#Transplant Medicine

[creativeera]

Organ Transplant: Saving Lives Through Donation and Medical Advancement

The History of Organ Transplant

The first successful organ transplant took place in 1954 when a kidney was transplanted between identical twins in Boston. This groundbreaking surgery paved the way for other transplant procedures. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, doctors continued experimenting with kidney transplants with varying success rates due to the body's natural immune response. It wasn't until the 1980s that anti-rejection drugs like cyclosporine were developed, allowing transplants between non-related donors and recipients to become more widely performed and successful. Types of Transplants

Kidneys are the most commonly transplanted organs, with over 80,000 kidney transplants performed in the United States alone between 1988-2018 according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. Other organs that can be transplanted include the liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, intestine, and thymus gland. Tissue such as corneas, skin, bone marrow, heart valves, veins and ligaments can also be donated. Organ Donation

For a Organ Transplant to occur, a donor must first agree to donate their organs upon death. In the United States, individuals can register as organ donors through their state's department of motor vehicles or on the Organ Donor Registry. Family consent is also required before organs can be recovered. Once a donor is declared brain dead but their heart is still beating, doctors work to preserve the organs until they can be surgically removed and transplanted into recipients waiting for a life-saving gift. Waiting for an Organ

The need for donated organs far outweighs the available supply. As of January 2020, there were over 113,000 candidates on the U.S. national transplant waiting list according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. The waiting time for a donated organ varies depending on blood type, organ size match and medical urgency. On average, 20 people die each day from the lack of available organs. Children have a higher mortality rate while waiting, with nearly 5,000 children in need of a transplant. Advancements in Living Donation

While deceased donor transplants remain the standard, advancements have been made to increase living donation options. In kidney and portions of liver or lung donation, a healthy person can elect to donate an organ or parts of organs to recipients in need. The recipient's prognosis is often better when the donated organ is still functioning at the time of transplant rather than being recovered from a deceased donor. Some donors are emotionally motivated to help a loved one, while others choose to altruistically donate to a stranger. Either way, living donation has elevated many from waiting lists to restored health. The Future of 3D Bioprinting and Xenotransplantation

Scientists are exploring new frontiers to close the organ supply gap through bioprinting and cross-species transplantation possibilities. 3D bioprinting uses inkjet-like printers to deposit cells layer by layer, building functional organs. Researchers have printed heart tissue, liver buds and kidney structures, with the goal of fully printed transplantable organs in development. Meanwhile, some scientists are testing the use of organs from genetically-modified pigs, known as xenotransplantation. Pig heart valves and skin are already used as human transplants with promising research underway for whole organs. If effective, bioprinting and xenotransplantation could revolutionize transplant availability in coming decades. The Impact of a Transplant

For recipients who receive that lifesaving gift from a donor, organ transplantation means a second chance at life. Kidney transplant patients can discontinue dialysis treatments and greatly improve their quality of living without being tethered to a machine. Liver recipients are cured of end-stage liver disease and related conditions. Heart transplant patients are no longer constrained by heart failure.

lung transplants restore breathing abilities for people suffering from cystic fibrosis, COPD or pulmonary hypertension. The impact of organ donation should not be underestimated - for both recipients who receive more days with their families, and donors who give the ultimate gift so others may live on. Continued medical progress and donation awareness will help even more individuals overcome organ failure in the future.

Get more insights on Organ Transplant

About Author:

Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163)

[txhospitals123]

Leading Transplant Medicine Services | Organ Transplantation, Expert Surgeons, and Comprehensive Care at TX Hospitals

Discover the exceptional transplant medicine services offered at TX Hospitals. Our renowned team of transplant surgeons specializes in liver, kidney, heart, pancreatic, intestinal, GI, and bone marrow transplantations. With a multidisciplinary approach, our collaborative team of experts ensures outstanding patient care and advanced treatment methods. Experience state-of-the-art facilities in our Transplant Medicine Department, equipped with modern technology and comprehensive facilities for both cadaver and living donor surgeries.

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - September 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles on Patreon!

1. The slowest of trailblazers: Better DNA testing means trafficked turtles can go home

““You don't want to just get a turtle and just throw it anywhere,” says Rodrigues, especially because box turtles have a big range, spanning numerous states. So [after they’re confiscated from black market animal traffickers] they wind up stuck in captivity. However, DNA testing has gotten cheap enough and good enough that individual box turtles can finally be traced back to the state where they came from.”

