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We explore vitrification, a method that uses high concentrations of chemicals called cryoprotective agents (CPAs) to preserve organs at very low temperatures without ice formation. While this method could theoretically keep organs viable indefinitely, the high CPA concentrations needed can be toxic to tissues. Our study tested three CPAs—VM3, M22-PVP and M22—on rat kidney slices to assess their toxicity. We found that VM3 was the least toxic, followed by M22-PVP and M22. These findings highlight the importance of selecting CPAs that are less toxic for organ preservation. Our results, combined with future studies on how temperature affects CPA toxicity, will help develop better methods for long-term kidney storage. This could significantly improve organ transplantation by increasing available organs, enhancing donor-recipient matching and promoting fair access, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Prior research has utilized brain imaging techniques, such as fMRI, to investigate neural processes underlying learning and memory. Past studies have also explored these processes in different mental conditions to examine how mental illness relates to brain functioning. However, few studies have investigated these patterns in individuals with multiple mental illnesses. In this study, we recruited individuals with comorbid PTSD and depressive symptoms to participate in a series of tasks requiring them to learn and remember specific cues predictive of threat in specific environments. The purpose of this study was to examine how the severity of depressive symptoms is associated with activation in brain areas involved in memory. Generally, we observed that more severe depressive symptoms were associated with differences in activation in parts of the brain involved in memory, findings that lend themselves to further investigation of how this activation is related to learning and memory performance.