Scientists have discovered six proteins that can accurately diagnose tuberculosis (TB). The breakthrough study paves the way for a simple blood test to detect the bacteria, which could prevent millions of cases annually. TB is the world's deadliest infectious disease, killing over one million people each year.
Research highlights new findings on social vulnerability and survivorship after colorectal cancer resection, as well as disparities in kidney recovery among Black donors. Additionally, studies reveal cost savings from implementing quality interventions and explore eligibility for transplants in obese patients with end-stage renal disease.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have reported promising results from a clinical trial testing a novel immunotherapy combination to target advanced, potentially lethal skin cancers in kidney transplant patients. Two out of six patients experienced complete tumor regression after adding a second checkpoint inhibitor to the regimen.
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 new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that organ donations after medical assistance in dying (MAiD) represented 14% of all deceased organ donations in Quebec in 2022. The majority of donors had neurodegenerative diseases, with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis being the most common condition.
Researchers at UMCG have successfully performed liver transplants after prolonged preservation using a perfusion machine, showing similar outcomes to immediate transplants. The new method allows for safer and more efficient liver transplantation during the day, reducing complications and mortality rates.
Researchers found that ASCOT reverses some age-related protein expression changes, enriching processes related to the complement cascade and immune system in patients with poor ovarian response. In contrast, patients with premature ovarian insufficiency showed enrichment in responses to oxygen-containing compounds and growth hormones.
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.
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 randomized trial found that unfiltered traffic-related air pollution caused a rapid and significant increase in blood pressure, which persisted for more than 24 hours. The study suggests that effective cabin air filtration may reduce the negative effects of air pollution on blood pressure.
Researchers have developed a method to camouflage stem cell-derived transplants, avoiding immune rejection and tumor formation. Genetically engineered liver cells can persist in the body despite lack of immune matching, offering a potential solution to organ donor shortage.
Researchers found that a small fraction of eligible patients are being approached to consider eye donation, despite both healthcare professionals and patients having favorable views towards it. The study highlights the need for practice change to offer patients who wish to donate as part of routine end-of-life care.
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.
Dr. Hung Nguyen is studying how medium chain fatty acid foods like coconut oil and avocados affect GVHD severity and mortality in transplant patients. His goal is to develop a dietary approach that reduces inflammation and corticosteroid use, improving patient outcomes for blood cancers.
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.
A new device developed by Northwestern University researchers can detect temperature irregularities associated with inflammation and other body responses that arise with transplant rejection. This allows for earlier intervention, improving patient outcomes and increasing the odds of preserving donated organs.
Scientists at UCSF have developed an artificial kidney that can mimic key functions of a real kidney. The bioreactor keeps kidney cells alive for up to seven days and has shown promising results in animal trials. If successful, the device could improve treatment for kidney disease, making it more effective, tolerable, and comfortable.
Researchers have discovered a novel pathway that minimizes liver injury during transplantation by activating the protective CEACAM1-S version. This protective characteristic is regulated by HIF-1α and can be enhanced using molecular tools and alternative gene splicing, reducing organ injury and improving post-transplant outcomes.
A new preclinical study reveals that mitochondrial transplantation can lessen the damage to renal cells and kidneys, improving their function. The technology, where healthy mitochondria are injected into damaged tissue or organ, has the potential to transform renal transplant medicine.
A study at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that people living with HIV who donate a kidney to others with HIV have a low risk of developing end-stage kidney disease or other kidney problems. The study, which monitored three donors for two to four years post-transplant, bolsters support for living donations from people with HIV.
A new study published in Annals of Surgery reveals promising results for normothermic machine perfusion in liver transplantation. The randomized controlled trial found that this technology showed particular promise in marginal donors and those with higher risk factors, demonstrating a lower incidence of dysfunction and cardiovascular s...
In a groundbreaking procedure, Adriana Rodriguez received a dual-organ transplant, with her healthy liver transplanted into another patient to mitigate rejection risk. This innovative approach, known as HALT-D, demonstrates the potential for immunoprotection and has implications for highly sensitized patients requiring multiple organs.
