Donor sequence number is not associated with worse lung transplant outcomes regardless of transplant center case volume.

Background: Potential lung transplantation (LTx) recipients are assigned a donor sequence number (DSN) based on their position on the match list. Since a higher DSN offer has already been declined for other recipients, some providers may assume that a high DSN connotates poorer allograft quality. This study evaluated the association between DSN and outcomes, the correlation between transplant program case volume and the utilization of higher DSN lungs, and whether LTx outcomes differ between lower- and higher-volume programs.

Securing the future: Financial ties of thoracic surgery program directors to industry.

Background: Thoracic surgery program directors (PDs) are key mentors for the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons and surgeon-scientists. This study evaluates the industry payments to PDs compared to other practicing thoracic surgeons, with the aim of assessing potential conflicts of interest and their influence.

Methods: PDs were identified using the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) and their National Provider Identifiers (NPIs).

Higher Hospitalization Costs and Fewer Routine Discharges in the Medicaid Expansion Era for Lung Transplant Recipients.

Background: In January 2014, states expanded Medicaid access under the Affordable Care Act. We studied the financial implications of this policy on lung transplantation, a costly procedure.

Methods: Lung transplant (LT) hospitalizations were identified within the National Inpatient Sample (2005-2020).

Uncovering the fungus responsible for stem and root rot of false indigo: pathogen identification, new disease description, and genome analyses.

Calonectria spp. can cause destructive diseases on forestry crops, legumes like soybean and peanut, and ornamentals. Species of Calonectria affecting ornamental plants are not well characterized or understood, though they have been widely documented as an issue in the ornamental industry.

Utilization and outcomes of nonintubated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplant.

Background: Nonintubated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been increasingly utilized for patients with severe respiratory failure. Since data on its use as a bridge to lung transplant remain limited, we evaluated its use in a national cohort.

Methods: Adult lung-only transplant recipients bridged with ECMO May 4, 2005 to March 8, 2023 in the United Network for Organ Sharing database were categorized by use of ECMO and mechanical ventilation (MV) at transplant (ECMO+MV vs ECMO-only).

Clinical Use of Bedside Portable Ultra-Low-Field Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Results From the Multicenter SAFE MRI ECMO Study.

Background: Early detection of acute brain injury (ABI) at the bedside is critical in improving survival for patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. We aimed to examine the safety of ultra-low-field (ULF; 0.064-T) portable magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) in patients undergoing ECMO and to investigate the ABI frequency and types with ULF-pMRI.

Outcomes of single vs double lung retransplantation in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Patients requiring lung transplant for cystic fibrosis (CF) may require retransplant due to limited graft survival and otherwise excellent life expectancy. Optimal transplant strategy for this population, including single vs double lung retransplant, has not been established.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (UNOS/OPTN) database to identify adult lung retransplant recipients from 2005 to 2021 with a primary diagnosis of CF.

Center and Individual Willingness to Consider Heart and Lung Offers From Donors With Hepatitis C.

Introduction: Transplants with hearts and lungs from donors with hepatitis C virus (HCV D+) have been proven safe and effective since development of direct-acting antivirals, yet the presence of HCV + persists as a reason to decline organs.

Methods: We identified adult candidates listed January 1, 2015-March 8, 2023 for heart or lung transplant using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. We identified individual-level and center-level characteristics associated with listing to consider HCV D+ offers using multilevel logistic regression in a multivariable framework.

Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was a cataclysmic event that infected over 772 million and killed over 6.9 million people worldwide. The pandemic pushed hospitals and society to their limits and resulted in incredibly severe respiratory disease in millions of people.

Consensus Statement: Technical Standards for Thoracoabdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion.

Background: Thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) has emerged as a powerful technique for optimizing organ procurement from donation after circulatory death donors. Despite its rapid adoption, standardized guidelines for TA-NRP implementation are lacking, prompting the need for consensus recommendations to ensure safe and effective utilization of this technique.

Methods: A working group composed of members from The American Society of Transplant Surgeons, The International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and The American Association for Thoracic Surgery was convened to develop technical guidelines for TA-NRP.

Consensus Statement: Technical Standards for Thoracoabdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion.

Background: Thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) has emerged as a powerful technique for optimizing organ procurement from donation after circulatory death donors. Despite its rapid adoption, standardized guidelines for TA-NRP implementation are lacking, prompting the need for consensus recommendations to ensure safe and effective utilization of this technique.

