Kidney Transplantation From Donors With Malignant Renal Masses: A Systematic Review.

Background: Small malignant renal tumors can be found in up to 1.3% of kidney donors. Several studies have investigated the use of these kidneys for transplantation, after ex vivo resection of the malignant mass.

Comparative Analysis of Co-Cultured Amniotic Cell-Conditioned Media with Cell-Free Amniotic Fluid Reveals Differential Effects on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Myofibroblast Activation.

Myofibroblast activation is a cellular response elicited by a variety of physiological or pathological insults whereby cells initiate a coordinated response intended to eradicate the insult and then revert back to a basal state. However, an underlying theme in various disease states is persistent myofibroblast activation that fails to resolve. Based on multiple observations, we hypothesized that the secreted factors harvested from co-culturing amniotic stem cells might mimic the anti-inflammatory state that cell-free amniotic fluid (AF) elicits.

Multisite biologic tissue SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing in kidney transplantation from a COVID-positive donor.

With a high community transmission rate, SARS-CoV-2 has profoundly exacerbated the shortage of organs. Although the risk of donor-recipient transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is anecdotally low, an organ-specific infection analysis of procured organs from SARS-CoV-2 positive donors has yet to be established. Using a combination of clinically available and research-only polymerase chain reaction methods, organ preservation fluid and renal parenchymal tissues were tested for SARS-CoV-2 from the kidney of a SARS-CoV-2-positive donor prior to transplantation.

Escalation to Barbiturate-Induced Coma for Refractory Seizures after Liver Transplantation.

Seizures after liver transplantation were previously thought to be a reliable harbinger of catastrophe, but more recent studies have found seizure activity to be relatively common, and most cases do not result in a poor outcome. Generalized seizures are the most common, and they typically occur de novo within the first two weeks after transplantation. The underlying cause for seizure activity in these patients may be complex, with potential etiologies including metabolic, infectious, cerebrovascular, and medication-induced causes.

Intra-Peritoneal Pseudocyst as a Rare Complication After Peritoneal Dialysis: The Use of a Staged Surgical Approach in Management.

Despite its numerous benefits, peritoneal dialysis (PD) can rarely result in dangerous and even life-threatening complications, including peritonitis, hernias, encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS), and rarely peritoneal pseudocysts. Herein, we present a rare case of a giant intra-peritoneal pseudocyst that presented four months following the discontinuation of a 5-year course of complicated PD. Despite the initially successful drainages, the patient's symptoms continued to recur, and the imaging findings were concerning for underlying neoplastic processes.

Liver transplant recipient with respiratory failure due to pulmonary fibrosis related to telomere disease requiring lung transplantation.

Short telomere syndrome (STS) is characterized as multiorgan dysfunction presenting with unexplained cytopenias, cryptogenic cirrhosis and pulmonary fibrosis. We present a liver transplant recipient that gradually developed hypoxic respiratory failure attributed to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis associated telomere disease that culminated in a successful single lung transplantation.

Endoderm and Hepatic Progenitor Cells Engraft in the Quiescent Liver Concurrent with Intrinsically Activated Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition.

Stem cell transplantation to the liver is a promising therapeutic strategy for a variety of disorders. Hepatocyte transplantation has short-term efficacy but can be problematic due to portal hypertension, inflammation, and sinusoidal thrombosis. We have previously transplanted small mouse endoderm progenitor (EP) cells to successfully reverse a murine model of hemophilia B, and labeling these cells with iron nanoparticles renders them responsive to magnetic fields, which can be used to enhance engraftment.

Magnetic Targeting of Stem Cell Derivatives Enhances Hepatic Engraftment into Structurally Normal Liver.

Attaining consistent robust engraftment in the structurally normal liver is an obstacle for cellular transplantation. Most experimental approaches to increase transplanted cells' engraftment involve recipient-centered deleterious methods such as partial hepatectomy or irradiation which may be unsuitable in the clinic. Here, we present a cell-based strategy that increases engraftment into the structurally normal liver using a combination of magnetic targeting and proliferative endoderm progenitor (EPs) cells.

Autogenous cross-regulation of mRNA processing and translation balances functions in splicing and translation.

Quaking protein isoforms arise from a single gene and bind the same RNA motif to regulate splicing, translation, decay, and localization of a large set of RNAs. However, the mechanisms by which expression is controlled to ensure that appropriate amounts of each isoform are available for such disparate gene expression processes are unknown. Here we explore how levels of two isoforms, nuclear Quaking-5 (Qk5) and cytoplasmic Qk6, are regulated in mouse myoblasts.

Dynamic heterogeneity of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in embryonic stem cell populations captured by single-cell 3D high-content analysis.

