Religious Experiences of Life After Death in Buha and Unyamwezi Cosmologies, Western Tanzania

Ideas of life after death dominate African religious practices in the societies. The people of Buha and Unyamwezi in Western Tanzania maintained the relationship with the departed ancestors to address issues arising from the living members of the family, clan and the society at large. With exception of theologians and cultural anthropologists, ideas on life after death have not attracted attention of African historians. In this paper I envisage the ideas of life after death from a historical perspective using Buha and Unyamwezi as illustrative cases. I argue that issues of life after death are historically grounded and involve the interplay of natural and human-induced forces. This study relies on both archival and oral sources that I collected between 2011 and 2012. I employ a comparative approach to provide an account of how issues on life after death have had impacts on the lives of the people in Western Tanzania.

Donor-derived infections among Chinese donation after cardiac death liver recipients

AIM To investigate blood cultures of deceased donors and report the confirmed transmission of bacterial infection from donors to liver recipients.METHODS We retrospectively studied the results of blood cultures among our donation after cardiac death(DCD) donors and calculated the donor-derived bacterial infection rates among liver recipients. Study participants underwent liver transplantation between January 1, 2010 and February 1, 2017. The study involved a total of 67 recipients of liver grafts from 67 DCD donors. We extracted the data of donors' and patients' characteristics, culture results and clinical outcomes, especially the post-transplant complications in liver recipients, from electronic medical records. We analyzed the characteristics of the donors and the corresponding liver recipients with emphasis put on donor-derived infections.RESULTS Head trauma was the most common origin of death among our 67 DCD donors(46.3%). Blood taken prior to the procurement operation was cultured for 53 of the donors, with 17 episodes of bloodstream infections developing from 13 donors. The predominant organism isolated from the blood of donors was Gram-positive bacteria(70.6%). Only three(4.5%) of 67 liver recipients developed confirmed donor-derived bacterial infections,with two isolates of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and one isolate of multidrug-resistant Enterobacter aerogenes. The liver recipients with donorderived infections showed relation to higher crude mortality and graft loss rates(33.3% each) within 3 mo post transplantation, as compared to those without donor-derived infections(9.4% and 4.7%, respectively). All three liver recipients received appropriate antimicrobial therapy.CONCLUSION Liver recipients have high occurrence of donor-derived infections. The liver recipients with donor-derived multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections can have good outcome if appropriate antimicrobial therapy is given.

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid and 4-phenyl butyric acid alleviate endoplasmic reticulum stress and improve prognosis of donation after cardiac death liver transplantation in rats

BACKGROUND： Inevitable warm ischemia time before organ procurement aggravates posttransplantation ischemia- reperfusion injury. Endoplasmic reticulum （ER） stress is involved in ischemia-reperfusion injury, but its role in donation after cardiac death （DCD） liver transplantation is not clear and the effect of ER stress inhibitors, tauroursodeoxycholic acid （TUDCA） and 4-phenyl butyric acid （PBA）, on the prognosis of recipient of DCD liver transplantation remains unclear. METHODS： Male Sprague-Dawley rats （8-10 weeks） were randomly divided into control group： liver grafts without warm ischemia were implanted; DCD group： warm ischemia time of the liver grafts was 60 minutes; TUDCA and PBA groups： based on the DCD group, donors were intraperitoneally injected with TUDCA or PBA 30 minutes before the organ procurements. Serum aminotransferase levels, oxidative stress activation and expression of ER stress signal molecules were evaluated. Pathological examinations were performed. The survivals of the recipients in each group were compared for 14 days.RESULTS： Compared with the control group, DCD rats had significantly higher levels of serum aminotransferase at 6 hours, 1 day and 3 days after operation （P〈0.01, 0.01 and 0.05, respectively） and oxidative indices （P〈0.01 for both malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine）, more severe liver damage （P〈0.01） and up-regulated ER stress signal expressions （P〈0.01 for GRP78, phos-eIF2al, CHOP, ATF-4, ATF-6, PERK, XBP-1 and pro-caspase-12）. All recipients died within 3 days after liver transplantation. Administration of TUDCA or PBA significantly decreased aminotransferase levels （P〈0.05）, increased superoxide dismutase activities （P〈0.01）, alleviated liver damage （P〈0.01）, down-regulated ER stress signal expressions （P〈0.01） and improved postoperative survivals （P〈0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： ER stress was involved with DCD liver trans- plantation in rats. Preoperative intraperitoneally injection of TUDCA or PBA protected ER stress and improved prognosis.

