Bibliometric analysis of scientific contributions in minimally invasive general surgery

The top 100 most cited articles in acne vulgaris: a bibliometric analysis

A substantial body of literature has been published on acne vulgaris (AV) in the past five decades. Bibliometric analysis (BA) is a scientific, statistical evaluation review of published articles, providing a quantitative assessment of past research. The Web of Science (webOS) citation indexing database was used on 11 June 2023 to identify the top 100 cited articles on AV. Articles were listed in descending order by their annual citation (AC). Data sets were then subdivided into senior author, year and age of publication, journal and its impact factor, the number of total citations according to the webOS, corresponding and senior author's affiliated institution, country of origin, manuscript type, study design, and research focus. The top 100 most cited articles were published between 1974 and 2020. The mean number of citations ranges between 82 and 688. The most cited paper was Guidelines of care for the management of Acne Vulgaris by Zaenglein, with an AC of 98.2. The largest number of manuscripts was published between 2001 and 2010 (n = 47). The British Journal of Dermatology had the highest number of published manuscripts (15). Of the original research papers, 28% were of a level of evidence 1, 56% focused on treatment, 19.5% on epidemiology, and 16.5% on pathogenesis. This analysis provides detailed bibliometric characteristics, highlighting the worldwide acne burden, with the hope that future researchers will explore the gaps in the AV literature.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma: A bibliometric analysis of the top 100 cited articles

Objectives

To describe the current trends and key themes that are shaping the literature surrounding papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Methods

The Thomson Reuters Web of Science citation database was used to identify manuscripts relevant to papillary thyroid carcinoma. These were then subdivided into title, author, journal, publication date, theme, and manuscript types. Themes were then identified.

Results

A total of 1506 manuscripts were returned. The mean citation number was 163 (range 885-74), with the highest citation rate of 73.5. The highest impact factor was JAMA (impact factor of 56.27). 85% were original research, 10% review articles, and 5% were guidelines. The highest number of manuscripts were published in South Korea (21%).

Conclusions

This bibliometric analysis describes the most influential papers published in the topic of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Historic key themes have been endocrinology and metabolism, followed by surgical management and oncology (subdivided into surgery, pathology, radiology and public health/epidemiology). South Korea leads the world with the largest number of publications in this field; with an incidence rate of papillary thyroid carcinoma that is significantly higher than most parts of the world. Despite concerns with overdiagnosis, a collaborative radiological team skilled in ultrasonography of the neck appears to be of great value to the workup of thyroid cancers.

Gender disparities in high-quality dermatology research over the past 15 years

Background

In the last 15 years, an increase in U.S. female dermatologists from 41 to 52.2% and a surge in female authorship (FAP) have been noted. Authorship is a pivotal objective measurement of academic productivity and, contribution as first or senior author, plays a major role in the promotion process of active physicians and faculty members.

Objective

To validate, analyze, and clarify trends in FAP in high-quality dermatology research in the last 15 years.

Methods

The Thomson Reuters Web of Science Journal Citation Reports 2021 was used to retrieve the 100 most-cited original articles from the top 5 dermatology journals (determined by 2021 impact factors) in 5 consecutive 3-year intervals between 2009 and 2023. Gender application programming interface, a gender algorithm, was used to identify FAP according to country of origin and first name. Monotonic trend test significance level was set at 5%.

Results

In total, 14,187 articles were retrieved and subdivided into the 100 most-cited in 3-year intervals. A total of 418 first and 447 senior authors' gender were identified. FAP was found in 43%, 31%, and 37% of the first, last, and total authors. Trend analysis revealed a decrease in the last 15 years (S = -4610, P = .068) in senior FAP. Similarly, the trend persists in the United States (S = -1606, P = .052).

Limitations

Due to the usage of a binary gender identification algorithm, Nonbinary gender could not be identified in this analysis.

Conclusion

The last 15 years show an inverse relationship, with an increase in female dermatologists and a decrease in senior FAP in high-quality journals in the general dermatology community.

50 years in urinary incontinence: a bibliometric analysis of the top 100 cited articles of the last 50 years

INTRODUCTION

A large body of literature has been published on urinary incontinence, ranging from medical treatment, epidemiology and surgical techniques. A bibliometric analysis is used to identify high-quality research papers using criteria such as citation rate and journal impact factor.

