ReviewEndocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets2026
The Evolution of Pediatric MAFLD Research (2014-2023): A Decade-Long Bibliometric Analysis of Emerging Trends
Review in Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMetabolic dysfunction-related fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as the predominant chronic liver disorder among children and adolescents. Like in adults, pediatric MAFLD encompasses a disease spectrum progressing from isolated steatosis to inflammatory changes, fibrotic development, and ultimately, cirrhosis. Despite increasing recognition of MAFLD as a major pediatric health issue, current literature lacks a systematic quantitative evaluation of research trends, leading to knowledge gaps in this field. To address this limitation, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis was performed to assess global research output on pediatric MAFLD by focusing specifically on the 2014-2023 period. This analysis avoids the confounding effects of the heterogeneity of earlier data while achieving sufficient temporal resolution to reveal emerging trends that might be obscured in long-term studies. This study synthesizes existing evidence, enhances understanding of this disciplinary field, and informs future research directions in pediatric MAFLD.
methodsArticles concerning children with MAFLD published from 2014--2023 were identified from the Science Citation Index-Expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace software, VOSviewer, and the Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology were used to analyze the current publication trends and hotspots.
resultsThe analysis identified 1,609 English-language articles on pediatric MAFLD published from 2014 to 2023. The United States emerged as the most active participant in international collaborations. The University of California San Diego (UCSD) demonstrated the highest research output among the analyzed institutions. Additionally, UCSD exhibited the most extensive collaborative network, engaging in frequent and substantive research partnerships with a diverse range of academic and scientific organizations. Valerio Nobili was found to be the most prolific author, with 67 articles. Keyword burst analysis revealed that cardiovascular risk factors were the most intense research hotspot.
conclusionCurrent research on pediatric MAFLD warrants greater attention, particularly regarding cardiovascular risk factors. This study provides valuable references for researchers, offering insights to guide future research directions and potential collaborations.
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What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.