It's Getting Better All the Time: Decreased Cumulative Incidence of Waitlist Mortality in Pediatric Candidates Following 2018 Heart Allocation Policy Change.

Purpose: In October 2018, the OPTN changed adult heart transplant (HT) allocation policy, increasing the number of adult candidates that had higher priority than pediatric candidates, potentially disadvantaging pediatric waitlist registrants.

Methods: To understand the impact of this policy change, we used SRTR data to identify 1469 pre-policy (7/2016-9/2018) and 2901 (10/2018-12/2022) post-policy pediatric (< 18 years) HT registrants. We quantified mortality and transplant risks using weighted cause-specific hazard models, and then using weighted competing risks regression.

Depression, Anxiety, and Neuropsychiatric Symptom Burden in a Longitudinal Cohort with Persistent Psychophysical Post-COVID Olfactory Dysfunction.

Background/objectives: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is associated with a variety of neurologic deficits and impacts socialization decisions, mood, and overall quality of life. As a common symptom comprising the long COVID condition, persistent COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction (C19OD) may further impact the presentations of neuropsychiatric sequelae. Our study aims to characterize the longitudinal burden of depression, anxiety, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in a population with C19OD.

Second Time Around: Increased Rate of Living Donation From Repeat Organ Donors.

Introduction: Some living organ donors will decide to donate again at a later date. Evidence has indicated that this practice may have increased in recent years. We evaluated the incidence and outcomes of this practice to inform counseling of potential repeat donors.

Genome Sequence of the Bacteriophage Eugenia.

We report the discovery and genome sequence of mycobacteriophage Eugenia, isolated from soil samples collected in Akron, OH. Eugenia is a double-stranded DNA virus with a genome size of 69,139 bp, featuring 104 predicted protein-encoding genes, with 32 of these genes assigned putative functions.

Data professionals' attitudes on data privacy, sharing, and consent in healthcare and research.

Objective: Individuals who work on health data systems and services are uniquely positioned to understand the risks of health data collection and use. We designed and conducted a survey assessing the perceptions of those who work with health data around health data consent, sharing, and privacy practices in healthcare and clinical research.

Methods: A 43-item online survey was distributed via a market research firm to individuals (18+) who work with health data in the United States from March to April 2023.

Comparison of brief olfactory and cognitive assessments to neuroimaging biomarkers in the prediction of cognitive decline and dementia in the MCSA cohort.

Introduction: We evaluated impaired odor identification and global cognition as simple, cost-effective alternatives to neuroimaging biomarkers to predict cognitive decline and dementia in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging.

Methods: Six hundred forty-seven participants (mean 8.1, standard deviation 3.

Predictors of Improvement after Cognitive Training in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Insights from the Cognitive Training and Neuroplasticity in Mild Cognitive Impairment Trial.

Objective: Cognitive training may benefit older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but the prognostic factors are not well-established.

Methods: This study analyzed data from a 78-week trial with 107 participants with MCI, comparing computerized cognitive training (CCT) and computerized crossword puzzle training (CPT). Outcomes were changes in cognitive and functional measures from baseline.

Single center utilization and post-transplant outcomes of thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion deceased cardiac donor organs.

Introduction: Thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) following cardiac death is an emerging multivisceral organ procurement technique. Recent national studies on outcomes of presumptive TA-NRP-procured organs are limited by potential misclassification since TA-NRP is not differentiated from donation after cardiac death (DCD) in registry data.

Methods: We studied 22 donors whose designees consented to TA-NRP and organ procurement performed at our institution between January 20, 2020 and July 3, 2022.

Expectancy Does Not Predict 18-month Treatment Outcomes with Cognitive Training in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: Computerized cognitive training (CCT) has emerged as a potential treatment option for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). It remains unclear whether CCT's effect is driven in part by expectancy of improvement.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine factors associated with therapeutic expectancy and the influence of therapeutic expectancy on treatment effects in a randomized clinical trial of CCT versus crossword puzzle training (CPT) for older adults with MCI.