2. New progenitor cell type discovered, may aid in tissue repair and generation

“A team of SAHMRI scientists has discovered a completely new type of cell that […] could be used to boost healing in conditions like diabetes, where the body struggles to repair itself properly. Crucially, these cells don't express typical "self" markers, meaning they could be ideal candidates for stem cell transplantation as they're much less likely to be attacked by the recipient's immune system.”

3. How a Children’s Playground Is Helping With Flood Mitigation

“[This park sits above] a below-ground tank capable of holding hundreds of thousands of gallons of stormwater that city officials say would have otherwise spilled onto the streets or streamed into the basements[….] Others increase resilience with newly planted trees that can absorb carbon dioxide and airborne pollutants; once they mature, those trees also provide shade cover that can reduce the heat island effect of urban areas[….]”

4. Transforming agriculture from carbon source to sink

“The study results indicate that by 2050, these agricultural practices [using cover crops, biochar, and agroforestry] could reduce as much greenhouse gas emissions as planting new forests[….] Carbon sequestration on agricultural land is not only important for climate change mitigation efforts but can also enhance agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change[….]”

5. Rewilding success for long-lost bird population

“Conservation charities have successfully completed the second round of rewilding of a long-lost bird breed in Dover [… after working] over 40 years to restore a suitable grassland for the birds. […] Earlier this year, 108 choughs fledged successfully in Cornwall, according to charity Cornwall Birds.”

6. Over 30 celebrities join auction to put LGBTQ+ books in classrooms

“Pride and Less Prejudice is hosting its fourth annual #BannedTogether virtual auction this weekend with the goal of raising $20,000 to send 1,600 free LGBTQ-inclusive books to elementary schools across the United States.”

7. Advancement of Indian Buffalo Management Act Underscores Bipartisan Support for Tribal-led Buffalo Restoration

“The advancement of [this Act] reaffirms bipartisan support of Tribal sovereignty, self-determination and capacity building for bison restoration on Tribal lands. […] The Indian Buffalo Management Act would secure funding for Tribes and Tribal organizations that have an established buffalo herd and management program, as well as provide resources for Tribes to establish new herds.”

8. Anti-inflammatory drug shows promise in boosting motivation for patients with depression

“Growing evidence suggests one potential cause of low motivation may be persistent inflammation, which suppresses activity within key circuits in the brain. […] Patients who received infliximab demonstrated a greater willingness to exert effort in pursuit of rewards compared to those who received the placebo. […] "By targeting inflammation, we're not only addressing the biological underpinnings of these deficits but also offering new hope for more effective treatment options."”

9. Pig transplant research yields a surprise: Bacon safe for some people allergic to red meat

“Some people who develop a weird and terrifying allergy to red meat after a bite from a lone star tick can still eat pork from a surprising source: Genetically modified pigs created for organ transplant research. […] The company that bred these special pigs shares its small supply, for free, with allergy patients.”

10. Brussels tries out a novel rooftop wind turbine suitable for cities

“Just like solar panels, the Renewind mini wind turbine can be installed on the roof of a building[….] Renewind's invention is designed to make the most of wind acceleration at the edge of the roof, a phenomenon that could produce between 1 and 3 MWh per year.”

September 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[mindblowingscience]

A team of surgeons in New York has performed the world's first transplant of an entire eye in a procedure widely hailed as a medical breakthrough, although it isn't yet known whether the man will ever see through the donated eye. The groundbreaking surgery involved removing part of the face and the whole left eye – including its blood supply and optic nerve – of a donor and grafting them onto a lineworker from Arkansas who survived a 7,200-volt electric shock in June 2021. Aaron James, 46, suffered extensive injuries including the loss of his left eye, his dominant left arm above the elbow, his nose and lips, front teeth, left cheek area and chin. He was referred to NYU Langone Health, a leading medical center for facial transplants, which carried out the procedure on May 27. Transplanting an entire eye has long been a holy grail of medical science, and though researchers have had some success in animals – where they have restored partial vision – it's never before been performed in a living person.

Continue Reading.

