Improving the Prioritization of Heart Transplantation Candidates for Optimal Clinical Outcomes: A Narrative Review.

Purpose Of Review: This narrative review evaluates the limitations of current heart transplantation allocation models, which prioritize medical urgency and waitlist time but fail to adequately predict long-term post-transplant outcomes. It aims to identify advanced metrics that can strengthen the prioritization framework while addressing persistent racial, geographic, and socioeconomic inequities in access to transplantation.

Recent Findings: Recent research indicates that incorporating frailty, nutritional status, immunological compatibility, and pulmonary hemodynamics into allocation frameworks can enhance the prediction of transplant outcomes.

Cigarette butts in Vietnam's marine environments: From pollution to solutions and prospects.

Cigarette butts contain over 4000 toxic chemicals, including nicotine, tar, and heavy metals. More than 90 % of cigarettes sold today feature single-use plastic filters composed of cellulose acetate fibers and various additives. Cigarette butts are hazardous waste that pose significant risks to ecosystems and human health.

Venopulmonary extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for right ventricular support as a bridge to lung transplantation: A narrative review.

This review evaluates the effectiveness of veno-pulmonary support with an oxygenator using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplantation strategy in patients undergoing veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation while awaiting lung transplantation. Examining indications, contraindications, and clinical outcomes, the study highlights potential benefits, drawing insights from successful cases in South Korea and the United States. Despite limited sample sizes, veno-pulmonary support with an oxygenator using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation emerges as a promising approach for further investigation in lung transplantation support.

Observation of giant group index in a multi-level Rb atomic medium at room temperature.

We report an experimental measurement of giant group index in the Rb atomic medium at room temperature via a four-level V-type scheme on the D line. Our experiment uses co-propagation configuration of probe and coupling lasers through an atomic sample. In this configuration, three sharp EIT windows with significant transparency depths are observed on the probe absorption spectrum.

Cardiac Xenotransplantation: A Narrative Review.

Cardiac xenotransplantation (cXT) has emerged as a solution to heart donor scarcity, prompting an exploration of its scientific, ethical, and regulatory facets. The review begins with genetic modifications enhancing pig hearts for human transplantation, navigating through immunological challenges, rejection mechanisms, and immune responses. Key areas include preclinical milestones, complement cascade roles, and genetic engineering to address hyperacute rejection.