“Pig organ transplants inch closer with testing in the dead”
https://apnews.com/article/pig-heart-transplant-nyu-c332493b4d6232edcf9ca389df976de0

We are getting closer and closer to Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy.
https://www.amazon.com/Crake-MaddAddam-Trilogy-Margaret-Atwood/dp/0385721676/

Hat tip to:
https://www.drudgereport.com/

Lynn

Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
>“Pig organ transplants inch closer with testing in the dead”
>
>https://apnews.com/article/pig-heart-transplant-nyu-c332493b4d6232edcf9ca389df976de0

It's already been tried.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2319108-man-who-received-pig-heart-transplant-has-died-after-pig-virus-found/

On 7/13/2022 6:10 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
>> “Pig organ transplants inch closer with testing in the dead”
>>
>> https://apnews.com/article/pig-heart-transplant-nyu-c332493b4d6232edcf9ca389df976de0
>
> It's already been tried.
>
> https://www.newscientist.com/article/2319108-man-who-received-pig-heart-transplant-has-died-after-pig-virus-found/
>
The new trials involve transplants into humans who are "brain dead".
Clinically dead due to lack of activity in the brain but their bodies
kept functioning by mechanical means.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On 7/13/2022 8:10 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
>> “Pig organ transplants inch closer with testing in the dead”
>>
>> https://apnews.com/article/pig-heart-transplant-nyu-c332493b4d6232edcf9ca389df976de0
>
> It's already been tried.
>
> https://www.newscientist.com/article/2319108-man-who-received-pig-heart-transplant-has-died-after-pig-virus-found/

If you read the article, they are working on methods to detect animal
viruses.
https://apnews.com/article/science-health-university-of-maryland-heart-transplants-8d615a31b455a8e36d3b6896ebe8813a

I admit that I have an interest in this due to my gimpy heart.

Lynn

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 11:56:08 AM UTC-6, Lynn McGuire wrote:

> I admit that I have an interest in this due to my gimpy heart.

I remember when they were working on electromechanical
artificial hearts, using biocompatible metals and plastics.

Given the extent that people would have to be immunosuppressed
in order to accept a xenotransplant, *and* the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic...

I think these research efforts may well be misdirected. I know that
they also have genetically modified pigs these days, and when
_that_ element of the puzzle is further along, perhaps I might be
more sanguine.

But it's not as if Teflon has been banned for some reason. And with
today's advances in microchips, an artificial heart that could beat
faster when one is exerting oneself should be achievable - that was
what artificial hearts lacked back in the day.

John Savard

On 7/13/2022 8:49 PM, Quadibloc wrote:
> On Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 11:56:08 AM UTC-6, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>
>> I admit that I have an interest in this due to my gimpy heart.
>
> I remember when they were working on electromechanical
> artificial hearts, using biocompatible metals and plastics.
>
> Given the extent that people would have to be immunosuppressed
> in order to accept a xenotransplant, *and* the ongoing COVID-19
> pandemic...
>
> I think these research efforts may well be misdirected. I know that
> they also have genetically modified pigs these days, and when
> _that_ element of the puzzle is further along, perhaps I might be
> more sanguine.
>
> But it's not as if Teflon has been banned for some reason. And with
> today's advances in microchips, an artificial heart that could beat
> faster when one is exerting oneself should be achievable - that was
> what artificial hearts lacked back in the day.
>
> John Savard

We are already putting pig valves into humans for about 40 ? 50 ? 60 ?
years now.

The problem with mechanical hearts is that they require a driver,
usually an air hose inserted into the body and the compressor is carried
by the person. Not very portable and very prone to infection. And if
the driver fails, you die.

My 83 year old father has had a mechanical heart valve (St. Judes) since
1999. It has been recalled since the cobalt housing has flaked off but
my father is not going to exchange it due to the 6 hour surgery required
to implant it the first time. My father has to take enough warfarin to
get his blood anticoagulation level up to 3.5 so that he will not throw
a blood clot to his brain.

Lynn

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 10:51:35 PM UTC-6, Lynn McGuire wrote:

> We are already putting pig valves into humans for about 40 ? 50 ? 60 ?
> years now.

Yes, but the valve is just cartilage, while a heart is muscle tissue and thus
does require immunosuppression. Of course, though, I can't argue against
your personal experience.

John Savard

Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:

> The problem with mechanical hearts is that they require a driver,
> usually an air hose inserted into the body and the compressor is carried
> by the person. Not very portable and very prone to infection. And if
> the driver fails, you die.

By far not the only problem. Blood is very sensitive to mechanical
damage of the blood cells, which leads to clotting. Unsurprisingly,
the heart and its inner liners have evolved together not to put
too much stress on the blood while it is being circulated, both
from the pumping action and the innter liner, the endocardium.
We cannot duplicate this at the moment.