Special Issue "Polyamines in Aging and Disease".

Polyamines are bioactive amines found in almost all living organisms and are essential for normal cellular functions [...

Unwanted cardiopulmonary resuscitation against patients' "Do Not Attempt Resuscitation" orders in community settings in Japan: A narrative review.

We aimed to synthesize existing research to elucidate the underlying factors and causes responsible for the high prevalence of unwanted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) occurring outside a hospital setting in Japan despite patients' Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders. We conducted a narrative review by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus for English literature, and Google Scholar for Japanese literature. The key factors we identified included lack of documentation of resuscitation preferences, variation in the perception of other life-sustaining measures associated with DNAR, non-inclusion of the patient in discussions of goals of care, unlegislated and unstandardized DNAR orders, emergency medical service activation by the family or facility, the Fire Service Act that mandates life-saving measures irrespective of the presence of advance directives, fire department protocols and CPR decision-making, and death pronouncement authorization limited to physicians.

Salmonella Typhimurium exploits host polyamines for assembly of the type 3 secretion machinery.

Bacterial pathogens utilize the factors of their hosts to infect them, but which factors they exploit remain poorly defined. Here, we show that a pathogenic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) exploits host polyamines for the functional expression of virulence factors. An STm mutant strain lacking principal genes required for polyamine synthesis and transport exhibited impaired infectivity in mice.

Combinatorial expression of neurexin genes regulates glomerular targeting by olfactory sensory neurons.

Precise connectivity between specific neurons is essential for the formation of the complex neural circuitry necessary for executing intricate motor behaviors and higher cognitive functions. While -interactions between synaptic membrane proteins have emerged as crucial elements in orchestrating the assembly of these neural circuits, the synaptic surface proteins involved in neuronal wiring remain largely unknown. Here, using unbiased single-cell transcriptomic and mouse genetic approaches, we uncover that the neurexin family of genes enables olfactory sensory neuron (OSNs) axons to form appropriate synaptic connections with their mitral and tufted (M/T) cell synaptic partners, within the mammalian olfactory system.

Caldomycin, a new guanidopolyamine produced by a novel agmatine homocoupling enzyme involved in homospermidine biosynthesis.

An extreme thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus produces more than 20 unusual polyamines, but their biosynthetic pathways, including homospermidine, are not yet fully understood. Two types of homospermidine synthases have been identified in plants and bacteria, which use spermidine and putrescine or two molecules of putrescine as substrates. However, homospermidine synthases with such substrate specificity have not been identified in T.

Inhibition of Polyamine Catabolism Reduces Cellular Senescence.

The aging of the global population has necessitated the identification of effective anti-aging technologies based on scientific evidence. Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are essential for cell growth and function. Age-related reductions in polyamine levels have been shown to be associated with reduced cognitive and physical functions.

Mature human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes promote angiogenesis through alpha-B crystallin.

Background: Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) can be used to treat heart diseases; however, the optimal maturity of hiPSC-CMs for effective regenerative medicine remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the benefits of long-term cultured mature hiPSC-CMs in injured rat hearts.

Methods: Cardiomyocytes were differentiated from hiPSCs via monolayer culturing, and the cells were harvested on day 28 or 56 (D28-CMs or D56-CMs, respectively) after differentiation.

Enduring Positive Impact of a Virtual Communication Skills Workshop of VitalTalk Pedagogy in a Non-U.S. Setting.

Context: While in-person workshops on serious illness communication skills using VitalTalk pedagogy have been shown to have a long-lasting impact, whether changing the format into virtual would maintain its enduring impact is unknown. Objectives. To examine long-term impacts of a virtual VitalTalk communication workshop.

Putrescine Biosynthesis from Agmatine by Arginase (TtARG) in Thermus thermophilus.

In the three domains of life, three biosynthetic pathways are known for putrescine. The first route is conversion of ornithine to putrescine by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC: SpeC), the second route is the conversion of arginine to agmatine by arginine decarboxylase (ADC: SpeA), followed by the conversion of agmatine to putrescine by agmatine ureohydrolase (AUH: SpeB), and the third route is the conversion of agmatine to N-carbamoylputrescine by agmatine deiminase (agmatine iminohydrolase, AIH), followed by the conversion of N-carbamoylputrescine to putrescine by N-carbamoylputrescine amidohydrolase (NCPAH). An extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus produces putrescine, although this bacterium lacks homologs for putrescine synthesizing pathways, such as ODC, AUH, AIH and NCPAH.

