Transplant

AIM: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) after liver transplantation (LT) remains a problem; thus, development of more effective HBV reactivation prophylaxis is desirable. We evaluated the efficacy of a combination of a long-term nucleotide analog (NA), such as entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), and short-term hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) in preventing HBV reactivation and compared it with conventional HBV prophylaxis. METHODS: Between February 1999 and August 2023, 135 patients underwent living-donor liver transplantation for liver cirrhosis or acute liver failure caused by HBV infection or received an LT from a hepatitis B core antibody-positive donor...

BACKGROUND: Carrying out dialysis at home brings non-medical factors, including social support, or caretaker relationship, and internal features relevant to personality into the forefront. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between coping strategies of patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and health outcomes. METHODS: Our post-hoc analysis was based on one previous randomized controlled trial that enrolled 150 incident patients who started CAPD from December 2010 to June 2016...

Biliary complications (BC) in the recipient continue to be an as yet, unresolved issue following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Bile leaks (BL) and biliary anastomotic strictures (BAS) are the most common BCs, with the latter contributing to close to 80%. With increasing expertise, endoscopic treatment with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) [the first-line treatment] and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) alone or in combination with ERC lead to successful management in a majority of these cases...

BACKGROUND: Graft failure is a common complication after superior capsule reconstruction (SCR). The graft in SCR is fixed on the greater tuberosity and superior glenoid, and graft failure has been reported on both sides. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical manifestations of patients with graft failure after SCR and identify the clinical and radiological differences between medial and lateral graft failure. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3...

BACKGROUND: Matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI), the third-generation of the technique, is an established procedure for the treatment of focal cartilage defects in the knee. However, the literature lacks long-term results of MACI with good statistical power. PURPOSE: To determine long-term survival and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in a representative cohort and to identify patient- and surgery-related parameters that may influence long-term clinical outcomes...

This study aimed to develop a treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD) by investigating whether transplantation of biofabricated adipose-derived mesenchymal cell (AMC) sheets could improve renal tissue and function. Thirty-nine 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent the harvesting of adipose tissues and right nephrectomy. AMCs that were collected from adipose tissues were labeled and cultured on temperature-responsive dishes, and applied to a gelatin hydrogel sheet. Subsequently, two identical AMC-gelatin sheets were attached together to biofabricate a bilayered AMC-gelatin sheet...

The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is steadily increasing annually, with 537 million diabetic patients as of 2021. Restoring diminished β cell mass or impaired islet function is crucial in treating DM, particularly type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, the regenerative capacity of islet β cells, which primarily produce insulin, is severely limited, and natural regeneration is only observed in young rodents or children. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop advanced therapeutic approaches that can regenerate endogenous β cells or replace them with stem cell (SC)-derived or engineered β-like cells...

A bioengineered liver has the potential to save patients with end-stage liver disease, and a three-dimensional decellularized scaffold is a promising approach for practical use. The main challenge in bioengineered liver transplantation is thrombogenicity during blood perfusion. We aimed to apply a novel antithrombotic polymer to revascularize liver scaffolds and evaluate the thrombogenicity and biosafety of the polymer-treated scaffolds. A biomimetic polymer, 2-metacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) was prepared for modification of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in liver scaffolds...

This updated report highlights significant developments in the field of xenotransplantation since December 2023. Over the past 6 months, there has been a notable increase in discussions regarding the feasibility of clinical trials, with particular emphasis on their progression and associated ethical considerations. This review presents the most pertinent findings from December 2023 to June 2024.

The prevalence of allergies has been globally escalating. While allergies could appear at any age, they often develop in early life. However, the significant knowledge gap in the field is the mechanisms by which allergies affect certain people but not others. Investigating early factors and events in neonatal life that have a lasting impact on determining the susceptibilities of children to develop allergies is a significant area of the investigation as it promotes the understanding of neonatal immune system that mediates tolerance versus allergies...

