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Introduction: Treatment of municipal wastewater is essential to remove bacteria. This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for the removal of bacteria and using for irrigation or discharge in the Caspian Sea according to the World Health Organization (WHO) regulations. Materials and Methods: A total of 105 samples were collected from 7 stations, including the inlet and the outlet of the WWTP in Bandargaz City (Iran), the intersection point of wastewater effluent with Caspian Sea (Gorgan Bay), and a radius of 200 meters in three directions east, west, and north of the intersection point of wastewater in Gorgan Bay. The multiple-tube fermentation technique was used to enumerate bacteria, and results were expressed as the Most Probable Number (MPN) per 100 ml. Results: Bacteriological analysis exhibited that the concentration of total coliform, fecal coliform, fecal streptococci, and Clostridium perfringens were 1.38 ×1010, 5.57 × 107, 5.53 × 109, 1.26 × 109 in inlet, and 1.38 × 1010 , 5.57 × 107, 5.53 × 109 , 1.26 × 109 in outlet of WWTP, respectively. Conclusion: The aeration lagoon has a low performance in bacteria population removal, which may be due to the climate condition of this region (few sunny days and many cloudy and rainy days). This effluent was not generally acceptable for discharge in the environment and reuse. Therefore, it is essential to modify the disinfection process to keep the concentration of bacteria under control. Additionally, continuous monitoring is necessary to control the quality of wastewater before discharge into the environment or reuse.

Abstract Dental infections, such as apical Periodontitis, periodontitis, and peri-implantitis (PI), are closely associated with specific bacterial species, including Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), among others. Antibiotics are extensively utilized for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes in the treatment of dental infections and other dental-related issues. Unfortunately, the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance has accompanied the increased use of antibiotics in recent years. Specific bacterial pathogens have reached a critical stage of antibiotic resistance, characterized by the proliferation of pan-resistant strains and the scarcity of viable therapeutic alternatives. Therapeutic use of particular bacteriophage (phage) particles that target bacterial pathogens is one potential alternative to antibiotics that are now being seriously considered for treating bacterial illnesses. A kind of virus known as a phage is capable of infecting and eliminating bacteria. Because they can’t infect cells in plants and animals, phages might be a harmless substitute for antibiotics. To control oral disorders including periodontitis and dental caries, several research have been conducted in this area to study and identify phages from human saliva and dental plaque. The capacity of these agents to disturb biofilms expands their effectiveness against dental plaque biofilms and oral pathogens in cases of periodontitis, PI, and apical periodontitis. This review summarizes the current antibacterial properties of phages used to treat a variety of dental infections, such as periodontitis, peri-implantitis, infected dentin, and apical periodontitis. Graphical Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to assess the severity and outcomes of COVID-19 in pregnant women, focusing on laboratory and radiological discrepancies between pregnant women and matched nonpregnant women. In this retrospective cross-sectional analysis, we matched 107 nonpregnant women with 66 pregnant women in terms of age, comorbidities, and the interval between symptom onset and hospital admission. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were collected, and chest CT scans were evaluated using a severity scale ranging from 0 to 5. Logistic regression and adjusted Cox regression models were used to assess the impact of various factors on pregnancy status and mortality rates. Differences in several laboratory parameters, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, liver aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, urea, triglycerides, cholesterol, HbA1c, ferritin, coagulation profiles, and blood gases, were detected. Radiologic exams revealed that nonpregnant women had sharper opacities, whereas pregnant women presented with hazy opacities and signs of crypt-organizing pneumonia. A notable difference was also observed in the pulmonary artery diameter. The mortality rate among pregnant women was 4.62%, which was comparable to the 5.61% reported in nonpregnant patients. Compared with nonpregnant patients, pregnancy did not significantly affect the severity or mortality of COVID-19. Our study revealed discernible differences in specific laboratory and imaging markers between pregnant and nonpregnant COVID-19 patients.

Abstract Several studies suggest that oral pathogenic biofilms cause persistent oral infections. Among these is periodontitis, a prevalent condition brought on by plaque biofilm. It can even result in tooth loss. Furthermore, the accumulation of germs around a dental implant may lead to peri-implantitis, which damages the surrounding bone and gum tissue. Furthermore, bacterial biofilm contamination on the implant causes soft tissue irritation and adjacent bone resorption, severely compromising dental health. On decontaminated implant surfaces, however, re-osseointegration cannot be induced by standard biofilm removal techniques such as mechanical cleaning and antiseptic treatment. A family of nanoparticles known as nanozymes (NZs) comprise highly catalytically active multivalent metal components. The most often employed NZs with antibacterial activity are those that have peroxidase (POD) activity, among other types of NZs. Since NZs are less expensive, more easily produced, and more stable than natural enzymes, they hold great promise for use in various applications, including treating microbial infections. NZs have significantly contributed to studying implant success rates and periodontal health maintenance in periodontics and implantology. An extensive analysis of the research on various NZs and their applications in managing oral health conditions, including dental caries, dental pulp disorders, oral ulcers, peri-implantitis, and bacterial infections of the mouth. To combat bacteria, this review concentrates on NZs that imitate the activity of enzymes in implantology and periodontology. With a view to the future, there are several ways that NZs might be used to treat dental disorders antibacterially. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition caused by bacteria, often causes gradual destruction of the components that support teeth, such as the alveolar bone, cementum, periodontal ligament, and gingiva. This ultimately results in teeth becoming loose and eventually falling out. Timely identification has a crucial role in preventing and controlling its progression. Clinical measures are used to diagnose periodontitis. However, now, there is a hunt for alternative diagnostic and monitoring methods due to the progress of technology. Various biomarkers have been assessed using multiple bodily fluids as sample sources. Furthermore, conventional periodontal categorization factors do not provide significant insights into the present disease activity, severity and amount of tissue damage, future development, and responsiveness to treatment. In recent times, there has been a growing utilization of nanoparticle (NP)-based detection strategies to create quick and efficient detection assays. Every single one of these platforms leverages the distinct characteristics of NPs to identify periodontitis. Plasmonic NPs include metal NPs, quantum dots (QDs), carbon base NPs, and nanozymes, exceptionally potent light absorbers and scatterers. These find application in labeling, surface-enhanced spectroscopy, and color-changing sensors. Fluorescent NPs function as photostable and sensitive instruments capable of labeling various biological targets. This article presents a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in the effective utilization of various NPs to detect periodontitis. Graphical Abstract