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Updated: May 21, 2026

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published on: June 8, 2014
Research Hotspots and Emerging Trends in Osteoporosis Epigenetics
Maobin Zhou1, Honglei Xiao1, Ang Li1
1Department of Orthopedics, Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, China, tongji.edu.cn.
Osteoporosis research highlights epigenetics, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), as key to understanding disease mechanisms. Future therapies may involve gene editing and stem cell interventions for osteoporosis (OP).
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Research
- Genetics and Epigenetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Osteoporosis (OP) poses a significant global health challenge due to high disability and mortality rates.
- Epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly recognized for their crucial role in the complex pathogenesis of OP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify current research trends and hotspots in osteoporosis.
- To identify key themes and future directions in OP research through bibliometric analysis.
Main Methods:
- Bibliometric analysis of 464 publications from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus.
- Utilized R Studio (Bibliometrix, ggplot2) for data analysis and CiteSpace/VOSviewer for visualization.
- Keyword co-occurrence analysis to identify predominant research themes.
Main Results:
- Top keywords include postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP), expression, mesenchymal stem-cells (MSCs), and osteogenic differentiation.
- "Expression," "PMOP," and "MSCs" emerged as predominant research themes.
- China leads international collaborations, particularly with the United States.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic mechanisms are central to OP, linking genetic and environmental factors.
- Future research directions include integrating epigenetics with metabolomics, AI for network prediction, and gene editing therapies.
- Promising therapeutic strategies for OP involve gene therapy, stem cell interventions, and targeted small-molecule compounds.
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