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Teamwork is fundamental to surgical patient safety but is inconsistently measured. While many tools have been developed for elective intraoperative situations, it is unclear which is the most robust. This systematic review aimed to identify tools to measure the teamwork of operating room teams. Studies were included if they examined the measurement properties of these tools. PsycINFO, Embase (via OVID), CINAHL, ERIC, Medline and Medline in Process (via OVID) were searched through to May 3, 2019, as were reference lists of included studies and previously published relevant reviews. Retrieved articles were screened and data extracted in duplicate by two independent reviewers. Quality was assessed using the COSMIN checklist. Of the 2121 references identified, 14 studies of six assessment tools were included. Tools were validated across various specialties, mostly in clinical rather than simulated settings. The Observational Teamwork Assessment for Surgery (OTAS) and Operating Theater Team Non-Technical Skills Assessment Tool (NOTECHS) were the most frequently investigated tools. Though acceptable for assessing teamwork, both NOTECHS and OTAS rely on the questionable assumption that the teamwork of a team is equivalent to the sum of individual performances. Future studies may investigate other assessment tools that assess the whole team as the unit of analysis along with the potential of these tools to provide healthcare providers with meaningful feedback in clinical practice.

Background:Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that demonstrate therapeutic potential for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory-mediated conditions. Although controversial, some studies suggest that MSCs may lose their functionality with cryopreservation which could render them non-efficacious. Hence, we conducted a systematic review of comparative pre-clinical models of inflammation to determine if there are differences in in vivo measures of pre-clinical efficacy (primary outcomes) and in vitro potency (secondary outcomes) between freshly cultured and cryopreserved MSCs.Methods:A systematic search on OvidMEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, and Web of Science (until January 13, 2022) was conducted. The primary outcome included measures of in vivo pre-clinical efficacy; secondary outcomes included measures of in vitro MSC potency. Risk of bias was assessed by the SYRCLE ‘Risk of Bias’ assessment tool for pre-clinical studies.Results:Eighteen studies were included. A total of 257 in vivo pre-clinical efficacy experiments represented 101 distinct outcome measures. Of these outcomes, 2.3% (6/257) were significantly different at the 0.05 level or less; 2 favoured freshly cultured and 4 favoured cryopreserved MSCs. A total of 68 in vitro experiments represented 32 different potency measures; 13% (9/68) of the experiments were significantly different at the 0.05 level or less, with seven experiments favouring freshly cultured MSC and two favouring cryopreserved MSCs.Conclusions:The majority of preclinical primary in vivo efficacy and secondary in vitro potency outcomes were not significantly different (pFunding:Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Background The optimal timing of repair for inguinal hernia in premature infants remains a controversial topic. Our objective was to assess the clinical effects of inguinal hernia repair done before or after neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and CENTRAL were searched in July 2018. Publications comparing clinical outcomes of the premature infants with inguinal hernia repair before (early) and after (delayed) NICU discharge were identified. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed for quality. Results were pooled using random effects meta-analysis. Results Of 640 publications identified, six comparative studies assessing a total of 1761 premature infants were included. Meta-analysis indicated no statistically significant difference in incarceration rate (odds ratio (OR) 2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83–5.58, I2 = 0%), surgical complications (OR 2.36, 95% CI 0.66–8.41, I2 = 0%) and other secondary complications. However, the odds of recurrence and respiratory difficulty was significantly increase in the early group compared to delayed (OR 4.12, 95% CI 1.17–14.45, I2 = 0%; OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.10–11.75, I2 = 42%). Conclusions Repair of inguinal hernia in premature infants before NICU discharge may increase the odds of recurrence, but not incarceration or surgical complications. Level of evidence Level III

Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that demonstrate therapeutic potential for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory-mediated conditions. Especially for acute conditions, it is critical to have a readily available freshly thawed (cryopreserved) MSC product for rapid administration. Although controversial, some studies suggest that MSCs may lose their functionality with cryopreservation which in turn could render them non-efficacious. Objective In controlled preclinical in vivo models of inflammation, to determine if there are differences in surrogate measures of preclinical efficacy between freshly cultured and freshly thawed MSCs Methods/design A systematic search for pre-clinical in vivo inflammatory model studies will compare freshly cultured to freshly thawed MSCs from any source. The primary outcomes will include measures of in vivo preclinical efficacy; secondary outcomes will include measures of in vitro MSC potency. Electronic searches for MEDLINE and EMBASE will be constructed and reviewed by the Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies (PRESS) process. If applicable, study outcomes will be meta-analyzed using a random effects model. Risk of bias will be assessed by the SYRCLE “Risk of Bias” assessment tool for preclinical in vivo studies. Discussion The results of this systematic review will provide translational scientists, clinical trialists, health regulators, and the clinical and public community with the current pre-clinical evidence base related to the efficacy and potency of freshly cultured versus freshly thawed MSCs, help identify evidence gaps, and guide future related research. Systematic review registration Protocol is submitted to PROSPERO for registration (pending confirmation) and will be submitted to Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES) for public posting.

Background The only curative treatment for Hirschsprung disease (HD) is surgical repair. However, some patients experience poor postoperative outcomes. We determined long-term outcomes of all HD patients in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all children with HD born between April 1, 1991 and March 31, 2014 in Ontario using linked health administrative data. Each HD case was matched to five non-HD controls on sex, date of birth, region of residence and income and followed to March 31, 2016. Chronic diarrhea and constipation were identified using combinations of outpatient physician billing codes in both HD patients and non-HD residents of the province. We determined risk factors associated with diarrhea and constipation, including surgery type and sociodemographic characteristics, using multivariable conditional logistic regression, and reported adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Results There were 3,265,172 children born in the study period, of whom 673 had HD. Compared to controls, chronic constipation was more common in HD patients (27.5% versus 2.1%; aOR 17.2, 95% CI 12.6 to 23.4), as was chronic diarrhea (29.9% versus 6.9%, aOR 5.22, 95% CI 4.19 to 6.50). In HD patients, older age at surgery was associated with increased risk of chronic constipation (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.75 to 4.20). Surgery type, sex, rural/urban residence and income were not associated with risk of chronic constipation or diarrhea. Conclusion Chronic constipation and diarrhea were common following surgery for HD. Older age at surgery was associated with subsequent risk of chronic constipation. Surgery type was not associated with increased risk of chronic constipation or diarrhea.

