Science Citation Index Research Articles

Global trends in tertiary lymphoid structures: a bibliometric analysis from 2014 to 2023

Aim and backgroundTertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are increasingly recognized for their role in immunity. Despite growing interest, a systematic bibliometric analysis of TLS-related research has been lacking. To provide a comprehensive overview of current research trends and hotspots, we conducted a bibliometric analysis using data from the Web of Science Core Collection.MethodsWe retrieved TLS-related publications from the Science Citation Index Expanded within the Web of Science Core Collection from January 2014 to December 2023. Co-occurrence analysis with “VOSviewer” identified current status and research hotspots, while “CiteSpace” was used for co-citation analysis to assess knowledge evolution and bursts. Thematic evolution was explored using bibliometrics to identify emerging keyword trends. Additionally, we examined country/region, institutional, and author contributions and collaborations. Tables were created using Microsoft Word.ResultsA total of 785 publications were analyzed, showing a continuous growth trend from 2017 to 2023, indicating escalating interest in TLS among researchers. Leading countries in TLS research were China (231 publications), the United States (212 publications), and France (89 publications). The most productive institution and author were the “Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale” (70 publications) and Catherine Sautes-Fridman (21 publications), respectively. Key topics included TLS, B cells, and immunotherapy. Recent research has focused on mechanisms linking TLS with cancers, such as immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, prognosis, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, highlighting an expanding area of study. Additionally, TLS’ potential as a biomarker for predicting immunotherapy efficacy across different cancer types remains a burgeoning research direction.ConclusionsThis study provides a comprehensive analysis of global TLS-related publications, revealing key literature metrics and identifying influential articles and emerging research concerns. These findings contribute valuable insights into the role of TLS in immunotherapy and suggest future directions for this dynamic field.

Factors bridging medical graduate students’ training and future academic achievements of dermatologists in China

Abstract Objectives Dermatology is highly competitive among medical students in China, yet, limited research has explored the factors influencing their career achievements during their studies. This study aims to examine how demographic and academic factors during training impact future career success in dermatology graduates. Methods A retrospective analysis of 61 dermatology graduates (2010–2020) from Wuhan Union Hospital was conducted. The correlation between demographic and academic data and career development indicators using Pearson’s chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test. Results The results revealed that pursuing a doctoral degree after completing master’s training, which entails a greater investment of time and effort, was closely associated with future career achievements. In contrast, the age of enrollment in graduate studies did not prove to be a determining factor. Additionally, in-depth training in research ability, demonstrated by the involvement in national research projects and the publication of high-quality science citation index (SCI) papers, exerted a positive influence on the future professional development. Besides, in terms of future promotions to administrative, teaching, and medical titles, male graduates exhibited a distinct advantage over their female counterparts. Conclusions These results suggest that in the medical field, the quality of education and training is more decisive for career development than other factors, such as the age of enrollment. On the other hand, the observed gender advantage in career promotions reflects potential structural inequalities within the medical profession, warranting further investigation and improvement.

Technology evaluation: a systematic review and implications for ethical technology management in tourism and hospitality

ABSTRACT The widespread adoption of disruptive technologies in tourism and hospitality significantly enhances service productivity while concurrently raising critical ethical considerations. However, a study that develops into such a focus shift in technology evaluation research is absent. This systematic review attempted to fill this research gap and reviewed 213 articles recently published in Social Science Citation Index – listed tourism and hospitality journals. This study critically examines the evolving role of technology evaluation. Moreover, this paper offers valuable implications for technology evaluation research that promotes ethical technology management in the new decades of digital revolution.