Since the approval of the CD20-targeting monoclonal antibody (mAb) rituximab for the treatment of lymphoma in 1997, mAb therapy has significantly transformed cancer treatment. With over 90 FDA-approved mAbs for the treatment of various hematological and solid cancers, modern cancer treatment relies heavily on these therapies. The overwhelming success of mAbs as cancer therapeutics is attributed to their broad applicability, high safety profile, and precise targeting of cancer-associated surface antigens. Furthermore, mAbs can induce various anti-tumor cytotoxic effector mechanisms including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), all of which are mediated via their fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain...

OBJECTIVE: Severe limb amputation trauma often results in bone and soft tissue defects after debridement. Traditional replantation aims to save the limb by shortening the ischemic period and using autologous transplantation for repair, but it can lead to surgical trauma, donor site damage, and prolonged operation time. Due to contusion, pollution, and complex injury, there is no unified standard for replantation and fixation. Improper operation can easily lead to complications such as bone infection, nonunion, bone defect, and joint stiffness...

PURPOSE: To explore the challenges of managing recurrent graft rejections in patients with Macular Corneal Dystrophy (MCD) undergoing Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) who also have an underlying diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis, specifically the limited form known as CREST syndrome. METHODS: The case of a 47-year-old female diagnosed with MCD who underwent multiple PKPs over a 13 year period was reviewed. The patients treatment included extensive surgical interventions (PKPs, amniotic membrane transplatation, tarsorrhaphy) and medical management involving systemic and topical steroids and immunosuppressive therapy (Tacrolimus ointment)...

Advancements in 3D printing technology are providing a new direction in pediatric dentistry by offering innovative solutions to traditional challenges. The remarkable expansion of 3D printing necessitates a comprehensive examination of its status and applications in the dental field, particularly in the pediatric dentistry. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of the applications of 3D printing in pediatric dental practices by drawing from a systematic search across databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Scielo and the Cochrane Library...

In a production environment, delayed stress recognition can impact yield. Imaging can rapidly and effectively quantify stress symptoms using indexes such as normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Commercial systems are effective but cannot be easily customized for specific applications, particularly post-processing. We developed a low-cost customizable imaging system and validated the code to analyze images. Our objective was to verify the image analysis code and custom system could successfully quantify the changes in plant canopy reflectance...

INTRODUCTION/AIM: Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune modulation, which may influence the development of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This study aims to evaluate the impact of vitamin D levels and supplementation on the incidence of GvHD in HSCT patients. METHODS: A narrative review was conducted across PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Embase databases. RESULTS: The reviewed studies indicated widespread vitamin D deficiency among HSCT patients, with baseline levels ranging from 12...

INTRODUCTION: Heart transplantation is the standard treatment for severe heart failure. Graft preservation and infectious risk secondary to immunosuppressive drugs lead healthcare teams to offer nutritional advice to patients upon discharge from the hospital. However, no consensus or recommendation is available. METHOD: We conducted a study to review the practices in all 26 centers providing heart transplantation in French-speaking Europe. We requested and analyzed the written documents these centers provided to their patients...

The root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SMB) has been widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases. However, the contents of secondary metabolites in the roots from different production areas are significantly different, and the impact of soil factors on this accumulation remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the regularity of variation between the active components and soil factors through targeted metabolomics and chemical dosimetry. Soils were collected from five different cities (A, B, C, D, and E) and transplanted into the study area...

Background/Objectives : Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is considered one of the major causes of post-renal transplant febrile urinary tract infections (UTI), leading to impaired renal function and the premature loss of the renal graft. We aimed to evaluate whether surgical VUR correction, such as open redo ureteric reimplantation, could be an option for treatment and provide better outcomes in post-transplant care for patients with UTI compared to their pre-VUR correction clinical state. Methods : Our study presents a retrospective analysis of 10 kidney transplant recipients with febrile UTI at the Renal Transplant Service of a Brazilian public hospital from 2010 to 2020...

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) constitute one of the main complications in kidney recipients, increasing both morbidity and mortality. Due to the resurgence of antimicrobial resistance, new prophylactic approaches are being investigated. Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic from the nitrofuran group that is effective against several Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms; hence, there has been a resurgence in its prescription for treating MDR pathogens. Objectives : This study aims to assess the effectiveness of nitrofurantoin as an add-on to conventional therapy (amikacin + ceftriaxone or cefotaxime) for the treatment of urinary tract infections in kidney recipients...