by Assaf Assis  , Lena Sapozhnikov  , Sandra Camargo  and Eduardo Mitrani

Received: 07 May 2019;  Published: 14 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903078

Background: Cell encapsulation technology is most likely the ultimate solution for cell therapy based clinical approaches. A key issue when developing a functional encapsulated construct is to consider not only the nature of the capsule but also how the cells should be incorporated into the capsule in order to minimally compromise their function. Methods: We have developed a tissue engineering approach, composed of decellularized micro scaffolds and various types of cells in which fully functional "Engineered Micro [...]

by Petr A. Fedotov  , Maria A. Simonenko  , Yulia V. Sazonova  , Mariya A. Bortsova  , Artem N. Kostomarov  and Mariya Yu. Sitnikova

Received: 01 February 2019;  Published: 05 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903077

Background: To estimate the survival of patients in the heart transplantation waiting list (HTx WL) at Almazov National Medical Research Centre (V.A. Almazov NMRC), Saint-Petersburg, Russia, from 2010 to 2017 and to define risk factors for death among these patients. Methods: It was a single-center retrospective study involving 151 patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF) in the HTx WL. Results: Mortality in the HTx WL for the period 2010-2017 was found to decrease. Based on the results of constructing th [...]

by Ashrit Multani  , Libby S. Allard  and Joanna K. Nelson

Received: 03 June 2019;  Published: 29 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903076

Hematopoietic cell transplantation is frequently complicated by infectious disease-related complications, especially pneumonia. Candida and enterococci are often overlooked as pulmonary pathogens with some clinicians firmly believing that these organisms never cause pneumonia. Here, we present a series of five cases of Candida pneumonia and five cases of enterococcal pneumonia found on autopsy in hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients. We will also review the literature regarding the epidemiology, risk facto [...]

by Omer Eugene Beaird  , Deepa Nanayakkara  , Pryce Gaynor  and Joanna Schaenman

Received: 05 April 2019;  Published: 26 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903075

The endemic mycoses are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. These fungal infections are notable for their dimorphic life cycle, specific geographic distributions, and typical infection via environmental exposure. Their nonspecific presentation can make diagnosis challenging. Because of their geographic associations, assessment of both donor and recipient history is critical in making an accurate and timely diagnosis. Coccidioides spp. are endemic to the southwestern United S [...]

by Shoichiro Sumi  , Sin-Yu Yang  , Priyadarshini Canning  and Kai-Chiang Yang

Received: 29 May 2019;  Published: 24 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903074

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) can be cured or greatly ameliorated by adequate insulin secretion from a relatively small volume of insulin-producing cells. Cell encapsulation enables allo- and even xeno-geneic cell therapy without immunosuppression. However, recent clinical trials show that micro-encapsulated islets are not fully retrievable after transplantation. By contrast, macro-encapsulated islets can be retrieved when necessary. As to the transplantation site, subcutaneous tissue can be promising, if new [...]

by Melissa Mortensen  , Christine Lundberg  and Simon Horslen

Received: 05 December 2018;  Published: 17 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903073

Background: Infants and children undergoing liver transplant require ongoing nutritional evaluation throughout the pre and post-transplant period. The pathophysiologic causes of chronic liver disease and acute liver failure are varied, and each present different and unique nutritional challenges. Methods: A review of the literature and Seattle Children's established guidelines for nutritional management of pediatric liver transplant patients was conducted. Results: We present guidelines of care to optimize nutritio [...]

by Chunhui Xie  , Lillian Ye  , Yeh-Chuin Poh  and George Harb

Received: 06 May 2019;  Published: 17 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903072

Single cell genomics is a powerful tool to study cellular heterogeneity and discover novel cell types. Recent studies used single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze the transcriptomes of individual pancreatic islet cells. Islets are a complex mixture of endocrine cells and therefore represent an ideal tissue type for single cell transcriptomic analysis. Adult human islets consist of five known endocrine cell types (α, β, δ, γ, ε) and multiple less well-defined non-endocrine cells. In this review, we discuss [...]

by Ibrahim Fathi  , Takehiro Imura  , Kozue Imura  , Megumi Goto  , Yasuhiro Igarashi  , Akiko Inagaki  , Makiko Kikkawa  , Fumiko Ono  , Hiroo Iwata  , Yohichi Yasunami  and Masafumi Goto

Received: 27 March 2019;  Published: 09 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1903071

Background: The existing non-human primate diabetic models, particularly those induced by total pancreatectomy or streptozotocin (STZ) injection, have several disadvantages, including a lengthy surgical procedure, the need for continual supplementation of digestive enzymes, and delayed oral intake after total pancreatectomy, and severe hypoglycemia and hepatic/renal toxicity following injection of high-dose STZ. This study aimed to develop and optimize a non-human primate diabetic model that would avoid the disadva [...]

by Joachim Andrassy  and Antje Habicht

Received: 05 November 2018;  Published: 27 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1902070

In recent years, the potential of hematopoietic stem cells, regulatory T-cells, and mesenchymal stem cells have brought about a variety of clinical tolerance trials. Every approach has yielded promising results; however, the riddle of transplant tolerance has not been solved as of yet. The results of the ongoing trials in this field will provide additional information regarding the risks and benefits of these therapy approaches.

by Scott A. Campbell  , Matthew Hubert  , Janyne Johnson  , Nicole Salamon  and Peter E. Light

Received: 12 March 2019;  Published: 26 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1902069

Background: One of the goals of clinical islet transplantation is to achieve a single-donor transplant that is dependent on obtaining enough quality β cell mass from one donor pancreas. Human islets are routinely cultured prior to transplantation, and pro-survival factors such as GLP-1 analogues have been reported to maintain β cell mass and survival. Interestingly, human islets may secrete GLP-1 and they also express the enzyme DPP4 that proteolytically cleaves GLP-1 into an inactive form. The aim of [...]