HPB SO71 - Meta-Anaylsis of Early Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography versus conservative management for gallstone pancreatitis

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal causes of hospital admission. The most common cause is transient blockage of the bile or pancreatic duct (or both) by gallstones. Most of the time, pancreatitis responds to conservative management (CM) comprising intravenous fluid hydration and analgesia. ERCP +/_endoscopic sphincterotomy in acute gallstone pancreatitis has been advocated in the past to decrease the number of complications of this condition. However, the role and timing of this procedure are still contentious and an ongoing debate. Method The aim of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes of early urgent ERCP versus conservative management in biliary pancreatitis but not cholangitis. An online search of Medline, Embase, Science citation index, PubMed and Cochrane database of systematic reviews published between 1988 and 2022 was carried out for relevant studies. Statistical analysis was done using Revman 5.4 and Odds ratio with a 95% Confidence interval was used for outcome estimation. There was 14 studies included in the final study consisting a total of 1756 patients with 877 patients in ERCP group while 879 in CM group. Results With random effects model, data showed no significant reduction in mortality in ERCP group as compared to the CM group (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.30-1.16; p=0.13). However there were overall more local or systemic complications (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.36-0.71; p<0.002) in the CM group as compared to ERCP group. No statistically significant difference found amongst groups when comparing complications as renal failure(OR-0.99, 95% CI-0.41-2.41, p=0.98), cardiac failure (OR-0.77 95% CI 0.35-1.69, p=0.51) or biliary sepsis (OR-0.56 95%CI 0.15-2.10, p=0.39) but there was more incidence of pseudocyst in CM group patients(OR-0.47, 95% CI 0.25-0.87, p=0.02). Conclusion The above study did show that the mortality rate was not significantly higher in the CM group as compared to the ERCP group however the early ERCP was beneficial in reducing overall complications in the interventional group. Based on this fact, ERCP considered early in the management of acute pancreatitis despite of still being debatable in practice can be considered in severe pancreatitis cases and further high powered randomized controlled trials can be carried out to assess this point.

Intraoperative Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy and Outcomes After Oncologic Surgeries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the first-line curative treatment for most solid-organ malignancies. During major surgeries, fluid under- or over administration can have a significant impact on recovery and postoperative outcomes. For patients undergoing oncologic surgery, delayed recovery or complications could additionally impact subsequent oncologic treatment planning. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) on perioperative outcomes after oncologic surgeries. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science citation index for clinical trials comparing the GDFT to routine clinical care. The primary outcomes of interest are the hospital length of stay and the total incidence of postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes include organ-specific complications and recovery of bowel function. RESULTS: The literature search was last updated on February 17, 2024. We identified a total of 24 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing GDFT to routine care with 1172 and 1186 patients, respectively. The GDFT arm had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay (mean difference [MD], 1.57 days, 95% confidence interval [CI], −2.29 to −0.85, P < .01), as well as lower incidence of complications (risk ratio, 0.74, 95% CI, 0.56–0.97, P = .03). The GDFT arm also had a shorter time to bowel function recovery (MD, 0.58 days, 95% CI, −1.02 to −0.14, P = .01). None of the included trials reported the longer-term oncologic outcomes. The overall certainty of evidence is low due to between-study variance and study risk of bias. Trial sequence analysis indicates that further studies are unlikely to alter the conclusion regarding postoperative length of stay but may provide further information on the postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that in oncologic surgery, intraoperative GDFT significantly reduces the length of hospital stay, lowers the risk of complications, and facilitates bowel function recovery. Further studies are required to evaluate whether the improvement in early postoperative outcomes leads to better long-term oncologic outcomes.

Bibliometric analysis of the top 500 most cited articles in cancer epidemiology

Purpose: The objective of this work is to provide perceptions for future research by creating a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on "cancer epidemiology". Material and Methods: Article data was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and advanced search was performed using the following keywords: “cancer*” and “epidemi*” between 2010-2024. The results were then refined according to the publication type of Science Citation Index Expanded and Emerging Sources Citation Index, which only consist of original English articles in the WOS database. A summary of the data analysis results examined along with open-source R package Bibliometric and VOS viewer (Version 16.20) programs. Results: The 500 most cited documents published in 180 different sources in the time period 2010-2024 showed a negative annual growth rate of 18.97%, indicating a decrease in publication output. An average of 70.1 co-authors per document was observed, and 60.8% of the collaborative efforts in these articles were found to be foreign co-authorship. The most frequently appearing keywords were found to be "epidemiology" with a total link strength of 625, followed by "cancer" with a total link strength of 372. According to the bibiliometric analysis result, the article by Ferlay, J. mm was found to have more than 72,000 citations. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis has yielded quantitative data on the expansion of the cancer epidemiology discipline, the level of scientific excellence, and the identification of keywords, so facilitating the determination of the most accomplished topics.