Background: Characterization of the mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) safety profile is important as this novel therapy continues to be evaluated in clinical trials for various inflammatory conditions. Due to an increase in published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 2012–2019, we performed an updated systematic review to further characterize the MSC safety profile. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science (to May 2018) were searched. RCTs that compared intravascular delivery of MSCs to controls in adult populations were included. Pre-specified adverse events were grouped according to: (1) immediate, (2) infection, (3) thrombotic/embolic, and (4) longer-term events (mortality, malignancy). Adverse events were pooled and meta-analyzed by fitting inverse-variance binary random effects models. Primary and secondary clinical efficacy endpoints were summarized descriptively. Findings: 7473 citations were reviewed and 55 studies met inclusion criteria (n = 2696 patients). MSCs as compared to controls were associated with an increased risk of fever (Relative Risk (RR) = 2·48, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1·27–4·86; I2 = 0%), but not non-fever acute infusional toxicity, infection, thrombotic/embolic events, death, or malignancy (RR = 1·16, 0·99, 1·14, 0·78, 0·93; 95% CI = 0·70–1·91, 0·81–1·21, 0·67–1·95, 0·65–0·94, 0·60–1·45; I2 = 0%, 0%, 0%, 0%, 0%). No included trials were ended prematurely due to safety concerns. Interpretations: MSC therapy continues to exhibit a favourable safety profile. Future trials should continue to strengthen study rigor, reporting of MSC characterization, and adverse events. Funding: Stem Cell Network, Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Ontario Research Fund Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells, Safety, Adverse events, Systematic review

Introduction. Occupational therapists have shown low adoption rates for many evidence-based practices. One such practice is the limited uptake of standardized outcome measures such as the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Use of this measure has not consistently translated into practice despite decades of encouragement. Theory-based approaches to understanding healthcare provider behaviour change are needed if we are to realize the goal of attaining practice that is in keeping with evidence. This study utilized the Theoretical Domains Framework, a theory-based approach for understanding barriers to evidence-based practice, in order to increase our understanding of the limited uptake of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in occupational therapy practice. Methods. Theoretical Domains Framework methods were followed. First, primary data was collected from occupational therapists through semistructured interviews that focused on key behaviour change domains as they related to the use of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Two independent researchers coded interview data into domains, derived belief statements from the data, and used belief strength, conflict, and frequency to determine the more and less influential domains for using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Results. Interviews with 15 practicing occupational therapists across a range of practice areas yielded six key behaviour change domains for increasing the use of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. The more relevant domains were Social influences, Social professional role and identity, Beliefs about consequences, Beliefs about capabilities, Skills, and Behavioural regulation). The other eight domains were found to be less relevant. Conclusion. We identified important domains and beliefs that influence the use of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure by occupational therapists. Results inform our understanding of the use of this measure in practice and identify potential targets for behaviour change interventions.

Study design Systematic review. Objectives To examine use of theory and quality of reporting in skin care self-management interventions for people with SCI. Setting International. Methods The Theory Coding Scheme (TCS) and the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist were applied by two independent researchers to 17 interventions identified in a systematic review of self-management interventions for skin care in people with SCI. Results Six (35%) of the 17 interventions reviewed were reported to have a theoretical basis. Theories used included three of the most commonly featured in health behavior research (the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and the Transtheoretical Model). In these six interventions, theory was used to design content but not to select participants or tailor strategies. None of the interventions were used to test theories in the SCI population, or to propose theoretical refinements. Reporting quality was found to vary by TIDieR item, with 6–100% of interventions including recommended information. Information on two intervention fidelity items was missing in 53 and 82% of descriptions. Conclusions Use of theory and reporting quality in SCI self-management research remains suboptimal, potentially slowing down advancements in this area of research. Rehabilitation researchers should direct their efforts toward improving these practices to help build a science of SCI self-management that is cumulative and reproducible by clinicians, scientists, and policy makers. Sponsorship This work was funded through a postdoctoral fellowship awarded to the first author by the Rick Hansen Institute.

Ahmed Nasr,1,2 Katrina J Sullivan,1 Emily W Chan,1 Coralie A Wong,3 Eric I Benchimol2–5 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 3Institute for Clinical Evaluative Science (ICES University of Ottawa), 4CHEO Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, 5School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada Objective: Incidence rates of Hirschsprung disease (HD) vary by geographical region, yet no recent population-based estimate exists for Canada. The objective of our study was to validate and use health administrative data from Ontario, Canada to describe trends in incidence of HD between 1991 and 2013.Study design: To identify children with HD we tested algorithms consisting of a combination of diagnostic, procedural, and intervention codes against the reference standard of abstracted clinical charts from a tertiary pediatric hospital. The algorithm with the highest positive predictive value (PPV) that could maintain high sensitivity was applied to health administrative data from April 31, 1991 to March 31, 2014 (fiscal years 1991–2013) to determine annual incidence. Temporal trends were evaluated using Poisson regression, controlling for sex as a covariate.Results: The selected algorithm was highly sensitive (93.5%) and specific (>99.9%) with excellent predictive abilities (PPV 89.6% and negative predictive value >99.9%). Using the algorithm, a total of 679 patients diagnosed with HD were identified in Ontario between 1991 and 2013. The overall incidence during this time was 2.05 per 10,000 live births (or 1 in 4,868 live births). The incidence did not change significantly over time (odds ratio 0.998, 95% confidence interval 0.983–1.013, p = 0.80).Conclusion: Ontario health administrative data can be used to accurately identify cases of HD and describe trends in incidence. There has not been a significant change in HD incidence over time in Ontario between 1991 and 2013. Keywords: Hirschsprung disease, algorithm validation, incidence, health administrative data

