by David W. Scharp  , Jayagowri Arulmoli  , Kelly Morgan  , Hannah Sunshine  and Ergeng Hao

Received: 15 October 2018;  Published: 26 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901052

Background: This presentation of a six-year study processing human islets for research and transplantation includes a review of multi-center transplant studies identifying key variables critical for successful islet processing and defines standardized processing procedures required to provide highly purified, functional Human Islets. Methods: Human islet processing methods are defined in detail with pancreas retrieval, shipping, trimming for processing, collagenase distension, controlled digestion by digestion/filt [...]

by Jill Gualdoni  , Jeff Ritzenthaler  , Ibrahim Elkhawas  , Gerene Bauldoff  , David Nunley  and Jesse Roman

Received: 29 November 2018;  Published: 20 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901051

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease has been associated with the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction following lung transplantation. While the mechanisms are unclear, it is postulated that microaspiration of gastrointestinal material (GIM) leads to inflammation and airway remodeling that culminates in obliterative bronchiolitis. As the expression of the matrix glycoprotein fibronectin has been shown to be an early marker of this fibroproliferative process, its induction could suggest a causal [...]

by Jessica Lum  and Sherif B. Mossad

Received: 26 October 2018;  Published: 14 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901050

Despite the advances that have been made in the field of solid organ transplant (SOT), organ shortage remains a persistent problem. In addition, the donor pool has been changing with the ongoing opioid epidemic and increase in deaths related to drug overdose each year. More donors are meeting the 2013 United States (U.S.) Public Health Service criteria for increased risk donors (IRDs), or donors who are at higher risk for transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other multidr [...]

by Maria Simonenko  and Petr Fedotov

Received: 01 February 2019;  Published: 13 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901049

Sex and gender issues in heart transplantation

by David J. Epstein  and Aruna K. Subramanian

Received: 18 November 2018;  Published: 12 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901048

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a common infection with challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Management of TB in solid organ transplant (SOT) candidates and recipients poses unique challenges not seen in other populations. Questions and Recommendations: Latent TB infection (LTBI) is important to diagnose pre-transplant through history, physical examination, imaging, and laboratory tests. Tuberculin skin tests and interferon-gamma release assays are important tools but not sufficiently sensitive nor specific to d [...]

by Joanna K. Nelson  and Aruna Subramanian

Received: 30 November 2018;  Published: 01 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901047

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are relatively rare but carry significant morbidity in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Given the rarity of disease and diagnostic limitations, a high index of suspicion is required for accurate diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment. We discuss the challenges in diagnosis and management of NTM infections specific to the SOT population.

by Marion Hemmersbach-Miller  , Cameron R. Wolfe  and Kenneth E. Schmader

Received: 30 November 2018;  Published: 01 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901046

In the U.S., older adults aged 65 or above comprise nearly one quarter of the solid organ transplant (SOT) waitlists, and the number of transplants performed in this age group continues to increase. There are no specific guidelines for the assessment and follow up of the older SOT candidate or recipient. Older adults are at increased risk of infectious complications after SOT. Despite these complications and even with the use of suboptimal donors, overall outcomes are favorable. We provide an overview to specific c [...]

by Michael Czapka  , Carlos A.Q. Santos  and Laurie A. Proia

Received: 08 October 2018;  Published: 31 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901045

Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection associated with high morbidity and mortality that typically afflicts immunocompromised hosts. We present a case of isolated hepatic mucormycosis with Rhizopus spp. that developed in the early post-transplant period. Initial presentation was concerning for allograft rejection, but definitive diagnosis was made with histopathology and fungal culture. The patient had a favourable outcome with surgical resection, a course of liposomal amphotericin B combined with micafungin, and [...]

by Anouk A. J. Hamers  , Sunil K. Joshi  and Asha B. Pillai

Received: 29 September 2018;  Published: 31 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901044

The success of tissue transplantation from a healthy donor to a diseased individual (allo-transplantation) is regulated by the immune systems of both donor and recipient. Developing a state of specific non‐reactivity between donor and recipient, while maintaining the salutary effects of immune function in the recipient, is called “immune (transplantation) tolerance”. In the classic early post‐transplant period, minimizing bidirectional donor ←→ recipient reactivity requires the administration [...]

by Carly M. Darden  , Srividya Vasu  , Kenjiro Kumano  , Bashoo Naziruddin  and Michael C. Lawrence

Received: 21 November 2018;  Published: 29 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1901043

Islet transplantation is a minimally invasive cell based replacement therapy to prevent or reverse diabetes or hypoglycemia through natural hormonal responses to regulate blood glucose. However, extending the islet graft functional lifespan remains a challenge that prevents long-term success and widespread use of the procedure. Islets are subject to stress and damage and undergo immunological assault during transplantation procedures. Current treatments to prevent immune reactivity toward the graft come with toxic [...]