Biomarkers of renal parenchymal damage in young children with congenital hydronephrosis: literature review

Enlargement of the renal cavity system in a fetus is revealed at prenatal ultrasound in 1–5% of cases and can be caused by congenital hydronephrosis due to pelvic-ureteral junction obstruction, which is one of the most common nosologies in the structure of obstructive uropathies in childhood. A high risk of renal function decrease at the preclinical stage of disease development dictates a need to create highly informative diagnostic programs and treatment algorithms aimed at preventing complications. In this review, we discuss results of studies on diagnostic and prognostic value of cytokine biomarkers which are of a great interest in congenital hydronephrosis in young children. They include: kidney injury molecule-1, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, interleukin-1. Literature search for this review was made in Web of Science, PubMed, Russian Science Citation Index, CyberLeninka, Scopus databases.

Clinical risk factors for pancreatic cancer: protocol for an umbrella review

IntroductionIdentifying cancer earlier can help save lives. An increasingly popular approach to diagnosing cancer earlier is in the development of risk prediction models to be applied to the electronic healthcare...

A critical review of literature and a conceptual framework for organising and researching urban health and community health services in low- and middle-income countries.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are rapidly urbanizing, and in response to this, there is an expansion in the body of scholarship and significant policy interest in urban healthcare provision. The idea and the reality of 'urban advantage' has meant that health research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has disproportionately focused on health and healthcare provision in rural contexts and is yet to sufficiently engage with urban health as actively. We contend that this research and practice can benefit from a more explicit engagement with the rich conceptual understandings that have emerged in other disciplines around the urban condition. Our critical review included publications from four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Social Sciences Citation Index) and two CHW resource hubs. We draw upon scholarship anchored in sociology to unpack the nature and features of the urban condition; we use these theoretical insights to critically review the literature on urban community health worker programs, as a case to reflect on community health practice and urban health research in LMIC contexts. Through this analysis, we delineate key features of the urban - such as heterogeneity, secondary spaces and ties, size and density, visibility and anonymity, precarious work and living conditions, crime, and insecurity, and specifically the social location of the urban CHWs and present their implications for community health practice. We propose a conceptual framework for a distinct imagination of the urban to guide health research and practice in urban health and community health programs in the LMIC context. The framework will enable researchers and practitioners to better engage with what entails a 'community' and a 'community health program' in urban contexts.

Visibility of Russian university journals in the systems of national and international scientific and technical information

Current limitations of access to some international journal platforms and bibliographic systems for Russian researchers result in increased role of national journals for communication and knowledge spreading both at domestic and international levels. Consequently, correct information on Russian journals indexation in various bibliographic systems including underestimated open access databases seems to be topical. The analyzed sample includes journals published by Russian universities as the less studied ones compared to serials published by research institutes. We studied journals published by three types of Russian universities, i.e. Federal, National Research and Basic. Rapid increase in the number of new journals in recent years is demonstrated caused by financial support under different programs. Indexing of journals in Web of Science, Scopus, Dimensions and Lens was studied over a period of 2018–2022. In the Dimensions and Lens we also studied the completeness of indexing as these databases index content using other approaches as compared to Web of Science and Scopus. A share of journals indexed by authoritative Russian journal lists Russian Science Citation Index and White List was revealed. The best positions were detected among journals published by National Research universities. However, Basic universities demonstrate positive growth, as well. The obtained results enabled us to conclude that journals published by Russian universities can be regarded as significant strategic information resource for representing Russian research results to international community.

