Pathologic studies in monkeys with long-surviving kidney transplants showed that the group with C4d deposition in peritubular capillaries had circulating alloantibodies and developed allograft glomerulopathy and/or arteriopathy, confirming associations previously reported in humans between persistent alloantibodies and kidney deterioration. See also editorial by Sis, Kaplan and Halloran in this issue on page 1753.

This study of blood cells from patients with lung transplants demonstrated a population of IL10 producing T cells reactive to collagen V, which may help to suppress collagen V-specific effector T cells.

The ability of TGF-β to inhibit memory CTL restimulation requires an accessory cell and may be mediated by PPAR-γ induction in the accessory cell.

In rat islet transplants the combination of induction of HO-1 expression, low-dose cyclosporine, and PEGylated islets proved to be a successful therapy.

This retrospective biopsy study showed that ABO incompatible kidney biopsies were 25% positive for C4d staining in protocol biopsies and 60% positive in biopsies for graft dysfunction, but unlike HLA antibodies C4d deposition in most ABO incompatible grafts was not correlated with histologic injury. See also editorial by Sis, Kaplan, and Halloran in this issue on page 1753.

This series of protocol biopsies one year post-transplant in patients with positive crossmatches or ABO incompatible kidneys found that transplant glomerulopathy was more frequent than in conventional allografts, and was associated with a prior episode of antibody-mediated rejection indicating that in one year biopsies transplant glomerulopathy mainly occurs in those who have prior antibody-mediated rejection episodes. See also editorial by Sis, Kaplan and Halloran in this issue on page 1753.

This phase II study found that FTY720 2.5 mg plus full-dose cyclosporine and FTY720 5 mg plus reduced-dose cyclosporine were safe and effective in de novo renal transplant patients over 12 months of observation.

This review of 1113 first kidney transplants in children in Europe found that transplantation before starting dialysis was at least as good as post-dialysis transplantation, and recommends that pre-emptive transplantation in children with end-stage renal disease be considered.

This prospective study of renal transplant patients found that elevated sCD30 and neoptrin are associated with graft deterioration, and that tacrolimus is associated with lower levels of sCD30 and neoptrin.

In kidney transplants in Manitoba, aboriginal recipients experienced greater post-transplant weight gain and diabetes, and inferior graft and patient survival, compared to Caucasians in the Manitoba population.

In this study of patients undergoing evaluation as adult-to-adult living liver donors, less than half were suitable and the acceptance rate has declined over time. See also editorial by Pomfret and Feng in this issue on page 1755.

In 253 adult liver transplant recipients, multivariate analysis demonstrated that the development of diabetes was associated with male gender.

Nutrition and exercise modifications initiated early after orthotopic liver transplantation and subjected to regular follow-up resulted in improvement in exercise capacity and body composition in this cohort of 115 liver transplant recipients randomized to either usual care or combined interventions.

A randomized trial of CMV-IVIG in pediatric liver transplants showed no significant differences between treatment and placebo in terms of EBV disease and PTLD.

In 72 pediatric liver transplants, 36 randomized to tacrolimus and basiliximab experienced less rejection and less infection than those on tacrolimus plus steroid, suggesting that the tacrolimus-basiliximab combination is safe and effective.

In 163 patients undergoing primary liver transplant for HCV, progression was associated with older donor age, and diabetes mellitus in the recipient, with the two factors together combining to give an 8.38 fold increased risk of progression to severe fibrosis.

This prospective study of human lung allografts showed that BOS was associated with abnormal esophageal pH or bioacids in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, with lower levels of surfactant proteins and phospholipids in the BALF. Also see editorial by Palmer in this issue on page 1757.

Adult heart or lung recipients participating in semi-structured interviews, demonstrated similar features, with higher quality of life associated with optimism and support from friends, and lower in association with avoidant coping strategies.