Articles tagged with Transplantation
Researchers conducted a randomized study involving 73 adults with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis, finding that pooled donor FMT induced remission in 32% of patients, compared to 9% with placebo. The study used anaerobically processed stool to preserve bacteria, which survived and administered to patients.
A new study suggests that gut microbes from healthy human infant donors can protect against the development of cow's milk allergy in mice. The research found that transplanting these microbes into mice exposed to milk prevented allergic reactions, while those with microbes from infants allergic to milk did not experience protection.
A new clinical trial is enrolling patients to test the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) by enema for recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). The trial aims to provide critical data on the long-term safety of FMT in preventing CDAD recurrence.
A large registry-linkage study found a 13-fold increased risk of lung cancer in single lung transplant recipients' native lungs compared to the general population. Longtime since transplantation and prior smoking are associated with higher lung cancer risk.
Researchers have discovered a hormone, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), is extremely elevated in mice with liver disease mimicking methylmalonic acidemia. FGF21 levels can predict liver severity and inform treatment decisions. The study may also shed light on common disorders like fatty liver disease and obesity.
A recent study published in Clinical Kidney Journal found that marijuana use by live kidney donors had no measurable impact on the outcomes of kidney transplants. The study, which reviewed over 290 living donor medical records, also showed no long-term differences in kidney function between marijuana users and non-users.
A genetic study led by University of Helsinki researchers has uncovered the underlying causes of severe heart muscle diseases in children, revealing a unique genetic profile for each family. The study's findings have significant implications for predicting disease course and treatment decisions, paving the way for personalized medicine.
Frailty in kidney failure patients is associated with lower likelihoods of being placed on the transplant waitlist and receiving a transplant. Frail participants had nearly twofold increased risk of dying while on the transplant waitlist and underwent transplantation at a 35% lower rate than nonfrail participants.
Pediatric kidney transplant recipients face worsening long-term survival disparities, despite overall improvement in patient survival from 1995 to 2014. Racial/ethnic differences persist, with Black children at highest risk of death compared to White and Hispanic counterparts.
Researchers identified a cluster of five risk factors associated with unhealthy gut microbial communities, which can increase the risk of C. diff infection. The study suggests potential preventive interventions, including dietary changes and fecal transplantation from healthy donors.
A recent study found that liver transplant survival rates have improved significantly among older adults, with a notable increase in recipients aged 65-69 and those aged 80 or over. The one-year acute rejection rate decreased by 30%, and the risk of death was 57% lower compared to earlier years.
Researchers at Linköping University found that uterus transplantation with living donors is ethically comparable to altruistic surrogacy, citing potential pressures on donors and lack of research on child outcomes. The study suggests that decision-makers should consider the parallels between the two practices.
Despite changes to the US kidney allocation system, low-income and minority patients still face significant barriers to timely diagnosis and transplant. Early disease diagnosis and preemptive waitlisting are critical strategies to improve survival chances, but many vulnerable populations lack access to these essential care pathways.
A new study has introduced a 'failure-aware' algorithmic matching approach to improve the success rate of kidney transplants. The method takes pre-transplant compatibility failures into account probabilistically and can roughly double the number of successful transplants, depending on the setting.
Researchers have discovered a potential alternative to liver transplant for patients with acute liver failure, which is triggered by liver injury and can be life-threatening. A new therapy using anti-cancer drugs has been shown to regenerate the liver in mouse models, preventing death from liver injury.
Researchers found that transplantation followed by antiviral therapy cured hepatitis C in all 20 patients who received kidneys from infected donors. The treatment resulted in excellent renal function and stable to improved quality of life.
A recent study by KU Leuven researchers reveals that the lifespan of transplanted kidneys has stagnated despite improvements in the past. The study analyzed data from over 100,000 recipients across Europe and found that the average lifespan of a transplanted kidney is now around 15-20 years.
The Cleveland Clinic has been awarded a $2.8 million grant to evaluate disparities in survival among heart failure patients before and after heart transplantation. The research will create tools to optimize outcomes, including identifying risk factors and developing dynamic models to predict patient conditions.
