In silico and physico-chemical characterization of cluster formation dynamics in peptide solutions.

Although antimicrobial peptides are considered one of the most promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics given the alarming increase in bacterial multidrug resistance, many aspects of their mechanism of action remain unclear, in particular the emergence and role of collective phenomena such as the spontaneous formation of nano-sized unstructured objects (clusters) and their effects on the biodynamics. We study this process using two novel peptides from the mucus of the garden snail as an example to reveal its dynamics and bioactivity implications through coordinated in silico and in vitro techniques - molecular dynamics simulations, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, and antibacterial activity tests against two representative bacterial strains - one gram-negative ( 3458) and one gram-positive (). The results obtained confirm the impact of the aggregation processes of the peptides on their biological activity and provide insight into possible synergies in their action.

Patient-centred stoma care support: urostomy patients.

Urostomy patients are rare as only about 5% of ostomates have urostomies. This can prove challenging because many healthcare professionals do not have experience caring for these patients and may be unfamiliar with their specific needs. As with other ostomates, urostomy patients require specialist nurses with the expertise to provide long-term support.

Gastrointestinal symptoms related to COVID-19 in ileoanal pouch and stoma patients.

COVID-19 symptoms are often perceived as respiratory only. However, recent findings have shown that gastrointestinal symptoms are being reported in a significant number of patients, ranging from 17% to more than 50%, with some studies speculating that the figure may be even higher, but that it is under-reported and overlooked. Therefore, a hypothesis was put forward that gastrointestinal symptoms related to COVID-19 may make pouch or stoma function deteriorate or even mimic pouchitis symptoms in ileoanal pouches and gastroenteritis in stoma patients; the intention was to investigate this further and to test the hypothesis.

Sublingual microcirculatory assessment on admission independently predicts the outcome of old intensive care patients suffering from shock.

Shock is a life-threatening condition. This study evaluated if sublingual microcirculatory perfusion on admission is associated with 30-day mortality in older intensive care unit (ICU) shock patients. This trial prospectively recruited ICU patients (≥ 80 years old) with arterial lactate above 2 mmol/L, requiring vasopressors despite adequate fluid resuscitation, regardless of shock cause.

Patient-centred stoma care support: colostomy patients.

Colostomy patients have distinct needs that require specialised pathways for optimal care. Recognising that these needs vary, based on the type and configuration of the stoma, is crucial. Specialist nurses play a vital role in providing long-term support and expertise.