Articles tagged with Organ Transplantation
Experts at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a key molecule, SIRP-alpha, that triggers innate immune system activation and leads to organ rejection. Sequencing this gene could lead to better donor-recipient matches and new ways to prevent transplant rejection.
For patients undergoing intestinal or multi-organ transplantation, closing the abdominal wall poses a difficult surgical challenge. Total abdominal wall transplantation provides an alternative for abdominal closure in these complex cases, according to a state-of-the-art approach presented in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
A new study found that people with organ transplants are at higher risk of developing and dying from cancer than the general population, yet their rates of cancer screening do not meet existing guidelines. The study examined 6,392 patients who had organ transplants in Ontario between 1997 and 2010.
Ten patients at Penn Medicine have been cured of Hepatitis C following kidney transplants from HCV-infected donors. The study demonstrates the potential for increasing organ supply and may open up new transplant options for hundreds more patients.
A University of Surrey-led study has developed a model to provide vital insight into controlling CMV infection, particularly in transplant patients and HIV/AIDS sufferers. The research identified four unique patterns of response and created a sophisticated mathematical model to predict therapy duration needed for viral clearance.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered a method to detect organ transplant rejection earlier, using a blood-based approach that targets 'transplant exosomes.' This new strategy may enable doctors to intervene sooner and reduce the risk of long-term side effects from immunosuppressive drugs.
Researchers have discovered a new cell structure responsible for previously unexplained rejections following an organ transplant, which may lead to the development of a new drug to prevent this type of rejection. This breakthrough could one day transform transplant practice by improving assessment of rejection risks.
A study from Drexel University found that nonwhite organ transplant recipients require unique dermatological care due to varying skin cancer risk factors and locations. The research highlights the importance of evaluating and treating patients differently based on their race, with a focus on sun-protected areas and high-risk human papi...
A new study reveals that nanotechnology can be used to rapidly rewarm cryogenically treated samples without damaging delicate frozen tissues. This technology may help make organ cryopreservation a reality, eliminating transplant waiting lists and reducing rejection rates.
The Spanish system has made organ donation a routine consideration when a patient dies, with professionals exploring patients' wishes regarding organ donation. The model's success lies in its coordination and organization, making it applicable to other countries with adaptations depending on the healthcare system and factors.
A new study from Intermountain Medical Center found that using longitudinal data improves predictive accuracy for kidney transplant patients. Four predictive models were developed by layering available data, achieving accuracy improvements of nearly 16% and up to 83.8% in predicting kidney loss or death.
A new method allows donor lungs to be preserved for up to 20 hours, enabling more flexible transplant timing and improving patient outcomes. This shift in paradigm increases the availability of healthy donor lungs for patients waiting for a life-saving transplant.
New research published in Clinical Infectious Diseases reveals that infection with Zika virus during pregnancy can lead to brain damage in infants born prematurely. In another study, scientists found Zika virus in patients receiving organ transplants, highlighting a new complication of the disease.
A new non-invasive test measures donor-derived cell-free DNA in plasma to monitor transplant recipients and detect rejection. The assay has shown promise in reducing complications and rejection, improving outcomes for heart transplant patients.
A new study found that some living kidney donors are not given prompt access to transplantation when they need a transplant. The study examined data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and found that only 40-50 prior living donors are added to the kidney waiting list each year.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found that eliminating dendritic cells from transplanted organs can prolong transplant survival by reducing T cell proliferation. This breakthrough could lead to new methods for preventing or treating organ transplant rejection without compromising the patient's immune defenses.
Brazil performs more liver transplant surgeries than Latin America and globally ranks third in absolute terms. However, the country's increasing population and inadequate donor organ supply lead to only 5-10 liver transplants per million population annually.
A new diagnostic tool uses short-strand DNA library preparation to analyze cell-free DNA in plasma, enabling transplant recipients to get an idea of how their new organ is responding via a simple blood test. This method can help determine whether the transplanted organ is injured or being rejected.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are developing a new approach to stabilize donor limb and tissue biology after brain death, which could lead to improved success rates in transplantation. The goal is to increase the number of viable organs available for transplant, addressing a pressing need in the field.
A mouse study reveals that skin grafts between mice treated with antibiotics before transplantation survive roughly twice as long. The team also found that changing the composition of microbiota affects organ transplants, suggesting a new strategy to improve transplant outcomes in humans.
