Worldwide interest in the comet assay: a bibliometric study

Area of Science:

• Biomolecular research
• Genotoxicology
• Molecular biology

Background:

• The comet assay is a widely used, sensitive technique for detecting DNA damage.
• Bibliometric analysis provides insights into research trends, geographical distribution, and quality.
• Understanding these trends is crucial for evaluating the assay's impact and future direction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric study of scientific production on the comet assay from 1990 to 2013.
• To evaluate temporal and geographical trends in comet assay research.
• To assess research quality and identify key areas of interest in the field.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed.
• 7674 citations related to the comet assay were retrieved for the period 1990-2013.
• Analysis included publication trends, geographical distribution, impact factors, and common keywords.

Main Results:

• The European Union and USA were leading contributors, but research has plateaued or declined in industrialized nations since 2000.
• Emerging countries (China, India, Brazil) showed a 5- to 7-fold increase in comet assay research.
• This shift correlated with a decrease in average scientific production quality (mIFs).
• Key research areas included DNA damage and repair, apoptosis, cancer, oxidative stress, and environmental/occupational health.

Conclusions:

• Global research on the comet assay is shifting from industrialized to emerging economies.
• This transition impacts the overall quality of scientific output in the field.
• The comet assay remains a vital tool in toxicology, genetics, and environmental health research.