Pink-colored Cypridina luciferase from Cypridina (Vargula) hilgendorfii: Oxygen-triggered luminescence reaction following NAD(P)H-FMN flavin reductase reaction.

The pink-colored Cypridina luciferase (CypLase∗) from Cypridina (Vargula) hilgendorfii contains an unknown chromophore (CypL∗), derived from Cypridina luciferin (CypL). When CypLase∗ was treated with NAD(P)H-FMN flavin reductase (FRase) and NADH, the luminescence intensity in the reaction mixture increased significantly after gentle tapping. This observation suggests that CypL∗ in CypLase is enzymatically converted to CypL by the reduced flavin (FMNH) through the FRase reaction, and the resulting complex of CypL and CypLase reacts with O to emit light.

Advancing Delirium Treatment Trials in Older Adults: Recommendations for Future Trials From the Network for Investigation of Delirium: Unifying Scientists (NIDUS).

Objectives: To summarize the delirium treatment trial literature, identify the unique challenges in delirium treatment trials, and formulate recommendations to address each in older adults.

Design: A 39-member interprofessional and international expert working group of clinicians (physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) and nonclinicians (biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and trial methodologists) was convened. Four expert panels were assembled to explore key subtopics (pharmacological/nonpharmacologic treatment, methodological challenges, and novel research designs).

Feasibility of Alerting Systems and Family Care Partner Support for Postoperative Delirium Prevention.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether postoperative pager alerts to the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), a delirium prevention service, would accelerate program enrollment for older surgical patients. This study also tested feasibility of family care partner interventions for delirium prevention.

Methods: This single-center, pilot clinical trial factorially randomized 57 non-cardiac surgical patients ≥70 years of age to 4 arms: (1) standard care, (2) pager alerts to accelerate HELP enrollment, (3) family care partner-based delirium prevention interventions, or (4) a combined arm with both HELP and family interventions.

Inflammatory Indices and Their Associations With Postoperative Delirium.

Background: Although the pathogenesis of delirium is poorly understood, increasing evidence supports a role for inflammation. Previously, individual inflammatory biomarkers have been associated with delirium. Aggregating biomarkers into an index may provide more information than individual biomarkers in predicting certain health outcomes (eg, mortality); however, inflammatory indices have not yet been examined in delirium.