Wait Time Advantage for Transplant Candidates With HIV Who Accept Kidneys From Donors With HIV Under the HOPE Act.

Background: Kidney transplant (KT) candidates with HIV face higher mortality on the waitlist compared with candidates without HIV. Because the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act has expanded the donor pool to allow donors with HIV (D + ), it is crucial to understand whether this has impacted transplant rates for this population.

Methods: Using a linkage between the HOPE in Action trial (NCT03500315) and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified 324 candidates listed for D + kidneys (HOPE) compared with 46 025 candidates not listed for D + kidneys (non-HOPE) at the same centers between April 26, 2018, and May 24, 2022.

Transplant Center Attitudes Toward Early Liver Transplant for Alcohol-associated Liver Disease.

Background: Many centers have removed 6-mo pretransplant alcohol abstinence requirements to provide early liver transplant (ELT) for individuals with severe alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), but the practice remains controversial. Using data collected from a nationally distributed survey, this study examines the practices and attitudes of transplant centers in the United States regarding ELT.

Methods: A 20-item survey designed to assess center practices and provider attitudes was distributed to 225 medical and surgical directors from 143 liver transplant centers via email.

Cancer Risk Following HLA-Incompatible Living Donor Kidney Transplantation.

Unlabelled: Incompatible living donor kidney transplant recipients (ILDKTr) require desensitization to facilitate transplantation, and this substantial upfront immunosuppression may result in serious complications, including cancer.

Methods: To characterize cancer risk in ILDKTr, we evaluated 858 ILDKTr and 12 239 compatible living donor kidney transplant recipients (CLDKTr) from a multicenter cohort with linkage to the US transplant registry and 33 cancer registries (1997-2016). Cancer incidence was compared using weighted Cox regression.

Association of Performance on Olfactory and Cognitive Screening Tests With Conversion to Dementia in a Biracial Cohort of Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: Odor identification deficits are associated with transition to dementia, whereas intact odor identification and global cognition test performance may identify lack of transition. The purpose of this study was to examine intact odor identification and global cognition as prognostic indicators of lack of transition to dementia in a biracial (Black and White) cohort.

Methods: In a community-dwelling sample of older adults from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study, odor identification was measured using the Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT), and global cognition was measured using the Teng Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS).

Models of depressive pseudoamnestic disorder.

Objective: Little effort has been made in the past to validate depressive pseudodementia based on hypothesis-driven approaches. We extended this concept to individuals with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Major Depression, that is, pseudodepressive amnestic disorder. We tested two hypotheses consistent with the presentations and mechanisms associated with this potential syndrome: improvements in cognition would be significantly correlated with improvements in depression after treatment (Hypothesis 1), and if not confirmed, the presence of such an association could be identified once moderator variables were taken into account (Hypothesis 2).

Association between Abdominal CT Measurements of Body Composition before Deceased Donor Liver Transplant with Posttransplant Outcomes.

Background Pre-liver transplant (LT) sarcopenia is associated with poor survival. Methods exist for measuring body composition with use of CT scans; however, it is unclear which components best predict post-LT outcomes. Purpose To quantify the association between abdominal CT-based body composition measurements and post-LT mortality in a large North American cohort.

Kidney Transplantation Confers Survival Benefit for Candidates With Pulmonary Hypertension.

Unlabelled: Kidney transplantation (KT) is controversial in patients with pretransplant pulmonary hypertension (PtPH). We aimed to quantify post-KT graft and patient survival as well as survival benefit in recipients with PtPH.

Methods: Using UR Renal Data System (2000-2018), we studied 90 819 adult KT recipients.

Telemedicine services for living kidney donation: A US survey of multidisciplinary providers.

Individuals considering living kidney donation face geographic, financial, and logistical challenges. Telemedicine can facilitate healthcare access/care coordination. Yet difficulties exist in telemedicine implementation and sustainability.