Tubarial or not to be – a potential new organ in the pharynx

A macroscopic salivary gland and a potential organ or simply tubarial sero-mucinous glands?

Neonatal organ and tissue donation is not common practice in the Netherlands. At the same time, there is a transplant waiting list for small size-matched organs and tissues. Multiple factors may contribute to low neonatal donation rates, including a lack of awareness of this option. This study provides insight into potential neonatal organ and tissue donors and reports on how many donors were actually reported to the procurement organization. We performed a retrospective analysis of the mortality database and medical records of two largest neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the Netherlands. This study reviewed records of neonates with a gestational age >37 weeks and weight >3000g who died in the period from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2016. During the study period, 259 term-born neonates died in the two NICUs. In total, 132 neonates with general contra-indications for donation were excluded. The medical records of 127 neonates were examined for donation suitability. We identified five neonates with documented brain death who were not recognized as potential organ and/or tissue donors. Of the remaining neonates, 27 were found suitable for tissue donation. One potential tissue donor had been reported to the procurement organization. In three cases, the possibility of donation was brought up by parents.Conclusion: A low proportion (2%) of neonates who died in the NICUs were found suitable for organ donation, and a higher proportion (12%) were found suitable for tissue donation. We suggest that increased awareness concerning the possibility of neonatal donation would likely increase the identification of potential neonatal donors.What is Known:• There is an urgent need for very small organs and tissues from neonatal donorsWhat is New:• A number of neonates who died in the NICU were suitable organ or/and tissue donors but were not recognized as donors.• Knowledge on neonatal donation possibilities is also important for proper counseling of parents who sometimes inquire for the possibility of organ and tissue donation.

“Anesthesia Stat” to Intubate a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patient: Implications for the Anesthesiologist

The expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 is significantly increased in atopic patients

Potential organ- or tumor-imaging agents. 21. Acyl-labeled esters of cholesterol.

Spectrum of left ventricular dysfunction in potential pediatric heart transplant donors

ObjectivesLong-standing undersupply of eye tissue exists both in the UK and globally, and the UK National Health Service Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT) has called for further research exploring barriers...

The purpose of this research was to employ diamines and their quaternary derivatives as carrier molecules for gamma-emitting radiation. The diamine putrescine is widespread in nature and has been reported to selectively concentrate in the rat ventral prostate and pancreas. This study confirms the selective uptake of radioactivity in the rat ventral prostate, but not in the pancreas, following administration of [14C]putrescine. The radioiodinated analogues of putrescine showed no predilection for either of these organs. On the other hand, radioactivity associated with a radioidinated quaternary derivative (3) was found to accumulate incartilaginous tissues such as trachea, intervertebral disks, and chondrosarcoma tumor in a manner simular to hexamethonium.

Potential Organ- or Tumor-Imaging Agents XX: Ovarian Imaging with 19-Radioiodinated Cholesterol

Potential Organ- or Tumor-Imaging Agents XIX: Radioiodinated Antiarrhythmic Drugs as Potential Myocardial Imaging Agents

A series of cholesteryl phenylalkanoic esters was synthesized in which the acyl moiety served as the carrier for radioiodine. Tissue distribution studies in rats revealed that several of these radioiodinated esters selectively accumulated in steroid-secreting tissues, such as the adrenal cortex and ovary. Furthermore, this selective uptake was shown to correlate with the stability of these esters to in vivo hydrolysis. An unexpected finding was the unusually high propensity of some of these esters to localize in the ovary and thus afford a possible approach to ovarian imaging agents.

Even in countries with an opt-out or presumed consent system, relatives have a considerable influence on the post-mortem organ harvesting decision. However, their reflection capacity may be compromised by grief, and they are, therefore, often prone to choose refusal as default option. Quite often, it results in late remorse and dissatisfaction. So, a high-quality reflection support seems critical to enable them to gain a stable position and a long-term peace of mind, and also avoid undue loss of potential grafts. In practice, recent studies have shown that the ethical aspects of reflection are rarely and often poorly discussed with relatives and that no or incomplete guidance is offered. No review of the literature is available to date, although it could be of value to improve the quality of the daily practice. The objective was to review and synthesize the main concepts and approaches, theories and practices of ethical reflection support of the relatives or surrogates of potential post-mortem organ donors. A narrative review was performed in the medical, psychological and ethical fields using PubMed, PsycArticles and Web of Science databases (1980-2020). Out of 150 papers, 25 were finally retained. Four themes were drawn: the moral status of the potential post-mortem organ donor, the principlistic approach with its limits and critics, the narrative approach and the transcendental approach. This review suggests an extension of psychological support towards ethical reflection support. The process of helping relatives in their ethical exploration of post-mortem organ donation is psychologically and morally characterized. The need for specialized professionals educated and experienced both in clinical psychology and in health ethics to carry out this task is discussed. This review could contribute to optimize the quality of the ethical reflection support by initiating an evolution from an empirical, partial and individual-dependent support to a more systematized, professionalized and exhaustive support.

Putting oneself into the shoes of others is an important aspect of social cognition. We measured brain hemodynamic activity and eye-gaze patterns while participants were viewing a shortened version of the movie ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ from two perspectives: that of a potential organ donor, who violates moral norms by refusing to donate her kidney, and that of a potential organ recipient, who suffers in pain. Inter-subject correlation (ISC) of brain activity was significantly higher during the potential organ donor’s perspective in dorsolateral and inferior prefrontal, lateral and inferior occipital, and inferior–anterior temporal areas. In the reverse contrast, stronger ISC was observed in superior temporal, posterior frontal and anterior parietal areas. Eye-gaze analysis showed higher proportion of fixations on the potential organ recipient during both perspectives. Taken together, these results suggest that during social perspective-taking different brain areas can be flexibly recruited depending on the nature of the perspective that is taken.

Prospective nucleic acid tests were carried out for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using the COBAS Amplicor HIV-1 and HCV tests (Roche Diagnostics, Meylan, France) on potential organ (n=113) and cornea (n=368) donors in France to evaluate their performance and suitability for use as a complement to routine serological tests. Blood samples were collected from organ donors with preserved cardiac function after verification of cerebral death. Blood samples were collected from cornea donors post-mortem within 48 hr after death. An internal control was added to the samples before extraction to monitor each individual polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The nucleic acid tests were always interpretable in organ donors and negative in all except in 2 anti-HCV positive patients. One had an indeterminate HIV p24 antigen but was negative for HIV RNA. HIV and HCV RNA were not found in cornea donors with a negative serology but indeterminate molecular results were frequent in this group (17.6%). Cornea donors also gave significantly more (14.4%) indeterminate serological results than organ donors (1.8%) (P<0.001). This was due to the poor quality of the blood samples collected post-mortem. However, there was no correlation between indeterminate results of serological and molecular tests. There were 16/19 (84%) indeterminate serological results for HIV and 4/4 (100%) for HCV that were negative by PCR. Thus, nucleic acid tests could be useful for qualifying a donor whose serological results are indeterminate. The extraction procedures on post-mortem specimens and/or blood collection must be changed to improve the performance of nucleic acid tests.

Macroscopic Singularity In Morphogen Gradient And Bioelectric Field Of Growth Control