Medicaid expansion has helped place many low-income individuals with chronic kidney disease on the kidney transplant waiting list before starting dialysis. The findings show larger gains in pre-emptive listing for minorities with Medicaid coverage than for whites.
A recent study published in Clinical Transplantation found that carefully-selected older adults over 60 years old pose minimal risks for living kidney donation. The research suggests that accepting more older donors can expand the donor pool, making a previously perceived high-risk group accessible.
A systematic review of animal studies found that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) have a positive effect on obesity treatment in terms of body weight and related comorbidities. However, the authors caution that further well-designed human studies are needed to confirm these findings and understand the mechanism of action.
With improved surgical and medical management, more children with CHD survive to adulthood, leading to an increasing number of adult heart transplants. Approximately 300,000 adults with CHD have severe cases, making early recognition and referral crucial for successful transplantation.
A study published at Digestive Disease Week found that altruism is the most common appeal to encourage people to donate their stool, while economic compensation is also a motivator. The research aimed to understand what drives individuals to become stool donors for fecal microbiota transplant therapy.
A feasibility study suggests that airway transplantation using cryopreserved aortic grafts may be an effective treatment option for patients with lung cancer and end-stage tracheobronchial disease. The study shows promising results, including low mortality rates and successful breathing through newly formed airways.
Lung transplant patients with recent alcohol use spent more time in the hospital and on ventilators, with no differences in lung function. Abstaining from alcohol may help optimize lung transplant outcomes.
A study reports that approximately half of young children with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) have received a liver transplant by age 10. Surgical biliary diversion was found to increase survival rates in children with mild or moderate PFIC2 mutations.
Researchers have created a bioengineered heart valve that emulates native heart valves and functions well after transplantation into sheep. The tissue-engineered heart valve demonstrated improved valve mechanics and tissue structure, and remodeled itself in a similar fashion to native heart valves over time.
A recent study by Michigan Medicine has found that over one-third of cirrhosis cases are related to alcohol consumption, with women being disproportionately affected. The study reveals that patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis have higher healthcare costs and poorer health outcomes compared to those without the condition.
A single treatment of fecal microbiota transplantation produces sustained clinical and cognitive improvements in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. The study showed significant reductions in HE episodes and hospitalizations, as well as improvements in cognitive function over 1 year.
The percentage of liver transplants performed due to HCV infection has more than halved since the introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs. Post-transplant survival rates among those with HCV infection are now similar to those with HBV infection, reaching an all-time high.
A recent study reveals that dialysis providers' awareness of racial disparities in kidney transplant waitlisting is low. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in reducing these disparities, but education and training are necessary to improve equity in access to transplantation.
Alcoholic liver disease has become the leading cause of liver transplantation in the US, surpassing hepatitis C infection, according to two studies. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is also on the rise, ranking second as a cause of liver transplantation due to chronic liver disease.
A new staging system for children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) predicts the length of time until a child will need a transplant or dialysis. The system takes into account three factors: glomerular filtration rate, proteinuria, and disease etiology.
A recent analysis found that the risk of death due to infectious causes after kidney transplantation has dropped significantly, with common bacterial infections remaining the most frequent cause. The study revealed a drop in infection-related mortality by half since the 1990s, indicating improved outcomes for transplant recipients.
Researchers advocate for harnessing dynamic ecological forces to facilitate coral reef ecosystem recovery. By controlling factors like coral density and site selection, restoration practitioners can maximize growth rates and minimize mortality, promoting positive feedback processes.
A trained navigator with a degree in social work helped increase access to the transplant waitlist among patients who needed a longer time to get through the transplant evaluation process. Nearly 70,000 US patients have end-stage renal disease and most benefit from kidney transplantation.
A Phase 3 clinical trial funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found consistent and dramatic improvements in quality of life among participants with type 1 diabetes who had frequent severe hypoglycemia. Islet recipients also reported better overall health status despite needing lifelong treatment.
A new method developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center identifies rare genetic diseases in patients with heart failure, stroke, infertility, and kidney failure. The study found that phenotype risk scores can help predict the presence of disease-causing genetic variants.
A study identified 149 variants in 22 genes, classifying them as pathogenic or likely pathogenic, and found NPHS2 was the most common mutated gene. The researchers hope to understand the correlation between genotype and phenotype to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients with nephrotic syndrome.
