The First Collective Examination of Immunosuppressive Practices Among American Intestinal Transplant Centers.

Background: Unlike other solid organs, no standardized treatment algorithms exist for intestinal transplantation (ITx). We established a consortium of American ITx centers to evaluate current practices.

Methods: All American centers performing ITx during the past 3 y were invited to participate.

Improving safety of robotic major hepatectomy with extrahepatic inflow control and laparoscopic CUSA parenchymal transection: technical description and initial experience.

Background: Blood loss is a major determinant of outcomes following hepatectomy. Robotic technology enables hepatobiliary surgeons to mimic open techniques for inflow control and parenchymal transection during major hepatectomy, increasing the ability to minimize blood loss and perform safe liver resections.

Methods: Initial experience of 20 consecutive major robotic hepatectomies from November 2018 to July 2020 at two co-located institutions was reviewed.

CD40L-stimulated B cells for ex-vivo expansion of polyspecific non-human primate regulatory T cells for translational studies.

The therapeutic applications of regulatory T cells (T ) include treating autoimmune diseases, graft-versus-host disease and induction of transplantation tolerance. For ex-vivo expanded T to be used in deceased donor transplantation, they must be able to suppress T cell responses to a broad range of human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Here, we present a novel approach for the expansion of polyspecific T in cynomolgus macaques that was adapted from a good manufacturing practice-compliant protocol.

Impact of CMV Reactivation, Treatment Approaches, and Immune Reconstitution in a Nonmyeloablative Tolerance Induction Protocol in Cynomolgus Macaques.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a serious complication in immunosuppressed patients, specifically transplant recipients. Here, we describe the development and use of an assay to monitor the incidence and treatment of CMV viremia in a Cynomolgus macaque model of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for tolerance induction. We address the correlation between the course of viremia and immune reconstitution.

Xenotransplantation tolerance: applications for recent advances in modified swine.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this study was to review the recent progress in xenotransplantation achieved through genetic engineering and discuss the potential of tolerance induction to overcome remaining barriers to extended xenograft survival.

Recent Findings: The success of life-saving allotransplantation has created a demand for organ transplantation that cannot be met by the supply of human organs. Xenotransplantation is one possible solution that would allow for a nearly unlimited supply of organs.

The use of vascular homografts in pediatric small bowel transplantation: Single-center experience over a decade.

Intestinal transplantation in children has evolved with more isolated small intestine transplants being performed compared to combined liver-intestine transplants. Consequently, surgical techniques have changed, frequently requiring the use of vascular homografts of small caliber to revascularize the isolated small intestine, the impact of which on outcomes is unknown. Among 106 pediatric intestine and multivisceral transplants performed at our center since 2003, 33 recipients of an isolated small intestine graft were included in this study.

Apple peel deformity of the small bowel without atresia in a congenital mesenteric defect.

Congenital mesenteric defects are rare causes of bowel obstruction. Even rarer are mesenteric defects with an apple peel type of deformity, probably described definitively only once previously. We present a case of a 3 year old boy who presented with a septic-like picture of severe metabolic acidosis and lethargy from a bowel obstruction with bowel ischemia.