Positive Correlation between Relative Concentration of Spermine to Spermidine in Whole Blood and Skeletal Muscle Mass Index: A Possible Indicator of Sarcopenia and Prognosis of Hemodialysis Patients.

Several mechanisms strictly regulate polyamine concentration, and blood polyamines are excreted in urine. This indicates polyamine accumulation in renal dysfunction, and studies have shown increased blood polyamine concentrations in patients with renal failure. Hemodialysis (HD) may compensate for polyamine excretion; however, little is known about polyamine excretion.

A search for acrolein scavengers among food components.

Brain stroke is a major cause of being bedridden for elderly people, and preventing stroke is important for maintaining quality of life (QOL). Acrolein is a highly reactive aldehyde and causes tissue damage during stroke. Decreasing acrolein toxicity ameliorates tissue injury during brain stroke.

Urinary Amino Acid-Conjugated Acrolein and Taurine as New Biomarkers for Detection of Dementia.

Background: Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), is one of the serious diseases at advanced age, and its early detection is important for maintaining quality of life (QOL).

Objective: In this study, we sought novel biomarkers for dementia in urine.

Methods: Samples of urine were collected from 57 control subjects without dementia, 62 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and 42 AD patients.

Neurexins in serotonergic neurons regulate neuronal survival, serotonin transmission, and complex mouse behaviors.

Extensive serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) innervation throughout the brain corroborates 5-HT's modulatory role in numerous cognitive activities. Volume transmission is the major mode for 5-HT transmission but mechanisms underlying 5-HT signaling are still largely unknown. Abnormal brain 5-HT levels and function have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Biocompatibility Evaluation of Carbon Nanohorns in Bone Tissues.

With the advent of nanotechnology, the use of nanoparticles as drug delivery system (DDS) has attracted great interest. We aimed to apply carbon nanohorns (CNHs) as DDS in the development of new treatments for bone diseases. We evaluated the in vitro and in vivo cellular responses of CNHs in bone-related cells compared with carbon blacks (CBs), which are similar in particle size but differ in surface and structural morphologies.

Culturally Acceptable Emotional Expressions Perceived by Non-U.S. Physicians Undergoing U.S.-Based Serious Illness Communication Skills Training: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Context: Responding to emotions is a key feature of U.S.-based serious illness communication skills training, VitalTalk, of which trained actors portraying seriously ill patients is a component.

Four-dimensional digital subtraction angiography for the vascular anatomical diagnosis of dural arteriovenous malformation: Comparison with the conventional method.

Background: Two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (2D-DSA) and conventional three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (3D-DSA) are used for the detailed analysis of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). Recently, four-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (4D-DSA), a novel technology, has been attracting attention. The current study aimed to evaluate the capability of 4D-DSA in assessing anatomical angioarchitecture in DAVF.

Enzyme sensor for simultaneous determination of cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol in serum.

A three-electrode lipid biosensor that simultaneously measures the total cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride (TG), and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) in standard serum has been developed. The lipid biosensor is designed for clinical use where production cost, low sample requirement, portability, stability, and speed are high priorities. The device design filters out blood cells and lipoproteins from the serum, where the target molecules are catalyzed by enzymes encapsulated in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to produce electron mediators, potassium ferrocyanide.

Future Prospects for Clinical Applications of Nanocarbons Focusing on Carbon Nanotubes.

Over the past 15 years, numerous studies have been conducted on the use of nanocarbons as biomaterials towards such applications as drug delivery systems, cancer therapy, and regenerative medicine. However, the clinical use of nanocarbons remains elusive, primarily due to short- and long-term safety concerns. It is essential that the biosafety of each therapeutic modality be demonstrated in logical and well-conducted experiments.

Polyamines produced by an extreme thermophile are essential for cell growth at high temperature.

An extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus grows at an optimum temperature of around 70°C and produces 16 different polyamines including long-chain and branched-chain polyamines. We found that the composition of polyamines in the thermophile cells changes with culture temperature. Long-chain and branched-chain polyamines (unusual polyamines) were increased in the cells grown at high temperature such as 80°C, but they were minor components in the cells grown at relatively lower temperature such as 60°C.

Palliative Care Consultation is Associated with Decreased Rates of In-Hospital Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Major Amputation.

Background: Despite advancements in medical care and surgical techniques, major amputation continues to be associated with risks for morbidity and mortality. Palliative care programs may help alleviate symptoms and align patients' goals and the care they receive with their treatment plan. Access to specialty palliative medicine among vascular surgery patients is limited.