Qu Haoyang, Liu Qiubei, Zheng Dongwang, Ni Ya, Xiao Xiang
Center for Reproductive Health, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China.
School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2025;1469:207-243. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-82990-1_10.
Orchitis, an inflammation of the testes, presents significant implications for male fertility and has been a focal area of scientific inquiry over the past four decades. This study employs a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to assess the progression of global research on orchitis from 1980 to 2023. Drawing from a dataset of 1586 publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection, we uncover emerging patterns, collaborations, and pivotal works that have shaped the field. The United States, China, and Germany emerge as leading contributors, while the Journal of Urology stands out as a primary publishing avenue. The results highlight the increasing recognition of autoimmune responses, alongside infectious agents, as key contributors to orchitis. Moreover, molecules such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ are identified as central to the disease's pathology. The dynamic interplay of testosterone and regulatory T cells is underscored as a determinant of the testicular immune milieu. Notably, disruptions in the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and germ cell apoptosis emerge as pivotal consequences of the condition. This analysis underscores the expansive and multidisciplinary nature of orchitis research, revealing a consistent growth in collaborative endeavors. In summary, our findings catalog the evolution of orchitis research, providing a consolidated perspective on past achievements and signposting future research avenues. Such insights are instrumental for researchers aiming to navigate the complexities of orchitis and its multifaceted impact on male reproductive health.
睾丸炎是睾丸的一种炎症，对男性生育能力具有重大影响，并且在过去四十年一直是科学研究的重点领域。本研究采用全面的文献计量分析方法，评估1980年至2023年全球睾丸炎研究的进展。从科学网核心合集中索引的1586篇出版物的数据集中，我们发现了塑造该领域的新兴模式、合作关系和关键著作。美国、中国和德国是主要贡献者，而《泌尿学杂志》是主要的出版渠道。结果突出了自身免疫反应与感染因子一样，日益被视为睾丸炎的关键促成因素。此外，肿瘤坏死因子-α、白细胞介素-6和干扰素-γ等分子被确定为该疾病病理学的核心。睾酮和调节性T细胞之间的动态相互作用被强调为睾丸免疫微环境的一个决定因素。值得注意的是，血睾屏障（BTB）的破坏和生殖细胞凋亡是该病症的关键后果。这一分析强调了睾丸炎研究的广泛和多学科性质，揭示了合作努力的持续增长。总之，我们的研究结果梳理了睾丸炎研究的演变，为过去的成就提供了综合视角，并为未来的研究方向指明了道路。这些见解对旨在应对睾丸炎复杂性及其对男性生殖健康多方面影响的研究人员具有重要意义。