Methods: A working group composed of members from The American Society of Transplant Surgeons, The International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and The American Association for Thoracic Surgery was convened to develop technical guidelines for TA-NRP.

Impact of dual thoracic recovery from circulatory death donors on heart and lung transplant outcomes.

Objectives: Concomitant heart and lung recovery can result in increased operative complexity, ischemic time, and competition for resources and anatomic territory. Dual thoracic recovery from circulatory death donors may have additional risks that are not fully understood. We investigated the effects of dual heart and lung recovery from circulatory death donors on thoracic transplant outcomes.

For your consideration: Benefits of listing as willing to consider heart offers from donors with hepatitis C.

Background: Despite excellent outcomes of heart transplants from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive donors (D+), many candidates are not listed to even consider HCV D+ offers.

Methods: Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified adult (age ≥18 years) heart transplant candidates prevalent on the waitlist between 2018 and March 2023. We compared the likelihood of waitlist mortality or heart transplant by candidate willingness to consider HCV D+ offers using competing risk regression.

Insights on Literacy From Stroke Survivors With Aphasia: A Mixed-Methods Inquiry.

Purpose: Individuals with aphasia commonly experience reading and writing difficulties, negatively impacting everyday communication and life participation. Using mixed methods, this study aimed to understand literacy experiences described by individuals with aphasia and explore how their perspectives are related to test performance and other demographic factors.

Method: Twenty-one stroke survivors with aphasia completed reading and writing testing and shared their perspectives through a close-ended survey and an open-ended interview about literacy abilities and experiences.

Machine Learning from Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Identifies Factors Associated with Neurological Outcomes.

Background: Neurological complications are common in patients receiving veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support. We used machine learning (ML) algorithms to identify predictors for neurological outcomes for these patients.

Methods: All demographic, clinical, and circuit-related variables were extracted for adults with VV-ECMO support at a tertiary care center from 2016 to 2022.

Identification and Pharmacological Targeting of Treatment-Resistant, Stem-like Breast Cancer Cells for Combination Therapy.

Tumors frequently harbor isogenic yet epigenetically distinct subpopulations of multi-potent cells with high tumor-initiating potential-often called Cancer Stem-Like Cells (CSLCs). These can display preferential resistance to standard-of-care chemotherapy. Single-cell analyses can help elucidate Master Regulator (MR) proteins responsible for governing the transcriptional state of these cells, thus revealing complementary dependencies that may be leveraged via combination therapy.

Debunking the July Effect in lung transplantation recipients.

Objective: The "July Effect" is a theory that the influx of trainees from July to September negatively impacts patient outcomes. We aimed to study this theoretical phenomenon in lung transplant recipients given the highly technical nature of thoracic procedures.

Methods: Adult lung transplant hospitalizations were identified within the National Inpatient Sample (2005-2020).

The shared decision-making tool for caregivers of children with prenatal opioid exposure: A pilot and acceptability study.

This pilot and acceptability study sought to report provider acceptability and developmental concerns expressed by caregivers of children with prenatal opioid exposure using the Shared Decision-Making Tool (SDMT), an instrument created by study authors. Data were collected from five health care and early intervention providers and 83 caregivers from a medical clinic and early intervention service center. Descriptive statistics were used to identify frequency, mean level, and prioritization of developmental concerns using the SDMT, and to summarize provider acceptability about integrating the SDMT into their workflow.

Racial disparities among patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the pre-Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Coronavirus Disease 2019 eras: A retrospective registry review.

Objectives: Although many studies have addressed such disparities caused by COVID-19, to our knowledge, no study has focused on the association of race on outcomes for patients with COVID-19 requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. The goal of this study was to assess association of race on death and duration on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in both the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry and included adults (≥18 years) who required venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between January 2019 and April 2021.

Age and associated outcomes among patients receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory failure: analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry.

Purpose: Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) can be used to support patients with refractory acute respiratory failure, though guidance on patient selection is lacking. While age is commonly utilized as a factor in establishing the potential VV-ECMO candidacy of these patients, little is known regarding its association with outcome. We studied the association between increasing patient age and outcomes among patients with acute respiratory failure receiving VV-ECMO.