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant contributing factor to the morbidity and mortality of critically ill adults, yet there remains controversy on the optimal renal replacement therapy mode for these patients. The aim of our systematic review was to determine the effect of sustained low-efficiency dialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy on patient outcomes in critically ill patients with AKI. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library was conducted in February 2015. Identified citations were screened independently in duplicate and the methodological quality of included studies was evaluated. Data were extracted on study, patient, and intervention characteristics, as well as clinical outcomes. Results were pooled using inverse variance fixed and random effects meta-analysis. A total of 1564 patients in 18 studies were included. Meta-analysis indicated no statistically significant difference in our primary outcome, overall renal recovery (risk ratio (RR) 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-1.20, I2 66%). No significant difference was observed for the secondary outcome of time to renal recovery (mean difference 1.33, 95% CI 0.23-2.88, I2 0%). SLED was slightly favoured over CRRT in statistically significant manner for the secondary outcome of mortality (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.02-1.43, I2 47%), however this diminished when sensitivity analysis of only RCTs was conducted (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.00-1.57, I2 = 0%). There appears to be no clear for advantage continuous renal replacement in the hemodynamically unstable patient. Currently, both modalities are safe and effective means of treating AKI in the critically ill adult.

Despite evidence-based recommendations, adherence with secondary prevention medications post-myocardial infarction (MI) remains low. Taking medication requires behaviour change, and using behavioural theories to identify what factors determine adherence could help to develop novel adherence interventions.Compare the utility of different behaviour theory-based approaches for identifying modifiable determinants of medication adherence post-MI that could be targeted by interventions.Two studies were conducted with patients 0-2, 3-12, 13-24 or 25-36 weeks post-MI. Study 1: 24 patients were interviewed about barriers and facilitators to medication adherence. Interviews were conducted and coded using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Study 2: 201 patients answered a telephone questionnaire assessing Health Action Process Approach constructs to predict intention and medication adherence (MMAS-8).Study 1: domains identified: Beliefs about Consequences, Memory/Attention/Decision Processes, Behavioural Regulation, Social Influences and Social Identity. Study 2: 64, 59, 42 and 58% reported high adherence at 0-2, 3-12, 13-24 and 25-36 weeks. Social Support and Action Planning predicted adherence at all time points, though the relationship between Action Planning and adherence decreased over time.Using two behaviour theory-based approaches provided complimentary findings and identified modifiable factors that could be targeted to help translate Intention into action to improve medication adherence post-MI.

Background Non-technical skills, such as communication or leadership, are integral to clinical competence in anaesthesia. There is a need for valid and reliable tools to measure anaesthetists' non-technical performance for both initial and continuing professional development. This systematic review aims to summarise the measurement properties of existing assessment tools to determine which tool is most robust. Methods Embase (via OVID), Medline and Medline in Process (via OVID), and reference lists of included studies and previously published relevant systematic reviews were searched (through August 2017). Quantitative studies investigating the measurement properties of tools used to assess anaesthetists' intraoperative non-technical skills, either in a clinical or simulated environment, were included. Pairs of independent reviewers determined eligibility and extracted data. Risk of bias was assessed using the COSMIN checklist. Results The search yielded 978 studies, of which 14 studies describing seven tools met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 12 involved simulated crisis settings only. The measurement properties of the Anaesthetists' Non-Technical Skills (ANTS) tool were most commonly assessed (n=9 studies), with studies of two types of validity (content, concurrent) and two types of reliability (internal consistency, interrater). Most of these studies, however, were at serious risk of bias. Conclusions Though there are seven tools for assessing the non-technical skills of anaesthetists, only ANTS has been extensively investigated with regard to its measurement properties. ANTS appears to have acceptable validity and reliability for assessing non-technical skills of anaesthetists in both simulated and clinical settings. Future research should consider additional clinical contexts and types of measurement properties.

BackgroundEducational interventions to improve teamwork in crisis situations have proliferated in recent years with substantial variation in teamwork measurement. This systematic review aimed to synthesise available tools and their measurement properties in order to identify the most robust tool for measuring the teamwork performance of teams in crisis situations.MethodsSearches were conducted in Embase (via OVID), PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Education Resources Information Center, Medline and Medline In-Process (via OVID) (through 12 January 2017). Studies evaluating the measurement properties of teamwork assessment tools for teams in clinical or simulated crisis situations were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies based on predetermined criteria and completed data extraction. Risk of bias was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.ResultsThe search yielded 1822 references. Twenty studies were included, representing 13 assessment tools. Tools were primarily assessed in simulated resuscitation scenarios for emergency department teams. The Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) had the most validation studies (n=5), which demonstrated three sources of validity (content, construct and concurrent) and three sources of reliability (internal consistency, inter-rater reliability and test–retest reliability). Most studies of TEAM’s measurement properties were at no risk of bias.ConclusionsA number of tools are available for assessing teamwork performance of teams in crisis situations. Although selection will ultimately depend on the user’s context, TEAM may be the most promising tool given its measurement evidence. Currently, there is a lack of tools to assess teamwork performance during intraoperative crisis situations. Additional research is needed in this regard.

Study design Systematic review. Objectives To review the content and effectiveness of skin care self-management interventions for people with SCI. Setting International. Methods We searched electronic bibliographic databases, trial registers, and relevant reference lists. Eligibility criteria for the reviews of intervention content and effectiveness were identical with the exception of study design. The review of intervention content included non-randomized and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The review of effectiveness included RCTs. A Behavior Change Technique (BCT) taxonomy of 93 BCTs was used to code intervention content. Intervention effects on outcomes of interest are summarized descriptively. Effect sizes were calculated, and the Cochrane risk of bias tool applied. Results In all, 15 studies testing 17 interventions were included in the review of intervention content. Interventions in these studies included 28 BCTs. The most common were “instructions on how to perform behavior” (16 interventions), “credible source” (12 interventions), and “social support (unspecified)” (9 interventions). Ten RCTs were included in the review of intervention effectiveness and they measured knowledge, self-efficacy, and skills relating to skin care/pressure ulcer (PU) prevention, skin care behaviors, skin status (PU prevalence, severity, and time to PU), and health-care utilization for skin problems. Evidence to support intervention effects on these outcomes was limited, particularly for clinical outcomes. Risk of bias assessments was often inconclusive due to poor reporting. Conclusions There is potential to design SCI skin care interventions that include currently untested BCTs. Further research and better consistency in outcome measurements and reporting are required to synthesize evidence on effectiveness.

