In a new study, researchers have developed an oral prodrug that delivers carbon monoxide to protect against acute kidney injury.&nbsp;Researchers from Georgia State University, led by Binghe Wang, published the study in Chemical Science.

Scientists have discovered that carbon monoxide (CO) can have beneficial effects by reducing inflammation and protecting cells against injury, even though it is toxic in large doses. CO has been found to protect kidneys, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and liver, as well as other organs, from injury.

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Over a period of five years, using saccharine (found in Sweet'N Low) and acesulfame (found in Splenda) as "carrier" molecules, Wang's team developed prodrugs for treating CO that could be administered orally.

Prodrugs are inactive compounds that, when administered undergo a chemical process in the body, release&nbsp;active pharmacological agents. When exposed to water, these molecules decompose, releasing carbon dioxide.&nbsp;

These are the first examples of orally active, organic CO prodrugs that use a benign carrier and have a demonstrated safety profile.

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Wang, a senior author of the paper and a scholar at the Georgia Research Alliance, says that it is difficult to deliver gas therapeutics, much less poisonous gases, to patients and that this work represents an important step toward developing alternative delivery forms.&nbsp;

In order to be sure that the carrier will be safe to be used in a pill for human consumption, they wanted to work with a carrier that has a very well-characterised safety profile, she added.

A prodrug, CO-306, was tested for its potential to protect against acute kidney damage. By administering the prodrug along with the carrier molecule, saccharine to mice, the researchers found that it reduced the biomarkers of renal damage, suggesting that CO-306 could be developed into a viable therapeutic molecule.

Mouse models were used to replicate kidney tissue damage associated with muscle damage, sickle cell disease, malaria, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, and severe sepsis.

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A more extensive animal model study and safety assessment will be conducted on CO-306 by Professor Wang and colleagues at Georgia State University, Vanderbilt University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Mississippi before human clinical trials may begin.&nbsp;

In addition, they also plan to test its effectiveness against other types of organ injuries.

Wang says CO-based therapies particularly hold promise as a method of reducing the likelihood of organ damage during transplantation and improving outcomes for transplant patients.

CO-based therapy holds particular promise as a way to reduce the risk of organ damage during transplantation and improve recovery rates for transplant patients, according to Wang.

"Science shows that exposing organs to CO gas can help preserve organs and prevent them from deteriorating during the process of transplantation," he said. "Now we need to demonstrate that these prodrugs can have a similar effect."

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new study, researchers have developed an oral prodrug that delivers carbon monoxide to protect against acute kidney injury. Researchers from Georgia State University, led by Binghe Wang, published the study in Chemical Science.

In a new study, researchers have developed an oral prodrug that delivers carbon monoxide to protect against acute kidney injury. Researchers from Georgia State University, led by Binghe Wang, published the study in Chemical Science. Scientists have discovered that carbon monoxide (CO) can have beneficial effects by reducing inflammation and protecting cells against injury, even though it is toxic in large doses. CO has been found to protect kidneys, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and liver, as well as other organs, from injury. Also read | Study suggests possible link between alcohol consumption and cancer Over a period of five years, using saccharine (found in Sweet'N Low) and acesulfame (found in Splenda) as "carrier" molecules, Wang's team developed prodrugs for treating CO that could be administered orally. Prodrugs are inactive compounds that, when administered undergo a chemical process in the body, release active pharmacological agents. When exposed to water, these molecules decompose, releasing carbon dioxide. These are the first examples of orally active, organic CO prodrugs that use a benign carrier and have a demonstrated safety profile. Also read | Drinking coffee reduces risk of contracting coronavirus: Study Wang, a senior author of the paper and a scholar at the Georgia Research Alliance, says that it is difficult to deliver gas therapeutics, much less poisonous gases, to patients and that this work represents an important step toward developing alternative delivery forms. In order to be sure that the carrier will be safe to be used in a pill for human consumption, they wanted to work with a carrier that has a very well-characterised safety profile, she added. A prodrug, CO-306, was tested for its potential to protect against acute kidney damage. By administering the prodrug along with the carrier molecule, saccharine to mice, the researchers found that it reduced the biomarkers of renal damage, suggesting that CO-306 could be developed into a viable therapeutic molecule. Mouse models were used to replicate kidney tissue damage associated with muscle damage, sickle cell disease, malaria, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, and severe sepsis. Also read | Study claiming smokers less vulnerable to COVID-19 retracted as authors linked to tobacco industry A more extensive animal model study and safety assessment will be conducted on CO-306 by Professor Wang and colleagues at Georgia State University, Vanderbilt University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Mississippi before human clinical trials may begin. In addition, they also plan to test its effectiveness against other types of organ injuries. Wang says CO-based therapies particularly hold promise as a method of reducing the likelihood of organ damage during transplantation and improving outcomes for transplant patients. CO-based therapy holds particular promise as a way to reduce the risk of organ damage during transplantation and improve recovery rates for transplant patients, according to Wang. "Science shows that exposing organs to CO gas can help preserve organs and prevent them from deteriorating during the process of transplantation," he said. "Now we need to demonstrate that these prodrugs can have a similar effect." (With inputs from agencies)

