Survey of Saudi Publications in the Highest Impact Medical Journals
Keywords:
Highest Impact Medical Journals, Saudi Publications, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome
Abstract
Objectives: The four Highest Impact Medical Journals (HIMJs) and their 2015 impact factors (IF)s are: New England Journal of Medicine (55.8), Lancet (45.2), Journal of the American Medical association (35.3) and British Medical Journal (17.5). The purpose of this study is to evaluate publications in HIMJs that originated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and to assess the influence of time on their characteristics.
Methods: Using the key word Saudi Arabia an advanced online search was carried out in the web sites of the four HIMJs in August 2015. The inclusion criteria were publications in HIMJs during 1985-2015 in which at least one KSA researcher was included in the authorship. The influence of time on the publications characteristics was assessed by comparing articles published in the recent 4 years with those published in the other 27 years based on a number of parameters and using a chi-squared test.
Results: 30 KSA articles that were published in the HIMJs during 1985-2015. The median IF was 45.2.The annual rates for KSA publication in HIMJs had increased eight folds in the recent 4 years compared to the other 27 years (4/year versus 0.5/year). Furthermore, publications in recent years had significantly more major KSA contribution and more were Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) -related. However, the journal IF, authors number, first author affiliation, international collaboration, research type and citation numbers were not found to be influenced by the timing of publication.
Conclusions: There has been an encouraging recent upsurge of KSA publications in HIMJs. The increasing ability of KSA researchers to publish articles in HIMJs reflects scientific evolution. However, most of the research of late had been MERS-related. The paucity of pioneering research in other topics and in the undertaking of trials is indicative of shortage of innovative ideas. KSA needs to develop its own elite research minds.
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References
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Appendix 1: Saudi Articles in the Highest Impact Medical Journals Listed by Year of Publication. [PubMed]
1. Arabi YM, Aldawood AS, Haddad SH, Al- Dorzi HM, Tamim HM, Jones G et al: Permissive Underfeeding or Standard Enteral Feeding in Critically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:2398-408. [PubMed]
2. Oboho IK, Tomczyk SM, Al-Asmari AM, Banjar AA, Al-Mugti H, Aloraini MS et al: 2014 MERS-CoV outbreak in Jeddah--a link to health care facilities. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:846-54. [PubMed]
3. Müller MA, Meyer B, Corman VM, Al-Masri M, Turkestani A, Ritz D et al: Presence of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus antibodies in Saudi Arabia: a nationwide, cross-sectional, serological study.Lancet Infect Dis 2015; 15: 559–564. [PubMed]
4. Drosten C, Meyer B, Müller MA, Corman VM, Al-Masri M, Hossain R et al: Transmission of MERS-corona virus in household contacts. N Engl J Med 2014; 371:828-35. [PubMed]
5. Azhar EI, El-Kafrawy SA, Farraj SA, Hassan AM, Al-Saeed MS, Hashem AM et al: Evidence for camel-to-human transmission of MERS corona virus. N Engl J Med 2014; 370:2499-505. [PubMed]
6. Omrani AS, Saad MM, Baig K, Bahloul A, Abdul-Matin M, Alaidaroos AY et al: Ribavirin and interferon alfa-2a for severe Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus infection: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis 2014; 14:1090–1095. [PubMed]
7. Mokdad AH, Jaber S, Abdel Aziz MI, AlBuhairan F, AlGhaithi A, AlHamad NM et al: The state of health in the Arab world, 1990–2010: an analysis of the burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. Lancet 2014; 383: 309–320. [PubMed]
8. Chan RW, Hemida MG, Kayali G, Chu DK, Poon LL, Alnaeem A et al: Tropism and replication of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus from dromedary camels in the human respiratory tract: an in-vitro and ex-vivo study. Lancet Respir Med 2014; 2: 813–822.
9. Fowler RA, Mittmann N, Geerts W, Heels-Ansdell D, Gould MK, Guyatt G et al: Cost-effectiveness of dalteparin vs unfractionated heparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. JAMA 2014; 312:2135-45. [PubMed]
10. Fralick M, Macdonald EM, Gomes T, Antoniou T, Hollands S, Mamdani MM et al: Co-trimoxazole and sudden death in patients receiving inhibitors of renin-angiotensin system: population based study. BMJ 2014; 349: g6196.