Evaluation of the updated definition of early allograft dysfunction in donation after brain death and donation after cardiac death liver allografts

BACKGROUND:An updated definition of early allograft dysfunction(EAD) was recently validated in a multicenter study of 300 deceased donor liver transplant recipients.This analysis did not differentiate between donation after brain death(DBD) and donation after cardiac death(DCD) allograft recipients.METHODS:We reviewed our prospectively entered database for all DBD(n=377) and DCD(n=38) liver transplantations between January 1,2006 and October 30,2011.The incidence of EAD as well as its ability to predict graft failure and survival was compared between DBD and DCD groups.RESULTS:EAD was a valid predictor of both graft and patient survival at six months in DBD allograft recipients,but in DCD allograft recipients there was no significant difference in the rate of graft failure in those with EAD(11.5%) compared with those without EAD(16.7%)(P=0.664) or in the rate of death in recipients with EAD(3.8%) compared with those without EAD(8.3%)(P=0.565).The graft failure rate in the first 6 months in those with international normalized ratio ≥1.6 on day 7 who received a DCD allograft was 37.5% compared with 6.7% for those with international normalized ratio <1.6 on day 7(P=0.022).CONCLUSIONS:The recently validated definition of EAD is a valid predictor of patient and graft survival in recipients of DBD allografts.On initial assessment,it does not appear to be a useful predictor of patient and graft survival in recipients of DCD allografts,however a study with a larger sample size of DCD allografts is needed to confirm these findings.The high ALT/AST levels in most recipients of DCD livers as well as the predisposition to biliary complications and early cholestasis make these parameters as poor predictors of graft failure.An alternative definition of EAD that gives greater weight to the INR on day 7 may be more relevant in this population.

Developing a donation after cardiac death risk index for adult and pediatric liver transplantation

AIM To identify objective predictive factors for donor after cardiac death(DCD) graft loss and using those factors, develop a donor recipient stratification risk predictive model that could be used to calculate a DCD risk index(DCD-RI) to help in prospective decision making on organ use.METHODS The model included objective data from a single institute DCD database(2005-2013, n = 261). Univariate survival analysis was followed by adjusted Cox-regressional hazard model. Covariates selected via univariate regression were added to the model via forward selection, significance level P = 0.3. The warm ischemic threshold was clinically set at 30 min. Points were given to each predictor in proportion to their hazard ratio. Using this model, the DCD-RI was calculated. The cohort was stratified to predict graft loss risk and respective graft survival calculated.RESULTS DCD graft survival predictors were primary indication for transplant(P = 0.066), retransplantation(P = 0.176), MELD > 25(P = 0.05), cold ischemia > 10 h(P = 0.292) and donor hepatectomy time > 60 min(P = 0.028).According to the calculated DCD-RI score three risk classes could be defined of low(DCD-RI < 1), standard(DCD-RI 2-4) and high risk(DCD-RI > 5) with a 5 years graft survival of 86%, 78% and 34%, respectively.CONCLUSION The DCD-RI score independently predicted graft loss(P < 0.001) and the DCD-RI class predicted graft survival(P < 0.001).

Potential approaches to improve the outcomes of donation after cardiac death liver grafts

There is a growing discrepancy between the supply and demand of livers for transplantation resulting in high mortality rates on the waiting list. One of the options to decrease the mortality on the waiting list is to optimize organs with inferior quality that otherwise would be discarded. Livers from donation after cardiac death(DCD) donors are frequently discarded because they are exposed to additional warm ischemia time, and this might lead to primary-non-function, delayed graft function, or severe biliary complications. In order to maximize the usage of DCD livers several new preservation approaches have been proposed. Here, we will review 3 innovative organ preservation methods:(1) different ex vivo perfusion techniques;(2) persufflation with oxygen; and(3) addition of thrombolytic therapy. Improvement of the quality of DCD liver grafts could increase the pool of liver graft's for transplantation, improve the outcomes, and decrease the mortality on the waiting list.

