Articles tagged with Organ Transplantation
University of Pittsburgh researchers found that short abstinence periods, depression/anxiety bouts, and a caregiver's smoking history increase the risk of relapse. They also developed a non-invasive ultrasound technology to detect heart recovery, enabling successful weaning from left ventricular assist devices.
A multi-site study led by UCSF investigators shows comparable survival rates and graft function for HIV-infected patients receiving kidney and liver transplants. The study found that nearly 90% of kidney grafts and 84% of liver grafts were functioning within a year post-transplant.
Researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia and Immerge BioTherapeutics Inc. have successfully cloned a miniature swine with a gene knocked out of its DNA. This achievement moves closer to making animal-to-human organ transplantation a reality, offering hope to over 75,000 Americans waiting for organs.
A study by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found that reducing prednisone medication can eliminate unpleasant side effects without affecting survival rates. 80% of adult transplant patients were successfully weaned off prednisone within two years, with no increased risk of rejection or infection.
The University of Pittsburgh is conducting a study on transplant patients who have been off immunosuppressive drugs for up to 6.6 years, aiming to identify potential tests for transplant tolerance. The study may lead to breakthroughs in understanding and managing autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
The human organs shortage is raising complex questions about who should receive transplants, how to balance costs against medical needs, and the ethics of extending individual lives. A forum on 'Reinventing the Human: The Six Million Dollar Body' will explore these issues and provide a platform for public debate.
UT Southwestern researchers identified a specific protein in sensory nerves that contribute to cyclosporine-induced hypertension. The study found that mice lacking this protein experienced no increase in blood pressure when administered cyclosporine.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is launching a new clinical trial to test a promising transplant therapy for type 1 diabetes. The Edmonton protocol involves transplanting insulin-producing pancreas cells and aims to induce immune tolerance, allowing people with the condition to stop relying on insulin injections.
A new study suggests that open family discussion about stressful thoughts and feelings can improve emotional well-being in kidney transplant patients. Patients who felt their families were supportive reported fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The University of California, San Francisco is set to conduct a pioneering study on liver and kidney transplantation in HIV-infected patients. The research aims to determine the safety and efficacy of these procedures in individuals with end-stage liver and kidney disease, which are often fatal due to co-infection with hepatitis C virus.
A University of Maryland Medical Center study found that FK506 significantly lowers the risk of forming clots compared to cyclosporine. The research has important implications for understanding coronary disease after a transplant and improving outlook for heart transplant patients.
A Harvard study finds that racial differences in kidney transplant access cannot be explained by patient preferences, with black patients being less likely to be referred for evaluation or receive a transplant. The disparity remains even after controlling for coexisting illnesses and socioeconomic factors.
A new method uses silicon capsules with precise holes to implant healthy transplant cells, eliminating the need for immunosuppression and reducing organ transplantation.
Researchers at UNC-CH found that Pamidronate is highly effective in partially reversing bone loss caused by immuno-suppressant drugs after lung transplants. Patients treated with the drug experienced a 10% reversal of bone loss, and showed significant increases in femur and spine mineral densities.
Researchers developed an iNOS gene therapy that prevents chronic organ rejection and transplant arteriosclerosis in animal models. The study found that the gene therapy suppressed the disease process by triggering production of nitric oxide, which blocks blood flow in transplanted organs.
Researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center have developed a new approach to treating long-term diabetic patients by transplanting their pancreas alone. The study found that using two new anti-rejection drugs, Prograf and Cellcept, resulted in a one-year pancreas survival rate of 77 percent for patients.
A multi-center trial involving 73 patients found that tacrolimus rescue therapy effectively reverses refractory kidney rejection, maintains long-term kidney function, and reduces repeat rejection. The study's results suggest a significant advance in reducing organ loss from persistent kidney rejection.