Pancreas transplantation from donors after circulatory death from the UK
Source: American Journal of Transplantation (subscription required)
This study reports the comparative short-term results of pancreas transplantation from donors after circulatory death and pancreases from brainstem deceased donors. Between January 2006 and December 2010, 1009 pancreas transplants were performed in the United Kingdom, with 134 grafts from DCD and 875 from DBD. DCD grafts had no premortem pharmacological interventions performed. These results from donors with broader acceptance criteria in age, body mass index, premortem interventions, etc. suggest that DCD pancreas grafts may have a larger application potential than previously recognized. Read more.

Experimental pump keeps children alive to receive heart transplant
Source: CBS News
There is new research on a remarkable medical device that helps children waiting for heart transplants. A recent study shows that the device can drastically improve a child's chance of survival. The device, called the Berlin Heart, takes over the heart's job of pumping blood. A tube implanted inside the heart channels blood to the pump, which sits outside the body. It then sends blood directly to arteries supplying the rest of the body. Read more.

Related articles:

• Mechanical device helps kids waiting for transplant (U.S. News & World Report)
• Unprecedented study shows Berlin Heart device provides life-saving 'bridge' for young children, babies (redOrbit.com)

Availability, utilization and outcomes of deceased diabetic donor kidneys; analysis based on the UNOS registry
Source: American Journal of Transplantation (subscription required)
The number of kidneys obtained from deceased diabetic donors available for transplantation has increased more than eightfold in the past 15 years. Both overall and death-censored survival of organs from diabetic standard criteria donors was significantly better than that of organs obtained from nondiabetic ECD while inferior to that from nondiabetic standard criteria donors. Read more.

Related article:

• Engineered pancreatic tissues could lead to better transplants for diabetics (Medical Xpress)

New research prints blood vessels from inkjet printer
Source: ZDNet
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute are working on a new technology: Blood vessels created with specialized inkjet printers. The potential for this technology is quite amazing. If doctors can "print" blood vessels, then they can direct the river of blood to locations that need blood. This is particularly valuable in transplants and may help save lives. Read more.

Related article:

• The miraculous way scientists are growing organs in labs (Business Insider)

American Heart Association wants better cardiac evaluation of kidney transplant candidates
Source: Renal & Urology News
The American Heart Association is trying to establish better standardization of cardiac evaluation practices in patients awaiting kidney transplants. Read more.

Feds renew hand transplant researchers' support
Source: The Associated Press via Georgia Public Broadcasting
An Atlanta research partnership responsible for the South's first human hand transplant has secured a new $31 million federal grant to continue a coalition launched five years ago. The Clinical & Translational Science Institute is a partnership led by Emory University. It also includes other major healthcare and research players like Georgia Tech, Morehouse medical school, Grady Health System and the VA Medical Center. Read more.

Related article:

• Atlanta research coalition gets $31 million (The Sacramento Bee)

A prospective study on living related kidney donors' quality of life in the first year: Choosing appropriate reference data
Source: Clinical Transplantation (subscription required)
Prospective studies on living kidney donors' quality of life are still rare. Most existing studies compare healthy donors with the general population, including subjects with diseases. This is the first prospective study comparing living donors' QoL with reference data of both the general population and healthy individuals. The impact on physical QoL seems to persist for at least three months after kidney donation. It could be demonstrated that in the context of living donation, healthy individuals provide more adequate reference data. Read more.