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The National Medical Journal of India 2018Corneal blindness is a priority condition under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and an important cause of avoidable blindness in India. A multipronged... (Review)
Review
Corneal blindness is a priority condition under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and an important cause of avoidable blindness in India. A multipronged approach is needed to eliminate corneal blindness. Curable or treatable blindness requires a spectrum of care including medication, optical rehabilitation and corneal transplantation. Corneal transplantation is dependent on the availability of safe, donor eyes; however, there is scarcity of donor corneal tissues in India. To improve the eye banking system, the Government of India supports eye banks through recurring grants for operational costs and non-recurring grants for infrastructure costs. Strategic interventions by the government and non-governmental organizations include awareness by health promotion and education, community participation, sustainable source of donor cornea, quality medical standards, accreditation and endeavours to strengthen eye banking systems and procedures through training and research. A model eye banking system in India can be achieved only when it is linked with the targeted infrastructure proposed under 'Vision 2020: Right to Sight- India'. Considering these targets, there is a requirement of at least 20 eye bank training centres, 200 eye banks with corneal transplant facility (collection of nearly 500 corneas per year) and 2000 eye donation centres in the country. This would become a reality if the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme is strengthened at all private and government hospitals, uniform medical standards are made mandatory for all eye banks and eye donation centres and the process of registration and eye donation is simplified to enhance community participation.
Topics: Blindness; Community Participation; Corneal Transplantation; Eye Banks; Health Promotion; Humans; India; Patient Education as Topic; Tissue Donors; Tissue and Organ Procurement
PubMed: 31267994
DOI: 10.4103/0970-258X.261189 -
Mammalian Genome : Official Journal of... Mar 2022Biobanks containing tissue and other biological samples from many model organisms provide easy and faster access to ex vivo resources for a wide-range of research...
Biobanks containing tissue and other biological samples from many model organisms provide easy and faster access to ex vivo resources for a wide-range of research programmes. For all laboratory animals, collecting and preserving tissue at post-mortem is an effective way of maximising the benefits of individual animals and potentially reducing the numbers required for experimentation in the future. For primate tissues, biobanks represent the scarcest of these resources but quite possibly those most valuable for preclinical and translation studies.
Topics: Animals; Primates; Tissue Banks
PubMed: 34698890
DOI: 10.1007/s00335-021-09925-w -
Cell Stem Cell Jun 2019Organ constructs are organ-like structures grown in vitro or in vivo that harbor the components, architecture, and function of in vivo organs, in part or in toto. The... (Review)
Review
Organ constructs are organ-like structures grown in vitro or in vivo that harbor the components, architecture, and function of in vivo organs, in part or in toto. The convergence of stem cell biology, bioengineering, and gene editing tools have substantially broadened our ability to generate various types of organ constructs for regenerative medicine as well as to address pressing biomedical questions. In this Review, we highlight prevailing approaches for generating organ constructs, from organoids to chimeric organ engineering. We also discuss design principles of different approaches, their utility and limitations, and propose strategies to resolve existing hurdles.
Topics: Animals; Cellular Reprogramming; Gene Editing; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Organogenesis; Organoids; Regenerative Medicine; Tissue Banks; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 31173717
DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2019.05.016 -
BMJ Open Ophthalmology Nov 2022NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services (TES) is a human multi-tissue, tissue bank supplying tissue for transplant to surgeons throughout the UK. In addition,...
INTRODUCTION
NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services (TES) is a human multi-tissue, tissue bank supplying tissue for transplant to surgeons throughout the UK. In addition, TES provides a service to scientists, clinicians and tissue bankers by providing a range of non-clinical tissue for research, training and education purposes. A large proportion of the non-clinical tissues supplied is ocular tissue ranging from whole eyes, to corneas, conjunctiva, lens and posterior segments remaining after the cornea is excised. The TES Research Tissue Bank (RTB) is based within the TES Tissue Bank in Speke, Liverpool and is staffed by two full-time staff. Non-clinical tissue is retrieved by Tissue and Organ Donation teams across United Kingdom. The RTB works very closely with two eye banks within TES, the David Lucas Eye Bank in Liverpool and the Filton Eye Bank in Bristol. Non-clinical ocular tissues are primarily consented by TES National Referral Centre Nurses.
METHODS AND RESULTS
The RTB receives tissue via two pathways. The first pathway is tissue specifically consented and retrieved for non-clinical use and the second pathway is tissue that becomes available when tissue is found to be unsuitable for clinical use. The majority of the tissue that the RTB receives from the eye banks comes via the second pathway. In 2021, the RTB issued more than 1000 samples of non-clinical ocular tissue. The majority of the tissue, ~64% was issued for research purposes (including research into glaucoma, COVID-19, paediatrics and transplant research), ~31% was issued for clinical training purposes (DMEK and DSAEK preparation, especially after COVID-19 cessation of transplant operations, training for new eye bank staff) and ~5% was issued for in-house and validation purposes. One of the findings was that corneas are still suitable for training purposes up to 6-months after removal from the eye.In 2021, the RTB received 43 applications for ocular projects from new customers and supplied to 36 different projects, meeting 95% of all orders placed this year.
DISCUSSION
The RTB works to a partial cost-recovery system and in 2021 became self-sufficient. The supply of non-clinical tissue is crucial for advancement in patient care and has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications.
Topics: Humans; Child; COVID-19; Cornea; Eye Banks; Tissue Banks; Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty
PubMed: 37282698
DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2022-EEBA.9 -
Journal of Pediatric Surgery Jul 2020Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal disease that primarily affects premature infants. Despite medical advances, mortality and morbidity... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal disease that primarily affects premature infants. Despite medical advances, mortality and morbidity from NEC are still unacceptably high. This is partly because of the lack of specific biomarkers and therapies for this disease. Availability of high-quality biological samples and the associated data from premature infants are key to advance our understanding of NEC, and for biomarker discovery and drug development. To that end, the NEC Society Biorepository was established with the goal of promoting studies in human infants through sharing specialized biospecimen and data procurement for NEC research.
OBJECTIVE
In this review, we will discuss the required infrastructure for biobanks, discuss the importance of informatics management, and emphasize the logistical requirements for sharing specimens. Finally, we will discuss the mechanism for how tissues and material will be shared between the institutions.
CONCLUSION
We have developed a state-of-the-art biobank for human infants to advance the field of NEC research. With the NEC Society Biorepository, we seek to facilitate and accelerate the basic and translational studies on NEC to provide hope to the infants afflicted with NEC and their families.
STUDY TYPE
Review article, level V.
Topics: Biomarkers; Biomedical Research; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Informatics; Reference Standards; Specimen Handling; Tissue Banks
PubMed: 31126684
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.05.002 -
Stem Cell Research Dec 2020The development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by Shinya Yamanaka and colleagues in 2006 has led to a potential new paradigm in cellular therapeutics,... (Review)
Review
The development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by Shinya Yamanaka and colleagues in 2006 has led to a potential new paradigm in cellular therapeutics, including the possibility of producing patient-specific, disease-specific and immune matched allogeneic cell therapies. One can envisage two routes to immunologically compatible iPSC therapies: using genetic modification to generate a 'universal donor' with reduced expression of Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) and other immunological targets or developing a haplobank containing iPSC lines specifically selected to provide HLA matched products to large portions of the population. HLA matched lines can be stored in a designated physical or virtual global bank termed a 'haplobank'. The process of 'iPSC haplobanking' refers to the banking of iPSC cell lines, selected to be homozygous for different HLA haplotypes, from which therapeutic products can be derived and matched immunologically to patient populations. By matching iPSC and derived products to a patient's HLA class I and II molecules, one would hope to significantly reduce the risk of immune rejection and the use of immunosuppressive medication. Immunosuppressive drugs are used in several conditions (including autoimmune disease and in transplantation procedures) to reduce rejection of infused cells, or transplanted tissue and organs, due to major and minor histocompatibility differences between donor and recipient. Such regimens can lead to immune compromise and pathological consequences such as opportunistic infections or malignancies due to decreased cancer immune surveillance. In this article, we will discuss what is practically involved if one is developing and executing an iPSC haplobanking strategy.
Topics: Cell Line; HLA Antigens; Haplotypes; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Tissue Banks; Tissue Donors
PubMed: 33221677
DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.102035 -
Personalized Medicine Mar 2019Marked progress has been made recently in the treatment of patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, especially gliomas. However, because of the relative rarity...