[fg083nrt]

♻️ let's learn about recycling ♻️

[justkidneying]

Why you can't actually transplant eyes (yet)

This one didn't win the poll, but someone specifically asked for this topic, so I'll write about it anyways. Also, as someone who is working towards being a trauma surgeon, this is a topic I'm really passionate about.

So, I think a lot of people have a misconception about whether or not it is possible to transplant eyes. We transplant a lot of other stuff, so why not eyes? Well, you can transplant pieces of the eye, like the cornea, the clear part at the front of your eye (which is avascular). You can also replace the lens with an artificial one (the lens is also avascular). This is how you can fix cataracts, just taking out the old shitty lens and putting in a clear new one. That procedure can be done in a clinic in like thirty minutes (which is fuckin crazy if you ask me).

But what we're talking about here is taking out the entire eyeball and replacing it with a donor eye. It sounds cool as hell, so why is it so hard? First off, the eye is a part of the central nervous system (the first two cranial nerves, are in fact part of the CNS, not the PNS). So the optic nerve (CN II) is what carries special sensory information to the dorsal brain (occipital lobe). To control eye movement, you have CN III, IV, and VI (oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves). The oculomotor nerve controls eye movement, pupil constriction, and the upper eyelid. The trochlear nerve controls movement of the eye downwards, outwards, or to the nose. The abducens nerve moves the eye outwards. Several other nerves are involved in keeping the gaze level with movement, visual tracking, and parasympathetic/sympathetic functions (rest and digest vs. fight or flight). The point is, eye nerves are complicated as hell.

The blood flow to parts of the eye is also very complicated, and is very difficult to properly reattach for full perfusion (esp the retina).

Now, onto the good parts. So the eye is what is called "immune privileged." This means it has protections against the immune function of the body (to avoid autoimmune attacks). The eye has no lymphatics, few immune cells, and immune suppressing chemicals. This makes it a great place for implants, as it is unlikely that the body will attack the foreign tissue (stem cell implants are becoming more common).

The first whole eye transplant was done about a year ago (November 2023), and so far the eye is still there with adequate blood flow. However, the guy can't actually see out of it. The surgery took 21 hours and involved a huge team of some of the best surgeons in the world. It was not an easy thing to do. They also implanted some stem cells with the optic tract in hopes to regenerate it, but that still hasn't restored vision in the eye. So, while this case is a major win in the area of eye transplants, there is still a ways to go.

So why do we even need to do so many eye transplants? Well, all kinds of things can lead to the loss of the eye, whether it be disease or trauma. Surgeons try very hard to keep the eyes in a patient, but that isn't always possible. Sometimes the tissue is too destroyed for repair or the damage causes permanent pain. Enucleation is the removal of the eye. Usually, as much of the optic nerve is left as possible, as well as the musculature. Possible options after healing include fake eyes (like glass ones), which can be crazy realistic and can be moved with the eye muscles.

I hope this was an interesting read, and thanks for reading my ramblings. I didn't feel like the typical post format would work for this one, and I like to imagine it like a bonus since it didn't win the poll, lol.

[beakers-and-telescopes]

Artificial kidneys for people with kidney failure may be closer than we think

More than 500k people in the US require dialysis every week due to kidney failure. Some of those people are able to receive organ transplants, but the waiting list is incredibly long and only about 20k people receive transplants every year. On top of that, a person's body can reject the transplanted organ, and even if it is successful the patient will have to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their life.

However, scientists at the University of California San Francisco hope that can be changed. They have created a bioreactor, a sort of artificial organ that can safely perform the functions of a kidney. It is connected directly to the blood vessels and veins, allowing passage of nutrients and oxygen like the actual kidney would. This bioreactor was tested using a type of kidney cell called a proximal tubule cell, which regulates water. These cells are encased in a silicon membrane with nanopores, which allows the cells to do their job while preventing the body's immune system from identifying and attacking them. These bioreactors were tested in pigs, and after a week the animals experienced no ill effects or rejection.

The next steps will be expanding to month long trials, and including more different kinds of cells in the reactor to perform more of the kidney's functions. Though this technology is still far from being perfected, this is a huge step in the direction of treating kidney disease far more easily and effectively!

[medicalshows]

I'm building a medical shows wiki as a reference resource for those of us who enjoy crossover fics between medical shows.

If anyone's inclined towards wiki-building, would be great to have some additional hands on board to get things set up.