The wood frog,Rana sylvatica, has numerous adaptations that allow it to survive freezing of up to 65% of its total body water during the winter. Such adaptations have been found to include the expression of novel freeze responsive genes that are thought to be important for adaptation and survival. In this study, the tissue-specific stress responsive expression of one novel gene,fr47, was assessed in seven wood frog tissues. In response to freezing, the transcript expression offr47increased significantly in six tissues: heart, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and testes. The expression offr47was also strongly upregulated by component stresses of freezing, namely, anoxia and dehydration. A dynamic change infr47expression was also observed during tadpole development, with expression low in embryonic stages (Gosner stages 14–20), increasing through intermediate (stages 26–43) and transformation phases (stages 44-45). These results indicated thatfr47potentially has a role to play in development and metamorphosis, in addition to freeze, anoxia, and dehydration tolerance.De novoanalysis of FR47 protein structure revealed a likelihood of membrane associated function and possible GRB2 association. It is hypothesized that this interaction may influence inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production, known to increase during wood frog freezing.

Objective.To identify the behavioral determinants—both barriers and enablers—that may impact physician hand hygiene compliance.Design.A qualitative study involving semistructured key informant interviews with staff physicians and residents.Setting.An urban, 1,100-bed multisite tertiary care Canadian hospital.Participants.A total of 42 staff physicians and residents in internal medicine and surgery.Methods.Semistructured interviews were conducted using an interview guide that was based on the theoretical domains framework (TDF), a behavior change framework comprised of 14 theoretical domains that explain health-related behavior change. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis involving a systematic 3-step approach: coding, generation of specific beliefs, and identification of relevant TDF domains.Results.Similar determinants were reported by staff physicians and residents and between medicine and surgery. A total of 53 specific beliefs from 9 theoretical domains were identified as relevant to physician hand hygiene compliance. The 9 relevant domains were knowledge; skills; beliefs about capabilities; beliefs about consequences; goals; memory, attention, and decision processes; environmental context and resources; social professional role and identity; and social influences.Conclusions.We identified several key determinants that physicians believe influence whether and when they practice hand hygiene at work. These beliefs identify potential individual, team, and organization targets for behavior change interventions to improve physician hand hygiene compliance.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2014;35(12):1511–1520

Summary Refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) occurs in patients who experience a severe disease manifestation that is unresponsive to medical therapy. The assessment of upper endoscopic microscopic findings and its correlation with refractory UC has not been fully studied in pediatric patients and is the focus of this study. Medical records of UC patients treated at a tertiary pediatric center between 2000 and 2014 were reviewed. Endoscopic biopsies of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract of patients meeting a priori inclusion criteria were compared between refractory UC patients and nonrefractory UC patients for active inflammation. Statistically significant differences were determined between groups, and tissues shown to have significant differences were further evaluated for their diagnostic performance. A total of 52 patients were included, 26 in each group. Significant differences were observed in intraepithelial neutrophil infiltration and percentage involvement of crypts/glands for the antrum, body, and duodenal bulb ( P ≤ .001, .005, and .01 [intraepithelial neutrophil infiltration] and P = .001, .009, and .015 [% involvement], respectively). Microabscesses of mucosal glands/crypts were also experienced in a greater number of refractory UC patients in the stomach (ie, antrum and/or body of stomach; P = .005) and duodenum (ie, duodenum and/or duodenal bulb; P = .023). The sensitivity and specificity of upper GI tissues to predict refractory UC were moderate, with sensitivities ranging from 38% to 67% and specificities ranging from 81% to 100%. Our results suggest that children with refractory UC are more likely to have active inflammation in the upper GI tract, and thus, this may represent a predictor of responsiveness to current medical therapy.

Background/Purpose Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been identified as a foundation of mainstream medical practice, yet pediatric surgery has been slow in the acceptance and implementation of EBP. Methods Semi-structured interviews of 14 pediatric surgeons were conducted to determine barriers and facilitators to EBP. Resulting data were analyzed using a systematic 3-step approached of coding, generation of specific beliefs, and identification of domains relevant to practice change. Results Six domains were identified as relevant to changing pediatric surgeons' use of evidence in practice: environmental context and resources, goals, knowledge, skills, social influence, and social/professional role and identity. Important barriers to EBP implementation included time constrains and resource limitations, the general poor quality of evidence in pediatric surgery, a lack of required skills, and a culture that continues to rely on an apprenticeship style of teaching. Facilitators include working in a research hospital, and having a local champion/ peers that support EBP implementation. There were conflicting thoughts as to whether working as a group facilitated or impeded EBP. Conclusions Pediatric surgeons' use of research evidence in practice is influenced by a number of domains. These results may be used to inform the design of behavior change interventions intended to encourage EBP implementation. Levels of evidence Level V.

To determine whether open or laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is superior for the treatment of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL for articles comparing laparoscopic and open procedures. We conducted meta-analyses when possible and described other results narratively. Our meta-analyses revealed no significant difference in our primary outcome of major complications [risk difference (RD) 0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.03 to 0.08, P = 0.35, I 2 = 55%], or in our secondary outcomes of all perioperative complications (RD −0.01, 95% CI −0.06 to 0.04, P = 0.74, I 2 = 0%), operative time [mean difference (MD) 0.68, 95% CI −3.60 to 4.79, P = 0.76, I 2 = 86%], and length of stay (MD −2.60, 95% CI −6.05 to 0.86, P = 0.14, I 2 = 0%). Laparoscopy was associated with a shorter time to full feeds (standardized mean difference −0.25, 95% CI −0.43 to −0.06, P = 0.009, I 2 = 8%) and a slightly higher rate of inadequate pyloromyotomy (RD 0.04, 95% CI 0.00–0.08, P = 0.03, I 2 = 0%). Results from one randomized controlled trial indicate a better cosmetic outcome after laparoscopy compared to open procedure. There is no strong evidence to support a recommendation of one procedure over the other; therefore, the choice of laparoscopic or open procedure should be left to the discretion of the surgeon.