Creating a confidential reporting system in Canada about organ transplant tourism could help reduce the practice and disrupt international networks. Physicians can discourage transplant tourism by discussing risks with patients and providing continued care pre- and postoperatively.
A 55-year-old man underwent a combined VCA and double-organ transplant procedure, combining a scalp and skull flap with a kidney and pancreas transplant from the same donor. The patient experienced excellent outcomes, including good cosmetic appearance of the transplanted scalp.
A new study found that organ recipients with a history of cancer are at a higher risk of dying from any cause, dying from cancer, or developing a new cancer. The association between these outcomes did not vary by the type of transplanted organ, according to researchers at St. Michael's Hospital.
A new study from Mayo Clinic found that patients with high and low levels of donor-specific alloantibodies who received simultaneous liver-kidney transplants showed a lower incidence of cellular and antibody-mediated rejection, chronic injury to the kidney, and better overall kidney function compared to those who received a kidney tran...
A new study reveals a mechanism involved in lymphangiogenesis, specifically in corneal transplants and infectious eye disease, by inhibiting the overgrowth of lymphatic vessels. Galectin-8 promotes pathological lymphangiogenesis, increasing the risk of organ rejection and cancer metastasis.
Researchers have identified promising biomarkers to monitor immunosuppressive drug therapy in organ transplant recipients, with the potential for individualized treatment to reduce rejection and minimize side effects. A panel of experts recommends a preliminary set of tests for use in biomarker-based immunosuppressive drug management.
Researchers found that acute and chronic kidney rejection are different parts of the same immune rejection process, making it a single entity at the molecular level. They identified interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy as an early warning sign of active but 'silent' rejection.
A new process of moving donor management out of hospitals to freestanding facilities has been shown to be more efficient and cost-effective. This approach results in a higher number of suitable organs being recovered for transplant, with an average increase of 3.4 organs per donor.
A new study by Mayo Clinic reveals that only one-third of patients receive preemptive or early living donor kidney transplants, despite research suggesting improved patient outcomes. The study highlights the need for education and access to information about living donor kidney transplantation to improve long-term outcomes.
New research from Penn Medicine reveals that many transplant centers in the US reject organs for their sickest patients, increasing waitlist mortality. The study analyzed 23,000 organ offers to 13,255 patients and found significant variability in acceptance rates among centers.
Researchers found mild fibrosis in biopsies taken a few months after transplant correlated with acute kidney injury gene expression, while advanced fibrosis reflected ongoing injury. Older transplants with fibrosis were associated with an increased risk of kidney failure.
The new allocation system has boosted transplantation rates for black and Hispanic patients on waiting lists, reducing racial disparities. Younger adults have gained wider access to coveted organs, while older candidates have seen a decline in transplant rates.
A new cellular structure responsible for previously unexplained rejection of organ transplants has been identified. Researchers have found a way to neutralize the enzyme driver of this structure, which could revolutionize transplantation practice by modifying risk assessment of rejection.
A study of living liver donors found that most donors were highly satisfied with the donation process and reported improved health outcomes. The study's results suggest that living liver donation is a positive experience for donors, with 97% indicating they would donate again.
Research found that patients who listed at multiple centers had higher transplant rates and lower death rates while waiting. Wealthier patients were more likely to be insured and had the resources to list at multiple centers, addressing long waiting times and organ shortage issues.
A study found that adults who received kidneys from deceased pediatric donors aged 0 to 5 years experienced no surgical complications, organ failure, or rejection. The results showed excellent outcomes with no adverse effects from younger donor age or low weight.
A study evaluating patients who purchased organs internationally found higher rates of hepatitis C, B, and cytomegalovirus, as well as increased risk of acute and recurrent rejections. Survival rates were also lower compared to living related donor transplants.
Researchers aim to create a permanent solution for organ transplantation scarcity using bio-hybrid devices combining silicon filters with living human kidney cells. The device, if successful, could run on the body's normal blood pressure without power source, eliminating organ rejection issues.
Researchers found a link between MMF and an increased risk of CNS lymphoma in solid organ transplant patients. However, combining MMF with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) appears to protect against this rare form of lymphoma, according to the study published in Oncotarget.
A recent study by Henry Ford Hospital found that over half of transplant nurses in the US suffer from emotional exhaustion and low personal accomplishment. The researchers suggest that organizations must create environments that nurture both patients and caregivers to prevent burnout.