Carbon monoxide can be used to protect organs during transplant: Study

Doctors in the Southern Indian City of Chennai successfully performed a live-donor liver transplant on a 26-year old, who was comatose after suffering acute liver failure. What made this medical procedure even more complicated for the patient and the operating doctors was the fact that he had tested COVID-19 positive. This meant heightened the risk for Doctors and healthcare staff of the MGM Hospital, who were to attend to this patient and perform surgery and related procedures.

The patient Ragul Gandhi was physically fit and a Kabaddi Player but had lapsed into a comatose state, two days after his liver failed. Once he tested COVID-19 positive, it was also clear to medical professionals that he had only about 48 hours to live, without an emergency liver transplant.

Luckily for the patient, his own brother had agreed to be the live donor, at a time (COVID-19 pandemic) when there are hardly any cadavers available for giving a lease of life. The donor was brought to the Chennai hospital and found suitable for the procedure.&nbsp;

Clad in full-body PPE suits, two teams with a total of 50 (fully vaccinated) medical professionals performed the 12-hour procedure in two separate Operation Theaters - one for the COVID-19 positive patient and another for the donor. Special filters and technology were used to ensure that the doctors don’t get infected with Covid-19, owing to the long duration of exposure. According to the hospital, none of the doctors or healthcare staff tested positive, after this procedure.

The patient has been discharged after surgery and is recuperating from home, he has also defeated COVID-19. Doctors of MGM healthcare said that he would be able to live a normal life post-transplant and could even resume playing Kabaddi in about a year’s time.

When asked about the causes of such sudden acute liver failure in a young and fit sportsman, Senior Transplant surgeon Dr Thaigarajan Srinivasan of MGM Healthcare said that liver failure suddenly happens in previously normal patients. “In our part of the world, the commonest causes of acute liver failure are overdose of anti-tubercular drugs. It could be the overdose of drugs meant for Hepatitis A, E, B or even some Ayurvedic medicines. In this case, it was an accidental overdose” he told Zee media.&nbsp;

Doctors also advised those with existing liver complications to stay safe at home, get vaccinated and strictly follow the COVID-19 norms. In case of such individuals getting infected by Covid-19, Doctors urged them to go ahead and seek immediate medical attention to prevent further deterioration. 
&nbsp;

Doctors in the Southern Indian City of Chennai successfully performed a live-donor liver transplant on a 26-year old, who was comatose after suffering acute liver failure.

