Pancreas Regeneration: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2004 to 2024

Objectives: Over the past two decades, the increasing prevalence of pancreatic diseases has established regenerative therapy for pancreatic cells as a key research focus. This study employs bibliometric analysis to assess the current state of pancreas regeneration research, identify key areas, and predict future trends. Over the past two decades, the rising prevalence of pancreatic diseases has positioned regenerative therapy for pancreatic cells as a critical area of research. This study utilizes bibliometric analysis to assess the current state of pancreas regeneration research, identify key focus areas, and forecast future trends. Methods: A systematic search and evaluation were performed on the annual publication output, major contributing countries and regions, active institutions and authors, core journals, references, and keywords related to pancreas regeneration. This research aimed to comprehensively and objectively analyze the current state of research in this field, providing a basis for further exploration and understanding of pancreas regeneration. Relevant publications on pancreas regeneration from January 1, 2004, to August 15, 2024, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Bibliometric data were analyzed via HistCite, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the bibliometrix R package. HistCite and the bibliometrix R package integrate and classify diverse literature types, while VOSviewer and CiteSpace conduct visual analyses and illustrate the interactions among various bibliographic features. These two aspects jointly elucidate the development of pancreas regeneration. Results: A total of 1,027 articles from 69 countries/regions, authored by 5,159 researchers and published in 494 journals, were identified. The United States had the highest number of publications on pancreas regeneration (n=324, 31.5%), followed by China (n=122, 11.9%), Germany (n=105, 10.2%), India (n=96, 9.3%), and Japan (n=85, 8.3%). The three most prolific authors were Susan Bonner-Weir from Harvard Medical School (n=10) and Alexandra E. Butler from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (n=10). Similarly, Patrick Collombat, affiliated with the National Institute of Health and Medical Research, has published 10 academic works. PLOS ONE published the greatest number of articles on pancreas regeneration (n=32), followed by Diabetes (n=25), Diabetologia (n=22), Pancreas (n=20), and Gastroenterology (n=16). "Regeneration" was the most frequently mentioned keyword, whereas "diabetes," "antioxidant activity," and "identification" emerged as trending topics. Conclusion: The United States has led in research on pancreas regeneration. Most research outputs are published in journals focused on pancreatic diseases and pathology, with a primary emphasis on beta-cells. Future research is expected to explore the molecular mechanisms of inflammation, the precise process of pancreas regeneration, and the mechanisms of pancreas regeneration related to diabetes. In addition, therapeutic strategies represent a crucial research dimension.