The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD)

CRD is part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and is a department of the University of York. CRD, which was established in 1994, is one of the largest groups in the world engaged exclusively in evidence synthesis in the health field. CRD undertakes systematic reviews evaluating the research evidence on health and public health questions of national and international importance.  They produce the DARE, NHS EED and HTA databases which are used extensively by health professionals, policy makers and researchers around the world.  They also undertake methods research and produce internationally accepted guidelines for undertaking systematic reviews.

CRD databases updated
In the week of 07/02/13 to 13/02/13, 34 new records were added to the DARE database.

Abstracts of the week - a selection

• A meta-analysis examining the use of tacker fixation versus no-fixation of mesh in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.  This review found that non-mesh fixation in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair surgery did not increase the risk of hernia recurrence and was comparable with tacker mesh fixation in terms of postoperative outcomes. The review was well conducted and the authors' conclusions regarding the evidence are likely to be reliable.
• A systematic review on the use of prophylactic mesh during primary stoma formation to prevent parastomal hernia formation.  The authors concluded that despite certain methodological flaws and small patient populations, studies of the use of a prophylactic mesh at the primary operation appeared to show a reduction in the incidence of parastomal hernia. The authors' conclusions were appropriately cautious and appear likely to be reliable.
• Combined EGFR and VEGFR versus single EGFR signaling pathways inhibition therapy for NSCLC: a systematic review and meta-analysis.  This review found that in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, the combined inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor signalling pathways did not improve overall survival, compared with inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor signalling pathways alone. The review was generally well conducted and these conclusions appear to be reliable.
• Hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.  This review found that treatment with therapeutic hypothermia reduces the risk of death and major disability in newborns with moderate to severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. The review was generally well conducted and the authors' conclusions are likely to be reliable.
• Norepinephrine or dopamine for septic shock: systematic review of randomized clinical trials.  The evidence showed superiority of norepinephrine over dopamine for in-hospital or 28-day mortality in critically ill populations with shock in which sepsis was the predominant etiology. With a small caveat regarding the borderline statistical significance of the findings, it appears that the authors' conclusion is reliable.
• Second generation antipsychotics in the treatment of bipolar depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.  This review concluded that second-generation antidepressant monotherapy showed superior efficacy to placebo in bipolar disorder but clinical and statistical heterogeneity was high and an antidepressant class effect of second-generation antipsychotics could not be confirmed. Side effects (somnolence, sedation, akathisia, weight gain and other metabolic problems) may hamper their clinical use. These cautious conclusions are likely to be reliable.
  

Website: University of York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination