Button Making: Developing a Relational-Cultural Art Therapy Method For and In Third Spaces

The development of this method explored how art therapy can be applied differently when the space and system in which it is practiced focuses on power-with dynamics, connection, and empowerment. This was explored through an integration of alternative art therapy practices and relational-cultural theory. The development of this method aimed to support connection, facilitate access to art making, and work from a position of empowerment through power-with rather than power-over dynamics. Third spaces were utilized as an ideal place of practice for this method due to their relational quality and tendency towards a collective sense of ownership and access. Button making was the art process mobilized for this method due to the history of buttons as a visual tool for collective messaging, personal and community identification, organizing, and empowerment.M.A., Art Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201

Liver Transplantation for Acute Liver Failure at 11-Week Gestation with Successful Maternal and Fetal Outcome

Acute liver failure (ALF) during pregnancy is very uncommon. Pregnancy-specific liver conditions like hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome and acute fatty liver of pregnancy can cause ALF at term or postpartum, but, typically occur during the third trimester. Most of these patients recover spontaneously after delivery, but, on occasion, they require liver transplantation in the postpartum period. However, ALF during the first and second trimester of pregnancy requiring antepartum liver transplantation is rare. Only fifteen cases of liver transplantation during pregnancy have been reported, and very few occurred during the first trimester. We report a Woman who developed acute liver failure during the first trimester of pregnancy and underwent successful liver transplantation at 11-week gestation, followed by successful delivery of the fetus at 30 weeks. To our knowledge, this is the earliest case of successful liver transplantation during pregnancy followed by successful fetal outcome. We discuss management of the patient and fetus before, during, and after liver transplantation and review the literature on antepartum liver transplant in pregnancy

Intestinal and multivisceral transplantation

Intestinal transplantation has been gradually instituted in the management of intestinal failure. More than 200 cases including isolated intestinal transplant, liver/intestinal transplant, and multivisceral transplant have been performed worldwide,with 1-year graft and patient survival rates of 66% and 54%,respectively. Indications for the procedure include short bowel syndrome and functional abnormalities secondary to a variety of diseases or conditions. Tacrolimus-based immunosuppression regimens have been used universally with improved outcomes. The major contributors to the morbidity and mortality include rejection,infection, and technical complications. Of those, control of rejection remains the most difficult dilemma and it will be the key to improved patient and graft survival