Aug. 25 - In a small step forward for the long-struggling field of xenotransplantation, surgeons in China have put a pig lung into a human. The man was brain-dead and the organ only lasted 9 days. But even human-to-human lung transplants are notoriously difficult, so the xenotransplant’s modest survival and brief period of functioning underscores the promise of organs from pigs that have been genetically edited to make their tissues more compatible with humans. The work is “exciting as a first look at what happens when a pig lung is put into a human being,” says Richard Pierson III, a surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital who has performed dozens of pig-to-baboon lung transfers to test the strategy. The xenotransplant also adds momentum to a field that has recently seen three gene-edited pig kidneys survive for months in living people. And it showcases China’s intent to become a leader in developing this potential source of organs.

Aug. 20 - In a rare procedure involving four patients, a surgical team at NewYork-Presbyterian completed a first-of-its-kind transplant in which a recipient got a new liver from a living donor, and their original liver — which did not work properly for them due to a metabolic disorder but was otherwise functional — was split to help two people.

Aug. 20 - Israel is preparing to perform the world’s first-ever human spinal cord implant using a patient’s own cells, a medical breakthrough that could allow paralyzed patients to stand and walk again, Tel Aviv University announced. The surgery, expected in the coming months, will take place in Israel and marks a historic milestone in regenerative medicine.

Aug. 22 - The most common cancers in female patients were breast cancer (17.8%) and colon cancers (14.5%). The most common cancers in male patients were native kidney cancer (16.4%), lung cancer (15.7%), and prostate cancer (14%).

Aug. 22 - A discussion of the history and future of artificial heart technology with Dr. Francisco Arabia and Dr. Jack Renfrew. Arabia and his team from Banner University implant about 10 SynCardia devices per year, and is currently studying another model (known as Bivacor) in clinical trials. Renfrew shares a first-hand account of his harrowing experience with heart failure as a young father.

Aug. 21 - Patients who start dialysis with Medicare Advantage have an 18% lower likelihood of being wait-listed for a kidney transplant than those on traditional Medicare, according to study findings on access disparities.

Aug. 19 - Exposure to high fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was linked with increased mortality. The impact of PM2.5 and segregation on posttransplant mortality underscores the need for upstream interventions.

Aug. 19 - Women have less access to kidney transplantation than men. But have the inequities improved over time? Jessica L. Harding, PhD, and colleagues evaluated trends in access over time in a retrospective cohort study.