1400W reduces ischemia reperfusion injury in an ex-vivo porcine model of the donation after circulatory death kidney donor

AIM: To investigate the effects of 1400W-a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase(iN OS) inhibitor in a model of donation after circulatory death(DCD) kidneys. METHODS: Porcine kidneys were retrieved after 25 min warm ischemia. They were then stored on ice for 18 h before being reperfused ex vivo with oxygenated autologous blood on an isolated organ perfusion system. The selective i NOS inhibitor 1400W(10 mg/kg) was administered before reperfusion(n = 6) vs control group(n = 7). Creatinine(1000 μmol/L) was added to the system, renal and tubular cell function and the level of ischemia reperfusion injury were assessed over 3 h of reperfusion using plasma, urine and tissue samples. RESULTS: Kidneys treated with 1400 W had a higher level of creatinine clearance(CrC l) [area under the curve(AUC) CrC l: 2.37 ± 0.97 mL /min per 100 g vs 0.96 ± 0.32 mL /min per 100 g, P = 0.004] and urine output [Total: 320 ± 96 mL vs 156 ± 82 mL, P = 0.008]. There was no significant difference in levels of fractional excretion of sodium(AUC, Fr ex Na+: Control, 186.3% ± 81.7%.h vs 1400 W, 153.4% ± 12.1%.h, P = 0.429). Levels of total protein creatinine ratio were significantly lower in the 1400 W group after 1 h of reperfusion(1h Pr/Cr: 1400 W 9068 ± 6910 mg/L/mmol/L vs Control 21586 ± 5464 mg/L/mmol/L, P = 0.026). Levels of 8-isoprostane were significantly lower in the 1400 W group [8-iso/creatinine ratio: Control 239 ± 136 pg/L/mmol/L vs 1400 W 139 ± 47 pg/L/mmol/L, P = 0.041].CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that 1400 W reduced ischaemia reperfusion injury in this porcine kidney model of DCD donor. Kidneys had improved renal function and reduced oxidative stress.

Validation of a pediatric bedside tool to predict time to death after withdrawal of life support

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of a tool developed to predict timing of death following withdrawal of life support in children. METHODS: Pertinent variables for all pediatric deaths(age ≤ 21 years) from 1/2009 to 6/2014 in our pediatric intensive care unit(PICU) were extracted through a detailed review of the medical records. As originally described, a recently developed tool that predicts timing of death in children following withdrawal of life support(dallas predictor tool [DPT]) was used to calculate individual scores for each patient. Individual scores were calculated for prediction of death within 30 min(DPT30) and within 60 min(DPT60). For various resulting DPT30 and DPT60 scores, sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated.RESULTS: There were 8829 PICU admissions resulting in 132(1.5%) deaths. Death followed withdrawal of life support in 70 patients(53%). After excluding subjects with insufficient data to calculate DPT scores, 62 subjects were analyzed. Average age of patients was 5.3 years(SD: 6.9), median time to death after withdrawal oflife support was 25 min(range; 7 min to 16 h 54 min). Respiratory failure, shock and sepsis were the most common diagnoses. Thirty-seven patients(59.6%) died within 30 min of withdrawal of life support and 52(83.8%) died within 60 min. DPT30 scores ranged from-17 to 16. A DPT30 score ≥-3 was most predictive of death within that time period, with sensitivity = 0.76, specificity = 0.52, AUC = 0.69 and an overall classification accuracy = 66.1%. DPT60 scores ranged from-21 to 28. A DPT60 score ≥-9 was most predictive of death within that time period, with sensitivity = 0.75, specificity = 0.80, AUC = 0.85 and an overall classification accuracy = 75.8%.CONCLUSION: In this external cohort, the DPT is clinically relevant in predicting time from withdrawal of life support to death. In our patients, the DPT is more useful in predicting death within 60 min of withdrawal of life support than within 30 min. Furthermore, our analysis suggests optimal cut-off scores. Additional calibration and modifications of this important tool could help guide the intensive care team and families considering DCD.

Current situation of mechanical CPR devices in donors after cardiac death

Mechanical CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) devices help performing correct chest compressions in the event of a cardiorespiratory arrest. These devices are comfortable and useful, they keep chest compression following the recommendations as they do not depend on interpersonal variability, they do not get tired, their use is simple and one of the rescuers is released from this task, thus facilitating the assistance. Besides, their use in transport conditions makes it safer. However, when coming to results, these mechanical CPR devices have not clearly demonstrated such an advantage, neither in the field of cardiac arrest, nor in organ preservation in the case of donors after cardiac death. In donors after cardiac death they are widely used by most of the emergency services involved, but a number of injuries produced in lungs during the early years of their use have made it controversial. In this paper we make a review of the road traveled by mechanical CPR devices and of the main articles which mark the way.

