It is with great enthusiasm that we introduce European Transplant Research, a new academic journal dedicated to advancing knowledge and innovation in the field of organ and tissue transplantation. As the need for transplantation continues to grow globally, so does the importance of cutting-edge research, technological advancements, and collaborative efforts to improve patient outcomes and transplant success rates.

The primary mission of European Transplant Research is to provide a platform for the dissemination of high-quality, peer-reviewed research that addresses the challenges and opportunities within transplantation science. The journal welcomes original research articles, reviews, case reports, and short communications that contribute to the understanding and enhancement of transplant procedures, immunology, graft preservation, and post-transplant care.

Our scope encompasses a broad range of topics, including but not limited to organ and tissue transplantation techniques, advances in immunosuppressive therapies, biomarker discovery and validation, graft preservation and optimization methods, post-transplant monitoring and management, ethical and psychological aspects of transplantation, xenotransplantation, and regenerative medicine. By embracing diverse perspectives and innovative methodologies, we aim to foster collaboration among clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals.

Through European Transplant Research, we aspire to push the boundaries of transplantation science, facilitate the exchange of ideas, and ultimately contribute to the advancement of global healthcare standards. We invite authors, reviewers, and readers to join us in this endeavor and look forward to a dynamic and impactful journey ahead.

On behalf of the editorial board, we welcome you to European Transplant Research and anticipate a future filled with groundbreaking discoveries and meaningful contributions to the field.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to standardize psychiatric assessments for organ transplant candidates by developing a semi-structured interview tool to ensure consistent evaluations and protective measures.
METHODS: The study included 34 pediatric solid organ transplant candidates: 8 pre-school, 10 pre-adolescent, and 16 adolescent patients. All participants were evaluated independently by two clinicians. The Psychiatric and Psychosocial Characteristics of Pediatric Transplantation Candidates–Evaluation Scale (PPCPT-ES), the Satisfaction with Life Scale for Children, and the Hope in Children Scale were administered to all patients. Item analysis and internal consistency reliability analyses were conducted separately for both raters across the 18 items of the PPCPT-ES.
RESULTS: Four items were excluded from the analysis: three due to item–total score correlation values below 0.20 and one
due to lack of significance in the interrater consistency analysis. For the remaining 14 items, item–total score correlation values ranged from 0.29 to 0.72 for rater 1 and from 0.25 to 0.70 for rater 2. The internal consistency reliability coefficient (Cronbach’s alpha) was 0.86 for both raters.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the PPCPT-ES demonstrates good internal consistency and measures a homogeneous construct as a continuous variable, supporting its potential utility in the standardized psychiatric assessment of pediatric organ transplant candidates.

We report a case of severe fibrin reaction following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) that was successfully treated with intracameral recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-TPA). A 62-year-old male with a history of herpetic keratitis and retinal detachment surgery presented with corneal scarring in the left eye. He underwent PKP combined with cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. One month postoperatively, he developed an intense anterior chamber reaction with fibrin accumulation, endothelial plaque formation on the graft, and creamy-white iris infiltrates, raising suspicion of fungal keratitis. Therapeutic PKP was performed due to treatment-resistant ulcerative keratitis, and the patient subsequently received an intracameral injection of r-TPA (25 µg/0.05 cc) for persistent fibrinoid reaction. At the 24-hour follow-up, the fibrin had markedly resolved, and the graft appeared clear. While topical or subconjunctival steroids may be sufficient in mild to moderate cases, intracameral r-TPA may serve as a valuable adjunct in refractory cases, offering long-term morphological and functional improvement.

This study reports the outcomes of corneal transplantation in two cases of topical anesthetic abuse keratopathy. A chart review was performed for two patients who underwent penetrating topical anesthetic abuse keratoplasty (PK) due to keratopathy-related sequelae. The first case presented with unilateral full-thickness corneal perforation and a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of hand motion. A tectonic PK was performed to restore globe integrity; however, the patient continued using topical anesthetic drops, and eight months postoperatively developed graft failure, with a final BCVA of hand motion. The second case presented with a unilateral corneal scar due to topical anesthetic abuse, with an initial BCVA of hand motion. PK was performed for visual rehabilitation, and the early postoperative course was uneventful with BCVA of 20/50. The patient missed scheduled follow-up visits and returned at the third postoperative month with loose sutures and signs of graft rejection. After suture removal and topical therapy, the clinical findings improved, and the final BCVA was 20/100. Psychiatric evaluation of both patients revealed severe anxiety and aggression. These cases highlight that uncontrolled use of topical anesthetic eye drops leads to irreversible ocular surface damage, and corneal transplantation in such patients has limited success due to poor compliance, often resulting in graft rejection and graft failure.

Organ transplant recipients must continue immunosuppressive therapy throughout their lives, and adherence to these medications is critical for long-term graft survival. Multiple factors influence adherence, including socioeconomic status,
treatment-related variables, patient characteristics, disease-related factors, and components associated with the healthcare system and team. Addressing these multifactorial challenges requires the integration of educational, cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and emotional strategies. As integral members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, nurses play a central role in identifying barriers to adherence, utilizing appropriate assessment tools, and implementing evidence-based, patient-centered interventions. This review highlights nurses’ responsibilities and contributions in promoting adherence and supporting transplant recipients throughout their post-transplant journey.

Although pediatric organ transplantation is a critical, life-saving medical intervention that can markedly improve a child’s quality of life, it also presents substantial psychosocial challenges for both children and their parents. Psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and delirium are frequently
observed throughout the transplantation process. Contributing factors include medical uncertainties before and after surgery, prolonged hospitalizations, neuropsychiatric effects of immunosuppressive therapy, and social isolation. Parents similarly face high levels of stress, anxiety, and an increased risk of depression, which can negatively affect family dynamics and financial stability. This review examines the most common psychiatric comorbidities in pediatric transplant recipients, their clinical implications and management strategies, as well as parental psychiatric outcomes, family functioning, and related risk factors. The reviewed studies cover patients from various organ transplant groups and different stages of the transplantation process. Despite heterogeneity across findings, consistent evidence highlights the presence of mental health symptoms in both patients and caregivers. In addition to internalizing and externalizing symptoms, cognitive impairments have also been reported. Post-transplant quality of life in pediatric recipients is influenced by parental well-being, family functioning, transplant type, medication adherence, and pre-transplant mental health status. Thus, focusing solely on medical outcomes is insufficient in pediatric organ transplantation. Emphasizing psychiatric evaluation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and access to psychosocial support is essential to improve adjustment and long-term prognosis.