Health

Surgeons Perform Worlds First Pigs Kidney Transplant in Human

Published

8 months ago

March 22, 2024

Bchcomber

Surgeons in Boston performed the first kidney transplant from a genetically modified pig into an ill 62-year-old man. If successful, the innovation will provide hope to hundreds of thousands of patients whose kidneys have failed.

So far, the results are encouraging. The new kidney began generating urine quickly after surgery last Saturday, and the patient’s condition is improving, according to doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is already wandering the corridors of the hospital and may be released shortly.

The patient is a Black guy, and the treatment may be especially important for Black patients, who have a higher incidence of end-stage kidney disease.

A new source of kidneys “could solve an intractable problem in the field—the inadequate access of minority patients to kidney transplants,” said Dr. Winfred Williams, associate chief of the hospital’s nephrology division and the patient’s primary kidney doctor.

Pigs Kidney Transplant

End to kidney dialysis

Dialysis “will become obsolete” if kidneys from genetically modified animals can be transplanted on a wide scale, according to Dr Leonardo Riella, medical director for kidney transplantation at Mass General. Mass General Brigham, the hospital’s parent organization, created the transplant program.

More than 800,000 Americans have renal failure and require dialysis, which removes toxins from the blood. More than 100,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant from a living or deceased human donor.

In addition, tens of millions of Americans suffer from chronic renal disease, which can cause organ failure.

While dialysis keeps individuals alive, organ transplants are the gold standard treatment. Thousands of patients die each year while waiting for a kidney due to a severe organ shortage. There are only 25,000 kidney transplants performed each year.

For decades, xenotransplantation, or the implantation of an animal’s organ into a person, has been advocated as a potential way to making kidneys more readily available. However, the human immune system rejects foreign tissue, resulting in potentially fatal consequences, and doctors warn that long-term rejection can occur even when donors are well matched.

In recent years, technological developments such as gene editing and cloning have brought xenotransplants closer to reality, allowing researchers to tweak animal DNA to make the organs more compatible and less likely to be rejected by the immune system.

Pigs Kidney Transplant

The kidney came from a pig produced by the biotech company eGenesis, which eliminated three genes that could cause transplant rejection. In addition, seven human genes were introduced to improve human compatibility. Pigs possess retroviruses that can infect humans, and the business also deactivated the diseases.

In September 2021, surgeons at NYU Langone Health in New York implanted a genetically engineered pig’s kidney to a brain-dead man and watched as it began to work and produce pee. Shortly after, experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham stated that they had used a similar approach with comparable results.

Surgeons at the University of Maryland have twice transplanted genetically engineered pig hearts into patients with heart problems. While the organs worked and the first did not appear to be rejected, both patients, who had advanced disease, died soon after.

(Patients who consent to these cutting-edge experimental treatments are typically critically ill and have few options. Frequently, they are too sick to qualify for the waiting list for a valuable human organ or are ineligible for other reasons.

Richard Slayman, a state transport department supervisor, had diabetes and high blood pressure for many years and had been receiving treatment at Mass General for more than a decade.

Pigs Kidney Transplant

First donated kidney failed

After his kidneys failed, Slayman underwent dialysis for seven years before getting a human kidney in 2018. However, the donated kidney failed within five years, and he suffered additional issues such as congestive heart failure, according to Williams.

When Slayman resumed dialysis in 2023, he developed serious vascular complications—his blood vessels were clotting and failing—and required frequent hospitalization, according to Williams.

Slayman, who continued to work despite his health issues, had a long wait for another human kidney, and “he was growing despondent,” Williams added. “He responded, ‘I just can’t continue like this. I can’t continue doing this. I began to consider exceptional steps we could use.

“He would have had to wait five or six years for a human kidney. He would not have been able to make it,” Williams continued.

When Williams inquired about receiving a pig’s kidney, Slayman had several questions but ultimately agreed to proceed.

“I saw it not only as a way to help me, but also as a way to provide hope for thousands of people who need a transplant to survive,” he said in a Mass General statement.

Slayman’s new kidney appears to be working thus far, and he has been able to discontinue dialysis. The new pig kidney produces pee as well as creatinine, which is a waste product.

His doctors noted that other measures are improving on a daily basis. Doctors will continue to watch Slayman for signs of organ rejection.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times

Related Topics:Kidney Transplant Pigs kidney

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Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

Published

1 month ago

October 7, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

Published

1 month ago

October 6, 2024

VORNews

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

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Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

Published

1 month ago

October 5, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP