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US Surgeons Report Longest Successful Pig-to-human Kidney Transplant

Published

2 years ago

September 15, 2023

The United States surgeons have announced that they concluded their experiment after a groundbreaking 61 days, where they transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a brain-dead patient, marking a significant milestone in the field of organ transplantation.

This new experimental procedure is part of a rapidly developing area of study focused on advancing cross-species transplants. The technique is primarily being tested on donated bodies for scientific purposes.

In the United States, there are over 103,000 individuals on the organ transplant waiting list, with 88,000 of them specifically in need of kidneys.

“We have learned a great deal throughout these past two months of close observation and analysis, and there is great reason to be hopeful for the future,” said Robert Montgomery, director of the New York University Langone Transplant Institute, who led the surgery in July.

This was the fifth xenotransplant performed by Montgomery, who previously conducted the world’s first genetically modified pig kidney transplant in September 2021.

Tissue collected during the study showed signs of a mild rejection process, which led to a need for increased immunosuppression medication.

By “knocking out” the gene responsible for a biomolecule called alpha-gal — a prime target for roving human antibodies — the NYU Langone team was able to stop immediate rejection.

The donor pig in this experiment came from a herd cultivated by Virginia-based biotech company Revivicor.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for the herd to serve as a meat source for individuals with alpha-gal molecule hypersensitivity, which is caused by certain tick bites. These pigs are bred rather than cloned, making the process more scalable.

In the past, early xenotransplantation research centered around using organs from primates. For instance, in 1984, a baboon’s heart was transplanted into a newborn called “Baby Fae,” but unfortunately, she only survived for 20 days.

Nowadays, the focus has shifted to pigs as potential donors for humans. Pigs are considered suitable due to their organ size, rapid growth, large litters, and the fact that they are already raised for food.

In January 2022, surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical School achieved a groundbreaking accomplishment by performing the first-ever pig-to-human heart transplant on a living patient.

Unfortunately, the patient passed away two months after the procedure, and it was later determined that the presence of porcine cytomegalovirus in the organ was to blame.

Chinese scientists recently published a paper demonstrating their achievement of creating hybrid pig-human kidneys in pig embryos. This alternative approach has the potential to address organ donation shortages in the future.

However, the development has raised ethical concerns, particularly because human cells were discovered in the pigs’ brains, according to experts.

Headline

Insecurity: US Congressman Riley Moore Reveals Trump’s Mission In Nigeria

Published

14 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

US Congressman Riley Moore has dismissed insinuations that President Donald Trump is attempting to bring war to Nigeria.

Moore made the remark in a post on his verified X handle on Monday.

His comments followed a US military airstrike on a terrorist enclave in north-west Nigeria on Christmas Day, reportedly carried out on the directive of President Trump.

“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria, he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death.

“The strikes against ISIS on Christmas, in coordination with the Nigerian government, have given hope to the Christians in Nigeria,” he said.

Recall that the lawmaker had previously stated that President Trump is focused on ending the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

It will be recalled that Moore led a US delegation on a fact-finding mission into alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria some weeks ago.

During his brief stay in the country, Moore travelled to Benue State, where he interfaced with religious and traditional leaders, as well as internally displaced persons.

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Russia Calls up 135,000 Military Personnel

Published

21 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

Russia has enlisted 135,000 conscripts for military service in 2026, following the conclusion of the autumn army draft by the Defense Ministry.

A statement on Monday said most personnel have been assigned to training units and military formations where they will “get a military specialty and learn to operate modern military hardware.”

The conscripts can choose to serve in any of the various military branches and armed services after an assessment of their health condition and the results of psychological examinations.

READ ALSO:Russian Strike On Odesa Region Kills Eight, Injures 27

The ministry disclosed that 680 recruits have joined scientific and research-production units, while 240 from the country’s national teams in Olympic disciplines joined sports companies.

However, military personnel who have served the established term of military service have been discharged and sent to their places of residence.

The latest enlistment confirms Russia is shoring up its troops deployed to the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine ahead of the new year.

A fortnight ago, European leaders reaffirmed their pledge to form a multinational force–under the aegis of the Coalition of the Willing–to assist Ukraine in securing land, skies, and seas.

The pledge is one of the six commitments the EU and heads of state developed for Ukraine’s security and economic recovery support measures.

In an interview with TASS on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned Europe’s insistence on sending military forces to Ukraine.

“We have said many times that our Armed Forces would view them as a legitimate target,” he said, warning that anyone who attacks Russia would face “a devastating blow.”

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How Our Airstrikes Stopped Christmas Attacks In Nigeria — US Lawmaker

Published

3 days ago

December 27, 2025

Editor

Riley Moore, a member of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia’s 2nd District, has linked the absence of Christmas attacks in Nigeria this year to US military airstrikes carried out against Islamist militants on Christmas Day.

In a post on his official X account on Saturday, Moore contrasted the situation with the past two Christmas seasons, during which he claimed Christians were killed in attacks across parts of Nigeria.

The lawmaker noted that this year’s response targeted extremist groups instead of marking another period of violence.

He added that US forces acted decisively against militants in coordination with the Nigerian government.

“For the past two Christmases, Christians have been murdered in Nigeria. This year, thanks to @POTUS, Radical Islamic Terrorists were on the receiving end of 12 Tomahawk missiles as a present.

“The successful strikes on ISIS, in coordination with the Nigerian government, are just the first step to secure the country and end the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ,” Moore wrote.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that American forces had conducted deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in north-western Nigeria.

Trump, who spoke via his Truth Social platform, warned that more attacks would follow if the militants continued killing Christians, adding that the Department of War executed numerous “perfect strikes.”