The Role of Changes in the Redox Status in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a hemoblastosis of CD5+ B lymphocytes with lymphocytosis, damage to the lymphatic organs, occurring in the older age group, the etiology and pathogenesis of which are not fully understood. Oxidative stress is an important factor in the regulation of stem cells and the activation of intracellular survival signaling pathways in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. The aim of the study was to analyze the current data on the role of redox status changes in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A review of published relevant studies 2018-2023, scientific articles in scientific electronic bibliographic databases PubMed and Social Sciences Citation Index, devoted to the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the role of free-radical oxidation processes in it was carried out. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia, oxidative stress with a systemic excess of reactive oxygen species, an imbalance in the effectiveness of antioxidant defense is caused mainly by activation of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, low levels of NADPH-oxidase type 2, increased expression of heme oxygenase-1, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione recycling enzymes, superoxide dismutase-2, thioredoxins and decreased expression of catalase. One of the mechanisms of resistance to drug therapy and oxidative stress of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells is the intracellular signaling pathway dependent on erythroid nuclear factor-2, due to the activation of expression in cells of superoxide dismutase-2, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin-3 and-5, heme oxygenase-1, thioredoxin-1 and -2, reduced glutathione, natural killer cell activity, which is associated with lifespan, chemotaxis, proliferation, and survival. FOXO family proteins are believed to suppress carcinogenesis. FOXO3a increases the expression of superoxide dismutase-2, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin-3 and -5, and the activity of natural killer cells, which promotes the survival of tumor cells. The development of new targeted pharmacological agents that are capable of accumulating reactive oxygen species and reducing antioxidant protection due to the degradation of erythroid nuclear factor-2 and activation of NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase-1 is underway, which modernizes the therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Bibliometric analysis of photocatalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds from 1998 to 2023

IntroductionVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) have attracted widespread attention due to their adverse effects on human health. Photocatalytic oxidation is an effective technology for degrading VOCs under ambient conditions.MethodsIn order to better understand the trends and development of global trends in photocatalytic oxidation of VOCs, the analysis of 2493 articles or reviews from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) in the Web of Science Core Collection, covering the period from 1998 to 2023, was conducted using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software.Results and DiscussionThe findings indicate significant growth in papers concerning photocatalytic oxidation of VOCs. China emerges as the most active country among the main drivers. Principal sources publishing relevant research are Applied Catalysis B-Environmental, Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal of Hazardous Materials, and Environmental Science and Technology. A relatively well-established theoretical framework has been developed for the study of photocatalytic oxidation of VOCs. In the field of VOCs photocatalytic oxidation, the focus is on the development and optimization of advanced photocatalysts with efficient charge separation, better adsorption performance, and a wider light response range. In addition, the in-depth study of the charge generation and transfer mechanisms within the photocatalysts, as well as the comprehensive understanding of the reaction kinetics and catalytic oxidation process, the optimization of the reaction conditions, and the improvement of the catalytic efficiency are at the forefront of the research in this field. This research system is advancing and becoming more refined, with its theoretical propositions, research findings, and methodologies increasingly employed and confirmed.

Biomarkers and Alzheimer's disease: a bibliometric analysis.

The diagnosis and treatment of biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease has emerged as a prominent topic within Alzheimer's disease research. In this paper, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of data from a wide range of literature in this field to enhance the in-depth understanding of this area. The core collection of the Science Citation Index database (web of science) was used to search for relevant literature in the above fields from 1 January 2006 to 14 November 2022 and Citespace software was used to visualize and analyze the literature data. A total of 1,138 papers were included, of which the United States ranked first with 607 papers and China ranked 6th in the world with 84 papers. The value of mediational centrality is 0.49 in the United States and 0.05 in China. In terms of the number of articles published by the research authors, the Swedish scholar Blennow Kaj ranks first with 82 articles published, and the scholars who rank second and third are Zetterberg Henrik (78 articles) and Morris John C (64 articles), respectively; in terms of the mediational centrality, the American scholar Trojanowski John Q ranked first in the world with 0.1, and the second and third ranked scholars were Blennow Kaj (0.09) and Zetterberg Henrik (0.06) respectively. Scholar JACK CR ranked first with 377 citation frequency. The journal NEUROLOGY is ranked first with 943 citations. In recent years, global research in the field of biomarkers related to Alzheimer's disease has shown signs of softening, and the momentum of research has slightly diminished. However, this trend does not imply a decline in the quality of research. It is essential to enhance collaboration among countries, major research institutions, and scholars, with a particular emphasis on fostering international partnerships in the future.

