Tissue Donation (tissue + donation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Obstacles to organ donation in ethnic minorities

PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2001
C. O. Callender
While the numbers of ethnic minority donors have increased over the last 20 yr, there is still a need for community outreach and education in order to dispel the myths and misperceptions within minority communities so that a greater number of persons will ultimately become donors. While lack of awareness, religious myths and misperceptions, medical distrust, fear of premature death, and racism continue to cause reluctance within ethnic minority communities, the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (National MOTTEP) applies a methodology which has proven successful within various ethnic minority populations. The methodology utilizes ethnically similar and culturally sensitive transplant recipients, candidates and donors or donor families, along with health care providers, as effective messengers who are recognized within the community. In addition, community volunteers are solicited to become involved in hands-on program planning and implementation of activities, which will impact the community regarding their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Data collected from 914 consenting adult participants indicated that there were significant increases (p < 0.000) in trust in doctors, future plans to become organ donors, and changes in the participants' spiritual/religious beliefs about organ/tissue donation. The conclusion is that culturally appropriate health education programs targeting ethnic minority populations can effect positive change in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. [source]


College Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Organ Donation: An Integrated Review of the Literature,

JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
Thomas Hugh Feeley
The current paper provides an integrated review of research literature on college students' knowledge, attitudes, and intentions regarding organ and tissue donation (OTD). Findings across 27 studies indicate that (a) students reported a lack of information and knowledge on OTD; (b) 23% reported signing an organ card or state organ donation registry; (c) positive attitudes were reported toward donation; (d) surveyed students indicated a willingness to become organ donors; and (e) 36% reported having conversations with family about OTD. Self-efficacy and normative influence theory are recommended as promising theoretical approaches to studying OTD in college student samples. [source]


Preservation of Muscular and Elastic Artery Distensibility After an Intercontinental Cryoconserved Exchange: Theoretical Advances in Arterial Homograft Generation and Utilization

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 8 2009
Daniel Bia
Abstract While the situation of tissue donation and transplantation differs between Latin American and European countries, a common problem is tissue deficiency. Hence, at present, there is a pressing need to generate alternatives so as to increase the possibilities of obtaining the requested materials. Consequently, it would be of significant interest to establish an intercontinental network for tissue exchange, to improve international cooperation, and to help patients that need tissue transplantation, and to evaluate the feasibility of using an intercontinental network for the exchange of cryopreserved arteries (cryografts), preserving the arterial distensibility and ensuring a reduced native artery,cryograft biomechanical mismatch. Distensibility was studied in ovine arteries divided into three groups: intact (in vivo tests, conscious animals), fresh control (in vitro tests immediately after the artery excision, Uruguay), and cryografts (in vitro tests of cryopreserved-transported-defrosted arteries, Spain). Histological studies were performed so as to analyze changes in the endothelial layer and elastic components. The comparison between fresh control and cryografts showed that neither the cryopreservation nor the exchange network impaired the distensibility, despite the expected histological changes found in the cryografts. The comparison between intact and cryografts showed that the cryografts would be capable of ensuring a reduced biomechanical mismatch. The cryopreservation and the intercontinental network designed for artery exchange preserved the arterial distensibility. It could be possible to transfer cryografts between Latin America and Europe to be used in cardiovascular surgeries and/or for tissue banking reprocessing, with basic biomechanical properties similar to those of the fresh and/or native arteries. [source]


Climate change and vector-borne viral diseases potentially transmitted by transfusion

ISBT SCIENCE SERIES: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT, Issue 1 2009
M. Rios
Vector-borne diseases occur when infectious agents (virus, protozoa, bacteria, or helminthes) are transmitted to their hosts by a carrier organism. Climate conditions and their changes play a role in the inter-relationship between these agents, the vectors and the host (or hosts). This review is focused on arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses). These viruses are transmitted between susceptible vertebrate hosts by blood-feeding arthropods, and may be transmitted by blood transfusion, tissue and organ transplantation and breast feeding. The lifecycle of arboviruses is influenced by changes in temperature, rainfall, humidity, length of day, average daily solar radiation and/or storm patterns, as well as changes in the frequency of rare events such as floods or droughts. A plethora of studies have suggested that climate changes, particularly temperature changes, are likely to be induced by increase in the amount of greenhouse gases, such as methane, carbon dioxide (CO2) and chlorofluorocarbons, which deplete ozone in the atmosphere leading to an increase in ultraviolet radiation. Current models predict that ambient temperature will increase by 3,5°C on average with a doubling in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Vectors, pathogens and hosts each survive and reproduce within a range of optimal climatic conditions: temperature and precipitation being most important, while sea level elevation, wind and daylight duration are also important. Climate changes may affect important determinants of vector-borne disease transmission including (i) vector survival and reproduction, (ii) the vector's biting rate, and (iii) the pathogen's incubation rate within the vector organism. Droughts can increase the dissemination of arboviral diseases in urban areas by allowing a boost in the population of mosquitoes in foul water concentrated in catch basins where they breed. Furthermore, eggs can be vertically infected with arboviruses and heat waves speed up the maturation of the mosquitoes and of the viruses within mosquitoes. Droughts also cause a decline in mosquito predators like frogs, darning needles and dragonflies. In addition, birds congregate around shrinking water sites, enhancing circulation of viruses among birds and mosquitoes. In conclusion, the seriousness of some of the recent epidemics like West Nile virus and Dengue appear to has been influenced by climate change. As most of the arboviral infections are asymptomatic in humans, there is an increased opportunity for blood, organ and tissue donations by infected individuals during the viraemic period, resulting in an increased risk of transmission of arboviruses. [source]