Articles tagged with Organ Transplantation
A study found that two liver graft preservation methods differ in their effect on gut microbiota composition and function following liver transplantation. The NMP cohort showed enrichment of beneficial gut taxa, while the static cold storage cohort depleted such taxa. Notable differences were observed between the two preservation methods.
Researchers have identified a key protein called Apex1 as a potential therapeutic target for stopping the immune system from attacking itself. By inhibiting this protein, harmful T cells that cause autoimmune diseases and allergies can be eliminated.
The Vanderbilt Transplant Center achieved a world record by performing 174 adult and pediatric heart transplants in 2024. The team's success was attributed to their multidisciplinary approach, innovative practices, and ability to accept high-risk patients from other centers.
Researchers have found that loosening the grip of engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) Tregs improves their function and effectiveness in treating autoimmune diseases. By adjusting the affinity of the CAR, the study shows that Tregs can suppress immune responses while reducing pro-inflammatory consequences.
Researchers aim to advance eye transplantation through cutting-edge technologies and techniques, including cell-based therapies and device development. The six-year project, led by Kia Washington at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, seeks to overcome current limitations in whole-eye transplant success rates.
A new blood test reveals heart transplant patients at risk of rejection by analyzing DNA fragments in their blood. This non-invasive test is comparable to existing US tests and could save millions in public healthcare costs.
Scientists at UCSF have developed engineered T cells that act as immune referees to soothe overreacting immune responses and mope up inflammatory molecules. These cells could improve treatment for organ transplants, type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune conditions by reducing the need for harsh immunosuppressant drugs.
The Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model aims to improve access to life-saving kidney transplants for patients with end-stage kidney disease while maintaining or improving the quality of care. The new rule will test performance-based upside or downside risk payments among selected kidney transplant hospitals.
The surgical team led by Stephanie H. Chang performed the groundbreaking procedure using da Vinci Xi robotic system at NYU Langone Transplant Institute. The successful transplant marks a significant milestone in lung transplantation surgery, offering hope to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) like Cheryl Mehrkar.
The Ochsner Transplant Institute collaborated with 25 US centers to conduct the first HIV-to-HIV kidney transplant study, showing comparable results between patients with and without HIV. The study's findings support the safe and effective use of HIV-positive donor organs in transplants.
Emerging technology allows long-term storage of human organs, addressing severe time constraints that limit organ viability. New governance and legal rules are needed to guide this application, including oversight from the FDA and ethics guidance on organ storage.
Researchers identified new signs of kidney transplant rejection, including microvascular inflammation, which predict increased risk of transplant failure. The study found that patients with these conditions are at higher risk of developing severe rejection or chronic kidney damage over time.
The world's first combined face and whole-eye transplantation successfully used personalized surgical cutting guides and a novel 'shortcut' to maintain blood flow. Innovative techniques ensured optimal blood flow to the retina, safeguarding the viability of the transplanted eye during the procedure.
A recent study by Children's Hospital Los Angeles showed that reprioritizing organ allocation led to better outcomes for children with PALF. The changes resulted in substantially decreased deaths on the pediatric waitlist, increased rates of liver transplant, and improved post-transplant outcomes.
Researchers found that heart transplant recipients from most deprived areas had a higher risk of dying within five years and experiencing organ failure compared to those from less deprived areas. Treatment at high-quality hospitals did not translate into better outcomes.
Researchers at IGTP have discovered a specific cellular pattern in regulatory B cells to monitor kidney transplant patients. This signature can help identify low-risk patients who may benefit from reduced immunosuppression and those at high risk who require closer monitoring.
Researchers develop a technique called nanowarming using magnetic nanoparticles and alternating magnetic fields to thaw frozen tissues rapidly and safely. This method enables the successful rewarming of animal tissues without causing tissue damage or toxicity.
The Northwestern University Transplant Access Program (AATAP) has supported nearly 300 patients, with over 50 receiving a kidney or liver transplant. The program focuses on the needs of Black Americans, addressing structural and institutional barriers to access.
Research reveals T cells regulate trained immunity, a process previously thought to be independent of the innate immune system. This discovery offers potential for new treatments in autoimmune disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
The African American Transplant Access Program aims to mitigate disparities in solid organ transplantation, while a physician-created platform speeds clinical decision-making. NEJM Catalyst also explores quality and safety improvement through longitudinal care management for diabetes and hypertension.
