Quantification of quaternary ammonium compounds by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: Minimizing losses from the field to the laboratory.

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) are widely used in household, medical and industrial settings. As a consequence, they are ubiquitously found in the environment. Although significant efforts have been put into the development of sensitive and reproducible analytical methods, much less effort has been dedicated to the monitoring of QACs upon sample storage and sample preparation.

Long-term Kidney Transplant Survival Across the Globe.

Background: The outcomes after kidney transplantation (KT), including access, wait time, and other issues around the globe, have been studied. However, issues do vary from one country to another.

Methods: We obtained data from several countries from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, including the number of patients awaiting KT from 2015, transplant rate per million population (pmp), proportion of living donor and deceased donor (LD/DD) KT, and posttransplant survival.

Quality improvement strategies for diabetes care: Effects on outcomes for adults living with diabetes.

Background: There is a large body of evidence evaluating quality improvement (QI) programmes to improve care for adults living with diabetes. These programmes are often comprised of multiple QI strategies, which may be implemented in various combinations. Decision-makers planning to implement or evaluate a new QI programme, or both, need reliable evidence on the relative effectiveness of different QI strategies (individually and in combination) for different patient populations.

Comparison of freshly cultured versus cryopreserved mesenchymal stem cells in animal models of inflammation: A pre-clinical systematic review.

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.

Comparison of freshly cultured versus freshly thawed (cryopreserved) mesenchymal stem cells in preclinical in vivo models of inflammation: a protocol for a preclinical systematic review and meta-analysis.

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.

Long-term Outcomes of Patients Surgically Treated for Hirschsprung Disease.

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.

Behaviour Change Domains Likely to Influence Occupational Therapist Use of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.

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.

Cell therapy with intravascular administration of mesenchymal stromal cells continues to appear safe: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

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.

Measuring the teamwork performance of operating room teams: a systematic review of assessment tools and their measurement properties.

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.

Optimal timing for inguinal hernia repair in premature infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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.

Measuring the teamwork performance of teams in crisis situations: a systematic review of assessment tools and their measurement properties.

Background: Educational 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 in crisis situations.

Methods: Searches 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).

Self-management interventions for skin care in people with a spinal cord injury: part 1-a systematic review of intervention content and effectiveness.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objectives: To review the content and effectiveness of skin care self-management interventions for people with SCI.

Setting: International.

Self-management interventions for skin care in people with a spinal cord injury: part 2-a systematic review of use of theory and quality of intervention reporting.

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.

Validation of algorithms to determine incidence of Hirschsprung disease in Ontario, Canada: a population-based study using health administrative data.

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.

Infant nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis: Natural history and predictors of surgical intervention.

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.

Value of upper endoscopic biopsies in predicting medical refractoriness in pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis.

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.

Optimal age for elective surgery of asymptomatic congenital pulmonary airway malformation: a meta-analysis.

Controversy exists on the optimal age for elective resection of asymptomatic congenital pulmonary airway malformation. Current recommendations vary widely, highlighting the overall lack of consensus. A systematic search of Embase, MEDLINE, CINAL, and CENTRAL was conducted in January 2016.

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of evidence-based practice by pediatric surgeons.

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.

Effect of sustained low efficient dialysis versus continuous renal replacement therapy on renal recovery after acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

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.

Identifying determinants of medication adherence following myocardial infarction using the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Health Action Process Approach.

Background: 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.

Objective: Compare the utility of different behaviour theory-based approaches for identifying modifiable determinants of medication adherence post-MI that could be targeted by interventions.

Laparoscopic versus open pyloromyotomy in infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To determine whether open or laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is superior for the treatment of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL for articles comparing laparoscopic and open procedures. We conducted meta-analyses when possible and described other results narratively.

Evaluating mesenchymal stem cell therapy for sepsis with preclinical meta-analyses prior to initiating a first-in-human trial.

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 sepsis models.

The Devil Is in the Details: Incomplete Reporting in Preclinical Animal Research.

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.

Value of histopathology for predicting the post-operative complications of ileo-anal anastomosis (J-pouch) procedure in children with refractory ulcerative colitis.

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.

Histologic analysis of eosinophils and mast cells of the gastrointestinal tract in healthy Canadian children.

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.