[hayatmed]

Male enlargement surgery, also referred to as cosmetic phalloplasty, penile augmentation, and pneuma implants, permanently enlarges the length or girth of the penis.

Men looking at their cosmetic phalloplasty options can choose from different options. As you would expect, the permanent male enlargement surgery cost will vary between the different methods. Read more!

[eretzyisrael]

Despite their differing backgrounds, a special friendship was formed between two women  – one a haredi Jew and the other an Arab Muslim – who received kidney transplants from the same donor.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that after 52-year-old Ronen a month and a half ago choked to death while eating, his brothers decided to donate his kidneys.

Ronen’s kidneys were ultimately allocated to two women – Lilach, 46, a haredi woman from Be’er Sheva, and Nama, 50, a Muslim woman from the Bedouin Tarabin tribe, who lives near Rahat. Both women have have been suffering for years from kidney failure and required the assistance of dialysis treatment in order to function.

“Lilach and I understood that we had received kidney transplants from the same donor, and then a bond formed between us. I feel that she is my sister,” Nama said. “Both of us are believers, both of us are religious. When we were hospitalized together in the room, Lilach read Psalms and I read the Koran.”

“A very special connection was formed between us. It’s truly a connecting of worlds,” Lilach added. “We were together during the operation, I called to her and gave her a hug. We have two kidneys from the same person – it is impossible to explain it, it’s a strong connection, a shared fate.”

“Fortunately, I know Arabic – as a girl, I heard my father speaking it at home, so I was able to speak to Nama. We meet at checkups, she sits next to me and kisses me.

“Specifically now, in these days of division in the nation – see how one tiny moment can create a lifelong connection,” Lilach concluded.

According to data from Israel’s health ministry, 656 organ transplants were carried out in Israel in 2022, including 136 kidney transplants.

[benevadeca]

Watching Alice in borderland season 2 and showing chishiya's doctor backstory like bitch. This guy who looks like he should be in high school musical? Ur telling me he's supposed to be done with medical school as a practicing physician?? Wack

[zarrin99]

Patient’s FAQ on Hair Transplant Transformation

Hair transplant transformation refers to the significant change in a person's appearance and confidence that occurs after undergoing a hair transplant procedure. This surgical technique involves extracting hair follicles from a donor area, typically the back or sides of the scalp, and implanting them into the areas experiencing hair loss or thinning. Over time, the transplanted hair follicles establish a new blood supply and start growing natural, healthy hair.

The transformation is remarkable because it can restore a person's hairline, density, and overall hair coverage, creating a more youthful and aesthetically pleasing appearance. The results of a successful hair transplant are permanent and can provide a long-term solution to hair loss concerns.

The advancements in hair transplant techniques, such as follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE), have greatly improved the outcomes of the procedure. Modern techniques result in natural-looking hairlines, with no visible scarring or obvious signs of a transplant. This naturalness of the results has eliminated the patchy, visible hair plugs associated with older transplant methods.

Overall, a hair transplant transformation can be a life-changing experience, boosting self-confidence and restoring a more youthful appearance to individuals dealing with hair loss.

[celepeace]

When you find a post/blog by someone who seems knowledgeable about your understudied chronic illness and you get hopeful that they might have advice for symptom management but then they start going into how using essential oils to "detoxify" your body can improve symptoms -_-

[zoonlearn]

Beyond Science Fiction The Current Reality and Challenges of Brain Transplantation

https://zoonlearn.blogspot.com/2023/01/blog-post.html?m=1

[alanfromrochester]

reminded of someone suggesting that FTMs and MTFs swap gendered items like clothes, makes sense that the concept could apply to body parts as well if it otherwise works medically

how it would supposedly be taking advantage of poor people as a source of parts - heard that against being paid for organs generally, but having to do it for free limits the supply, also anti-surrogacy people worried about the gestating mother supposedly being taken advantage of in such a way

not that transphobes are ever saying anything interesting or insightful but it makes me insane when they see a trans woman who wants a uterus and start frothing out the mouth about how the sinister trans cabal is going to start harvesting organs from the poor and vulnerable... worsties do you have any idea how many trans men and cis women would be THRILLED to rehome their uterus to someone who actually wants it? all I'm doing with mine is complaining about it for a few days every month, I'd happily pawn that shit off to someone who would be happy about it. yes I am on my period why do you ask.