by Using a Porous Media Model

The urban heat island (UHI) effect resulted from urbanization as well as industrialization has become a major environmental problem. UHI effect aggravates global warming and endangers human health. Thus, mitigating the UHI effect has become a primary task to address these challenges. This paper verifies the feasibility of a three-dimensional turbulent porous media model. Using this model, the authors simulate the urban canopy wind-heat environment. The temperature and flow field over a city with a concentric circular structure are presented. The impact of three factors (i.e., anthropogenic heat, ambient crosswind speed, and porosity in the central area) on turbulent flow and heat transfer in the central business district of a simplified city model with a concentric circular structure were analyzed. It is found that the three-dimensional turbulent porous media model is suitable for estimating the UHI effect. The UHI effect could be mitigated by reducing the artificial heat and improving the porosity of the central city area

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial: evaluating the effect of isokinetic eccentric training of the hamstring on knee function and walking function after total knee arthroplasty

IntroductionTotal knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a widely-used treatment for end-stage knee osteoarthritis. However, it is common for patients to experience issues with knee joint function and abnormal gait following the surgery. Previous studies have primarily focused on concentric contraction of the quadriceps during TKA, neglecting the potential benefits of eccentric isokinetic training for the hamstrings. This protocol outlines a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial aimed at assessing the impact of eccentric isokinetic training for the hamstring muscles on pain, function, and gait in patients after TKA.Methods and analysisFifty participants between the ages of 50 and 80 with knee osteoarthritis undergo unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the first time. They will be transferred to the rehabilitation department 10–14 days after the operation. The participants are randomly divided into two groups, with 25 participants in each group: the control group and the Hamstring training group. The Control group will receive routine rehabilitation treatment, while the Hamstring training group will receive a combination of routine rehabilitation treatment and isokinetic eccentric training of the hamstring. The intervention will last four consecutive weeks. Both groups will be assessed at three different times: before the intervention, after 4 weeks of intervention, and 4 weeks after the interventions (follow-up). The primary outcome will be functional capacity (TUGT) and Hospital for Special knee Score (HSS). Secondary outcomes will be knee-related health status (isokinetic knee position perception, Peak torque of hamstring strength), pain intensity (Visual analog scale, VAS) and 3D gait analysis.DiscussionThe study aims to provide relevant evidence on the effectiveness of eccentric hamstring muscle contraction training in improving knee joint function and walking function after TKA.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=195544, Identifier ChiCTR2300073497