11. Assiri A, McGeer A, Perl TM, Price CS, Al Rabeeah AA, Cummings DA et al: Hospital outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus. N Engl J Med 2013; 369:407-16. [PubMed]
12. Memish ZA, Zumla AI, Al-Hakeem RF, Al-Rabeeah AA, Stephens GM: Family cluster of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infections. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:2487-94.
13. Ferguson ND, Cook DJ, Guyatt GH, Mehta S, Hand L, Austin P et al: High-frequency oscillation in early acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:795-805. [PubMed]
14. Cotten M, Watson SJ, Kellam P, Al-Rabeeah AA, Makhdoom HQ, Assiri A et al: Transmission and evolution of the Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus in Saudi Arabia: a descriptive genomic study. Lancet 2013; 382:1993-2002.
15. Assiri A, Al-Tawfiq JA, Al-Rabeeah AA, Al-Rabiah FA, Al-Hajjar S, Al-Barrak A et al: Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of 47 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus disease from Saudi Arabia: a descriptive study. Lancet Infect Dis 2013; 13:752-61.
16. Zaki AM, van Boheemen S, Bestebroer TM, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA: Isolation of a novel corona virus from a man with pneumonia in Saudi Arabia. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1814-20. [PubMed]
17. Cooper DJ, Rosenfeld JV, Murray L, Arabi YM, Davies AR, D'Urso P et al: Decompressive craniectomy in diffuse traumatic brain injury. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:1493-502. [PubMed]
18. PROTECT Investigators for the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group and the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group, Cook D, Meade M, Guyatt G, Walter S, Heels-Ansdell D, Warkentin TE et al: Dalteparin versus unfractionated heparin in critically ill patients. N Engl J med 2011; 364:1305-14.
19. Antoniou T, Gomes T, Mamdani MM, Yao Z, Hellings C, Garg AX et al: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole induced hyperkalaemia in elderly patients receiving spironolactone: nested case-control study.BMJ 2011; 343: d5228. [PubMed]
20. Phua J, Koh Y, Du B, Tang YQ, Divatia JV, Tan CC et al: Management of severe sepsis in patients admitted to Asian intensive care units: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2011; 342: d3245. [PubMed]
21. Sankaranarayanan R, Swaminathan R, Brenner H, Chen K, Chia KS, Chen JG et al: Cancer survival in Africa, Asia, and Central America: a population-based study. Lancet Oncol 2010; 11:165-73. [PubMed]
22. Jefferson T, Del Mar C, Dooley L, Ferroni E, Al-Ansary LA, Bawazeer GA et al: Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses: systematic review. BMJ 2009; 339: b3675. [PubMed]
23. Meade MO, Cook DJ, Guyatt GH, Slutsky AS, Arabi YM, Cooper DJ et al: Ventilation strategy using low tidal volumes, recruitment manoeuvres, and high positive end-expiratory pressure for acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2008; 299:637-45.
24. Alrajhi AA, Ibrahim EA, De Vol EB, Khairat M, Faris RM, Maguire JH: Fluconazole for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major. N Engl J Med 2002; 346:891-5. [PubMed]
25. Villar J, Ba'aqeel H, Piaggio G, Lumbiganon P, Miguel Belizán J, Farnot U et al: WHO antenatal care randomised trial for the evaluation of a new model of routine antenatal care. Lancet 2001; 357:1551-64. [PubMed]
26. Abulrahi HA, Bohlega EA, Fontaine RE, al-Seghayer SM, al-Ruwais AA. Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmitted in hospital through heparin locks. Lancet 1997; 349:23-25. [PubMed]
27. Miller BA, Olivieri N, Salameh M, Ahmed M, Antognetti G, Huisman TH et al:Molecular analysis of the high-hemoglobin-F phenotype in Saudi Arabian sickle cell anemia. N Engl J Med 1987; 316:244-50. [PubMed]
28. Tabbara KF, Ross-Dungan D: Blindness in Saudi Arabia. JAMA 1986; 255:3378-84. [PubMed]
29. Harfi HA, Fakery BM: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Saudi Arabia. The American-Saudi connection. JAMA 1986; 255:383-4. [PubMed]
30. Sly WS, Whyte MP, Sundaram V, Tashian RE, Hewett-Emmett D, Guibaud P et al: Carbonic anhydrase II deficiency in 12 families with the autosomal recessive syndrome of osteopetrosis with renal tubular acidosis and cerebral calcification. N Engl J Med 1985; 313:139-45.
