‘Nanowarming’ process a game-changer for organ transplantation

A new two-step process that safely rewarms frozen tissues using nanoscale magnetic rods could help preserve donor organs long-term. The procedure provides an alternative to current time-limited methods and paves the way for more life-saving transplanta… Continue reading ‘Nanowarming’ process a game-changer for organ transplantation

Maglev titanium heart now whirs inside the chest of a live patient

For the first time, the fully mechanical heart made by BiVACOR, which uses the same technology as high-speed rail lines, has been implanted inside a human being. The feat marks a major step in keeping people alive as they wait for heart transplants.Con… Continue reading Maglev titanium heart now whirs inside the chest of a live patient

Gene-edited pig kidney transplanted into first living human patient

A genetically edited pig kidney has been successfully transplanted into a living patient for the first time. Reports indicate the man is doing well a few weeks on, raising hopes for a wider pool of donated organs in future.Continue ReadingCategory: Med… Continue reading Gene-edited pig kidney transplanted into first living human patient

Immune cell infusions could help prevent organ rejection

Organ transplants save lives, but unfortunately rejection is a key hurdle. Now scientists have demonstrated a potential new way to prime a recipient’s immune system to accept a transplanted organ, by first giving them an infusion of immune cells from t… Continue reading Immune cell infusions could help prevent organ rejection

World holds its breath as second dying man is given a pig’s heart

A 58-year-old man with terminal heart disease has gone under the knife, becoming the second patient to ever receive a pig heart in a complicated, high-risk xenotransplant. Lawrence Faucette was ineligible for a human heart due to pre-existing periphera… Continue reading World holds its breath as second dying man is given a pig’s heart

World’s first device to monitor transplanted organ health in real-time

A tiny sensor that even makes a fingertip look large has the potential to be a game changer for detecting signs of rejection in kidney transplants. Scientists from Northwestern University have successfully created a device, tested on mice, that can det… Continue reading World’s first device to monitor transplanted organ health in real-time

Landmark transplanted pig kidney still functioning after a month

No sooner had we covered news of a University of Alabama team having success with genetically edited pig kidneys transplanted into a human patient functioning for a week, we learnt that another team has blown that length of time out of the water. In an… Continue reading Landmark transplanted pig kidney still functioning after a month

Gene-edited pig kidneys function well after human patient transplant

Scientists have demonstrated that genetically edited pig kidneys transplanted into a human can continue to function for at least a week, with no sign of rejection. The breakthrough case study could help reduce organ waitlists and resulting deaths.Conti… Continue reading Gene-edited pig kidneys function well after human patient transplant

Organs cryogenically frozen, thawed and transplanted for first time

Scientists have performed the first successful transplant of an organ that had been cryogenically frozen and rewarmed, thanks to a new preservation chemical. Rats that were given transplants of kidneys preserved through this technique regained regular … Continue reading Organs cryogenically frozen, thawed and transplanted for first time

Lung storage technique offers ‘paradigm shift’ for transplants

The gold standard for storing lungs for transplant procedures has been to pack them in ice in coolers, which keeps them at roughly 4 °C (39 °F). But a look back at lung transplant research has revealed that there’s an even better temperature at which t… Continue reading Lung storage technique offers ‘paradigm shift’ for transplants