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Background: The aim of this study was to compare the functional maturation of neonatal porcine islet (NPI) grafts exposed to long-term hyperglycemia with those implanted under euglycemic conditions., Methods: mice Neonatal porcine islets were transplanted under the left renal capsule of diabetic SCID mice (group H), or in diabetic SCID mice who were also implanted with 500 BALB/c islets under the right renal capsule (group N). On day 42, the right kidneys were removed in both groups., Results: No animals in group H achieved euglycemia within 3 weeks after transplantation. Thus, these mice were exposed to long-term hyperglycemia. Mice in group N became euglycemic immediately after transplantation, however after removal of BALB/c grafts on day 42 they exhibited significantly higher blood glucose levels than in group H and showed glucose intolerance after glucose administration. Cellular insulin content of NPI grafts harvested on day 58 or 72 was significantly lower in group N mice compared to group H., Conclusions: These results suggest that tight control of glycemia reduces the functional maturation of NPI grafts.

Background: Islet transplantation has proven to be a successful treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to establish an algorithm by which the combination of the donor quality and pancreas quality was given a numerical score from 0 to 100 for use in determining the quality of a pancreas for islet isolation., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 326 pancreases and the outcomes of their respective isolations. Specific donor variables and physical characteristics were identified and weighted according to their influence on the success of the isolation. For each variable, ranges and point weightings were established based on our laboratory experience and literature review., Results: Analysis of the data showed a strong association of the donor point with isolation outcome. Pancreases with lower donor point scores had lower transplant success rates, whereas higher donor point scores in turn produced higher transplant rates., Conclusions: This scoring system has proven to be useful in guiding the decision process as to whether to accept a particular pancreas for a favorable isolation outcome.

Context: Annular pancreas is an uncommon congenital anomaly formed by a thin band of normal pancreatic tissue encircling the duodenum., Case Report: We report the first case of an islet isolation and transplantation from an annular pancreas. The pancreas together with duodenum was procured from a 32-year-old previously healthy man after diagnosis of brain death. The pancreas including the annular portion was distended well after intraductal collagenase perfusion. A total of 276,064 islet equivalent was recovered and transplanted into a type 1 diabetic patient., Conclusions: Bearing in mind the shortage of donors, patients with this anomalous condition should not be excluded as potential organ donors.