Historical and Emerging Trends in Hepatitis B Virus Integration: A Bibliometric Visual Analysis

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Genetics
• Oncology

Background:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health issue, associated with severe liver diseases and cancer.
• HBV genome integration into host DNA plays a critical role in disease progression and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms and implications of HBV integration remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research trends and collaborations in the field of Hepatitis B virus integration.
• To identify key research areas, influential institutions, and prominent authors in HBV integration studies.
• To map the evolution of research and pinpoint current hotspots and future directions in HBV integration research.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed on the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC).
• A total of 972 relevant articles published between 1980 and November 30, 2024, were analyzed.
• Bibliometric tools including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Bibliometrix were utilized to analyze publication data, citations, keywords, and collaboration networks.

Main Results:

• A consistent increase in publications on HBV integration was observed from 1980 to November 30, 2024.
• China and the United States emerged as leading contributors in terms of publication volume and citation impact, respectively.
• Key research themes were identified through cluster analysis, highlighting major areas of focus and collaboration.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the global research landscape concerning HBV integration.
• The study identifies key players, influential publications, and emerging research fronts in the field.
• These insights can guide future research efforts and inform the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting HBV integration.