Evaluation of preclinical evidence prior to initiating early-phase clinical studies has typically been performed by selecting individual studies in a non-systematic process that may introduce bias. Thus, in preparation for a first-in-human trial of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for septic shock, we applied systematic review methodology to evaluate all published preclinical evidence. We identified 20 controlled comparison experiments (980 animals from 18 publications) of in vivo sepsis models. Meta-analysis demonstrated that MSC treatment of preclinical sepsis significantly reduced mortality over a range of experimental conditions (odds ratio 0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.18–0.40, latest timepoint reported for each study). Risk of bias was unclear as few studies described elements such as randomization and no studies included an appropriately calculated sample size. Moreover, the presence of publication bias resulted in a ~30% overestimate of effect and threats to validity limit the strength of our conclusions. This novel prospective application of systematic review methodology serves as a template to evaluate preclinical evidence prior to initiating first-in-human clinical studies. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.17850.001, eLife digest Most attempts to transform exciting findings from laboratories into clinical treatments are unsuccessful. One reason for this may be the failure to consider all of the laboratory work that has been performed before deciding to test a treatment on patients for the first time. In particular, negative findings (that suggest that a potential new treatment is ineffective) may be overlooked. Stem cells may help to treat life-threatening infections, but this has not been tested in human patients. However, the effectiveness of stem cell treatments has been tested in animals that act as models of human infection. Before deciding to begin a clinical trial of stem cell therapy for life-threatening infections, Lalu et al. performed an exhaustive search to find all the studies in which stem cells were used to treat animal models of infection. Combining the results of all of these studies using particular analysis techniques revealed that stem cell therapy increased the survival of these animals overall. These positive effects were seen over a range of different experimental conditions (for example, when treating the animals with different doses of stem cells, or giving the doses at different times). Lalu et al. also identified some limitations with most of the laboratory studies that had tested stem cell therapy for infections. Many of the studies used animal models that may not be the best representations of humans with severe infection. In addition, many of the scientists did not report that they had used methods (such as randomization) that would generate the most confidence in their results. Despite these limitations, there was a lot of consistency in the reported results. Overall, the results support the decision to proceed to a clinical trial that tests the effectiveness of stem cells for treating human infections. More generally, Lalu et al.’s analysis demonstrates a way of considering all laboratory evidence before deciding to proceed to a first clinical trial in humans. This may help researchers to identify promising therapies to further develop, and also to identify potential failures before they are tested in patients. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.17850.002

Critically ill adults with acute kidney injury (AKI) experience considerable morbidity and mortality. Controversy remains regarding the optimal renal replacement intervention for these patients. Our systematic review aimed to determine the effect(s) of sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED) compared with continuous renal replacement (CRRT) therapy on relevant patient outcomes. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Identified citations were screened independently in duplicate for relevance, and the methodological quality of included studies was evaluated. Data were extracted on study, patient and intervention characteristics and relevant clinical outcomes. Results were pooled using inverse variance fixed and random effects meta-analysis. A total of 1564 patients from 18 studies were included. Meta-analysis results indicated no statistically significant difference in our primary outcome, overall proportion of renal recovery (risk ratio (RR) 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-1.20, I2 = 66%). No significant difference was observed for the secondary outcome of time to renal recovery (mean difference 1.33, 95% CI 0.23-2.88, I2 = 0%). Statistically, SLED was marginally favoured over CRRT for the secondary outcome of mortality (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.02-1.43, I2 = 47%); however, this diminished when sensitivity analysis of only randomized controlled trials was conducted (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.00-1.57, I2 = 0%). There appears to be no clear for advantage continuous renal replacement in the hemodynamically unstable patient. Currently, both modalities are safe and effective means of treating AKI in the critically ill adult.

Summary Background Patient-reported outcomes have the potential to provide invaluable information for evaluation of hypospadias patients, aid in decision-making, performance assessment, and improvement in quality of care. To appropriately measure patient-relevant outcomes, well-developed and validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments are essential. Objective To identify and evaluate existing PRO instruments designed to measure quality of life and/or satisfaction of individuals with hypospadias that have been developed and validated in a hypospadias population. Methods A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Health and Psychosocial Instruments was conducted in April 2016. Two reviewers independently assessed studies and identified PRO instruments for inclusion. Data were extracted on study characteristics, instrument development and validation, and content domains. Results A total of 32 studies were included that used or described five PRO instruments: Hypospadias Objective Scoring Evaluation (HOSE), Pediatric Penile Perception Score (PPPS), Penile Perception Score (PPS), Genital Perception Scale (GPS) for adults, and GPS for children/adolescents. Instrument development and validation was limited. The majority of identified instruments focused on postoperative cosmetic satisfaction, with only one instrument considering urinary function, and no instruments evaluating sexual function and psychosocial sequelae. Conclusions While many hypospadias studies have acknowledged the necessity of a patient-reported element, few have used validated PRO instruments developed in a hypospadias population. Existing instruments to measure patient-reported outcomes in hypospadias require improvement in both the breadth of content and in their development and validation methodology.

Background In extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) obstruction of the biliary tree causes severe cholestasis leading to cirrhosis and death if left untreated in a timely manner. Infants with cholestasis may undergo many tests before EHBA diagnosis is reached. The role and place of preoperative liver biopsy in the diagnostic paradigm for EHBA have not been established. Methods We conducted a systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL to obtain all publications describing the sensitivity/specificity/accuracy/positive predictive value (PPV)/negative predictive value (NPV) of preoperative liver biopsy in infants with cholestasis. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were done in duplicate. Extracted data are described narratively and analyzed using forest plots and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results A total of 22 articles were included. Overall, the pooled accuracy of preoperative liver biopsy was 91.7%, with a sensitivity of 91.2%, specificity of 93.0% (n=1231), PPV of 91.2%, NPV of 92.5% (n=1182), and accuracy of 91.6% (n=1106). In patients who were 60days or less at time of presentation or diagnosis, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy were 96.4%, 96.3%, 95.8%, 96.3%, and 94.9%, respectively. Conclusion Quantitative analysis demonstrated preoperative biopsy to be both highly specific and sensitive in diagnosing EHBA preoperatively. It is a highly reliable test that offers a means of arriving at an early definitive diagnosis of EHBA.