Successful Abdominal Organ Donation after Brain Death in a Patient with a Biventricular Assist Device: Extending Extended Criteria

Few studies address the potential for donation after brain death (DBD) in the limited population of patients with ongoing mechanical circulatory support (MCS). A case study was conducted reviewing available records of both donor and recipient, and available literature. The donor was a young female with an acute myocardial infarction precipitating emergent off-pump 2-vessel bypass graft complicated by profound cardiogenic shock refractory to inotropes and intra-aortic balloon pump. A heparin drip was started following percutaneous placement of a left ventricular-assist device (TandemHeart?) which improved her hemodynamics to stabilize for transfer. She ultimately required surgical placement of biventricular assist device (CentraMag?) to normalize hemodynamics. Two days post-operatively, she developed a cerebellar hemorrhage and was declared brain dead. Pre-donation blood chemistry showed adequate end-organ function. Both kidneys were placed locally. The liver was rejected for two regional status 1 patients and by all other local centers. We accepted the liver for a patient with polycystic liver disease with a MELD exception score of 20. The recipient is now 4 years post-transplant with excellent graft function. Extending donor criteria to include MCS patients can result in successful transplantation and should be considered in selected circumstances once satisfactory donor end-organ function is established.

Liver transplantation with grafts obtained after cardiac death-current advances in mastering the challenge

The scarcity of donor livers has increased the interest in donation after cardiac death(DCD) as an additional pool to expand the availability of organs. However, the initial results of liver transplantation with DCD grafts have been suboptimal due to an increased rate of complications, as well as decreased graft survival. These challenges have led to many developments in DCD donation outcome, as well as basic and translational research. In this article we review the unique characteristics of DCD donors, nuances of DCD organ procurement, the effect of prolonged warm and cold ischemia times, and discuss major studies that compared DCD to donation after brain death liver transplantation, in terms of outcomes and complications. We also review the different methods of donor treatment that has been applied to ameliorate DCD organ outcome, and we discuss the role of machine perfusion techniques in organ reconditioning. We discuss the two major perfusionmodels, namely, hypothermic machine perfusion and normothermic machine perfusion; we compare both methods, and delineate their major differences.

病原体宏基因检测在器官捐献患者中的应用

目的探讨病原体宏基因组二代测序(metagenomic next-generation sequencing,mNGS)应用于器官捐献者病原微生物的检测,为器官移植后的抗感染药物靶向治疗提供依据。方法回顾性分析了武汉大学中南医院于2021年8月至2023年6月142例器官捐献者的临床病例,收集捐献者的血液样本的mNGS检测和病原微生物培养检测结果,对其进行分析比较。结果142例捐献者中98例在mNGS中检测到病原微生物,阳性检出率为69.01%。其中,59例(60.20%)为单纯病毒感染,12例(12.24%)为单纯细菌感染,4例(4.08%)为单纯真菌感染,混合感染23例(23.47%)。共检测出病原微生物173株。其中,病毒125株(72.25%),细菌40株(23.12%),真菌8株(4.62%)。对捐献者血液样本送检mNGS同时送检微生物培养检测,142例捐献者中20例(14.08%)血培养检测到病原微生物,共检测出21株病原微生物,其中20例(95.24%)为细菌,1例(4.76%)为真菌。器官保存液中培养出病原微生物2例(1.40%)。结论mNGS对病原微生物的检出率高于微生物血培养检测。mNGS检测和血培养病原微生物检测在细菌的诊断上差异不明显,而在检测真菌及病毒阳性时有统计学意义,且mNGS检测比血培养病原微生物检测能大幅度缩短检验时长。

运动后心率恢复与心源性猝死风险的相关性:一项队列研究的Meta分析

目的通过Meta分析,综合分析运动后心率恢复(HRR)与心源性猝死(SCD)之间的关系。方法基于PubMed、Embase和Web of Science数据库,进行截至2024年1月2日的文献检索。队列研究关注于HRR和SCD间的风险关系,通过风险比(HR)及95%可信区间(CI)进行评估。统计学分析采用Stata 12.0软件。结果纳入6项研究。固定效应模型(I^(2)=41.8%,P=0.112)的汇总结果显示:与心率恢复慢相比,心率恢复快人群发生SCD风险更低(HR=0.74,95%CI:0.64~0.86,P<0.001)。大多数亚组分析中都观察到了持续结果。排除一项研究并不影响总体结果[HR(95%CI):0.66(0.55,0.79)~0.76(0.65,0.88)]。Egger检验未发现明显的发表偏倚(P=0.059)。结论心率恢复较慢会增加普通人群发生SCD的风险。因此,HRR可能是临床实践中预防SCD的一个潜在靶点。

