Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

On August 17, the Langney Health Center of New York University announced on Wednesday that the pig kidney transplanted into a brain-dead patient has been working normally for more than a month, and doctors hope to save more lives through such operations in the future.

The researchers say the experiment marks a longer period of time for genetically modified pig kidneys to run in humans. It is reported that the patients involved in the experiment are brain-dead and can only "rely on a ventilator to keep their heart beating". The experimental operation obtained the consent of the patient's family and donated the body to scientific research.

"this work shows that pig kidneys can replace human kidneys for at least 32 days without experimental drugs or other equipment," Dr. Robert Montgomery (Robert Montgomery), director of the Langney Transplant Institute at New York University, who led the operation on July 14, said in a statement.

In the past, rejection caused by the transplantation of animal organs into the human body often led to surgical failures, mainly because the human immune system took the initiative to attack foreign tissues. Now, however, scientists are using genetic modification to make these organs better match the human body.

Last year, for example, surgeons at the University of Maryland made history by transplanting a genetically modified pig heart into a dying patient. The patient lived for more than two months before organ failure, and the reason is not entirely clear, but it provides a reference for future attempts.

In the latest case, the researchers will follow up the performance of pig kidneys for a second month.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham also reported another successful xenotransplant. In a study published Wednesday in the Journal of surgery of the American Medical Association (JAMA Surgery), researchers led by Dr. Jayme Locke, a transplant surgeon at the university, found that pig kidneys maintained kidney function for seven days after they were transplanted into a brain-dead patient.

"since our study only represents an individual case, the results have only limited generalization," the researchers pointed out. " But they added that the study "shows that xenotransplantation is a viable potential solution to the organ shortage crisis that kills thousands of people each year."

According to the Organ acquisition and Transplant Network (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network), there are currently more than 100000 people in the United States waiting for various types of organ transplants. But by contrast, the number of organ donations is relatively small. Data show that a total of 27169 transplants were performed in the United States from January to July this year.

Considering that pig kidneys may help ease the severe shortage of transplantable organs in the future, the family of Maurice Miller, 57, from upstate New York, decided to donate his body for a pig kidney transplant experiment conducted by the New York University team.

His sister Mary Miller-Duffy (Mary Miller-Duffy): "I'm very confused about it, but he liked to help others when he was alive, and I think that's what my brother wanted. So I donated his body. He will appear in medical books and he will live forever."

Two years ago, the New York University team first transplanted pig kidneys into humans, and there was no immediate rejection. At the time, Jon LaPook, chief medical correspondent for CBS News, conducted an exclusive interview with Montgomery.

Speaking of the operation, Montgomery recalled: "the kidneys turned beautiful pink and urine immediately began to flow out of the ureter." we were immersed in the scene in front of us and were silent for a few minutes. We are accepting what we are seeing, which is incredible. This is a kidney that starts working immediately. "

Montgomery also said he hoped the study would mean that "no one needs to die waiting for an organ transplant". "I think this technology will eventually be perfect enough to replace human organs," he said. I'm hopeful about that. "

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