Biomaterial Database

Ancient myth, modern reality: a brief history of transplantation. 1997

A Bergan

From trephination to modern surgical procedures, transplantation is an exciting technology that has evolved over centuries. This article reviews the historical incidences of organ and tissue transplantation among humans and reflects on accomplishments made in general surgery that assisted transplant technology. Following a brief historical overview, the article focuses on modern transplanting issues including: development of immunosuppressive therapy, organ availability, qualifications for donors and recipients, organ procurement, and new transplant technology.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007125	Immunogenetics	A subdiscipline of genetics which deals with the genetic basis of the immune response (IMMUNITY).	Immunogenetic
D007165	Immunosuppression Therapy	Deliberate prevention or diminution of the host's immune response. It may be nonspecific as in the administration of immunosuppressive agents (drugs or radiation) or by lymphocyte depletion or may be specific as in desensitization or the simultaneous administration of antigen and immunosuppressive drugs.	Antirejection Therapy,Immunosuppression,Immunosuppressive Therapy,Anti-Rejection Therapy,Therapy, Anti-Rejection,Therapy, Antirejection,Anti Rejection Therapy,Anti-Rejection Therapies,Antirejection Therapies,Immunosuppression Therapies,Immunosuppressions,Immunosuppressive Therapies,Therapies, Immunosuppression,Therapies, Immunosuppressive,Therapy, Immunosuppression,Therapy, Immunosuppressive
D007166	Immunosuppressive Agents	Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of T-CELLS or by inhibiting the activation of HELPER CELLS. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, new applications involving mediation of the effects of INTERLEUKINS and other CYTOKINES are emerging.	Immunosuppressant,Immunosuppressive Agent,Immunosuppressants,Agent, Immunosuppressive,Agents, Immunosuppressive
D009229	Mythology	A body of stories, the origins of which may be unknown or forgotten, that explain practices, beliefs, institutions or natural phenomena. Mythology includes legends and folk tales. It may refer to classical mythology or to a body of modern thought and modern life. (From Webster's 1st ed)
D009927	Tissue and Organ Procurement	The administrative procedures involved with acquiring TISSUES or organs for TRANSPLANTATION through various programs, systems, or organizations. These procedures include obtaining consent from TISSUE DONORS and arranging for transportation of donated tissues and organs, after TISSUE HARVESTING, to HOSPITALS for processing and transplantation.	Organ Procurement,Organ Procurement Systems,Organ Shortage,Tissue Procurement,Tissue Shortage,Donor Cards,Organ Donation,Required Organ Donation Request,Required Request,Tissue Donation,Donor Card,Organ Donations,Organ Procurement System,Organ Procurements,Required Requests,Shortage, Tissue,Tissue Donations,Tissue Procurements,Tissue Shortages
D001926	Brain Death	A state of prolonged irreversible cessation of all brain activity, including lower brain stem function with the complete absence of voluntary movements, responses to stimuli, brain stem reflexes, and spontaneous respirations. Reversible conditions which mimic this clinical state (e.g., sedative overdose, hypothermia, etc.) are excluded prior to making the determination of brain death. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp348-9)	Brain Dead,Coma Depasse,Irreversible Coma,Brain Deads,Coma, Irreversible,Death, Brain
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013502	General Surgery	A specialty in which manual or operative procedures are used in the treatment of disease, injuries, or deformities.	Surgery,Surgery, General
D013677	Medical Laboratory Science	The specialty related to the performance of techniques in clinical pathology such as those in hematology, microbiology, and other general clinical laboratory applications.	Medical Laboratory Technology,Technology, Medical Laboratory,Clinical Laboratory Science,Clinical Laboratory Sciences,Laboratory Science, Clinical,Laboratory Science, Medical,Laboratory Sciences, Clinical,Laboratory Sciences, Medical,Laboratory Technologies, Medical,Laboratory Technology, Medical,Medical Laboratory Sciences,Medical Laboratory Technologies,Science, Clinical Laboratory,Science, Medical Laboratory,Sciences, Clinical Laboratory,Sciences, Medical Laboratory,Technologies, Medical Laboratory
D014019	Tissue Donors	Individuals supplying living tissue, organs, cells, blood or blood components for transfer or transplantation to histocompatible recipients.	Organ Donors,Donors,Ovum Donors,Semen Donors,Transplant Donors,Donor,Donor, Organ,Donor, Ovum,Donor, Semen,Donor, Tissue,Donor, Transplant,Donors, Organ,Donors, Ovum,Donors, Semen,Donors, Tissue,Donors, Transplant,Organ Donor,Ovum Donor,Semen Donor,Tissue Donor,Transplant Donor