Evaluating Prognostic Factors for Liver Transplantation Among United States Patients With Hereditary Transthyretin-Mediated (hATTR) Amyloidosis Using National Registry Data.

Introduction: Orthotopic liver transplantation has been used as a treatment for hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis, a rare, progressive, and multisystem disease.

Research Question: The objective is to evaluate survival outcomes post-liver transplantation in patients with hATTR amyloidosis in the United States and assess whether previously published prognostic factors of patient survival in hATTR amyloidosis are generalizable to the US population.

Design: This cohort study examined patients with hATTR amyloidosis undergoing liver transplant in the United States (N = 168) between March 2002 and March 2016 using data reported to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (UNOS)/United Network for Organ Sharing (OPTN).

Enhanced retention of polymer physical characteristics and mechanical strength of 70:30 poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) after ethylene oxide sterilization.

This study examined the effect of ethylene oxide (EtO) and electron beam (e-beam) irradiation on the properties of 70:30 poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide). The effects of sterilization upon the polymer physical characteristics and strength retention of the material were examined, both initially and after being subjected to real time ageing. Commercially available 70:30 poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) material was fabricated into rectangular, cylindrical, screw, and sheet designs, and tested in compression, shear, or tension.

Characterization of a faster resorbing polymer after real time aging.

This study evaluated the in vitro strength retention and polymer characteristics of specimens made from commercially available 85:15 poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide). Test samples included dogbone tensile specimens with a nominal thickness of either 0.75 and 1.

Strength retention of 70:30 poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) following real-time aging.

This study evaluated the in vitro strength retention and polymer characteristics of plates and screws made from commercially available 70:30 poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) over a 2-year time period. Test samples included three routine manufacturing lots each of plates (1.2 mm thick, 41.

Evaluation of cytocompatibility and bending modulus of nanoceramic/polymer composites.

In an attempt to simulate the microstructure and mechanical properties of natural bone, novel nanoceramic/polymer composite formulations were fabricated and characterized with respect to their cytocompatibility and mechanical properties. The bending moduli of nanocomposite samples of either poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with 30, 40, and 50 wt % of nanophase (<100 nm) alumina, hydroxyapatite, or titania loadings were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than those of pertinent composite formulations with conventional, coarser grained ceramics.