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Sofosbuvir for previously untreated chronic hepatitis C infection
The New England Journal of Medicine
As many as 170 million persons are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide, and more than 350,000 die annually from liver disease caused by HCV. Although 60-80 percent of previously untreated patients who undergo treatment with these regimens in clinical trials have had a sustained virologic response, a large number of patients go untreated owing to absolute and relative contraindications or unwillingness to receive interferon. Moreover, the protease inhibitor regimens have several disadvantages, including a low genetic barrier to the development of resistance, safety issues, potential for drug interactions and complicated regimens with high pill burdens.
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The AST needs your help
The AST is only as strong as our members, so we are asking for your help in supporting the AST Endowment if you have not already done so this year. The Endowment Fund has made it possible for the society to subsidize programs that are core to our mission, such as funding for research grants and education for the next generation of transplant professionals at our annual fellows symposium.
In a time when funding from external sources is declining, any contribution, great or small, is very much appreciated. And you can be confident that 100 percent of your contribution will go directly to the endowment. Make a contribution today!
Get your AST gear!
We're pleased to now offer AST-branded apparel, exclusively from the AST Store! Pick up one of our new fleece jackets, polo shirts or baseball caps, embroidered with the AST logo. Items start at just $20.
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We'll see you at ATC!
AST is hosting a variety of meetings and events at ATC, and you're invited! Click here for a list of events open to both members and non-members. Contact Jason Polinsky with questions.
AST Endowment donors: Get your ribbon for ATC!
If you donated to the AST Endowment in 2012 or 2013, please stop by the AST Membership Booth (booth # 701) during ATC to receive an Endowment Contributor ribbon for your ATC badge.
AST Town Hall Meeting: Many voices, one goal
AST members are invited to attend a Town Hall meeting at ATC on Monday, May 20 at 5:45 p.m. in room 3 A/B at the Washington State Convention Center. The Town Hall will provide a forum for open discussion between the membership and the leadership about key issues impacting the Society and field of transplantation, and how the Society is positioned to address those key issues. In addition, we'll announce the Board of Director election results, recognize and honor AST volunteer leadership, and award the 2013 research grants. RSVP for the Town Hall/Excellence in Transplantation Reception here.
If you are not already an AST member and are interested in learning more, click here to complete an online membership application.
Last chance to cast your vote for the AST Board of Directors
Eligible AST members have 10 days left to cast their votes for the AST Board of Directors, as well as various bylaw revisions. The voting site will prompt you to login to the AST website where you will find more detailed information. Usernames and passwords were previously sent to eligible members.
Election results will be announced at the AST Town Hall meeting at ATC on Monday, May 20, at 5:45 p.m. in Room 2 A/B of the Washington State Convention Center. Email Nicole Poponi, AST director of membership, with questions.
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Attention job seekers: Participate in AST's Career Connections at ATC
Are you currently looking for a new position in the field of transplantation? Will you be attending the ATC in Seattle? Then we encourage you to browse AST's Career Center for open jobs and participate in the ATC Career Connections Event! All job postings with the ATC logo next to them indicate that the employer will also be attending ATC. These employers are looking to potentially interview candidates they are interested in while both parties are at the meeting. Should an employer wish to meet with you face-to-face, they will coordinate a mutually convenient time, and AST will provide a space for the interview to be conducted. Click here to learn more about this opportunity. If you have any questions, please contact the AST National Office at info@myAST.org.
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LIFECODES is introducing its new HLA-SSO kits. The new kit includes a validated, high-performance enzyme for improved reliability and performance with the continued ease of no centrifugation or wash steps; providing accurate, clear and easy to interpret results.
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Genzyme is committed to discovering and delivering transformative therapies for patients with rare and special unmet medical needs, providing hope where there was none before. MORE
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Post-liver transplant survival rates high among pediatric, adult patients with lethal genetic syndromes
Healio
Patients who underwent liver transplantation to treat lethal genetic syndromes experienced high rates of survival, while factors such as age and preoperative life support increased mortality risk, in a recent study. Researchers evaluated data from 78 adults and 74 pediatric patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation for lethal genetic syndromes (LGS) between Feb. 1, 1984 and Sept. 9, 2012 at the University of California, Los Angeles. Diagnostic methods and treatment outcomes, including recurrence and graft and patient survival, were compared between groups.
Missed last week's issue? See which articles your colleagues read most.
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Donor criteria consensus sought in Canada
Renal & Urology News
A team is hammering out consensus criteria across Canada for assessment and acceptance of donors involved in the Living Donor Paired Exchange (LDPE) registry run by Canadian Blood Services. An important objective of these criteria is to streamline donor assessment so that donors who live far from recipients do not have to be assessed twice: Once at the center closest to their home and again at the center where the recipient will undergo transplantation. This is a common dilemma in the LDPE, which pairs unrelated donors and recipients across the country.
Survey: Incidence of death and potentially life-threatening near-miss events in living donor hepatic lobectomy
Liver Transplantation (login required)
The incidence of morbidity and mortality after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is not well understood because reporting is not standardized and relies on single-center reports. Aborted hepatectomies (AHs) and potentially life-threatening near-miss events (during which a donor's life may be in danger but after which there are no long-term sequelae) are rarely reported. Researchers recently conducted a worldwide survey of programs performing LDLT to determine the incidence of these events. A survey instrument was sent to 148 programs performing LDLT.
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Transplant IV Biologics and Oral Immunosuppressives specializing in Desensitization and AMR Treatment and Prevention. MORE
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Hyperacute rejection in the xenogenic transplanted rat liver is triggered by the complement system only in the presence of leukocytes and free radical species
Xenotransplantation (login required)
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide species (NOS) are pivotal after ischemia–reperfusion. However, the role of different cells on the formation of free radical species after xenotransplantation remains elusive. It has been hypothesized that ROS and NOS formed during hyperacute rejection are dependent on leukocytes, erythrocytes, activated thrombocytes and Kupffer cells (KCs). To address this issue, researchers developed a model of xenoperfused rat liver and assessed the relationship between free radical production and graft dysfunction.
Repairing thymic function
Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation (login required)
Maintenance of T-cell function and modulation of tolerance are critical issues in organ transplantation. The thymus is the primary organ for T-cell generation, and a preserved thymic function is essential for a self-tolerant diverse T-cell repertoire. Transplant procedures and related immunosuppressive drugs may hinder thymic integrity and function. This study examines the recent advances in understanding the regulation of the unique thymic microenvironment with relevance for the field of transplantation.
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Fungal infections after liver transplantation: Outcomes and risk factors revisited in the MELD era
Clinical Transplantation (login required)
Antifungal prophylaxis is recommended in high-risk patients, but risk criteria remain unclear and the predictive value of model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is unknown. In a retrospective, single-center analysis of 667 liver transplants, potential risk factors for fungal infection were assessed, including MELD score.
Study: The effect of liver transplantation on fatigue in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis
Journal of Hepatology (login required)
Liver transplantation is associated with improvement in fatigue in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). However, a substantial proportion of patients continue to suffer from significant fatigue after two years. Whether the improvement is enough to justify organ allocation in patient with fatigue alone, without liver failure, is still an open issue. Certainly, in the era of organ shortage with many patients dying waiting for a graft, this may not represent the optimal use of donated deceased organs.
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