Prog Transplant
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Serum concentrations of thyroid hormones tetraiodothyronine and triiodothyronine commonly are low after head injury and brain death. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy, however, is a controversial part of donor management. ⋯ No publications support the routine administration of thyroid hormone for all donors. "Rescue" replacement in support of cardiac inotropic function is supported by some studies, but the experimental design of those investigations is not optimal. Thyroid hormone replacement and its dosing should be decided by organ procurement organizations as part of treatment protocols.
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Comparative Study
Leading the flock: organ donation feelings, beliefs, and intentions among African American clergy and community residents.
Despite a considerable potential role in organ donation for African American clergy, there has been little investigation to date of the beliefs, attitudes, and personal intentions of such clergy regarding donation. ⋯ Compared to general African American residents, African American clergy in the Houston area were found more often to believe in the importance of donation; to be more comfortable with thinking about donation; to feel more certain that donation was not against their religion; to believe that they could trust healthcare professionals regarding death declaration; to feel less often that donation leads to mutilation of the body; and to indicate a greater likelihood of donating their own organs upon death. The same was found to be true among clergy and congregants of the largest religious denomination in Houston, the Baptists.