Transplantation Technologies & Research

Angiogenic sprouting is a complex, multi-step process involving highly integrated cell behaviours, initial interaction with the environment and signalling pathways. Endothelial cells (ECs) are central to the angiogenic process, with recent insights establishing how these cells communicate with each other and with their microenvironment to form branched vascular networks. Using pancreatic islets as a model for vascularized tissue, this review will present a general overview of EC behaviour dynamics in sprouting angiogenesis, particularly focusing on the interplay between VEGF and Notch pathways. A better understanding of molecular mechanisms associated with intra-islet EC cross-talk and its micro-environment may present exciting new perspectives on islet graft to host revascularization and in supporting islet graft survival.

Childern and young adults, who suffer from cancer, receive gonadotoxic therapy, which destroys their fertile abilities after survival. Ovarian cryopreservation and transplantation provides the promising solution to this problem, where the ovary can be removed before the gonadotoxic therapy and reimplanted after patient's survival, where the ovary is to be cryopreserved during the period of the therapy. However, cryopreservation of the whole ovary is still facing great obstacles, namely the ischemic reperfusion injury and the defective cryopreservation related to the defective ability to universally deliver the cryopreservation/warming solutions through the ovarian vascular bed. Meanwhile, the currently applied technique of ovarian tissue cryopreservation provides limited follicular recovery because many follicles are lost until the development of revascularization post-transplantation. To solve these problems, an innovative system has been developed to insure immediate and universal delivery of the cryopreservation/warming solutions to the graft, in addition to keeping the graft under continuous perfusion before and after cryopreservation, minimizing any chance for microthrombi fomation or ischemia- reperfusion. This innovative system can be applied in the following surgical and clinical interventions: 1. Allogeneic ovarian transplantation 2. Preservation of fertility after systemic chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation in young females, where the ovaries could be removed before the therapy and exposed to the adequate cryopreservation provided by the system till re-implantation after the patient's survival. 3. The system is also suitable for corresponding applications on the testicles.

Introduction and Objectives: National Transplant Network leads to integration of transplant activities chain amongst participating centers. Co-ordinate and timely information exchange among those centers is a key requirement of integration which is made possible by information system. The present research studied US and England National Transplant Network Information System. Background: In National Transplant Network of US, United Network for Organ Sharing, American Association of Tissue Banks, and National Marrow Donor Program have safe and online information systems which deal with the management of data associated with organs, tissues, and cells transplants respectively. The American Division of Transplantation in the department of Health and Human Services supervises the activities of these systems. In England, also the management of transplantation data is supervised by Department of Health and through information system of National Health Services, Blood and Transplant organization, where in addition to variety types of transplantations it comprises the data associated with blood supply chain. Findings: National Transplant Network Information System in US and England has such important characteristics as integrated management of the entire data related to transplantation types, clarity of data set, and the nature of their exchanges as well as precise and on time flow of information amongst network components which are supported by infrastructure features including government legal and financial backing, supervision of Health Ministries and involvement of policy making organization on national level. Conclusion: Given the breadth of transplantation services in US and England, via a precise and on time information flow, National Transplant Network Information System has created coordination amongst the components of National Transplant Network and consequently provided a comprehensive and equitable service nationwide.