Experience in using the Science Space system for increasing of the journal indicators (using the example of the journal Chemical Physics and Mesoscopy)

The Science Space information and analytical system, developed as an application to the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI), is used by RSCI user organizations to correct the editorial policy of their publications. However, there is no available information on the extent to which it is effective in measuring journal bibliometric performance. In the proposed article, using the example of the journal Chemical Physics and Mesoscopy, good experience in using the system was found. With its help, over the course of a year, it was possible to find and link about 500 new citations to the journal – approximately 10% of the existing volume.

Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care lung ultrasound for community-acquired pneumonia in children in ambulatory settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: To perform a systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care lung ultrasound, compared to chest radiography, in children and young people (0–21 years) who present to ambulatory settings with suspected community-acquired pneumonia. Methods: Registration: Prospero June 2021 CRD42021260552. Electronic searching performed on Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Science Citation Index from inception to 20 June 2023. Two researchers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts for study selection. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. Meta-analysis of included studies. Results: The six studies included in this systematic review described point-of-care lung ultrasound performed primarily by paediatric emergency medicine clinicians on a total of 1099 paediatric patients, with a reference standard of chest radiography or chest radiography with clinical findings. The majority of included studies lacked clarity on training for the index test with potential bias around flow and timing of testing. Meta-analysis of the combined results of the included six studies calculated a pooled sensitivity of 90.9% (95% CI [85.5%, 94.4%]) and pooled specificity of 80.7% (95% CI [63.6%, 91.0%]). Conclusions: Point-of-care lung ultrasound has high sensitivity but lower specificity to diagnose acute pneumonia in children. Further research is needed which overcomes issues around training in point-of-care lung ultrasound, study design and reliability of the reference test (chest radiography) to better evidence the role of point-of-care lung ultrasound in diagnosing pneumonia in children in ambulatory and resource-limited settings.

Gastrointestinal infections and ethnicity in the UK: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

Abstract Background Gastrointestinal (GI) infections exert a significant public health burden on healthcare services in the United Kingdom (UK). The literature suggests an association between ethnicity and health; however, we do not know the extent of inequalities in GI infection/disease in the UK. This systematic review aimed to identify studies that ascertain differences in the incidence or prevalence of GI infections between UK ethnic groups and explore possible explanations for heterogeneity observed within the literature. Methods MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science (Science Social Science Citation Index), and grey literature were searched from 1980 to 21st June 2023 for studies reporting an association between ethnicity and GI infections in UK population samples. Two reviewers independently screened the studies and conducted quality appraisals; data extraction was undertaken by one reviewer and verified by another reviewer. A narrative synthesis was undertaken and a harvest plot supported the textual synthesis to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity in effect estimates by GI pathogen and ethnic group. Results The searches identified 10028 studies, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria. 15 out of 47 effect estimates from a total of 16 studies found that GI infection risk was greater in Black and Ethnic Minority Groups, mainly of Asian ethnicity, compared to the majority White population. 13 studies reported a higher risk in ethnic minorities of Asian ethnicity, while one study described a higher risk in the Non-White ethnic group. One single study on STEC reported a higher risk of GI infection in the White population compared to the Non-White population, while another single study on norovirus found no significant difference by ethnic group. Conclusions This systematic review demonstrates that ethnic minority groups in the UK have a higher risk of GI infections than the general or White population. Key messages • There is a clear need to elucidate further the high incidence of GI infections in UK Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi communities. • Tackling ethnic inequalities requires a concerted approach and translating evidence into policy.

Development overview and research hotspots of Information Science & Library Science based on SSCI data

This study uses the scientometric method to analyse the literature to summarise the development overview and research hotspots in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS), aiming at sorting out the knowledge structure of the discipline and providing references and information for deepening its research and development. This article takes 85 Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) journals in the field of LIS as the research object, from which 116,570 articles from 1900 to 2023 are collected as the basis of data analysis. It employs the scientometric method based on visualisation software to analyse four dimensions of the LIS discipline: annual publications, journal outputs distribution, production and cooperation, and present focus and research hotspots, finding that the overall development of the discipline is stable and shows some new topics.