肝移植术后缺血性胆道病变诊断与治疗中国实践指南

我国肝移植历经多年的探索发展,其技术及预后已得到显著提高,术后并发症发生率也随之降低,但缺血性胆道病变仍是一个不容忽视的问题。中山大学附属第三医院于2015年制订并发表《中国大陆地区肝移植后缺血性胆道病变诊断及治疗专家共识》,现结合现阶段情况及文献报道进行更新并形成指南。本指南从缺血性胆道病变的定义、发生率、发病机制、诊断、高危因素的预防以及治疗等方面进行详细阐述,旨在为肝移植术后缺血性胆道病变的诊断与治疗提供标准化、规范化的指导,以降低再移植率和病死率,提高肝移植受者的整体生存质量。

中国儿童遗体器官捐献肾脏的功能维护、评估和应用指南

儿童遗体器官捐献是遗体器官捐献中重要的组成部分,其与成人器官捐献存在较大差异。为规范我国儿童遗体器官捐献肾脏的功能维护、评估和应用,中华医学会器官移植学分会发起制订《中国儿童遗体器官捐献肾脏的功能维护、评估和应用指南》,指南采用2009版牛津大学循证医学中心的证据分级与推荐强度标准制订,针对儿童遗体器官捐献肾脏有关的功能维护、评估及应用方面的29个临床问题,给出了33条推荐意见,旨在规范操作流程,为临床工作提供指引,全面提升我国器官捐献与移植质量。

机器人辅助肾移植术单中心初步经验

目的 探索机器人辅助肾移植(RAKT)的安全性、有效性及可行性。方法 收集行肾移植术的16例患者资料,其中8例采用RAKT(RAKT组),接受同一供者对侧肾脏的8例患者采用开放肾移植术(OKT组)。对比两组受者围手术期结果及移植肾功能恢复情况。结果 所有患者均成功完成手术,RAKT组无患者在术中转开放手术。RAKT组手术时间长于OKT组(P=0.015)。两组受者术前血清肌酐及出院时血清肌酐差异无统计学意义(均为P>0.05)。OKT组1例受者出现移植物功能延迟恢复(DGF),其余患者均未出现围手术期并发症。两组术后短期肾功能恢复差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 RAKT术后恢复与OKT相当,对于肾移植手术经验丰富的团队而言,RAKT是一种安全有效的手术方式,可以尝试开展。

公民逝世后器官捐献激励政策的伦理研究

近年来,随着公民逝世后器官捐献与移植事业的快速发展,国家及地方相继出台了激励政策。为保障公民逝世后器官捐献者及其家属的合法权益,本文从伦理学视角对公民逝世后器官捐献激励政策现状进行梳理与分析,结合公正、尊重自主、不伤害、有利原则,梳理我国当前在实践公民逝世后器官捐献激励政策中存在的问题,如精神激励缺乏延续性心理干预、人道救助在实践中被曲解及间接经济激励对个人捐献自主性的影响等,并从政府、社会和个人三个层面提出相关对策与建议,以期为完善我国公民逝世后器官捐献激励政策提供参考,促进我国器官捐献事业的发展。

死后人工生殖所育子女利益的法律保护——以国内首例父亲工亡后试管婴儿索赔抚养费案为视角

司法者在处理“父亲工亡后试管婴儿索赔抚养费”这一典型案件时,创新性地将体外胚胎认定为“准胎儿”,确认了死后人工生殖所育子女与死亡配偶之间的亲子关系,对其损害予以充分地救济,体现了司法者对“潜在的人”的最大保护。在法律缺失的背景下作出此判决,为我国死后人工生殖以及体外胚胎的立法提供了裁判指引。为了消除司法者在法律适用过程中以结果为导向,突破现有规则的潜在质疑,必须以合理、正当的法理为基础,对该裁判所涉胎儿利益延伸保护与亲子关系认定两大法律问题进行深入论证。

人体器官捐献中的死亡标准问题

死亡后捐献是开展公民逝世后器官捐献工作最重要的伦理原则。新修订的《人体器官捐献和移植条例》未定义死亡,且回避了“是否承认脑死亡”这一关键性问题,器官捐献工作中可能存在一定的法律风险或损害捐献者权益的情况。死亡是人类生命过程最终无法避免的事实,任何时代都需要而且只能通过一些具体的标准来判定死亡。死亡标准的建立基础是人们所持有的死亡观,并受到生产力发展水平和其他社会因素制约。中西方死亡判定标准的认定上存在明显差异。为了规范器官捐献和移植工作,推进器官捐献高质量发展,必须坚持动机纯正原则,以知情同意为前提,尊重捐献者及其近亲属的死亡标准自主选择权,严格遵循死亡判定程序和操作规范,确保死亡认定的科学性、准确性和公正性。