Incomplete reporting of study methods and results has become a focal point for failures in the reproducibility and translation of findings from preclinical research. Here we demonstrate that incomplete reporting of preclinical research is not limited to a few elements of research design, but rather is a broader problem that extends to the reporting of the methods and results. We evaluated 47 preclinical research studies from a systematic review of acute lung injury that use mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment. We operationalized the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) reporting guidelines for pre-clinical studies into 109 discrete reporting sub-items and extracted 5,123 data elements. Overall, studies reported less than half (47%) of all sub-items (median 51 items; range 37-64). Across all studies, the Methods Section reported less than half (45%) and the Results Section reported less than a third (29%). There was no association between journal impact factor and completeness of reporting, which suggests that incomplete reporting of preclinical research occurs across all journals regardless of their perceived prestige. Incomplete reporting of methods and results will impede attempts to replicate research findings and maximize the value of preclinical studies.

CONTEXT: Postoperative emesis is common after pyloromyotomy. Although postoperative feeding is likely to be an influencing factor, there is no consensus on optimal feeding. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of feeding regimens on clinical outcomes of infants after pyloromyotomy. DATA SOURCES: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and Medline. STUDY SELECTION: Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion based on a priori inclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted on methodological quality, general study and intervention characteristics, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included. Ad libitum feeding was associated with significantly shorter length of stay (LOS) when compared with structured feeding (mean difference [MD] −4.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], −8.38 to −0.95; P = .01). Although gradual feeding significantly decreased emesis episodes (MD −1.70; 95% CI, −2.17 to −1.23; P < .00001), rapid feeding led to significantly shorter LOS (MD 22.05; 95% CI, 2.18 to 41.93; P = .03). Late feeding resulted in a significant decrease in number of patients with emesis (odds ratio 3.13; 95% CI, 2.26 to 4.35; P < .00001). LIMITATIONS: Exclusion of non-English studies, lack of randomized controlled trials, insufficient number of studies to perform publication bias or subgroup analysis for potential predictors of emesis. CONCLUSIONS: Ad libitum feeding is recommended for patients after pyloromyotomy as it leads to decreased LOS. If physicians still prefer structured feeding, early rapid feeds are recommended as they should lead to a reduced LOS.

Wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) can endure weeks of subzero temperature exposure during the winter with up to 65% of their body water frozen as extracellular ice. Associated with freezing survival is elevated expression of a number of genes/proteins including the unidentified gene, li16, first described in liver. The current study undertakes a broad analysis of li16 expression in response to freezing in 12 tissues of wood frogs as well as expression responses to anoxia and dehydration. Transcript levels of li16 increased significantly after 24 h freezing (at −2.5 °C) demonstrating increases of approximately 3-fold in testes, greater than 2-fold in heart, ventral skin and lung, and over 1.5-fold in brain, liver and hind leg muscle as compared to unfrozen controls at 5 °C. Increased li16 transcript levels in brain, muscle and heart were mirrored by elevated Li16 protein in frozen frogs. Significant upregulation of li16 in response to both anoxia and dehydration (both components of freezing) was demonstrated in brain, kidney and heart. Overall, the results indicate that Li16 protein has a significant role to play in cell/organ responses to freezing in wood frogs and that its up-regulation may be linked with oxygen restriction that is a common element in the three stress conditions examined.

Many gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, including GI eosinophilia and inflammatory bowel disease, can be characterized by increased mucosal eosinophils (EOs) or mast cells (MCs). Normal mucosal cellular counts along the GI tract in healthy children have not been established for a Canadian pediatric population. To establish a benchmark reference, we quantified EO and MC from 356 mucosal biopsies of the GI tract obtained during upper and lower endoscopic biopsies of 38 pediatric patients in eastern Ontario. Mean total counts of EO varied for the 11 tissues we examined, from a low of 7.6±6.5/high-power field (HPF) (×40 [×400, 0.55mm(2)]) in the body of the stomach to a high of 50.3±17.4/HPF in the cecum. The lower GI tract (ileum, cecum, colon, sigmoid, and rectum) generally had higher total EO counts than the upper GI tract (antrum and body of stomach, duodenum, and duodenal cap) (combined average of 32.1±20.6 versus 19.3±15.8, respectively). Similarly, the number of mucosal MC was different in the various regions of the GI tract ranging from 0.04±0.2/HPF in the duodenal cap to 0.9±2.6/HPF in the ileum. Total counts for EO and MC in the lamina propria were not significantly different between sexes when adjusted for multiple testing. EO polarity was absent in many cases, irrespective of the GI region. These numeration and localization of EO and MC will provide normative data for upper and lower endoscopic GI biopsies in the pediatric population of Eastern Ontario.

