Articles tagged with Organ Transplantation
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have successfully converted human stomach stem cells into insulin-secreting cells, offering a promising approach to treating type 1 and severe type 2 diabetes. The transplants reversed disease signs in mouse models, suggesting good durability.
Scientists have developed a new method to deliver genetic information to stem cells using nanoparticles coated with a specific polymer, enabling more efficient control over cellular differentiation. This innovation has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of regenerative medicine treatments.
A new study suggests that the US liver allocation policy remains biased towards certain regions, with a customized approach to equalize supply-to-demand ratios being recommended. The researchers developed a model that accurately predicts the change in a patient's organ-offer acceptance probability due to changes in policy.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh have discovered a type of immune cell that drives chronic organ transplant failure and uncovered pathways to improve patient outcomes. Blocking IL-15 signaling has been shown to prolong graft survival in mouse kidney recipients, offering a promising therapeutic target.
The funding will support preclinical research using genetically modified pigs, aiming to improve compatibility and reduce immune rejection in xenotransplantation. The goal is to enable human clinical trials and address the organ shortage crisis.
Researchers found that restoring function to donor hearts through taNRP can significantly increase the donor pool, leading to more transplantations. The study showed comparable survival rates between DCD and DBD heart transplants, with 97% of patients surviving for over 30 days.
Researchers found better survival rates at all points in time for pediatric patients with more serious heart disease, thanks to improved immunosuppression therapies, techniques, and postoperative care. A multidisciplinary team approach also contributed to the better outcomes.
Researchers at UC San Diego develop new bioink with iodixanol, reducing light scattering and enabling high cell density printing. The technique creates functional human-like tissues with improved resolution and perfusion systems for long-term culture.
A new study found that a medication previously used to treat seizures can reprogram donor hearts to boost the production of beneficial enzymes, increasing storage time and improving post-transplant function. This technology could lead to a paradigm shift in extending heart storage and reducing primary graft dysfunction.
A recent study published in JAMA Surgery found that underperforming organ procurement organizations significantly impact the nation's organ supply. The research analyzed data from 13 hospitals and identified large gaps between potential and actual donors, highlighting the need for improved oversight and performance standards.
A study found that standardizing evaluation processes and expanding telehealth use can significantly improve access to kidney transplants for African Americans. The interventions also led to increased organ acceptance rates, but post-transplant survival outcomes were not statistically significant.
Researchers compared two methods of corneal transplant tissue preparation, finding the new DMEK EndoGlide technique to be safe and effective while providing a faster process. The study suggests this method may lead to better long-term outcomes for patients with Fuchs' dystrophy.
A recent UK trial found that treating patients with transplant-rejecting antibodies did not reduce transplant failure rates. The OuTSMART trial tested two groups of over 2000 transplant patients and found no significant difference in failure rates between those who received oral drugs and those who followed standard care.
A recent study found that patients treated at centers that don't perform transplants have a 79% higher odds of being denied bridge-to-transplant designation. This change could exacerbate existing disparities in access to heart transplantation, according to the research team.
A new analysis by Cedars-Sinai investigators shows that similar levels of COVID-19 antibodies are reached over an extended period of time in different population groups. Individuals with autoimmune diseases and solid organ transplant patients experience lower long-term antibody levels.
Researchers have created a humanized mouse model that can predict the best match for a living organ donor and detect early signs of transplant rejection. The model uses a combination of HLA-G and B regulatory cells to identify patients who may need less immunosuppressive therapy.
A new system will prioritize medical needs over geographical location for lung transplant candidates. The change is expected to reduce waitlist mortality and improve post-transplant survival.
Researchers at UCSF have developed a novel approach to prevent antibodies from triggering immune rejection of engineered therapeutic and transplant cells. By using a decoy receptor, they can capture the antibodies and take them out of circulation before they can kill the therapeutic cells.
A University of Michigan-led study found most heart transplant center websites are written at a college junior's reading level, making them difficult for patients to understand. Only 56% offered resources for non-English speakers, with the mid-Atlantic region performing poorly.
A study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that organ donations and transplants increase by 21% during the week of large motorcycle rallies, with 26% more transplant recipients per day. The surge in donations does not alleviate the critical shortage of donor organs, highlighting the need for improved safety protocols.