Mayo Clinic's surgical team successfully performed the rare procedure, which included multiple organs, on a Massachusetts man with a rare form of laryngeal cancer. The landmark surgery, conducted as part of a clinical trial, marks a significant step towards making larynx transplantation available to a wider population.
A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that regular booster doses of bivalent vaccines can maintain a person's ability to neutralize multiple SARS-CoV-2 strains, including XBB.1.5. This is especially important for immunocompromised groups, such as solid organ transplant recipients.
Researchers investigate organ donation practices after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), finding delayed organ procurement intervals and lower lung graft survival rates in ECPR groups. The study suggests using ECPR may address the organ shortage crisis by increasing viable organs for transplantation.
Researchers at University of Cambridge uncover unified healer army of regulatory T cells that constantly move and repair damaged tissue. This discovery has implications for treating various diseases, including autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases.
A new study reveals specialized proteins can dramatically delay ice crystal formation in extreme cold, paving the way for impossible organ transplants. Cryogenic damage compromises cellular structures, leading to irreversible damage and organ failure.
A University of Houston researcher has made a breakthrough discovery about the development of the heart in the womb, revealing that a certain gene deletion can cause a common type of heart muscle disease called left ventricular non-compaction.
A new study has identified disparities in liver transplant referral and evaluation that occur before waitlisting for patients with early-stage liver cancer. These disparities affect older, poorer, Black, and Medicaid beneficiaries, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve equity in access to liver transplantation.
Scientists from Tokyo Medical and Dental University successfully generate autologous skin grafts by introducing mutations into mouse embryos, which then form sheets of epidermis containing hair follicles. These grafted skin patches survive up to 3 months and mimic mature epidermis structure.
The first pig-to-human kidney xenotransplants detected early signs of antibody-mediated rejection and showed human immune cells rapidly infiltrating the transplanted kidneys. However, the transplanted kidneys also began to repair themselves, with gene expression associated with cell proliferation observed within 24 hours.
Expert Insight provides a guide for transplant centers to monitor and address health disparities, including measures of socioeconomic status. The authors emphasize the need for transparency in the transplant process and equitable outcomes. By implementing these measures, transplant centers can improve patient access and quality of care.
A new implantable cardiac pump could revolutionize heart transplant care for children, allowing them to wait at home instead of in the hospital. The device performed well in a feasibility trial, with six out of seven children ultimately undergoing transplants and one child's heart recovering on its own.
A Mayo Clinic study found that laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy can improve the health and eligibility of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and obesity. The procedure reduced cardiovascular risks, including diabetes and hypertension, and improved access to kidney transplantation.
A combined mechanical heart pump and gene-edited pig kidney transplant has given new hope to a patient with heart and kidney failure. The surgery was performed in two stages, first implanting the heart pump and later transplanting the gene-edited pig kidney. This innovative approach has shown promise for patients who would otherwise no...
Researchers created a proteomics-based imaging mass cytometry marker panel to categorize immune cells at single-cell resolution, identifying unique signatures of active T-cell-mediated rejection. The study aims to find personalized immunosuppression therapies with fewer side effects.
Researchers have identified a subset of T-cells that acts like stem cells and continuously generates effector T-cells that attack transplanted organs. Targeting the transcription factor IRF4 may lead to innovative therapies for patients with chronic infections, cancers, autoimmune diseases and transplanted organs.
A collaborative study found that patients with end-stage renal disease who undergo weight loss surgery can experience significant improvements in BMI, hypertension, and diabetes management. This enhancement of overall health and transplant viability offers hope for previously ineligible patients.
A new study finds that Latinx children with unreliable access to food at age 4 are nearly four times more likely to develop fatty liver disease later. The researchers recommend earlier screening for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and ensuring public meal programs offer nutritious meals.
A CHLA research team found that socio-economic factors like family support, employment status, patient age, race, and language spoken can impact clinical outcomes. Children with limited social support systems and working caregivers have worse outcomes.
A new US-Candidate Risk Score (US-CRS) predicts mortality in adult heart transplant candidates, improving upon the current system. The model combines clinical and laboratory measurements, including molecular markers associated with liver and kidney failure.
A team of researchers from Texas Heart Institute and Baylor College of Medicine have made a significant discovery about the underlying molecular cell states within transplanted pediatric hearts. They found that donor-derived tissue-resident macrophages are crucial for graft acceptance, but their loss leads to allograft failure.