Doctors in the Southern Indian City of Chennai successfully performed a live-donor liver transplant on a 26-year old, who was comatose after suffering acute liver failure. What made this medical procedure even more complicated for the patient and the operating doctors was the fact that he had tested COVID-19 positive. This meant heightened the risk for Doctors and healthcare staff of the MGM Hospital, who were to attend to this patient and perform surgery and related procedures. The patient Ragul Gandhi was physically fit and a Kabaddi Player but had lapsed into a comatose state, two days after his liver failed. Once he tested COVID-19 positive, it was also clear to medical professionals that he had only about 48 hours to live, without an emergency liver transplant. Luckily for the patient, his own brother had agreed to be the live donor, at a time (COVID-19 pandemic) when there are hardly any cadavers available for giving a lease of life. The donor was brought to the Chennai hospital and found suitable for the procedure. Clad in full-body PPE suits, two teams with a total of 50 (fully vaccinated) medical professionals performed the 12-hour procedure in two separate Operation Theaters - one for the COVID-19 positive patient and another for the donor. Special filters and technology were used to ensure that the doctors don’t get infected with Covid-19, owing to the long duration of exposure. According to the hospital, none of the doctors or healthcare staff tested positive, after this procedure. The patient has been discharged after surgery and is recuperating from home, he has also defeated COVID-19. Doctors of MGM healthcare said that he would be able to live a normal life post-transplant and could even resume playing Kabaddi in about a year’s time. When asked about the causes of such sudden acute liver failure in a young and fit sportsman, Senior Transplant surgeon Dr Thaigarajan Srinivasan of MGM Healthcare said that liver failure suddenly happens in previously normal patients. “In our part of the world, the commonest causes of acute liver failure are overdose of anti-tubercular drugs. It could be the overdose of drugs meant for Hepatitis A, E, B or even some Ayurvedic medicines. In this case, it was an accidental overdose” he told Zee media. Doctors also advised those with existing liver complications to stay safe at home, get vaccinated and strictly follow the COVID-19 norms. In case of such individuals getting infected by Covid-19, Doctors urged them to go ahead and seek immediate medical attention to prevent further deterioration.

COVID-19 positive liver-failure patient who was comatose revived successfully after transplant 

A British surgeon on Wednesday admitted branding his initials on the livers of two patients undergoing transplants at a hospital while his colleagues looked on.

Simon Bramhall, 53, pleaded guilty to assault but not guilty to charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.

The case was &quot;without legal precedent in criminal law,&quot; prosecutor Tony Badenoch said of the offences that occurred at Birmingham&#39;s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

It was &quot;not an isolated incident but rather a repeated act on two occasions, requiring some skill and concentration... done in the presence of colleagues,&quot; he said, calling it a &quot;highly unusual and complex&quot; case.

Elizabeth Reid of the Crown Prosecution Service added in a statement: &quot;Simon Bramhall was a respected surgeon who assaulted two of his patients while they were undergoing surgery. It was an intentional application of unlawful force to a patient while anaesthetised. Those assaults were wrong not just ethically, but also criminally. It was an abuse of the trust placed in him by the patients.&quot;&nbsp;

Bramhall was granted bail and will be sentenced on January 12.

Simon Bramhall, 53, pleaded guilty to assault but not guilty to charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.

A British surgeon on Wednesday admitted branding his initials on the livers of two patients undergoing transplants at a hospital while his colleagues looked on. Simon Bramhall, 53, pleaded guilty to assault but not guilty to charges of assault causing actual bodily harm. The case was "without legal precedent in criminal law," prosecutor Tony Badenoch said of the offences that occurred at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It was "not an isolated incident but rather a repeated act on two occasions, requiring some skill and concentration... done in the presence of colleagues," he said, calling it a "highly unusual and complex" case. Elizabeth Reid of the Crown Prosecution Service added in a statement: "Simon Bramhall was a respected surgeon who assaulted two of his patients while they were undergoing surgery. It was an intentional application of unlawful force to a patient while anaesthetised. Those assaults were wrong not just ethically, but also criminally. It was an abuse of the trust placed in him by the patients." Bramhall was granted bail and will be sentenced on January 12.

UK surgeon admits branding patient livers with initials

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