by Van Anh Vu  , Joelle Nelson  , Helen Sweiss  , Reed Hall  , Holly Keyt  and Elisabeth Kincaide

Received: 29 January 2024;  Published: 03 July 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2403220

Secondary hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) from immunosuppression therapy in lung transplant recipients has been associated with increased mortality, morbidity and higher risk of infection. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for the treatment of HGG post-lung transplant is not well studied with conflicting evidence regarding efficacy. This single-center, retrospective cohort study analyzed adult lung transplant recipients with HGG receiving ≥1 dose of IVIG 0.3-0.5 g/kg. Resolution of HGG (IgG > 600 mg/dL within 30 days o [...]

by Andrés R. Latorre-Rodríguez  , Devika Sindu  , Sumeet K. Mittal  and Ashwini Arjuna

Received: 23 February 2024;  Published: 21 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402219

Activated pepsin (pepA) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid may be a biomarker of gastric aspiration. We sought to i) evaluate the association of pepA in BAL fluid with acute cellular rejection (ACR) in a cohort of lung transplant recipients (LTRs), ii) assess the association between pepA and isolation of typical gastrointestinal microorganisms from BAL fluid, and iii) explore the accuracy of using pepA concentration as a biomarker of ACR. After IRB approval, we conducted a retrospective observational study analy [...]

by Filippo Lixi  , Benedetta Pintus  and Giuseppe Giannaccare

Received: 27 February 2024;  Published: 07 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402218

Calcareous corneal degeneration is a rare disease characterized by calcium phosphate deposition into the deep corneal layers. Corneal calcification has a multifactorial origin and is associated with various systemic and ocular conditions. Several treatment options showed promising results in the management of this disorder. Herein, two cases of calcareous degeneration occurring postoperatively in patients undergoing surgery for retinal detachment (case #1) and glaucoma (case #2) were reported. Despite normal serum [...]

by Nasrin Motazedian  , Masoud Mokhtari  , Negar Azarpira  , Kimia Falamarzi  , Mohsen Mohammadi  , Seyed Mohsen Dehghani  , Sarina Pourjafar  , Maryam Ataollahi  , Elaheh Esfandiari  , Mahdokht Hossein-Aghdaie  , Seyed Ali Malekhosseini  , Tayebeh Kazemi  and Mahintaj Dara

Received: 05 May 2024;  Published: 04 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402217

Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CNS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by impaired bilirubin metabolism, leading to neurotoxic unconjugated bilirubin accumulation. Liver transplantation remains the only effective treatment, highlighting the need for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as potential biomarkers in various diseases, including cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of lncRNAs HOTTIP and HOTAIR in CNS patients and healthy contr [...]

by Tatsuya Kin  , Hirofumi Noguchi  and Atsushi Kawaguchi

Received: 15 February 2024;  Published: 03 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402216

Using donation after circulatory determination of death (DCD) donors has been shown to be a potential means of increasing the number of donors for organ transplantation. The purpose of this study was to examine the published practice of DCD in Japan to properly define their practice as controlled or uncontrolled. Through the Web of Science database, we systematically searched articles describing uncontrolled DCD, controlled DCD or Maastricht classification. A total of 12 articles (ten articles related to kidney, on [...]

by Shourjo Chakravorty  and Ashka Patel

Received: 21 November 2023;  Published: 10 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402215

Transplanted lung allografts are particularly susceptible to infection among SOT due to the constant exposure to the environment, aggressive immunosuppressive strategies, and impaired clearance mechanisms after denervation of the transplanted lung. Though prophylactic antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral regimens are used as preventive strategies to mitigate the risk of infection, complications related to allograft infection remain one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. [...]

by Justin Cole  , Eugene Golts  , Michael Bernales  , Dina Shirazi  , Deepa Kurup  , Sarah Golts  , Gordon Yung  , Aarya Kafi  , Christine M. Lin  , Travis Pollema  and Kamyar Afshar

Received: 19 October 2023;  Published: 08 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402214

Despite the concerted efforts by lung transplant recipients (LTR) and their medical teams, hospital readmissions are common in the first year following transplantation. Reasons for unplanned readmissions include allograft rejection, infections, and respiratory failure before the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Clinical predictors of readmissions have changed over time with the higher risk factors of acceptable criteria for recipients and donors. We aimed to assess more recent readmission rates based on group classifications t [...]

by Rahul F. Gomez  , Aarya Kafi  , Gordon Yung  , Saima Aslam  , Christine M. Lin  , Travis Pollema  , Eugene Golts  and Kamyar Afshar

Received: 15 October 2023;  Published: 28 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402213

Lung Transplant Recipients (LTR) are particularly vulnerable to severe infection, hospitalization, and death due to community acquired respiratory viruses. As a result, the global SARS-Cov-2 pandemic poses a higher risk to this population. We aim to study the lung function, severity of infection and mortality among LTR at a single center. A retrospective chart review was performed on all LTR at the University of San Diego, California Medical Center between June 2020 and September 2022. Spirometry was performed at 1 [...]

by Tatsuya Kin  , Doug O'Gorman  , Wendy Zhai  , Jennifer Moriarty  , Kyle Park  , Advaita Ganguly  , Shawn Rosichuk  and AM James Shapiro

Received: 23 February 2024;  Published: 23 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402212

There has been a steady expansion in islet isolation and transplantation activity worldwide. In addition to preparing human islets for transplantation, we have been providing human islets to basic researchers. The aim of this study was to review the activity of distribution of human islets to basic researchers in North America, Europe, and Asia, and to investigate if there are any differences in utilization rate of islets among three continents. We reviewed our islet isolation batch files, donor records, and docume [...]

by Sravanthi Nandavaram  , Hannah Twist  , Rickey Evans  , Sravanthi Paluri  , Ana Castellanos  and Andres Pelaez

Received: 31 January 2024;  Published: 10 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2402211

Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA) is a syndrome characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) and thrombocytopenia. The presence of schistocytes on peripheral smear, a negative Coombs test, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, increased reticulocyte count and low haptoglobin are often the clues for MAHA. The microvascular process often targets vasculature in kidneys, brain, gastrointestinal system, heart, and skin. A timely diagnosis and treatment are often crucial to prevent severe end organ damage and death [...]