Marked progress has been made recently in the treatment of patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, especially gliomas. However, because of the relative rarity of these tumors compared with other malignancies, advances in the molecular/genetic analysis leading to future targeted treatments rely on systematic, organized tissue banking. Several large multi-institutional efforts have utilized major tissue banks that have yielded valuable information that may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of CNS tumors. This manuscript portrays best practices for the establishment and maintenance of a well-organized CNS tumor bank. In addition, annotation for clinical and research needs is explained. The potential benefits to clinical care, as well as basic science and translational research are also described.
Topics: Brain; Brain Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Glioma; Humans; Precision Medicine; Tissue Banks; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 30816054
DOI: 10.2217/pme-2018-0102 -
Fertility and Sterility Dec 2018Two major breakthroughs in the field of assisted reproduction-oocyte donation and oocyte vitrification-have joined forces to create the rapidly emerging phenomenon of... (Review)
Review
Two major breakthroughs in the field of assisted reproduction-oocyte donation and oocyte vitrification-have joined forces to create the rapidly emerging phenomenon of commercial egg banks (CEBs). In this review, we examine the history of this concept, the operational models, the geographical variations, and the benefits and pitfalls of CEBs, including the ethical and legal dilemmas arising from gamete mobility. We highlight future directions in the brave new world of third-party reproduction.
Topics: Cryopreservation; Donor Conception; Female; Humans; Internationality; Male; Oocyte Donation; Oocytes; Pregnancy; Tissue Banks; United States; Vitrification
PubMed: 30503106
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.07.013 -
Cell and Tissue Banking Mar 2023In Germany, bone allografts are widely used and their application in clinics has increased over the years. Successful use of allografts depends on many factors such as...
In Germany, bone allografts are widely used and their application in clinics has increased over the years. Successful use of allografts depends on many factors such as the procurement, processing, sterilization and the surgeon's surgical experience. Tissue banks have provided safe and sterile allografts for decades ranging from hard to soft tissue. Allografts are obtained from various tissues such as bone, tendon, amniotic membrane, meniscus and skin. An advantage of allografts is their wide applicability that has never been limited by indication restrictions thus providing a huge benefit for surgeon's. The use of the correct allograft in different indications is extremely important. Thereby surgeons have access to various allograft forms such as mineralized, demineralized, freeze-dried, paste, powder, chips strips and putty. The vast options of allografts allow surgeon's to use allografts in indications they deem fit. Currently, the application of allografts is at the discretion of the expert surgeon. However, regulations are often changed locally or internationally and may impact/limit allograft use to certain indications. Here, we report the different indications where our peracetic acid (PAA) sterilised bone allografts were used as well as general literature on bone allograft use in other indications.
Topics: Transplantation, Homologous; Tissue Banks; Tendons; Sterilization; Bone Transplantation; Allografts
PubMed: 35763162
DOI: 10.1007/s10561-022-10015-7 -
Cell and Tissue Banking Dec 2022To gather information from stakeholders involved in corneal donation and transplantation to inform discussion at the "National Consensus Forum on Improving Cornea...
To gather information from stakeholders involved in corneal donation and transplantation to inform discussion at the "National Consensus Forum on Improving Cornea Donation and Transplantation Access in Canada" held in February 2020, survey questions were posed to eye banks, transplanting ophthalmologists and organ donation organizations across Canada to learn more about demand, wait times, and access to tissue for transplant. The survey response rate was one hundred percent (100%) for eye banks and organ donation organizations while 64 percent (64%) of transplant ophthalmologists provided feedback. A number of opportunities for improvement were identified including: demand forecasting; infrastructure and strategies to align supply with demand; data collection and benchmarking of wait times for assessment and transplant to support consistency, equitability and transparency in access; and national collaboration in the development of a data strategy to accurately measure demand and access to cornea transplants in a consistent manner across all provinces to facilitate equity in access nationally.
Topics: Humans; Tissue Donors; Canada; Corneal Transplantation; Eye Banks; Tissue and Organ Procurement
PubMed: 34773206
DOI: 10.1007/s10561-021-09968-y