Sanctuary and the Cold War: The US Versus The Sanctuary Movement in Texas and Arizona 1981-1986

In the 1980s, the Reagan Administration launched a campaign against the American Solidarity and sanctuary movements, which were highly critical of US support for right-wing dictatorships in Central America. The US sought to discredit these movements by branding their members criminals. The government used many different tactics, some legitimate and others illegal. None were successful, however, and the government was ultimately forced to leave the movements alone. This thesis examines three different hotspots in the Reagan Administration’s war against these groups. It examines the different tactics employed and analyzes their effectiveness. It also explains why the government was unsuccessful in its prosecution

International Liver Transplantation Consensus Statement on end-stage liver disease due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and liver transplantation

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related cirrhosis has become one of the most common indications for liver transplantation (LT), particularly in candidates over the age of 65 years. Typically, NASH candidates have concurrent obesity, metabolic and cardiovascular risks, which directly impact patient evaluation and selection, waitlist morbidity and mortality and eventually posttransplant outcomes. The purpose of these guidelines is to highlight specific features commonly observed in NASH candidates and strategies to optimize pretransplant evaluation and waitlist survival. More specifically, the working group addressed the following clinically-relevant questions providing recommendations based on the GRADE system supported by rigorous systematic reviews and consensus: (1) Is the outcome after LT similar to that of other etiologies of liver disease? (2) Is the natural history of NASH-related cirrhosis different from other etiologies of end-stage liver disease? (3) How should cardiovascular risk be assessed in the candidate for LT? Should the assessment differ from that done in other etiologies? (4) How should comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, renal dysfunction, etc.) be treated in the candidate for LT? Should treatment and monitoring of these comorbidities differ from that applied in other etiologies? (5) What are the therapeutic strategies recommended to improve the cardiovascular and nutritional status of a NASH patient in the waiting list for LT? (6) Is there any circumstance where obesity should contraindicate LT? (7) What is the optimal time for bariatric surgery: before, during, or after LT? and (8) Donor steatosis: how much relevant is it for LT in NASH patients

Intravenous Immunoglobulin Prevents Murine Antibody-Mediated Acute Lung Injury at the Level of Neutrophil Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Production

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a leading cause of transfusion-associated mortality that can occur with any type of transfusion and is thought to be primarily due to donor antibodies activating pulmonary neutrophils in recipients. Recently, a large prospective case controlled clinical study of cardiac surgery patients demonstrated that despite implementation of male donors, a high incidence of TRALI still occurred and suggested a need for additional interventions in susceptible patient populations. To examine if intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) may be effective, a murine model of antibody-mediated acute lung injury that approximates human TRALI was examined. When BALB/c mice were injected with the anti-major histocompatibility complex class I antibody 34-1-2s, mild shock (reduced rectal temperature) and respiratory distress (dyspnea) were observed and pre-treatment of the mice with 2 g/kg IVIg completely prevented these symptoms. To determine IVIg's usefulness to affect severe lung damage, SCID mice, previously shown to be hypersensitive to 34-1-2s were used. SCID mice treated with 34-1-2s underwent severe shock, lung damage (increased wet/dry ratios) and 40% mortality within 2 hours. Treatment with 2 g/kg IVIg 18 hours before 34-1-2s administration completely protected the mice from all adverse events. Treatment with IVIg after symptoms began also reduced lung damage and mortality. While the prophylactic IVIg administration did not affect 34-1-2s-induced pulmonary neutrophil accumulation, bone marrow-derived neutrophils from the IVIg-treated mice displayed no spontaneous ROS production nor could they be stimulated in vitro with fMLP or 34-1-2s. These results suggest that IVIg prevents murine antibody-mediated acute lung injury at the level of neutrophil ROS production and thus, alleviating tissue damage

Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: a European Liver Transplant Registry Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Little is known about outcomes of liver transplantation for patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We aimed to determine the frequency and outcomes of liver transplantation for patients with NASH in Europe and identify prognostic factors. METHODS: We analyzed data from patients transplanted for end-stage liver disease between January 2002 and December 2016 using the European Liver Transplant Registry database. We compared data between patients with NASH versus other etiologies. The principle endpoints were patient and overall allograft survival. RESULTS: Among 68,950 adults undergoing first liver transplantation, 4.0% were transplanted for NASH - an increase from 1.2% in 2002 to 8.4% in 2016. A greater proportion of patients transplanted for NASH (39.1%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than non-NASH patients (28.9%, P65: HR 1.72, P=.017), elevated MELD (>23: HR 1.48, P=.048) and low (40kg.m-2: HR 1.96, P=.012) recipient BMI independently predicted death in patients transplanted for NASH without HCC. Data must be interpreted in the context of absent recognised confounders, such as pre-morbid metabolic risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The number and proportion of liver transplants performed for NASH in Europe has increased from 2002 through 2016. HCC was more common in patients transplanted with NASH. Survival of patients and grafts in patients with NASH is comparable to that of other disease indications. LAY SUMMARY: NASH is a growing indication for liver transplantation in Europe, with good overall outcomes, although careful assessment for risk factors is required to maintain favorable post-transplant outcomes

