Presence of Pig IgG and IgM in Sera Samples From Baboons After an Orthotopic Liver Xenotransplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The immunorejection in xenotransplantation has mostly been studied from the host's immune system activation point of view and there is very little information about the graft-vs-host reaction. OBJECTIVES: To validate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for porcine IgM and IgG quantitation, the assessment of porcine IgG and IgM in sera samples from baboons after liver orthotopic xenotransplantation or in human plasma after xenotransfusion through pig organs, and to assess the presence of porcine immunoglobulin in a baboon after plasmapheresis to a complete change of plasma after 4 passages through pig liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two commercial ELISA kits for pig IgG and IgM quantitation were evaluated for cross reactivity with samples from baboons, Rhesus monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and humans. Then, samples from 18 baboons after orthotopic liver xenotransplantation were studied for porcine IgG and IgM. To understand the phenomenon, human plasma samples after xenotransfusion 1, 2, 3, or 4 times through liver or kidney were assessed for porcine IgG presence and finally, the porcine IgG were quantified in sera samples obtained during more than 4 years from a baboon after plasmapheresis with baboon plasma after xenotransfusion 4 times through a pig liver. RESULTS: Porcine IgG and IgM were found in samples from xenotransplanted baboon during all survival. The quantity of porcine IgG in plasma after xenotransfusion correlated with the number of passages through the pig liver, and the IgG were completely cleared from the baboon 16 days after plasmapheresis and complete substitution of plasma after 4 xenotransfusions through a pig liver.

Attitude Toward Organ Donation Related to Personal Preferences for the Final Disposition of the Dead Body in Nursing Students in Southeast Spain.

INTRODUCTION: In organ donation and transplantation (ODT) and in nursing students, it is important to know the preferences about the final destination of the body once deceased. Whether these future professionals are afraid of this issue could influence their attitude toward ODT and future donation rates. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the attitude of nursing students toward cremation, burial, and autopsy and to determine the factors affecting this attitude. METHODS: A sociologic, interdisciplinary, multicenter, and observational study included nursing diploma students (n = 750) from 2010 to 2011 at 3 universities in the southeast of Spain. A validated questionnaire (PCID-DTO RIOS) was self-administered and completed anonymously. RESULTS: Questionnaire completion rate was 92% (n = 687), with 71% (n = 486) of students accepting cremation as a body treatment after death. Those who were not worried about the possible mutilation of the body after donation (P < .05) and those who were in favor of deceased donation (P < .001) had a greater degree of acceptance. Of the students, 43% (n = 278) would accept burial of their body, which was related with being in the second year (P < .05) of study. Finally, 86% (n = 586) of students would accept an autopsy being carried out, if necessary, and this was related with the attitude toward ODT (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of nursing students would accept an autopsy being carried out. This degree of acceptance was related with a favorable attitude toward organ donation. The appropriate training of future nurses in ODT process will optimize their promotion.

Evidence that periweaning failure-to-thrive syndrome (PFTS) has a genetic predisposition.

Genetic susceptibility or resistance to diseases is currently drawing increasing attention. This work describes two different breeding herds showing signs of periweaning failure-to-thrive syndrome (PFTS), an emergent swine disease. The disease was diagnosed based on clinical picture and confirmed by histopathology. The possibility of main infectious pathogens was ruled out by immunohistochemistry and PCR. In a simple approach, sires of the affected piglets have been determined using microsatellite paternity analysis, including a healthy group in each case. In each of the two farms, a single boar was found to have sired 45-50 per cent sick animals. Removal of this sire from two farms resulted in a significant decrease in the prevalence of the disease among the offspring, in accordance with other two cases diagnosed, although without including a control group. Since the analysed animals belonged to three different genetic lines, these findings point to the existence of individual genetic susceptibility to this syndrome.

Are veterinary students in favour of xenotransplantation? Comparative opinion study in a Brazilian and a Spanish university.

BACKGROUND: The shortage of organs has made it necessary to search for new alternatives such as xenotransplantation. However, the use of animal organs could be opposed by society and the personnel involved in its implementation. This study aimed to analyze the attitude of veterinary degree students in a Brazilian university towards xenotransplantation, to determine factors that affect its acceptance, and to compare the attitudes among a control group of veterinary degree students in a Spanish university. METHODS: Of the 422 students registered for a veterinary course from 2010 to 2011, 374 were surveyed with a questionnaire completion rate of 89%. Attitudes were evaluated using a validated questionnaire that was self-administered administered anonymously. The process was coordinated by an independent health care worker. We applied the student t and the chi-squared-tests for statistical analysis. RESULTS: If xenotransplantation was confirmed as a clinical reality, 90% (n = 338) of Brazilian students would accept the use of a xenotransplanted organ; 94% (n = 350), tissue; and 97% (n = 360), cell xenotransplantation. Attitudes toward xenotransplantation were not determined by the academic year, any psychosocial variable, or attitudes toward deceased human organ donation (P = .167). However, the attitudes would be affected by a belief that the transplanted animal organ would not change anything (P = .001). Interaction with other people was also related to more favorable attitudes (P = .015). Subjects who expressed a more favorable attitude tended to more readily accept cell (P = .000) or tissue xenotransplantation (P = .000). In Spain (control group), the results were similar: 91% (n = 436) would accept a xenotransplantation; 95% (n = 457) tissue; and 97% (n = 467), cell xenotransplantation. Also, this attitude was not affected by the academic year, any psychosocial variable, or attitude toward organ donation (P = .779). CONCLUSION: Both Brazilian and Spanish veterinary students had favorable attitudes toward xenotransplantation.