Improving Human Life by Advancing the Field of Transplantation
July 26 - Recent Transplant News
Do kidney histology lesions predict long-term kidney function after liver transplantation?
Source: Clinical Transplantation Journal (subscription required)
Histological renal lesions observed after liver transplantation are complex, multifactorial and interrelated. The aims of this study were to determine whether kidney lesions observed at five years after liver transplantation can predict long-term kidney function. Ninety-nine liver transplant patients receiving calcineurin inhibitor)-based immunosuppression, who had undergone a kidney biopsy at 60 ± 48 months post-transplant, were included in this follow-up study.
Related articles:
- Do kidney histology lesions predict long-term kidney function after liver transplantation? (PubMed)
- Kidney histology and function in liver transplant patients (Unbound Medicine)
New hope for Crohn's patients: Immune sytem transplants?
Source: The Seattle Times
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center were approved to begin a trial to test whether a bone marrow transplant from a healthy donor can cure patients with severe Crohn's disease by giving them a new immune system. The clinical trial, which just received final approvals, will take a closer look at a side effect of bone marrow transplantation that researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center noticed years ago: A handful of leukemia patients given donor marrow cells were also cured of their Crohn's disease, a chronic intestinal inflammation. Read more.
Related article:
Low serum albumin increases graft failure risk in kidney-transplant children
Source: News-Medical.net
Children with hypoalbuminemia undergoing kidney transplantation are at an increased risk for graft failure, research shows. In a multivariable adjusted model, the researchers showed that each 1 g/dL increase in serum albumin reduced the risk for graft failure by 20 percent. Read more.
Related articles:
- Blood condition is highly predictive of graft failure in pediatric kidney transplant (Science Daily)
- Bloom problem linked to transplant loss (Daily Rx)
Medicaid Expansion Could Cut Death Rate
Source: MedPage Today
Expanding Medicaid programs might actually reduce mortality in low-income adults, a three-state study found, calling into question states opting out of the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion in light of last month's landmark Supreme Court ruling. Read more.
Modulating T-cell costimulation as new immunosuppressive concept in organ transplantation
Source: Organ Transplantation Research (subscription required)
The development of costimulation blockers for clinical application in the field of organ transplantation was delayed by several setbacks. However, belatacept has recently been approved as first in class for renal transplantation. Several additional costimulation blockers are under development with some having already entered into clinical trials. Costimulation blockers are a new class of rationally designed immunosuppressive drugs with considerable potential for improving outcome of organ transplantation. Read more.
Program may encourage living donors to give a kidney
Source: Renal & Urology News
Researchers at Johns Hopkins are testing a new program called "Live Donor Champion" that could encourage kidney donation from living donors. John Schieszer reports that it is a simple concept that could be adopted nationwide. Read more.
New York Governor signs legislation to encourage organ donation
Source: NewsLI.com
"I continually stress the importance of becoming a donor, because donating an organ is saving a life," said Sen. Kemp Hannon, R-N.Y. "This new law will make the process of registering for organ donation online more convenient by allowing donors to receive electronic confirmation of their registration and amend or revoke registration online." Currently, the New York State Department of Health is authorized to offer online electronic registration, which is done through the DMV website. Read more.