A global experience‐sampling method study of well‐being during times of crisis: The CoCo project

We present a global experience-sampling method (ESM) study aimed at describing, predicting, and understanding individual differences in well-being during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This international ESM study is a collaborative effort of over 60 interdisciplinary researchers from around the world in the “Coping with Corona” (CoCo) project. The study comprises trait-, state-, and daily-level data of 7490 participants from over 20 countries (total ESM measurements = 207,263; total daily measurements = 73,295) collected between October 2021 and August 2022. We provide a brief overview of the theoretical background and aims of the study, present the applied methods (including a description of the study design, data collection procedures, data cleaning, and final sample), and discuss exemplary research questions to which these data can be applied. We end by inviting collaborations on the CoCo dataset

Causes of postreperfusion syndrome in living or cadaveric donor liver transplantations

WOS: 000183852600052PubMed ID: 12826185Objective. The postreperfusion syndrome (PRS) occurence was evaluated in patients undergoing liver transplantation in our institution to determine the relationship between PRS and associated variables. Method. Of the 185 consecutive liver transplants, pediatric patients, patients with uncompleted data or retransplantations were excluded. The remaining 145 adult patients having 77 cadaveric and 68 living donor right lobe liver transplantations were studied. PRS was defined as a decrease in mean arterial pressure >30% below the baseline value. Logistic regression was used for statistical analyses. A P value .05). Conclusion. In conclusion, it is important that PRS does not seem to occur in a predictable manner in this study except for the increased calcium requirements during the operations in PRS experienced patients. The clinical parameters as graft ischemia time, the type of the operation, demographic variables of the recipient, hemodynamic or metabolic variables and transfusion needs during the operations seemed to have no contribution to PRS occurrence

Living donor liver transplantation

PubMed ID: 28675358In 50 years after the first liver transplantation, the medical world has witnessed the liver transplantation to become one of the widely recognized and leading branches of surgery. In this period, liver transplantation combined with surgical technique, patient selection, advancements in anesthesia and postoperative care and increased experience has become the most effective treatment option in treatment of several acute and chronic liver diseases. Yet, the worldwide organ restriction and associated high mortality rates in organ transplantation waiting list has compelled referring to living donors in order to expand the donor pool. This paper explains liver transplantation indications from living donors, the surgical technique involved, the complications of the procedure and the medical treatments used. © Celsius

Anesthetic management and complications in living donor hepatectomy

WOS: 000187576900035PubMed ID: 14697952A total of 112 living donor hepatectomies (LDHs) performed from October 1999 to April 2003 at Ege University Hospital Organ Transplantation Center were reviewed and perioperative anesthetic courses and complications were determined. There was no perioperative mortality. Mean duration of operations was 333 +/- 77 minutes (range, 160 to 540 minutes) for right lobectomies and 277 +/- 88 minutes (range, 150 to 500 minutes) for left lateral segment plus left lobe operations. The remnant liver volume ratios of the patients was 0.58 +/- 0.16 (range, 0.30 to 0.91) after harvesting. Crystalloids, colloid infusions, and transfusions aimed to keep hematocrit >25%, central venous pressure (CVP) 1 mL/kg(-1) while nitroglycerin was infused (0.5 to 2.0 mug/kg(-1)h(-1)) when needed to allow fluid infusions freely without increasing the CVP values. No transfusion was needed for 91 patients (81%) and 21 right lobectomy patients needed transfusion of blood products. Initial mean hematocrit of 38.9 +/- 4.9% (range, 27% to 50%) for all patients was found 31.5% +/- 5% (21% to 44%) at the end of the operation. Albumin blood levels averaged 4.27 +/- 0.49 g/dL(-1) at the beginning and 3.28 +/- 0.45 g/dL(-1) after hepatic resection. Perioperative complications were one air embolism, postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome in one patient, transient but severe hemoglobinuria due to a predonated autologous blood transfusion in another, prolonged recovery for neuromuscular blocker overdose in one patient, and postoperative atelectasis in three patients, two of whom had pneumonia later while two other patients had pleural effusions. One required a drainage. Living donor hepatectomies were performed with acceptable complications in anesthetic management during this study. The operation provides us with an optimal liver segment without resulting in mortality

Donors for LDLT with hepatosteatosis

Joint International Congress of ILTS, ELITA and LICAGE -- MAY 23-26, 2018 -- Lisbon, PORTUGALWOS: 000436897700477…Int Liver Transplantat Soc, European Liver & Intestine Transplant Assoc, Liver Intens Care Grp Europ