Stem Cell Therapy for Neuropathic Pain: A Bibliometric and Visual Analysis

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Neuropathic pain is a debilitating global health issue with limited effective treatments.
• Stem cell therapy is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy for neuropathic pain.
• Understanding the current research landscape is crucial for advancing this field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To visually analyze the existing literature on stem cell therapy for neuropathic pain.
• To identify current research status, hot issues, and future directions.
• To provide insights for future research in stem cell-based neuropathic pain treatment.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 291 articles (1995-2021) from Web of Science Core Collection using CiteSpace.
• Geographical distribution analysis using Gunnmap.
• Trend analysis of annual publications using Microsoft Excel.

Main Results:

• A consistent year-on-year increase in publications on stem cell therapy for neuropathic pain.
• United States, China, and Japan are the leading countries in research output.
• Key research areas include the expression of specific molecules (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α) and concepts like activation, regeneration, and chemotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Stem cell therapy holds significant potential for treating neuropathic pain.
• Further research into the underlying mechanisms of stem cell therapy is essential.
• Identifying research hotspots like molecular expression and regenerative processes will guide future studies.