OBJECTIVES

To describe key themes and topics in urinary incontinence literature in the last 50 years.

METHODS

Thomson Reuters Web of Science citation indexing database was used to identify the top 100 cited articles in urinary incontinence in the last 50 years. Data sets were subdivided into manuscript type, theme, author, institution, country of origin, journal and citation rate.

RESULTS

Mean number of citations in the top 100 group for manuscripts was 676, ranging between 2444 and 306. Most cited paper was by Irwin et al. The manuscript with the highest citation rate was by Dumoulin et al., citation rate of 470.7/year. The largest number of manuscripts was published between 2000 and 2009 (n = 47). The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) had the highest impact factor (74.67) and five manuscripts were published in this journal. Fifty-seven per cent of articles were published in journals with impact factor < 5. The vast majority of the articles focussed on epidemiology, followed by surgical treatment of urinary incontinence, 69% being original research studies.

CONCLUSION

This is the first bibliometric analysis of the top 100 most influential papers in urinary incontinence. The key themes identified were epidemiology and surgical management, with most papers being original research studies.

Multidimensional indicators of scholarly impact in the skin oncology literature: is there a correlation between bibliometric and altmetric profiles?

Introduction: Bibliometric and altmetric analyses are used to identify landmark publications in their respective research field. We hypothesised that highly cited skin oncology articles correlate positively with the Oxford Evidence Based Medicine scoring level, altmetric score (AS) and rank within the top 100 manuscripts.Methods: Thomson Reuter's Web of Science citation indexing database was searched to identify all English-language skin oncology full-text articles in the last 75 years. The top 100 articles with the highest citation count were analysed by subject matter, publishing journal, author, year, institution, individual and five-year impact factor, AS and Oxford EBM level. Results: 180,132 articles were identified. The most cited article (Hodi et al.) demonstrated improved survival with ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma (7894 citations). The article with the highest AS was Esteva et al. (AS = 576.7, 'dermatologist-level classification of skin cancer with deep neural networks'). No difference was found between evidence level and citation count (r = -0.1239, p = 0.2291), but a significant difference was seen for AS (r = -0.3024, p = 0.0028). AS scores increased over time, whereas bibliometrics did not. Conclusion: This work highlights the most influential work in the skin oncology field in the last 75 years. We have identified a differential relationship between commonly used metrics and evidence level in the field of skin oncology. As the digitalisation of research output and consumption increases, both bibliometric and altmetric analyses need to be considered when an article's impact is being assessed.

Decision-making algorithm for minimally invasive approaches to anterior skull base meningiomas

OBJECTIVE Anterior skull base meningiomas are benign lesions that cause neurological symptoms through mass effect on adjacent neurovascular structures. While traditional transcranial approaches have proven to be effective at removing these tumors, minimally invasive approaches that involve using an endoscope offer the possibility of reducing brain and nerve retraction, minimizing incision size, and speeding patient recovery; however, appropriate case selection and results in large series are lacking. METHODS The authors developed an algorithm for selecting a supraorbital keyhole minicraniotomy (SKM) for olfactory groove meningiomas or an expanded endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for tuberculum sella (TS) or planum sphenoidale (PS) meningiomas based on the presence or absence of olfaction and the anatomical extent of the tumor. Where neither approach is appropriate, a standard transcranial approach is utilized. The authors describe rates of gross-total resection (GTR), olfactory outcomes, and visual outcomes, as well as complications, for 7 subgroups of patients. Exceptions to the algorithm are also discussed. RESULTS The series of 57 patients harbored 57 anterior skull base meningiomas; the mean tumor volume was 14.7 ± 15.4 cm³ (range 2.2-66.1 cm³), and the mean follow-up duration was 42.2 ± 37.1 months (range 2-144 months). Of 19 patients with olfactory groove meningiomas, 10 had preserved olfaction and underwent SKM, and preservation of olfaction in was seen in 60%. Of 9 patients who presented without olfaction, 8 had cribriform plate invasion and underwent combined SKM and EEA (n = 3), bifrontal craniotomy (n = 3), or EEA (n = 2), and one patient without both olfaction and cribriform plate invasion underwent SKM. GTR was achieved in 94.7%. Of 38 TS/PS meningiomas, 36 of the lesions were treated according to the algorithm. Of these 36 meningiomas, 30 were treated by EEA and 6 by craniotomy. GTR was achieved in 97.2%, with no visual deterioration and one CSF leak that resolved by placement of a lumbar drain. Two patients with tumors that, based on the algorithm, were not amenable to an EEA underwent EEA nonetheless: one had GTR and the other had a residual tumor that was followed and removed via craniotomy 9 years later. CONCLUSIONS Utilizing a simple algorithm aimed at preserving olfaction and vision and based on maximizing use of minimally invasive approaches and selective use of transcranial approaches, the authors found that excellent outcomes can be achieved for anterior skull base meningiomas.

