Analysis Of Characteristics Of The Publications And Acupoint Selection Rules Of Acupuncture For Trigeminal Neuralgia

[Objective]This study evaluates the literature characteristics systematically and explore acupoint selection rules of acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia（TN）by using bibliometrics and data mining respectively,to clarify the research hotspots and trends and optimize the acupuncture prescription for TN,so as to provide reference for clinic.[Method]Part 1."acupuncture,trigeminal neuralgia" was used as the subject term to search the China National Knowledge Infrastructure（CNKI）and Web of Science Core Collection（WOS CC）from 2001 to 2021 for literature related to acupuncture for TN,respectively.The visualization map of annual number of publications,institutions,authors,journals and keywords was drawn by using Citespace,to analyze the basic characteristics of the literature and summarize the current research hotspots and trends.Part 2.Eight databases including CNKI,Wanfang,CMB,VIP,Pubmed,WOS,Cochrane Library and Embase were searched,with the search subject terms and dates were the same as in Part I.Then,the acupoint prescriptions appearing in the text were extracted,and the frequency of acupoints,meridians,specific points and acupoint distribution were analyzed by using Microsoft Excel.In addition,IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 was used to analyze the association rules in the prescriptions,in order to discuss the rules of acupoint selection and summarize the optimal prescription.[Result]1.Literature characterization.CNKI and WOS CC included 701 and 55 papers finally,respectively,and the overall number of publications in this field is increasing gradually.In the CNKI,there were 483 research institutions involved in acupuncture treatment of TN.Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine（34 publications）was the most productive institution,and the top 3 authors with the most publications were Li Yaxue（15 publications）,Fang Jianqiao（14 publications）,and Liu Xiao（10 publications）.Besides,The most prolific journals was Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion（42 publications）.A cluster analysis of the keywords revealed that "electroacupuncture" and"xaiguan point" are the current research hotspots in this field.In addition,the keywords that burst on the scene in 2021 included "carbamazepine" and "warm acupuncture".In the WOS CC,CHINA（20 publications,36.36%）has published the largest number of articles,with Zhejiang traditional chinese medicine being the most powerful institutions（3 publications）.Chen LF,Fang JQ,and Hu HT were the most prolific author.Management was the top ranked keywords for centrality.As well,cluster analysis revealed that the Neuroanatomical characteristic,Meta-analysis,and Integrative medicine are the hot spots of current research.Furthermore,Evoked potential,Pathogenesis and Acupuncture was burst keyword in recent years.2.Analysis of acupoint selection.A total of 433 eligible articles were finally included,and the acupoints in the literatures were normalized and classified.A total of 118 acupoints were used,and the frequency was 5,101 times.Acupoints selected for acupuncture treatment of TN were distributed on 14 meridians,and the most frequently used was the stomach meridian of Foot Yangming（695 times,accounting for 33.23%）.74.42%of acupoints were specific acupoints,and the principle of point selection is to combine distant and near points.Among them,413 prescriptions of main acupoints were extracted,and 286 prescriptions of each branch were used.The most frequently used of main acupoints were LI4,ST7,GB20,LR3,ST44.In addition,the top 5 commonly used acupoints with the branches were as follows,of which the ophthalmic branch included GB14,BL2,EX-HN4,SJ23,EX-HN5 and the maxillary branches mainly included ST2,SI18,LI20,ST7 and EX-HN5,respectively.Besides,ST6,ST4,ST7,Jiachengjiang,CV24 were the top 5 most commonly used acupoints in the treatment of TN suffered by the mandibular branch.[Conclusion]1.The number of papers about acupuncture for TN in 2001-2021 is increasing gradually,but the quality of the literature is generally low,especially English studies.Institutions and authors in domestic and foreign are scattered,and lack of cooperation with each other,however,a few stable and mature research teams have been formed in domestic compared with foreign countries.2.The pathogenesis of TN,clinical efficacy of acupuncture,principle of acupuncture therapy explained by neuroanatomy,and multidisciplinary integration may become research hotspots in this field.Moreover,conducting high-level,multi-center RCT studies,as well as standardized systematic evaluation and Meta-analysis will become the research trend.3.The rules of acupoint selection for TN mainly combine main acupoint prescriptions with pain branch prescriptions.More attention is paied to points of Yang meridian and cross points,with the principle of point selection is to combine distant and near points.4.According to the results of data mining,LI4,LR3,ST44,GB20 and SJ5 were regarded as the main acupoints.Meanwhile,GB14,BL2,EX-HN4,SJ23,and EX-HN5 were selected by pain of the Ophthalmic branch.ST2,LI20,SI 18,ST7,EX-HN5 and ST4,ST6,ST7,Jiachejiang,CV24 were significantly important acupoints in the treatment of TN suffered by the maxillary branch and mandibular branch,respectively.