Summary Introduction Historically, ureteroceles were surgically treated, as patients were diagnosed after developing symptoms. However, with the advance of fetal medicine, antenatal detection has provided an opportunity to look at the natural history of ureteroceles. Objectives With data derived from a retrospective chart review of patients with ureteroceles that were detected antenatally, the current study aimed to determine which group of children would be at risk for failure on active surveillance. It was hypothesized that single system ureteroceles (SSU) and male patients with duplex system ureteroceles (DSU) would be ideal for observation. Methods Outcomes were assessed by descriptive statistics. Kaplan–Meier curves were utilized to estimate median duration on active surveillance in both single and duplex cohorts. Breakthrough febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI) and surgery were determined by Cox regression in the duplex system cohort. Surgery was considered surveillance failure. Results A total of 102 patients (64 females/38 males) met the criteria: 78 (76.5%) had DSU and 24 (23.5%) SSU. The overall median observation was 1.2 years (range 0.7–3.1). Follow-up ranged from 0.3 to 11.7 years for SSU, and from 0.02 to 17.3 years for DSU. The predictors of failure of active surveillance (AS) in DSU (surgical intervention) were male gender (HR 1.8, 1.0–3.3, P = 0.037), or fUTI (HR 3.1, 1.7–5.8, P = 0.002). Predictors of fUTI were contralateral hydroureter or ipsilateral hydronephrosis ± hydroureter (OR 9.5, 1.2–71.7, P = 0.028). Interestingly, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was not a predictor of fUTI. The SSU patients were ideal for AS, while in DSU, surveillance was successful in 30% of patients who were primarily females without contralateral hydroureter or ipsilateral hydronephrosis ± hydroureter. However, in contradiction to the hypothesis, males were at higher risk for surgical intervention in the DSU cohort. Conclusion Active surveillance is an option for patients with antenatally detected ureteroceles, but careful long term follow up is mandatory. Parents should be advised that surgical intervention may still be necessary, particularly in males with DSU. Summary table . Patient characteristics Total, n = 102 SSU, n = 24 DSU, n = 78 Gender Female 6 58 Male 18 20 Circumcision Yes 5 4 No 11 13 Not reported 2 3 Interval on AS 252 days to 3.1 years 100 days to 11.2 years 7 days to 17.2 years Hydronephrosis of the lower moiety (ipsilateral to ureterocele) No N/A 11 Hydronephrosis only N/A 47 Hydroureteronephrosis N/A 20 Ipsilateral reflux (any grade) 4 34 Surgery Male 5 17 Female 0 36 AS, active surveillance; SSU, single system ureterocele; DSU, duplex system ureterocele; N/A, not available.

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common malignant, solid renal tumor in children. Most recurrent or metastatic WT occur within the first 2 years after the primary diagnosis. Urethral metastases in WT are very unusual and to the best of our knowledge have been reported only twice within the English literature. Those two cases had a poor outcome suggesting that urethral metastasis in recurrent WT is an indicator of poor prognosis. We report a third case of urethral recurrence of WT and reviewed the two previously reported cases in details.

The J-pouch is a surgical procedure offered to children with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) who have undergone subtotal colectomy to reconstruct a reservoir function with ileo-anal anastomosis. Unfortunately, post-operative complications may occur and can compromise the pouch function. We assessed rectal histopathology to determine whether severity of inflammation in the rectum prior to the creation of the J-Pouch was associated with post-operative complications. We retrospectively reviewed the histopathology of all J-pouch procedure specimens from paediatric patients during the period 2000-2013 using an objective grading system that assesses the chronicity and activity of the UC disease. We analysed the parameters for association with the post-operative complications. A classification tree algorithm was generated to predict the risk of complication based on histopathological parameters. A total of 28 paediatric patients were identified, among whom 10 developed post-operative complications (35%). The activity score at the recto-anal margin was higher among the patients with post-operative complications (mean 7.3±3.1 versus 4.8±3.1; p=0.04). The involvement of more than 5% colonic crypts with epithelial neutrophilic infiltration at the recto-anal margin was found to be an independent parameter that would stratify the patients into low-risk or high-risk group for developing complications (17% versus 64%; p=0.04). An association between UC disease activity at the recto-anal margin and post-operative J-pouch complications was determined. Potentially, this association suggests that a histopathological assessment of the recto-anal transitional zone may have value in guiding the surgeon on the risk of post-operative complications.

The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating clinical condition that is associated with a 30–40% risk of death, and significant long term morbidity for those who survive. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have emerged as a potential novel treatment as in pre-clinical models they have been shown to modulate inflammation (a major pathophysiological hallmark of ARDS) while enhancing bacterial clearance and reducing organ injury and death. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS and Web of Science was performed to identify pre-clinical studies that examined the efficacy MSCs as compared to diseased controls for the treatment of Acute Lung Injury (ALI) (the pre-clinical correlate of human ARDS) on mortality, a clinically relevant outcome. We assessed study quality and pooled results using random effect meta-analysis. A total of 54 publications met our inclusion criteria of which 17 (21 experiments) reported mortality and were included in the meta-analysis. Treatment with MSCs, as compared to controls, significantly decreased the overall odds of death in animals with ALI (Odds Ratio 0.24, 95% Confidence Interval 0.18–0.34, I2 8%). Efficacy was maintained across different types of animal models and means of ALI induction; MSC origin, source, route of administration and preparation; and the clinical relevance of the model (timing of MSC administration, administration of fluids and or antibiotics). Reporting of standard MSC characterization for experiments that used human MSCs and risks of bias was generally poor, and although not statistically significant, a funnel plot analysis for overall mortality suggested the presence of publication bias. The results from our meta-analysis support that MSCs substantially reduce the odds of death in animal models of ALI but important reporting elements were sub optimal and limit the strength of our conclusions.

Mesoblastic nephroma (MN) is the most common renal tumour in the first 3 months of life and accounts for 3-5% of all paediatric renal neoplasms. To further understand the morphological variants of MN, we identified 19 cases of MN (five classic, eight cellular and six mixed) and examined each case for markers known to be important in urogenital embryological development (PAX8, WT1 and RCC), stem cell associated markers (Oct 4, CD34 and c-kit), muscle/myofibroblastic markers (muscle specific actin, calponin and h-caldesmon), aberrant transcription factors, cell cycle regulation and other oncogenic proteins (p16, cyclin D1 and beta-catenin). Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) testing for ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion/rearrangement revealed further differentiation between the subtypes with ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion detected in 0/5 of the classic MN, 8/8 of the cellular MN and 5/6 of the mixed MN cohorts, respectively. Our results conclude that cyclin D1 and beta-catenin may be useful markers for differentiating between cellular MN and classic MN when the histology is not conclusive. The absence of expression of stem cell markers and markers involved in urogenital development suggests that MN is not a nephroma and most likely represents a soft tissue tumour, with congenital infantile fibrosarcoma representing cellular MN with a predilection to arise in the kidney. In addition, the immunophenotype and genetic fingerprint of mixed MN most likely represents a heterogenous group of tumours that are mostly cellular type, with areas that are phenotypically less cellular.

