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Unclogging the pipeline of innovation in transplantation
 As I look back over the previous 12 months, I am filled with both gratitude and pride in our leadership; how so many of our volunteers have stepped up and successfully navigated challenges and opportunities for the society in 2012-2013. We all share the common goal of strengthening, preserving and advancing the field of organ transplantation — understanding that success and failure are never permanent and we must remain constantly vigilant and proactive to protect our field of medicine.
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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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Thompson Surgical Instruments, Inc. is the market leader in surgical retraction and the manufacturer of the original table mounted retractor. For more information, visit our website at thompsonsurgical.com or email us at info@thompsonsurgical.com.
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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!
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ATC 2013: A success!
Nearly 4,000 transplant professionals from around the world came together at this year's American Transplant Congress in Seattle. Between the 600 exhibitors and 1,776 oral and poster presenters, attendees enjoyed networking events, sunrise symposia, COP meetings and events and opportunities to connect with the AST colleagues. The AST also acknowledged the AST Achievement Award winners, grant recipients and Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Dr. Roy First, while Immediate Past President Dr. Roz Mannon welcomed Dr. Dan Salomon as the AST President.
Miss this year's event? Next year's will be even bigger! Make plans now to attend the World Transplant Congress in San Francisco.
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Astellas Pharma US, Inc., a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to changing tomorrow by improving the health of people around the world through innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information about Astellas Pharma US, Inc., please visit our Web site at www.astellas.us
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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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4 key issues in facial allotransplantation
By Maria Frisch
 Facial allotransplantation has transformed the future of patients with severe facial disfigurement by allowing for nearly normal facial restoration. Since 2005, at least 21 facial allotransplantations have been performed worldwide, with an estimated 90 percent overall success rate — two of the 21 patients died. This article summarizes four key issues regarding this procedure.
Liver transplantation for children with biliary atresia in the pediatric end-stage liver disease era: The role of insurance status
Liver Transplantation (login required)
Socioeconomic status influences health outcomes, although its impact on liver transplantation (LT) in children with biliary atresia (BA) is unknown. It has been hypothesized that governmental insurance [public insurance (PU)], rather than private insurance (PR), would be associated with poorer outcomes for children with BA.
Missed last week's issue? See which articles your colleagues read most.
Living donor size affects kidney transplant outcomes
Renal & Urology News
Small donor size has an adverse impact on allograft function following living kidney donor transplantation, researchers reported at the 2013 American Transplant Congress.
Dr. Hasan Khamash and colleagues at Mayo Clinic Arizona in Phoenix retrospectively studied 579 pairs of living kidney donors and recipients who had their estimated glomerular filtration rate ascertained at one year posttransplant.
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Treatment of children suffering from chronic myelogenous leukemia: Imatinib mesylate and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Pediatric Transplantation (login required)
HSCT is the only proven treatment option for CML, a rare disease in children. Recently, there are promising reports on the advantageous effect of imatinib mesylate for pediatric patients with CML. Researchers recently conducted a retrospective study on 33 pediatric patients suffering from CML. Fourteen underwent HSCT and the rest were treated with imatinib. With a median follow-up of 24 months, the two-year OS in the HSCT group and the imatinib group was 84 percent and 87 percent, respectively (p = 0.714).
Fewer kids die while waiting for new organs
MedPage Today
Fewer children died waiting for organ transplants in the past decade after policy changes to the national organ allocation system, researchers stated.
The number of children dying before they could receive a transplant dramatically decreased from 262 to 110 as pediatric transplants increased from 2001 to 2010, stated Dr. Jennifer Workman, of the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City and colleagues, in Pediatrics.
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Transplant IV Biologics and Oral Immunosuppressives specializing in Desensitization and AMR Treatment and Prevention. MORE
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Immunosuppression after liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis influences activity of inflammatory bowel disease
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (login required)
Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) after liver transplantation in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Researchers studied the progression of IBD in patients with PSC who have undergone liver transplantation. They also studied risk factors, including medical therapy, that could influence on IBD disease activity.
Robotic kidney transplants may be best option for obese patients
Medical News Today
Obese patients who received robotic kidney transplants had fewer wound complications than patients who received traditional "open" transplant surgery, according to surgeons at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. The findings should allow more obese patients to receive kidney transplants.
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Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumors after kidney transplantation: Treatment and outcomes in a single center
Pediatric Transplantation (login required)
Epstein–Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumors (EBV SMT) in adult kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are rare. The aims of this study are to document the clinical features, types of treatment given and outcomes of KTR with EBV SMT. Sixteen patients were identified from our institution's databases. Patients' survival, tumor outcome and graft survival were compared between patients who remained on cyclosporine-based immunosuppressant and those who converted to sirolimus-based therapy.
Tripped T-cells reject transplant organs
Futurity
Certain cells "stick their feet" in the bloodstream to trip up and collect immune system T-cells, which can lead to transplant organ rejection. This recent discovery challenges a long-held assumption about how biologic pathways trigger immune system rejection of donor organs — and suggests a different paradigm is needed to develop better anti-rejection therapies.
Immune function assay (ImmuKnow) as a predictor of allograft rejection and infection in kidney transplantation
Clinical Transplantation (login required)
The Cylex ImmuKnow (IK) assay provides a rapid and quantitative assessment of T-cell-mediated immune function. Studies have shown correlations between ImmuKnow assay and adverse events, such as immunosuppression and low or high calcineurin inhibitor trough levels. Researchers investigated the correlation between IK changes and rejection or infection in kidney transplant patients and studied the potential application of the IK assays in optimizing individual immunosuppressive therapy.
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