Unlabelled: Cell-surface markers and transcription factors are being used in the assessment of stem cell fate and therapeutic safety, but display significant variability in stem cell cultures. We assessed nuclear patterns of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC, associated with pluripotency), a second important epigenetic mark, and its combination with 5-methylcytosine (5mC, associated with differentiation), also in comparison to more established markers of pluripotency (Oct-4) and endodermal differentiation (FoxA2, Sox17) in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) over a 10-day differentiation course in vitro: by means of confocal and super-resolution imaging together with 3D high-content analysis, an essential tool in single-cell screening.

In Summary: 1) We did not measure any significant correlation of putative markers with global 5mC or 5hmC.

Anti-CD3ε induces splenic B220lo B-cell expansion following anti-CD20 treatment in a mouse model of allosensitization.

Antibodies targeting T cells and B cells are increasingly used for immunosuppression in clinical transplantation. However, the impact of T-cell depletion by antibodies on B-cell homeostasis is poorly understood. Using a mouse model of allosensitization with skin allograft, we investigated whether targeting T cells by anti-CD3ε alters peripheral B-cell homeostasis and alloantibody responses following B-cell depletion by anti-CD20.

Recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplant: identifying the high-risk patient.

Background: Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT) is rarely curable. However, in view of the advent of new treatments, it is critical that patients at high risk for recurrence are identified.

Methods: Patients undergoing LT for HCC at a single centre between 2002 and 2010 were reviewed and data on clinical parameters and explant pathology were analysed to determine factors associated with HCC recurrence.

Early in vitro differentiation of mouse definitive endoderm is not correlated with progressive maturation of nuclear DNA methylation patterns.

The genome organization in pluripotent cells undergoing the first steps of differentiation is highly relevant to the reprogramming process in differentiation. Considering this fact, chromatin texture patterns that identify cells at the very early stage of lineage commitment could serve as valuable tools in the selection of optimal cell phenotypes for regenerative medicine applications. Here we report on the first-time use of high-resolution three-dimensional fluorescence imaging and comprehensive topological cell-by-cell analyses with a novel image-cytometrical approach towards the identification of in situ global nuclear DNA methylation patterns in early endodermal differentiation of mouse ES cells (up to day 6), and the correlations of these patterns with a set of putative markers for pluripotency and endodermal commitment, and the epithelial and mesenchymal character of cells.

Derivation of high-purity definitive endoderm from human parthenogenetic stem cells using an in vitro analog of the primitive streak.

Human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) are pluripotent stem cells with enormous potential as cell sources for cell-based therapies: hpSCs may have histocompatibilty advantages over human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and derivation of hpSCs does not require viable blastocyst destruction. For translation of all pluripotent stem cell-based therapies, derivation of differentiated cell products that are not contaminated with undifferentiated cells is a major technical roadblock. We report here a novel method to derive high-purity definitive endoderm (DE) from hpSCs, based on reproducing features of the normal human embryonic microenvironment.

Donor morbidity after living donation for liver transplantation.

Background & Aims: Reports of complications among adult right hepatic lobe donors have been limited to single centers. The rate and severity of complications in living donors were investigated in the 9-center Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study (A2ALL).

Methods: A retrospective observational study design was used.

Improvement in survival associated with adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation.

Background & Aims: More than 2000 adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantations (LDLT) have been performed in the United States, yet the potential benefit to liver transplant candidates of undergoing LDLT compared with waiting for deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a survival benefit of adult LDLT.

Methods: Adults with chronic liver disease who had a potential living donor evaluated from January 1998 to February 2003 at 9 university-based hospitals were analyzed.

Outcomes of donor evaluation in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation.

Unlabelled: The purpose of donor evaluation for adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is to discover medical conditions that could increase the donor postoperative risk of complications and to determine whether the donor can yield a suitable graft for the recipient. We report the outcomes of LDLT donor candidates evaluated in a large multicenter study of LDLT. The records of all donor candidates and their respective recipients between 1998 and 2003 were reviewed as part of the Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study (A2ALL).

Detection and characterization of hepatic engraftment of embryonic stem derived cells by fluorescent stereomicroscopy.

Background: Embryonic stem (ES) cells have been investigated as a potential replacement therapy for failed organs, such as the liver. However, detection of hepatic engraftment from candidate stem cells has been difficult due to low engraftment efficiency. Previous detection methods required that the graft be processed by molecular and/or immunohistochemical techniques, limiting further functional studies.

Outcomes in hepatitis C virus-infected recipients of living donor vs. deceased donor liver transplantation.

In this retrospective study of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected transplant recipients in the 9-center Adult to Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study, graft and patient survival and the development of advanced fibrosis were compared among 181 living donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients and 94 deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT) recipients. Overall 3-year graft and patient survival were 68% and 74% in LDLT, and 80% and 82% in DDLT, respectively. Graft survival, but not patient survival, was significantly lower for LDLT compared to DDLT (P = 0.