Doctors are to begin a trial of a drug treatment that could double the time transplanted organs survive in the body. The 20-minute procedure effectively coats donor organs in a protective shield that stops them being rejected by the patient’s immune system. The treatment is expected to prolong the time that organs remain healthy in patients’ bodies and also increase their shelf-life (保存期限), so they can be stored for longer or transported further before being used. If the treatment works, it could ease the burden on organ transplant services, which face an increasing gap between the supply and demand for donor organs. People who receive transplants must take drugs to suppress their immune systems, but the body still reacts enough to cause transplants to fail sooner than they should. A healthy transplanted kidney lasts on average only 10 years, around one third of the time it should last. Organs such as hearts and livers fail even sooner. The consequence is that patients who have had one donor organ often need another. The new treatment, developed by researchers at King’s College London, is based on the defense mechanism healthy organs use to shield themselves from the immune system. Studies suggest the procedure could extend the life of an implanted kidney by around seven years. The scientists believe the treatment will also extend the shelf-life of donor organs, increasing the time they survive outside the body from no more than 24 hours to several days. This could reduce wastage and double the number of organs that work properly once they are transplanted, doctors said. In early tests, only a fifth of organs worked properly after being stored on ice for 16 hours, compared with 50% of those treated with mirococept (药物：米罗西普). A recent pilot study of the treatment on 16 patients found it was safe to use. Patients who receive donated organs treated with mirococept will still need to take drugs to suppress their immune systems, but doctors said an aim of their research was to see if the use of current drugs, which can increase a patient’s risk of cancer, can be reduced. 1 What is one of the purposes of the drug treatment mentioned in the passage? A To make a big profit from the new drug. B To reduce the risk of operations. C To prolong the shelf-life of organs. D To help patients save money. 2 According to the passage, what should the people who receive transplants do? A They need to spend a large fortune on their operations. B They have to take drugs to make the transplants effective. C They need to receive another transplant every ten years. D They have to appreciate the donors all their life. 3 Why do patients treated with the old treatment often need another donor organ? A Because they are painful after transplants. B Because drugs can ease the burden of organs. C Because the body still reacts enough to cause transplants to fail. D Because the donor organs will fail in a very short time. 4 What do we know about the new drug treatment? A It is developed by researchers in US. B It can extend the life of implanted organs. C It is independent of defense mechanism. D It can improve patients’ health. 5 What can we learn from the recent pilot study of the treatment? A The treatment can be used widely someday. B The treatment will destroy the immune system. C The current drug can increase a patient’s risk of cancer. D The result of the study doesn’t satisfy the researchers.

Doctors are to begin a trial of a drug treatment that could double the time transplanted organs survive in the body. The 20-minute procedure effectively coats donor organs in a protective shield that stops them being rejected by the patient’s immune system.
The treatment is expected to prolong the time that organs remain healthy in patients’ bodies and also increase their shelf-life (保存期限), so they can be stored for longer or transported further before being used. If the treatment works, it could ease the burden on organ transplant services, which face an increasing gap between the supply and demand for donor organs.
People who receive transplants must take drugs to suppress their immune systems, but the body still reacts enough to cause transplants to fail sooner than they should. A healthy transplanted kidney lasts on average only 10 years, around one third of the time it should last. Organs such as hearts and livers fail even sooner. The consequence is that patients who have had one donor organ often need another.
The new treatment, developed by researchers at King’s College London, is based on the defense mechanism healthy organs use to shield themselves from the immune system. Studies suggest the procedure could extend the life of an implanted kidney by around seven years. The scientists believe the treatment will also extend the shelf-life of donor organs, increasing the time they survive outside the body from no more than 24 hours to several days. This could reduce wastage and double the number of organs that work properly once they are transplanted, doctors said. In early tests, only a fifth of organs worked properly after being stored on ice for 16 hours, compared with 50% of those treated with mirococept (药物：米罗西普).
A recent pilot study of the treatment on 16 patients found it was safe to use. Patients who receive donated organs treated with mirococept will still need to take drugs to suppress their immune systems, but doctors said an aim of their research was to see if the use of current drugs, which can increase a patient’s risk of cancer, can be reduced.
1 What is one of the purposes of the drug treatment mentioned in the passage?
A To make a big profit from the new drug.
B To reduce the risk of operations.
C To prolong the shelf-life of organs.
D To help patients save money.
2 According to the passage, what should the people who receive transplants do?
A They need to spend a large fortune on their operations.
B They have to take drugs to make the transplants effective.
C They need to receive another transplant every ten years.
D They have to appreciate the donors all their life.
3 Why do patients treated with the old treatment often need another donor organ?
A Because they are painful after transplants.
B Because drugs can ease the burden of organs.
C Because the body still reacts enough to cause transplants to fail.
D Because the donor organs will fail in a very short time.
4 What do we know about the new drug treatment?
A It is developed by researchers in US.
B It can extend the life of implanted organs.
C It is independent of defense mechanism.
D It can improve patients’ health.
5 What can we learn from the recent pilot study of the treatment?
A The treatment can be used widely someday.
B The treatment will destroy the immune system.
C The current drug can increase a patient’s risk of cancer.
D The result of the study doesn’t satisfy the researchers.