Astodrimer Sodium Nasal Spray versus Placebo in Non-Hospitalised Patients with COVID-19: A Randomised, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background/objectives: Dendrimer-based astodrimer sodium nasal spray was assessed for its ability to reduce SARS-CoV-2 load in outpatients with COVID-19, which remains a severe illness for vulnerable groups.

Methods: This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical investigation evaluating the efficacy of astodrimer nasal spray in reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral burden in the nasopharynx of outpatients with COVID-19. Non-hospitalised adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection were randomised 1:1 to astodrimer or placebo four times daily from Day 1 to Day 7.

The experience of healthcare professionals implementing recovery-oriented practice in mental health inpatient units: A qualitative evidence synthesis.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The principles of personal recovery are primarily applied in outpatient and community settings as these settings provide continuity of care and recovery-based community programs supporting consumers' recovery journey. A range of healthcare professionals are involved in the care of people within mental health in-patient units, including nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers. The integration of recovery-oriented care in mental health inpatient units may be impaired by a lack of confidence among mental health professionals.

Why do nurses seek employment in forensic mental health and what are their first impressions of the clinical environment? A mixed methods study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate why registered nurses seek forensic mental health employment and explore their initial impressions of this setting.

Design: Explanatory sequential mixed methods.

Methods: Registered nurses employed in a forensic mental health hospital completed an online survey about their reasons for seeking work in forensic mental health and their transition into the setting.

The experience of nurses moving into forensic mental health employment: A qualitative study.

While forensic mental health has seen considerable growth over the last two decades, little is known about the experience of registered nurses working in these environments. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach and interviewed 11 registered nurses to explore the interpersonal experiences of transition into a forensic mental health hospital. The data revealed three themes.

Qualitatively exploring the attributes of adaptability and resilience amongst recently graduated nurses.

Aim: To explore newly graduated nurse's understandings and practices of adaptability and resilience in clinical environments.

Background: The everyday practice of nursing work involves managing emotional and practical everyday demands related to the role. Adaptability and resilience are two critical attributes that equip nurses for this by enabling them to manage challenges and be flexible with their practices and expectations in the face of rapidly changing and unpredictable circumstances.

Astodrimer sodium antiviral nasal spray for reducing respiratory infections is safe and well tolerated in a randomized controlled trial.

Astodrimer sodium is a dendrimer molecule with antiviral and virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in vitro, and has previously been shown to be safe and well tolerated, and not systemically absorbed, when applied to the vaginal mucosa. To investigate its potential utility as a topical antiviral, astodrimer sodium has been reformulated for application to the nasal mucosa to help reduce viral load before or after exposure to respiratory infection. The current investigation assessed the safety, tolerability and absorption of astodrimer sodium 1% antiviral nasal spray.

Forensic Mental Health Nurses' Experiences of Clinical Supervision.

Background: Clinical supervision may support forensic mental health nurses with personal and professional growth in a work environment characterized by therapeutic, ethical, and practical challenges.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of forensic mental health nurses participating in a clinical supervision program.

Methods: Seven forensic mental health nurses and two allied health professionals, working in a high-security forensic mental health hospital, were interviewed regarding their experiences of participating in a clinical supervision program.

A phase 3, randomized, controlled trial of Astodrimer 1% Gel for preventing recurrent bacterial vaginosis.

Objective: The objective of the study was to confirm the efficacy and safety of Astodrimer 1% Gel to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.

Study Design: 864 women with a diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis and a history of recurrent bacterial vaginosis were enrolled in North America and first received oral metronidazole (500 mg twice daily for 7 days). Women successfully treated with metronidazole were randomly assigned 1:1 to Astodrimer 1% Gel (N = 295) or placebo (N = 291) at a dose of 5 g vaginally every second day for 16 weeks, and followed for a further 12 weeks off-treatment.

A phase 2, double-blind, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose‑ranging study of the efficacy and safety of Astodrimer Gel for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

Background: Astodrimer Gel contains a novel dendrimer intended to treat and prevent bacterial vaginosis. We assessed the efficacy and safety of Astodrimer Gel for treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

Methods: 132 women with bacterial vaginosis were randomized 1:1:1:1 to Astodrimer 0.

Trauma-informed care for people presenting to the emergency department with mental health issues.

There is a high prevalence of exposure to traumatic events in childhood among people who have mental health issues. Presentation to the emergency department (ED) can be challenging for these patients because the environment and their experience of care can trigger traumatic memories. Trauma-informed care is an approach to practice that is guided by knowledge of how trauma affects people's lives and their healthcare needs.

Two phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of the efficacy and safety of Astodrimer 1% Gel for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

Objective: Astodrimer is a dendrimer formulated in a vaginal gel to treat bacterial vaginosis (BV) and prevent recurrence. The objective of these studies was to confirm the efficacy and safety of Astodrimer 1 % Gel for treatment of BV.

Study Design: Women with bacterial vaginosis were randomized 1:1 to Astodrimer 1 % Gel (Study 1 conducted in the United States, N = 127; Study 2 conducted in the United States, Germany and Belgium, N = 128) or placebo gel (Study 1, N = 123; Study 2, N = 123) at a dose of 5 g vaginally once daily for 7 days.