Researchers have discovered how a new class of drugs can inhibit the complement system, which causes damage to the body in some cases. These findings pave the way for further optimization of such inhibitors, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies for treating autoimmune diseases.
A recent study found that American transplant centers and organ procurement organizations were 5% less likely to choose organs from 70-year-old donors compared to those who were 69. This bias, known as left digit bias, has significant implications for the availability of deceased donor organs
A team of researchers is developing a new method to evaluate the viability of donor kidneys using optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning technology. OCT scans provide a more complete view of the organ's overall functional capacity, allowing for better matching with transplant patients. The goal is to increase kidney availability a...
A multistate study found that mRNA COVID vaccines were less effective in immunocompromised adults, with protection rates ranging from 34% to 71% after multiple doses. The study emphasizes the importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as masks and antibody treatment, for additional protection against severe COVID-19.
The University of Missouri has earned an $8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand its National Swine Resource and Research Center. The center will support research using genetically modified pigs to study human diseases, with a focus on therapies that can be translated from pig models to humans.
Researchers found a significant association between NTM infection and increased mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve survival. NTM can cause nonspecific symptoms like fever and weight loss, and patients with compromised immune systems are at higher risk.
Researchers found a drastic decrease in bacterial abundance on the skin of patients with graft-versus-host disease, while an increased occurrence of staphylococci was observed. This discovery may lead to improved treatment measures for GVHD, which affects approximately 30-70% of stem cell transplant recipients.
A national US kidney disease registry found that 60% of participants were unaware of their kidney function level, hindering clinical trial recruitment. The National Kidney Foundation Patient Network aims to address this issue through real-world data collection and patient-centered research.
In a new study, researchers found that immune T cells lacking the key transcription factor Satb1 are more susceptible to suppression by regulatory T cells, leading to transplant tolerance. The study provides insight into the mechanism behind transplantation tolerance and may lead to the development of new immunosuppression regimens.
A new study identified a remdesivir-resistant version of COVID-19 in two kidney transplant patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs. The virus developed the V7921 gene mutation, which allows it to resist antiviral therapy, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and potential development of additional treatments.
A new study published in the Journal of Hepatology found that living donor liver transplants can reduce waitlist time and deaths in Western countries. Long-term outcomes were excellent despite relatively low use of this procedure, with high patient survival rates and similar mortality risk among three countries.
In the UK, both eligible organ donors and actual organ donations decreased by around 30% during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proportion of eligible donors who proceeded to donation remained relatively constant.
Researchers have developed a model mouse embryo that has beating hearts, foundations for a brain, and all the organs in a mouse body. This breakthrough could help understand why some embryos fail and provide insights into repairing synthetic human organs.
The TMDU research team successfully transplanted a mini organoid into a patient with Ulcerative Colitis, showing potential for a radical cure. The treatment uses the patient's own cells and minimally invasive colonoscopy, reducing transplant rejection risk and laparotomy needs.
A proof-of-concept study developed three machine learning models to predict posttreatment recurrence in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The models achieved high accuracy using imaging data alone, while combining clinical data did not significantly improve performance.
A new study published in Pediatric Transplantation found that pediatric kidney transplant patients have better long-term outcomes when their kidney comes from a living donor. The study analyzed data from the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network database and compared the rates of graft failure and death among children who received k...
Researchers at the University of South Australia have discovered that combining anti-rejection medication with immune checkpoint inhibitors can significantly reduce the risk of organ rejection and eliminate cancer cells in a quarter of patients. The study involved 22 patients with renal transplants and incurable locally advanced or met...
Researchers develop new method to preserve organs by freezing them partially, allowing for longer storage duration and improved organ matching. This breakthrough could lead to more successful transplants and increased organ availability.
A study by researchers from the University of Chicago reveals that bacteria in donated organs complicate the immune response after transplantation. The findings show that immune responses against commensal bacteria add to the rejection of the organ, reducing the effectiveness of immunosuppressive drugs and causing damage to the graft.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that Black children who have stroke after heart transplant are more than three times as likely to die compared to their white counterparts. The researchers analyzed data from 8,224 children who received cardiac transplants between 1994 and 2019.