CARE guidelines in publishing case reports in paediatrics: where do we stand after 10 years?

Background: Case reports are especially important in paediatrics, and CARE (CAse REport) guidelines help in standardizing the reporting in case reports. Objectives: To examine the actual use of CARE guidelines in journals in the field of paediatrics. Methods: Journals that publish case reports were selected from the databases of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC; Science Citation Index Expanded, or SCIE; and Emerging Sources Citation Index, or ESCI). All journals that publish case reports and mention CARE guidelines were included, and the ranking (quartiles) of those journals was also recorded. From all the journals in paediatrics that mention CARE in their instructions for authors, 5% of all the open-access case reports were selected (limited to 10 reports from any one journal), and every 10th case report was included in the analysis. The reports published between 2013 and 2023 were further analysed for their compliance with the 13-item CARE checklist. Results: Of 184 journals in the field of paediatrics category included in the WoSCC, 130 (71%) were indexed in the SCIE and 54 (29%) in the ESCI; 161 (87%) publish case reports; and 121 (65%) mention CARE guidelines in their instructions for authors. However, they differ in applying CARE guidelines (P = .001), and more journals included in the ESCI mention CARE guidelines than do those included in the SCIE. During 2013–2023, a total of 22,989 case reports were published in the 121 journals that mention CARE guidelines. Of the total, 6733 (29%) were open access. Our final sample comprised 326 (5%) open access case reports that were open access, of which 240 (74%) were in the journals included in the SCIE and 86 (26%) in the ESCI. On aver-age, these reports were given a score of 8.5 (SD 1.97; range, 2–13) out of the maximum possible score of 13. The highest compliance was observed for the informed consent item (99%), while the lowest compliance was found for the keywords item (22%). Conclusion: It is important for journals to ensure that during writing and editing, the case reports they publish adhere to CARE guidelines so as to eliminate biased reporting and improve their quality.

The application of social network analysis in applied linguistics research: a systematic review

Abstract Social network analysis (SNA) has recently drawn increasing scholarly attention in applied linguistics research in response to the social turn in the field. In this review, we analyze and identify the methodological characteristics and topical concerns of articles addressing SNA in Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) journals. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we identify a total of 60 articles published between 1980 and 2023. Our analysis reveals that a growing body of research is adopting qualitative and mixed methods to examine the relationships between social networks and language learning, teaching and use. These findings confirm that social context constitutes an essential part of the ecosystem intertwined with various cognitive, social, and psychological factors, which have a synergistic impact on language learning and teaching. While these studies show that social networks afford learners with valuable linguistic, emotional, and social resources, they reveal that networks may also exert negative influences in their learning behaviors in some contexts. We conclude the review with recommendations for future research to broaden the scope of investigations and consider exploring how different types of social networks at meso- and macro-levels may influence the learning and teaching of language.

Mechanisms of action of fungal polysaccharides and their therapeutic effect.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the relationship between the therapeutic bioactivity of basidial fungal polysaccharides (BFPs) BFPs and their structural characteristics and conformational features, as well as to characterize the mechanisms of action of BFPs in diseases of various origins. The review was conducted using the PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Science and the Russian Science Citation Index databases. 8645 records were identified, of which 5250 were studies (86 were randomized controlled trials). The period covered is from 1960 to the present. The most significant studies conducted mainly in Southeast Asian countries were selected for the review. Based on clinical studies, as well as the results obtained on in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo models, it has been proven that BFPs have diverse and highly effective biological activity in the human body in various diseases. The production of BFPs-based vaccines is an innovative strategy from a clinical and biochemical point of view, since as potential immunoprotective and low-toxic biopolymers they have innate immune receptors in the body. Promising results have been obtained in the development of antidiabetic drugs, probiotic, renoprotective and neurodegenerative dietary supplements. The biological activity, mechanism of action and specific therapeutic effect of BFPs largely depend on their structural and physicochemical characteristics. BFPs as multifunctional macromolecular complexes with low toxicity and high safety are ideal as new powerful pharmaceuticals for the treatment and prevention of many diseases.