Surgical publication activity in the English literature over a 10-year interval

Background

Surgical publication activity in the English literature over a 10-year interval may have changed. This study sought to identify which countries make the most contributions and whether significant shifts have occurred in this time.

Methods

Screening of 17 international journals in PubMed was performed for the time periods 2006-2007 and 2016-2017, for papers published by a first author belonging to a general surgical department. Data were collected by country regarding the total number of publications, cumulative impact factors (IFs), publications per inhabitant, IFs per inhabitant, and number of RCTs, meta-analyses and systematic reviews per country in both periods.

Results

A total of 2247 and 3029 papers were found for 2006-2007 and 2016-2017 respectively. In 2006-2007, most papers (605, 26·9 per cent; 2697·3 IFs) came from the USA, followed by Japan (284, 12·6 per cent; 1042·1 IFs) and the UK (197, 8·8 per cent; 923·1 IFs). In 2016-2017, the USA led again with 898 papers (29·6 per cent; 4575·3 IFs), followed by Japan with 414 papers (13·7 per cent; 1556·6 IFs) and the Netherlands with 167 (5·5 per cent; 885·2 IFs). From the top 15 countries, Sweden, the Netherlands and Switzerland contributed the most articles per inhabitant during both time periods. During both periods, the UK published the most RCTs, meta-analyses and systematic reviews.

Conclusion

Surgeons from the USA were the most productive in total number of publications during both time periods. However, smaller European countries were more active than the USA in relation to their population size.

International scientific communications in the field of colorectal tumour markers

AIM

To analyze scientometrically the dynamic science internationalization on colorectal tumour markers as reflected in five information portals and to outline the significant journals, scientists and institutions.

METHODS

A retrospective problem-oriented search was performed in Web of Science Core Collection (WoS), MEDLINE, BIOSIS Citation Index (BIOSIS) and Scopus for 1986-2015 as well as in Dervent Innovations Index (Derwent) for 1995-2015. Several specific scientometric parameters of the publication output and citation activity were comparatively analyzed. The following scientometric parameters were analyzed: (1) annual dynamics of publications; (2) scientific institutions; (3) journals; (4) authors; (5) scientific forums; (6) patents - number of patents, names and countries of inventors, and (7) citations (number of citations to publications by single authors received in WoS, BIOSIS Citation Index and Scopus).

RESULTS

There is a trend towards increasing publication output on colorectal tumour markers worldwide along with high citation rates. Authors from 70 countries have published their research results in journals and conference proceedings in 21 languages. There is considerable country stratification similar to that in most systematic investigations. The information provided to end users and scientometricians varies between these data-bases in terms of most parameters due to different journal coverage, indexing systems and editorial policy. The lists of the so-called “core” journals and most productive authors in WoS, BIOSIS, MEDLINE and Scopus along with the list of the most productive authors - inventors in Derwent present a particular interest to the beginners in the field, the institutional and national science managers and the journal editorial board members. The role of the purposeful assessment of scientific forums and patents is emphasized.

CONCLUSION

Our results along with this problem-oriented collection containing the researchers’ names, addresses and publications could contribute to a more effective international collaboration of the coloproctologists from smaller countries and thus improve their visibility on the world information market.