Summary Introduction Renal stone disease diagnosed in the first year of life is relatively uncommon. While risk factors such as low birth weight, furosemide exposure, and metabolic disorders are well established, there exists little information regarding resolution rates and need for surgical intervention. Our study objective was to evaluate urolithiasis and renal calcification resolution rates, time to resolution, and need for surgical intervention in children diagnosed in their first year of life. Material and methods REB approved retrospective chart review of children younger than 12 months of age (corrected for prematurity) diagnosed with nephrolithiasis and/or nephrocalcinosis in a tertiary pediatric hospital between April 2000 and August 2015 with a minimum 1-year follow-up period. Exact logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between size of the largest stone (on either side) and the need for surgical intervention. Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed to examine time to stone resolution among those not requiring surgical intervention. Results 62 patients (61% male) were diagnosed with stones or nephrocalcinosis by ultrasound at a median age of 2.9 months. Of these, 37% had been admitted to the NICU because of prematurity, low birth weight or comorbidities. A total of 45 patients were found to have stones ( Table ); 35 of these had a stone at initial ultrasound and 10 initially diagnosed as nephrocalcinosis were later confirmed to have a stone. 67% of all stones were asymptomatic on presentation. Metabolic anomalies were present in 56% (35/62), and 16% (10/62) required medical treatment. Seven patients ultimately required surgical intervention. Stone size was found to predict the eventual need for surgical intervention (OR 3.52, 95% CI 1.47–12.78) for each 0.1 mm increase in diameter). Among patients not requiring surgical intervention (n = 38), the estimated median time to spontaneous resolution of urolithiasis was 1.1 years (95% CI 0.89–1.53, range 2 months–6 years) and 1.2 years for nephrocalcinosis (95% CI 0.59–2.13). Conclusions Spontaneous resolution was a common outcome for newborns and infants diagnosed with urolithiasis in the first year of life, but high variability in time-to-resolution was observed. Only a small proportion who had confirmed stones on ultrasound required surgical intervention (15%), and large stone size was a predictive factor for surgery. Table . Clinical, radiographic, and renal stone or nephrocalcinosis outcomes of children younger than 12 months. Stones (n = 45) Nephrocalcinosis (n = 17) Sex, n male (%) 28 (62%) 10 (59%) Age at presentation, months, median (IQR) 2.9 (3.3) 2.1 (2.1) Symptomatic presentation, n (%) 15 (33%) 6 (36%) Premature, n (%) 26 (58%) 14 (82%) Metabolic anomalies (%) 22 (49%) 13 (76%) Stone size Under 3 mm 24 (53%) 3–5 mm 13 (29%) – Larger than 5 mm 8 (18%) Spontaneous resolution, n (%) 35 (78%) 16 (94%) Median time to resolution, years (CI) 1.1 (0.2–6) 1.2 (0.6–2.1) Required surgery/ESWL, n (%) 7 (15%) –

Freeze tolerance is a critical winter survival strategy for the wood frog, Rana sylvatica. In response to freezing, a number of genes are upregulated to facilitate the survival response. This includes fr10, a novel freeze-responsive gene first identified in R. sylvatica. This study analyzes the transcriptional expression of fr10 in seven tissues in response to freezing, anoxia, and dehydration stress, and throughout the Gosner stages of tadpole development. Transcription of fr10 increased overall in response to 24 h of freezing, with significant increases in expression detected in testes, heart, brain, and lung when compared to control tissues. When exposed to anoxia; heart, lung, and kidney tissues experienced a significant increase, while the transcription of fr10 in response to 40% dehydration was found to significantly increase in both heart and brain tissues. An analysis of the transcription of fr10 throughout the development of the wood frog showed a relatively constant expression; with slightly lower transcription levels observed in two of the seven Gosner stages. Based on these results, it is predicted that fr10 has multiple roles depending on the needs and stresses experienced by the wood frog. It has conclusively been shown to act as a cryoprotectant, with possible additional roles in anoxia, dehydration, and development. In the future, it is hoped that further knowledge of the mechanism of action of FR10 will allow for increased stress tolerance in human cells and tissues.

Background Ensuring high quality care for persons with diabetes remains a challenge for healthcare systems globally with consistent evidence of suboptimal care and outcomes. There is increasing interest in quality improvement strategies to improve diabetes management as reflected by a growing number of systematic reviews. These reviews are of varying quality and dispersed across many sources. In this paper, we present an overview of systematic reviews evaluating the impact of interventions to improve the quality of diabetes care. Methods We searched for systematic reviews evaluating the effectiveness of any intervention intended to improve intermediate patient outcomes and process of care measures for patients with any type of diabetes. Two reviewers independently screened search results, appraised each systematic review using AMSTAR and extracted data from high quality reviews (AMSTAR score ≥ 5). Within reviews, we used vote counting by direction of effect to report the number of studies favouring an intervention for each outcome. We produced summaries of results for each intervention category. Results We identified 125 reviews of varying methodological quality and summarised key findings from 50 high quality reviews. We categorised reviews by quality improvement intervention. Eight reviews were broad based (involving a variety of strategies). Other reviews considered: patient education and support (n = 21), telemedicine (n = 10), provider role changes (n = 7), and organisational changes (n = 4). Reviews reported intermediate patient outcomes (e.g. glycaemic control) (n = 49) and process of care outcomes (n = 9). There was evidence of considerable overlap of included studies between reviews. Conclusions There is consistent evidence from high quality systematic reviews that patient education and support, provider role changes, and telemedicine are associated with improvements in glycaemic and vascular risk factor control in patients. There is less evidence about the impact of quality improvement interventions on other key process measures such as screening patients for diabetic complications. This paper provides decision makers with a comprehensive overview of evidence from high quality systematic reviews about the effects of quality improvement interventions on improving diabetes care.