A new measure, STReR, is developed to assess how well dialysis facilities refer patients for transplantation. The study found that most variation in referrals was due to characteristics within the dialysis facilities rather than patient factors.
Despite policies to increase diversity, racial/ethnic minority patients are less likely to receive live donor kidney transplants. The study found that disparities worsened over the last two decades, with black patients receiving only a quarter of the number of live donor transplants as white patients.
Researchers found that racial and ethnic disparities in live donor kidney transplantation have persisted over the past two decades, with Black and Hispanic patients less likely to receive a transplant than white patients. The study's findings highlight the need to revisit existing strategies aimed at reducing these disparities.
Patients with chronic kidney disease prefer home dialysis due to flexibility, independence, and better survival rates. Transplantation improves brain function and enables patients to assume family obligations and careers, increasing its appeal.
A study found that many discarded kidneys from deceased donors could have potentially been transplanted with good outcomes. The majority of discarded kidneys had traits considered unappealing, but their partner kidneys performed well after being used for transplantation.
A new study found that normothermic machine perfusion can evaluate kidney quality and suitability for transplantation. Four out of five kidneys assessed by the technique functioned immediately after transplantation.
A recent study found that certain brain changes following limb amputation in children can be reversed through bilateral hand transplantation. The lead author suggests that the brain preserves functional areas and reactivates them upon recovery of the hands.
A clinical trial shows FMT capsules are 96-per-cent effective in treating C. difficile infections, similar to colonoscopy. The pill-based treatment is non-invasive, inexpensive, and has no risks associated with sedation.
A study found that fecal transplant using oral capsules was as effective as colonoscopy in preventing recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. The treatment prevented CDI recurrence in 96% of patients after 12 weeks.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that Fecal Microbiota Transplant capsules are just as effective as colonoscopy in treating C. difficile infections. The capsule delivery method is non-invasive, less expensive, and has no risks associated with sedation.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have identified a strong biomarker candidate for early diagnosis and treatment of biliary atresia, a rare disease causing liver damage in infants. The test, using matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), shows high sensitivity and specificity in detecting the condition.
The American Thoracic Society and Japanese Respiratory Society have published new clinical practice guidelines for lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare lung disease affecting women of child-bearing age. The guidelines recommend a diagnostic approach that includes transbronchial lung biopsy before surgical lung biopsy, as well as earl...
A recent study found that African American patients were less likely to be wait-listed for a kidney transplant than White patients. Non-medical factors such as comorbidities, socio-economic status and social support played a significant role in the disparities.
The US Renal Data System report highlights the high burden of kidney disease in the US, with over 30 million adults affected, and a significant cost to healthcare. However, there is low awareness about the condition among patients, especially those with early stages of CKD.
Addressing poor nutrition in liver failure patients is vital, as it can lead to muscle wasting, weakness, and fatigue. A new review emphasizes the need for routine nutritional screening, especially in those with muscle wasting, and highlights the importance of adequate caloric and protein intake.
A recent analysis found that kidney transplant recipients lived longer than those who stayed on dialysis for at least 10 years. The benefit was observed after 657 days post-transplant, with a 40% lower risk of death compared to patients on dialysis.
A study published in The Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy can affect kidney function, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease. Researchers identified interventions to improve outcomes, including nephrologist involvement and enhanced dialysis tra...
A study found that young adults with kidney failure have lower quality of life, worse employment prospects, and are less likely to be married or have a partner. Higher education, alcohol abstinence, and smoking status did not differ significantly between those on dialysis and transplantation.
A fecal transplant from a lean donor can temporarily improve insulin resistance in obese men, but only half of the recipients responded. The success of the treatment depends on each patient's fecal gut-bacterial makeup, which can be predicted through analysis.
A new $5 million NIH grant will investigate the effects of a genetic variation on kidney transplant outcomes in African American donors. The study aims to improve matching of donor kidneys with recipients and extend post-transplant kidney function.
Researchers at MIT's CSAIL developed a new system called CodeCarbonCopy that allows programmers to transplant code from one program into another. The system can translate between different data representations used by the donor and recipient programs, making it possible to import code seamlessly.