A study published in Transplantation Proceedings found an association between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and increased mortality in solid organ transplant recipients. Patients with MASH had a higher risk of death compared to those without, highlighting the importance of early identification.
A ground-breaking study published in Nature Communications sheds light on the intricate mechanisms underlying the virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus, specifically focusing on the crucial role of mycotoxin gliotoxin production. The research team identified pivotal roles played by GliT oxidoreductase and GtmA methyltransferase in the sel...
A Learning Health System model is being developed to increase organ donation and reduce disparities in access to transplantation. The project, led by Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, will use data tools to track progress and improve equity in organ donation across the US.
Transplanting older organs from donors accelerates aging in younger recipients, leading to impaired physical capacity and cognitive decline. Senolytic treatments have shown promise in reducing these effects by inhibiting senescence-associated factors.
A clinical trial by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found routine thyroid hormone intervention to be ineffective in preserving heart function and increasing organ availability for transplantation. The practice may even cause harm, prompting the authors to recommend halting its use.
A team of researchers developed a vaccine that stimulates regulatory T cells to suppress harmful immune cells, prolonging allograft survival in mice. This discovery identifies an analogous pathway in humans, suggesting potential treatment for autoimmune disorders and organ transplant patients.
Maintenance immunosuppressive drugs linked to increased COVID-19 hospitalization risk in solid organ transplant patients. Clinicians treating transplant recipients should consider these findings for epidemic-related decisions.
Engineers use module assembly to develop vascularized organotypic tissues with high cell density and well-organized vasculature. This approach enables the rapid generation of functional tissue substitutes with improved efficacy in treating diseases.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have developed a novel app called the CHALF score to predict if a child with acute liver failure needs a transplant. The tool assesses liver failure risk on a scale of 5-60 and has been shown to accurately predict patient outcomes.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found live vaccinations safe and effective for children who have received liver or kidney transplants, offering protection against life-threatening conditions. The study showed high antibody levels and minimal adverse events following vaccination.
A new clinical trial has shown that infusing immune cells from living donors into recipients before transplantation may reduce the need for lifelong immunosuppressant medication. The treatment involves infusing donor-derived regulatory dendritic cells, which help the recipient's immune system distinguish between foreign and self-cells.
A new model developed by Cleveland Clinic researchers can more accurately prioritize patients waiting for a lung transplant, taking into account their disease severity and time on the waiting list. This approach may help reduce waitlist mortality for patients with end-stage lung disease.
A new study found that living donor liver transplant access optimizes the timing of transplant for older, frail cirrhosis patients. Patients with moderate to severe frailty, short stature, and low MELD scores benefited from LDLT, reducing waitlist mortality and improving post-transplant outcomes.
A novel study shows that Senolytics can prevent the transfer of senescence, a key mechanism of ageing, and associated physical and cognitive impairments in recipients of older donor organs. This breakthrough could lead to improved outcomes and increase organ availability for transplantation.
A new study found that islet transplantation significantly reduces the risk of kidney transplant failure and mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes. The study compared the long-term outcomes of patients who received an islet transplantation with those who underwent kidney transplantation and managed their diabetes with insulin alone.
Researchers analyzed data from 2005-2020 and found that 10-year conditional survival was similar between biventricular and most single-ventricle CHD patients. Biventricular CHD patients also showed better 10-year survival compared to non-CHD heart transplant recipients.
Research reveals that heart transplant recipients from economically disadvantaged areas are at a greater risk of graft failure and mortality, with a 10% increased relative risk compared to those from non-distressed communities. The disparity in outcomes has widened since the implementation of the 2018 UNOS Heart Allocation policy.
The Texas Heart Institute has received a five-year, $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to advance organ bioengineering. The project aims to develop transplantable bioartificial hearts to combat end-stage heart failure.
Researchers investigating early liver transplantation for alcohol-associated liver disease aim to understand who benefits most and develop best practices. They will collect data on patient outcomes, biological samples, and audio recordings to identify factors influencing selection decisions.
A long-term study of nearly 2,400 solid organ transplant recipients found that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced hospitalization rates, with a 75% decrease in later omicron waves. Despite this, post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 viral infections remain common, highlighting the importance of vaccination in high-risk populations.