Researchers have developed a new standard for preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after stem cell transplant, showing improved efficacy and reduced side effects compared to the current gold standard. The new regimen achieved higher rates of patient survival without GVHD complications, making it a more effective option for patie...
Researchers have developed a test to detect 'zombie' cells in donor blood, which may help increase the number of suitable hearts available for transplant. The test targets proteins associated with senescent cells, which can impact heart health.
A study found that heart transplant patients receiving organs from active COVID-19 positive donors had increased risk of death at six months and one year compared to those receiving organs from recently recovered COVID-19 patients and COVID-19 negative patients.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers found that non-lung transplant recipients from positive donors have excellent 30-day graft and patient survival rates, similar to those using donors negative for SARS-CoV-2. The study also showed zero transmissions of COVID-19 to lung transplant recipients after implementing lower respiratory track testing.
Research from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that genetic analysis can identify up to 65% more A2 donors, increasing potential kidney transplants for recipient candidates with blood type B. This could improve availability and equity in kidney transplantation.
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.
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.
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 recent analysis of COVID-19-positive donor heart transplants found no significant differences in transplant outcomes compared to those from non-COVID-19 donors. The study's results suggest that COVID-19-positive hearts may be as safe for transplantation, potentially addressing the shortage of available donor organs.
A recent study examined public comments from Canadians regarding deemed consent legislation, which automatically assumes consent for deceased organ donation. The study found that while some people supported the legislation, others raised concerns about individual autonomy and potential errors. The authors emphasize the importance of pu...
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.
A new review article aims to improve the impact of human islet research on type 2 diabetes treatment by addressing challenges and proposing solutions. The study highlights the importance of standardizing islet collection and analysis protocols to accelerate progress in understanding T2D.
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.
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 revived photoreceptor cells in human macula, responding to bright and dim lights. The study restores communication between retinal cells, transforming brain and vision research.
Researchers argue that restrictive policies are outdated and unfair, suggesting new legislation to facilitate direct contact between donor families and organ recipients. The team cites examples of provinces like British Columbia and Nova Scotia, which have mechanisms in place for mediating direct contact.
Dialysis facilities referred more incident patients, transplant centers evaluated more, but fewer were placed on the waitlist following KAS implementation. This led to a decline in overall waitlisting nationwide.
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.
A recent study found that the number of stage 3 AKI kidneys transplanted in the US has increased significantly over the last decade, yet 44% are still discarded. This highlights the need for further efforts to optimize the use of these organs and reduce waste.
A study in Ontario, Canada found that in-person requests with physician involvement and trained donation coordinators significantly increase organ donation consent rates. Factors such as age, religion, and neighbourhood income also impact consent decisions.
Researchers propose reinstating waiting time for recipients experiencing early post-transplant allograft failure within an expanded timeframe to boost transplant numbers. This policy change could potentially reduce the perceived patient-level risk of transplanting marginal organs and improve organ utilization.
A new global study found a significant decline in solid organ transplants performed during the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020, with over 48,000 years of patient life lost. Kidney transplantation showed the largest reduction across nearly all countries.
A study of 20,304 kidney transplants found that black recipients and patients receiving kidneys from Asian donors had a higher risk of graft failure within seven years. The study suggests that improved access to organ donation among ethnic minority groups can improve long-term outcomes for all recipients.
A new approach called an immunobiological algorithm provides a comprehensive assessment of how a patient's immune system will react to tissue from each potential living donor. This method outperforms current HLA testing in identifying the best potential living donor, which could lead to improved organ transplant outcomes.
A new study from the UBC Sauder School of Business found that a subtle shift in organ donor messaging can lead to a significant boost in registration. By combining descriptive and injunctive norms, registrations increased by 70%, suggesting that emphasizing low numbers while highlighting high support motivates people to register.
Researchers from several universities and institutions found that intercepting customers with promotional materials and simplified registration forms increased new organ donor registrations by up to 80%. The study aims to reduce the intention-action gap in organ donation by leveraging behavioral science.
The study found significant racial and ethnic differences in deceased organ donation rates, with African Americans having lower rates of registration and procurement compared to whites. Additionally, the researchers identified a growing disparity between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white donors.