2. www.impactfactor.weebly.com [accessed 10thAugust 2015]. [PubMed]
3. Al-Bishri J: Revaluation of biomedical research in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2013 Sep; 34(9):954-9. [PubMed]
4. Lat if R: Medical and biomedical research productivity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2008-2012). J Family Community Med. 2015 Jan-Apr; 22(1):25-30. doi: 10.4103/2230-8229.149583.
5. Social Sciences Statistics online web site: www.socscistatistics.com [accessed 10th August 2015].
6. Bhattacharjee Y: Citation impact Saudi universities offer cash in exchange for academic prestige. Science. 2011 Dec 9; 334(6061):1344-5. doi: 10.1126/science.334.6061.1344. [PubMed]
Appendix 1: Saudi Articles in the Highest Impact Medical Journals Listed by Year of Publication. [PubMed]
1. Arabi YM, Aldawood AS, Haddad SH, Al- Dorzi HM, Tamim HM, Jones G et al: Permissive Underfeeding or Standard Enteral Feeding in Critically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:2398-408. [PubMed]
2. Oboho IK, Tomczyk SM, Al-Asmari AM, Banjar AA, Al-Mugti H, Aloraini MS et al: 2014 MERS-CoV outbreak in Jeddah--a link to health care facilities. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:846-54. [PubMed]
3. Müller MA, Meyer B, Corman VM, Al-Masri M, Turkestani A, Ritz D et al: Presence of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus antibodies in Saudi Arabia: a nationwide, cross-sectional, serological study.Lancet Infect Dis 2015; 15: 559–564. [PubMed]
4. Drosten C, Meyer B, Müller MA, Corman VM, Al-Masri M, Hossain R et al: Transmission of MERS-corona virus in household contacts. N Engl J Med 2014; 371:828-35. [PubMed]
5. Azhar EI, El-Kafrawy SA, Farraj SA, Hassan AM, Al-Saeed MS, Hashem AM et al: Evidence for camel-to-human transmission of MERS corona virus. N Engl J Med 2014; 370:2499-505. [PubMed]
6. Omrani AS, Saad MM, Baig K, Bahloul A, Abdul-Matin M, Alaidaroos AY et al: Ribavirin and interferon alfa-2a for severe Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus infection: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis 2014; 14:1090–1095. [PubMed]
7. Mokdad AH, Jaber S, Abdel Aziz MI, AlBuhairan F, AlGhaithi A, AlHamad NM et al: The state of health in the Arab world, 1990–2010: an analysis of the burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. Lancet 2014; 383: 309–320. [PubMed]
8. Chan RW, Hemida MG, Kayali G, Chu DK, Poon LL, Alnaeem A et al: Tropism and replication of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus from dromedary camels in the human respiratory tract: an in-vitro and ex-vivo study. Lancet Respir Med 2014; 2: 813–822.
9. Fowler RA, Mittmann N, Geerts W, Heels-Ansdell D, Gould MK, Guyatt G et al: Cost-effectiveness of dalteparin vs unfractionated heparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. JAMA 2014; 312:2135-45. [PubMed]
10. Fralick M, Macdonald EM, Gomes T, Antoniou T, Hollands S, Mamdani MM et al: Co-trimoxazole and sudden death in patients receiving inhibitors of renin-angiotensin system: population based study. BMJ 2014; 349: g6196.
11. Assiri A, McGeer A, Perl TM, Price CS, Al Rabeeah AA, Cummings DA et al: Hospital outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus. N Engl J Med 2013; 369:407-16. [PubMed]
12. Memish ZA, Zumla AI, Al-Hakeem RF, Al-Rabeeah AA, Stephens GM: Family cluster of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infections. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:2487-94.
13. Ferguson ND, Cook DJ, Guyatt GH, Mehta S, Hand L, Austin P et al: High-frequency oscillation in early acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:795-805. [PubMed]
14. Cotten M, Watson SJ, Kellam P, Al-Rabeeah AA, Makhdoom HQ, Assiri A et al: Transmission and evolution of the Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus in Saudi Arabia: a descriptive genomic study. Lancet 2013; 382:1993-2002.
