New Technique Developed to Boost Survival Chances of Heart, Kidney Transplant Patients

This Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 photo shows organ donation paperwork at Mid-America Transplant Services in St. Louis. (AP)
This Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 photo shows organ donation paperwork at Mid-America Transplant Services in St. Louis. (AP)
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New Technique Developed to Boost Survival Chances of Heart, Kidney Transplant Patients

This Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 photo shows organ donation paperwork at Mid-America Transplant Services in St. Louis. (AP)
This Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 photo shows organ donation paperwork at Mid-America Transplant Services in St. Louis. (AP)

A Russian research team announced successful tests of a new technique that allows the preservation of human organs needed for transplantation for a four-time longer period than the currently used methods.

The findings would help transfer organs from donors to recipients regardless of the time and distance factors.

According to the current standards, an organ such as the heart can be preserved in a special liquid and within a specified temperature for 4 - 6 hours, the liver 12 - 15 hours, and the kidney 16 hours, or a maximum of 24 to 30 hours. Therefore, the life of a patient who needs a heart transplant depends on finding a donor in a close region, so the organ can be preserved and transferred on time.

Unfortunately, most of the times, the organ cannot be used if the patient who needs it lives in another city. The tests carried out by the Russian team have focused on addressing this challenge by creating new conditions that maintain the organs' vital signs for a longer period.

A member of the team said the experiments firstly conducted on hearts taken from frogs and rats, then sheep, proved that the new technique can preserve a transplantable heart for a four-time longer period.

He also explained that the technique uses a "preservative gas", while the current technique uses preservative liquids.

The researchers plan to continue their experiments in 2020, and hope to achieve results that allow them to use their technique and its potential additional benefits to ease the transplant of any organ to any patient regardless of the distance separating him from the donor.



SAUDIA Wins Best Airline Cabin Crew Award at Business Traveler Awards

Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)
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SAUDIA Wins Best Airline Cabin Crew Award at Business Traveler Awards

Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)

Saudia Airlines (SAUDIA) has earned the Best Airline Cabin Crew award at the 2024 Business Traveler North America Awards ceremony in Miami, US.
SAUDIA Chief Guest Experience Officer Rossen Dimitrov received the award, which is given to airlines for the first time, SPA reported.
Dimitrov said that the award received by SAUDIA is testimony to its dedication to enhancing the travel experience, aiming to elevate it to new heights and surpass expectations. He added that air service constitutes a critical aspect of travel, and is a key indicator of service quality that reflects the level of guest satisfaction.
This international recognition, he said, underscores the effectiveness of SAUDIA employees, “particularly the team of navigators who are crucial to the operational system, managing over 500 flights daily”.
He noted that air service is experiencing significant improvements that showcase Saudi culture, from the warm welcome and assistance to the menu featuring meals inspired by the Saudi cuisine, and the tradition of serving Saudi coffee and dates sourced from the homeland, as a sign of hospitality.
As part of its strategic vision for a new era, SAUDIA is dedicated to continuous innovation and to coming up with impactful initiatives that improve services and products. Its commitment to improving its operational performance is evident in the modern, and expanding, fleet, which currently includes 144 aircraft that helps it carry out its plan of connecting the world with the Kingdom.