Global scientific production of robotic surgery in medicine: A 20-year survey of research activities

INTRODUCTION

Robot-assisted surgery operations are being performed more frequently in the world these years. In order to have a macroscopic view of publication activities about robotic surgery, the first bibliometric analysis was conducted to investigate the publication distributions of robotic surgery.

METHODS

The original articles about robotic surgery were extracted from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) on Web of Science and analyzed concerning their distributions. We also explored the potential correlations between publications of different countries and their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

RESULTS

The total number of original articles retrieved from SCI-E was 3362 from 1994 to 2015. The number of original articles published in the last decade has a burgeoning increase of 572.87% compared with that published in the former decade. The leading country was USA who have published 1402 pieces of articles (41.701%), followed by Germany with 342 (10.173%). The journal published the highest number of original articles was Journal of Endourology with 237 (7.049%), followed by Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques (188, 5.592%). There was strong correlations between publication numbers and GDP of different countries (r(2) = 0.889, p < 0.001). In the different medical fields, urology has the highest number of articles (n = 878, 26.007%).

DISCUSSIONS

The macroscopic view of research activities has the potential to guide future trend in the field of robotic surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a skyrocket trend of robotic surgery in medical research over the last two decades, and countries with high GDP tend to make more contributions to the medical field of robotic surgery.

Breast Microsurgery in Plastic Surgery Literature: A 21-Year Analysis of Publication Trends

Introduction Microsurgical reconstruction of the breast represents an area of continual evolution, as new autologous flaps are introduced and principles are refined. This progression can be demonstrated by bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature. Methods The top 10 plastic surgery journals were determined by impact factor (IF). Each issue of every journal from 1993 to 2013 was accessed directly, and all articles discussing microsurgery on the female breast were classified by authors' geographic location, study design, and level of evidence (LOE, I-V). The productivity index and productivity share of each geographic region was calculated based on number of articles published and IF. Results A total of 706 breast microsurgery articles were analyzed. There was a significant increase in microsurgical breast research (p < 0.01), with an average 33.6 ± 31.1 articles per year and a mean increase of 4.4 articles per year. Most research was of lower LOE, with level I constituting 0.14% and level II constituting 5.21% of all articles. United States contributed the most research with 336.4 articles, followed by Western Europe with 242.2. However, Western Europe experienced the greatest increase in productivity share, with + 0.50 ± 0.29 growth, while United States demonstrated the greatest decrease in productivity share with - 1.23 ± 0.31 growth. Among autologous flaps, transverse rectus abdominis muscle research had the greatest yearly publication volume until 2002, when overtaken by deep inferior epigastric perforator flap research. Conclusion Over the 21-year study period, the United States not only contributed the greatest volume of research on female breast microsurgery but also demonstrated the greatest decline in research productivity. Efforts should be made to increase the LOE in breast microsurgery research.

Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication: Is it as Safe and Efficacious as a Nissen or Toupet Fundoplication?

Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) was U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved in 2007 to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but comparative data are lacking. This study was undertaken to compare outcomes for patients with GERD undergoing TIF versus laparoscopic Nissen or Toupet fundoplications. We undertook a case-controlled study of three cohorts of 20 patients undergoing TIF or laparoscopic Nissen or Toupet fundoplications from 2010 to 2013 controlling for age, body mass index, and preoperative DeMeester scores. All patients were pro-spectively followed. Median data are reported. Patients undergoing TIF had significantly shorter operative times (in minutes: 71 vs 119 and 85, respectively, P < 0.001) and length of stay (in days: 1, 2, and 1, respectively, P < 0.001). No matter the approach, patients reported dramatic and similar reduction in symptom frequency and severity (e.g., heartburn 8 to 0, P < 0.05). At follow-up, 83 per cent of patients after TIF, 80 per cent after Nissen, or 92 per cent after Toupet fundoplications had symptoms less than once per month ( P = 0.12). TIF leads to dramatic symptom resolution, similar when compared with Nissen or Toupet fundoplications. TIF promotes shorter operative times and lengths of stay. Patient satisfaction and effective palliation of symptoms show that TIF is safe and efficacious in comparison to Nissen and Toupet fundoplications and support its continued application and evaluation.