15. Assiri A, Al-Tawfiq JA, Al-Rabeeah AA, Al-Rabiah FA, Al-Hajjar S, Al-Barrak A et al: Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of 47 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus disease from Saudi Arabia: a descriptive study. Lancet Infect Dis 2013; 13:752-61.
16. Zaki AM, van Boheemen S, Bestebroer TM, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA: Isolation of a novel corona virus from a man with pneumonia in Saudi Arabia. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1814-20. [PubMed]
17. Cooper DJ, Rosenfeld JV, Murray L, Arabi YM, Davies AR, D'Urso P et al: Decompressive craniectomy in diffuse traumatic brain injury. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:1493-502. [PubMed]
18. PROTECT Investigators for the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group and the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group, Cook D, Meade M, Guyatt G, Walter S, Heels-Ansdell D, Warkentin TE et al: Dalteparin versus unfractionated heparin in critically ill patients. N Engl J med 2011; 364:1305-14.
19. Antoniou T, Gomes T, Mamdani MM, Yao Z, Hellings C, Garg AX et al: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole induced hyperkalaemia in elderly patients receiving spironolactone: nested case-control study.BMJ 2011; 343: d5228. [PubMed]
20. Phua J, Koh Y, Du B, Tang YQ, Divatia JV, Tan CC et al: Management of severe sepsis in patients admitted to Asian intensive care units: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2011; 342: d3245. [PubMed]
21. Sankaranarayanan R, Swaminathan R, Brenner H, Chen K, Chia KS, Chen JG et al: Cancer survival in Africa, Asia, and Central America: a population-based study. Lancet Oncol 2010; 11:165-73. [PubMed]
22. Jefferson T, Del Mar C, Dooley L, Ferroni E, Al-Ansary LA, Bawazeer GA et al: Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses: systematic review. BMJ 2009; 339: b3675. [PubMed]
23. Meade MO, Cook DJ, Guyatt GH, Slutsky AS, Arabi YM, Cooper DJ et al: Ventilation strategy using low tidal volumes, recruitment manoeuvres, and high positive end-expiratory pressure for acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2008; 299:637-45.
24. Alrajhi AA, Ibrahim EA, De Vol EB, Khairat M, Faris RM, Maguire JH: Fluconazole for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major. N Engl J Med 2002; 346:891-5. [PubMed]
25. Villar J, Ba'aqeel H, Piaggio G, Lumbiganon P, Miguel Belizán J, Farnot U et al: WHO antenatal care randomised trial for the evaluation of a new model of routine antenatal care. Lancet 2001; 357:1551-64. [PubMed]
26. Abulrahi HA, Bohlega EA, Fontaine RE, al-Seghayer SM, al-Ruwais AA. Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmitted in hospital through heparin locks. Lancet 1997; 349:23-25. [PubMed]
27. Miller BA, Olivieri N, Salameh M, Ahmed M, Antognetti G, Huisman TH et al:Molecular analysis of the high-hemoglobin-F phenotype in Saudi Arabian sickle cell anemia. N Engl J Med 1987; 316:244-50. [PubMed]
28. Tabbara KF, Ross-Dungan D: Blindness in Saudi Arabia. JAMA 1986; 255:3378-84. [PubMed]
29. Harfi HA, Fakery BM: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Saudi Arabia. The American-Saudi connection. JAMA 1986; 255:383-4. [PubMed]
30. Sly WS, Whyte MP, Sundaram V, Tashian RE, Hewett-Emmett D, Guibaud P et al: Carbonic anhydrase II deficiency in 12 families with the autosomal recessive syndrome of osteopetrosis with renal tubular acidosis and cerebral calcification. N Engl J Med 1985; 313:139-45.
CITATION
DOI: 10.17511/ijmrr.2016.i01.017
Published: 2016-01-31
How to Cite
1.
Z Jamjoom H, M Jamjoom A, B Jamjoom A. Survey of Saudi Publications in the Highest Impact Medical Journals. Int J Med Res Rev [Internet]. 2016Jan.31 [cited 2024Jul.3];4(1):113-7. Available from: https://ijmrr.medresearch.in/index.php/ijmrr/article/view/448
Section
Short Communication
OAI - Open Archives Initiative