Incidence of Vicarious Trauma in Correctional Health and Forensic Mental Health Staff in New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Correctional health and forensic mental health (FMH) staff may experience vicarious trauma (VT) as a result of cumulative and repeated exposure to traumatic material in their professional roles.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the incidence of VT in a sample of correctional health and FMH staff.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey including 135 correctional health and FMH staff participating in a VT management program was conducted.

Transitioning into new clinical areas of practice: An integrative review of the literature.

Aims And Objectives: To critically synthesise research related to the transition of registered nurses into new areas of clinical practice.

Background: Global workforce shortages and rising healthcare demands have encouraged registered nurses to move into new clinical settings. While a body of literature reports on the transition of newly qualified nurses, evidence surrounding the transition of more experienced registered nurses to new clinical areas remains poorly explored.

Social and psychosocial factors associated with high-risk sexual behaviour among university students in the United Kingdom: a web-survey.

In the UK there are limited data about university students' risky sexual behaviour. A cross-sectional web-survey was conducted to investigate factors associated with high-risk sex among students at two UK universities. High-risk sex was reported by 25% of 1108.

Three phase III randomized controlled trials of topical resiquimod 0.01-percent gel to reduce anogenital herpes recurrences.

Resiquimod, a Toll-like receptor 7 and 8 agonist, stimulates production of cytokines that promote an antigen-specific T helper type 1 acquired immune response. Animal and phase II human trials showed posttreatment efficacy in reducing recurrent herpes lesion days and/or time to first recurrence. Three phase III randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials of topical resiquimod to reduce anogenital herpes recurrences were conducted in healthy adults with ≥4 recurrences within the prior year.

Repeat infection with gonorrhoea in Sheffield, UK: predictable and preventable?

Background: Repeat infection with gonorrhoea may contribute significantly to infection persistence and health service workload. The authors investigated whether repeat infection is associated with particular subgroups who may benefit from tailored interventions.

Methods: Data on gonorrhoea diagnoses between 2004 and 2008 were obtained from Sheffield sexually transmitted infection clinic.

Mollaret's meningitis and herpes simplex virus type 2 infections.

Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis is a rare disorder described by Mollaret in 1944. When initially described, this form of aseptic meningitis had no identifiable infecting agent. New sophisticated diagnostic tools have now identified herpes simplex type 2 virus as the most commonly isolated agent.

The impact of genital warts: loss of quality of life and cost of treatment in eight sexual health clinics in the UK.

Objectives: To estimate the loss of quality of life and cost of treatment associated with genital warts seen in sexual health clinics.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study and case note review of individuals with genital warts, carried out in eight sexual health clinics in England and Northern Ireland. Individuals with genital warts attending the participating clinics were invited to take part in the questionnaire study.

Cost-effectiveness of early treatment with first-line NNRTI-based HAART regimens in the UK, 1996-2006.

Aim: Calculate time to first-line treatment failure, annual cost and cost-effectiveness of NNRTI versus PIboosted first-line HAART regimens in the UK, 1996-2006.

Background: Population costs for HIV services are increasing in the UK and interventions need to be effective and efficient to reduce or stabilize costs. 2NRTIs + NNRTI regimens are cost-effective regimens for first-line HAART, but these regimens have not been compared with first-line PI(boosted) regimens.

The views of genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic users on unlinked anonymous testing for HIV: evidence from a pilot study of clinics in two English cities.

A study was undertaken of the views of users of two genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England on unlinked anonymous testing (UAT) for HIV. The UAT programme measures the prevalence of HIV in the population, including undiagnosed prevalence, by testing residual blood (from samples taken for clinical purposes) which is anonymised and irreversibly unlinked from the source. 424 clinic users completed an anonymous questionnaire about their knowledge of, and attitudes towards, UAT.

Rising population cost for treating people living with HIV in the UK, 1997-2013.

Background: The number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) is increasing in the UK. This study estimated the annual population cost of providing HIV services in the UK, 1997-2006 and projected them 2007-2013.

Methods: Annual cost of HIV treatment for PLHIV by stage of HIV infection and type of ART was calculated (UK pounds, 2006 prices).

Cost-effectiveness of screening high-risk HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) and HIV-positive women for anal cancer.

Background: Anal cancer is uncommon and predominantly a disease of the elderly. The human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated as a causal agent, and HPV infection is usually transmitted sexually. Individuals who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive are particularly vulnerable to HPV infections, and increasing numbers from this population present with anal cancer.

Nodular herpes simplex virus-1-positive oral lesions as a manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

We describe a case of nodular oral herpes simplex virus-1-positive lesions consistent with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in a patient recently commenced on treatment for tuberculosis and HIV co-infection.

Mannose-binding lectin is present in human semen and modulates cellular adhesion of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vitro.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an innate immune molecule present in blood and some mucosal tissues, which can influence microbial attachment and inflammatory responses of host cells during infection. In this study MBL was found to be present at a low concentration in semen samples in the range 1.2-24.