A large international team of researchers is investigating the genetic factors behind transplant successes and failures. The project, iGeneTRAiN, has generated genomics data for over 32,000 organ donors and recipients, aiming to discover genetic variants that lead to rejection and other complications.
Researchers used ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to recondition poorly functioning lungs, removing donor white blood cells and reducing the risk of acute rejection. This technique can increase access to transplantation and shorten waiting list times.
A new study of DCD liver transplantations found no significant correlation between donor age and organ survival. The results suggest that stringent donor and recipient selection can help expand the donor pool for life-saving liver transplantation, making aged DCD organs more viable.
Study finds that certain IgG3 and IgG4 donor-specific HLA antibodies correlate with distinct patterns of antibody-mediated injury to transplanted organs. Patients with mostly IgG3 antibodies have a higher likelihood of organ rejection soon after transplantation, while those with mostly IgG4 antibodies experience delayed rejection.
The University of Chicago Medicine has contributed to the Illinois Transplant Fund, providing financial assistance for organ transplants to qualified uninsured residents. The fund, launched by the ITF, offers insurance premium support and financial help to patients in need.
Researchers found that immune tolerance can spontaneously recover after an infection-triggered rejection event, and hosts can accept subsequent transplants as soon as a week after. Regulatory T-cells play a key role in this process, acting as a 'brake' to prevent other immune cells from targeting the second transplant.
A new study found that calcineurin inhibitor-based medications used by organ transplant recipients significantly lower the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease compared to national data. The research suggests that this treatment strategy may offer a protective effect against the development and progression of Alzheimer's.
Researchers at UCLA successfully tested a portable finger-probe device on 53 potential organ donors, predicting which livers would function properly after transplantation. The device could increase the number of organs used for transplant and save patients waiting for transplants from dying.
New research reveals wide variability in organ donation rates across the US, with Midwest having the highest rates and New York State having the lowest. If consent rates were to increase in low-performing areas, nearly 2,700 lifesaving transplants could be made available.
Medical ethicists propose a solution to the US organ shortage crisis by introducing an 'uncontrolled donation after circulatory determination of death' (UDCDD) approach. This method considers deceased individuals for donation even outside hospitals, allowing families to decide later if they want to preserve organs for potential donation.
Researchers found that transplant outcomes using kidneys from deceased donors with AKI were no different between the AKI and non-AKI groups at both 1 and 3 years post-transplant. The study results suggest that acutely injured kidneys can be considered for transplantation, potentially alleviating the US kidney shortage.
The US transplant organ shortage continues to grow, with thousands on waiting lists for 5 years or more. Medical leaders propose removing financial disincentives and exploring incentives like health insurance post-donation to ensure donor safety. However, there is ongoing debate about the ethics of introducing financial payments.
A Yale-led study found that donated kidneys with acute injury are associated with delayed graft function but not poor long-term transplant outcomes. The research suggests that injured kidneys could be used for transplants, potentially increasing the number of available organs and improving survival rates for patients on dialysis.
Double-lung transplantation was associated with better graft survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but not in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The new lung allocation score system has changed demographics of single- and double-lung transplant recipients.
A national study found nearly half of organ transplant surgeons experience low personal accomplishment and 40% feel emotionally exhausted. Surgeons who reported higher levels of personal accomplishment felt more control in their work life and had more support from co-workers.
A Stanford study found that many donated hearts are being rejected due to varying acceptance criteria across regions. The rejection rate decreased from 44% in 1995 to 32% in 2010, highlighting a pressing need for standardized guidelines.
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have joined forces with a leading 3D biology company to develop 3D printed tissues for transplant research. The technology could shorten wait times for vital organs and eliminate the need for immunosuppressive drugs.
A US policy giving priority to prior organ donors has been shown to significantly reduce waiting times and improve the quality of organs received. Living donors who later need a transplant experience much shorter waits and receive higher-quality kidneys compared to those on the waiting list without donation history.
Researchers discovered that fondaparinux, an anticoagulant, can protect transplanted kidneys from damage. Improved kidney function was observed both immediately after transplantation and months later, suggesting this strategy could augment the pool of available organs.
A new study found that living liver donor candidates often experience ambivalence regarding donation, which is linked to physical, psychosocial, and financial concerns. Providing social support can help mitigate these concerns and reduce ambivalence among living liver donors.