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine conducted a groundbreaking xenotransplant surgery, implanting a genetically modified pig heart into a 57-year-old patient with terminal heart disease. The patient survived for two months with a strong functioning heart showing no obvious signs of rejection.
A recent study published in the Journal of Cardiac Surgery found that lung transplant recipients have a standardized mortality rate approximately five times higher than nonhospitalized adults. The main causes of death include rejection of the new organ, pneumonia, and infections.
A third dose of COVID-19 vaccine may be essential for kidney transplant patients in Japan to prevent severe disease and infection. Researchers found that only a third of patients developed sufficient antibodies after two doses, highlighting the need for additional protection.
A team of researchers at University of Zurich successfully transplanted a human liver that was treated in a machine, paving the way for a potential solution to the global organ shortage. The liver was preserved for three days outside the body using a custom-made perfusion machine.
A new virtual biopsy using cardiovascular magnetic resonance has been proven safe and effective in detecting signs of heart rejection in heart transplant patients. The non-invasive procedure reduces complications and hospital admissions compared to traditional invasive biopsies.
Researchers found that liver transplants from drug overdose donors increased by 26% during the pandemic, while overall solid organ transplant use from overdose donors rose by 31.2%. This trend suggests that a surge in organ donations from overdose deaths helped stabilize liver transplant numbers despite COVID-19 disruptions.
Researchers compared SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers after Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in immunosuppressed patients. The study found differing antibody responses among these individuals, who have decreased immune responses to standard vaccines.
Researchers have developed a novel biomaterial that promotes immune tolerance and allows islets to survive after transplant without the need for long-term immunosuppression. This breakthrough enables patients with type 1 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels without lifelong medication.
A study found that pediatric transplant patients attend on average less than one appointment per year after transferring to adult care, resulting in longer hospital stays and poorer health outcomes. Maintaining regular appointments is crucial for continued transplant success, according to the researchers.
Researchers aim to improve pediatric heart transplant outcomes by identifying how certain drugs work and developing new medications to prevent damage to transplanted hearts. The studies will focus on a recently identified population of immune cells, MAIT cells, to adjust medication dosages and minimize side effects.
A new study found that Black kidney transplant recipients exhibit a faster clearance rate of tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive drug. The study suggests that considering both sex and race when dosing tacrolimus may reduce adverse effects and enhance transplant outcomes.
A study of 309 people with long COVID found that fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell were the most persistent symptoms. The research also revealed that factors such as history of hospitalization, diabetes, and body mass index increased the risk of developing Long COVID.
A new study shows that three doses of mRNA vaccine provide substantially greater protection against severe COVID-19 for immunosuppressed transplant patients. Boosters appear to increase effectiveness, with a regimen of two doses only 29% effective and three doses 77% effective in preventing hospitalization.
Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology are pushing through technical barriers in organ printing by leveraging decades-old technique and computational modeling. The team aims to create any type of organ at any time, including skin on an open wound, using microfluidic bio-printing.
The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases finds organ donation from COVID-19 patients is safe and does not transmit SARS-CoV-2. Recipients with asymptomatic infections are also now eligible for transplant, but must be triple-vaccinated.
Organ donation from dying COVID-19 patients appears to be safe and does not infect recipients with SARS-CoV-2. The study found all 6 abdominal organs had stable graft function and no unexpected rejection occurred.
Research in the Journal of Hepatology suggests that COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to cause liver injury, but liver transplant patients may experience delayed care due to the pandemic. The study found that vaccinated patients with liver disease had a lower antibody response compared to healthy patients.
The American Society of Transplant Surgeons' COVID-19 Strike Force recommends vaccinating patients on the organ transplant waiting list. This move aims to improve patient safety and reduce transmission risks during the pandemic.
A cost-effectiveness analysis found that adherence promotion programs like MAPS reduce costs and improve outcomes for adolescent kidney transplant recipients. Strategies with similar costs to MAPS can still be cost-effective if they decrease rejection episodes by a small amount.
Young adults are disproportionately excluded from kidney transplantation, with only 1.8% of Black and 4.4% of Hispanic patients receiving the treatment compared to 10.9% of White patients within this age group. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities.