A significant portion of women encounter vaginal infections at some point in their lives. These infections have many effects such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), severe disseminated infections, and complications affecting fetal health during pregnancy. Vaginal infections can be symptomatic or asymptomatic, thereby concealing their presence. This study aimed to determine the frequency and causative agents of vaginal infections in symptomatic and asymptomatic women in Konya. The study included 200 patients aged > 18 years who visited the gynecology clinic for any reason and provided informed consent. Patients who reported at least one of the symptoms of vaginal discharge, burning, or itching were categorized into the symptomatic group, while those without any of these complaints were categorized into the asymptomatic group. Vaginal swab samples collected from the patients were evaluated for bacterial vaginosis (BV) using the Nugent scoring method on Gram-stained smears. Trichomonas vaginalis was investigated through Giemsa-stained microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Samples were also cultured on routine media to analyze fungal and bacterial growth. A total of 74% of the patients were symptomatic, and 26% were asymptomatic and were admitted to the gynecology outpatient clinic for reasons other than vaginitis. According to the Nugent scoring system, BV was observed in 21.6% of the symptomatic group and 13.5% of the asymptomatic group. T. vaginalis was detected in only seven patients (3.5%) through microscopic examination and PCR. Among the patients with T. vaginalis, five were in the symptomatic group, and two were in the asymptomatic group. The rate of vaginal candidiasis was found to be 34.5% in the symptomatic group and 21.2% in the asymptomatic group. Aerobic vaginitis was observed in 12.8% of the symptomatic group and 7.7% of the asymptomatic group. The positivity rates for BV, vaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis in asymptomatic patients are concerning. Considering the fetal complications and chronic effects of vaginal infections, the decision to establish screening programs in the asymptomatic patient group should be based on national data, considering the prevalence of the pathogen in the region and its outcomes.

Objective The impression materials are contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms carried by saliva and blood in the mouth. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of 1 and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and zeta 7 solution, a commercial disinfectant, on alginate and to compare it washing with distilled water. Methods Samples obtained from alginate impressions taken from eight pediatric patients selected in accordance with the inclusion criteria with a size of 1 × 1 cm were subjected to five different disinfection protocols. After samples were vortexed in 3-mL physiological saline, 1-mL volume were inoculated onto brain heart infusion agar and cultured at 37°C for 72 hours to determine the number of colony-forming units/mL. Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans were used as control strains. The data obtained were statistically evaluated by using analysis of variance and post-hoc tests. The differences were considered statistically significant when p < 0.05. Results All of the disinfectant solutions tested were effective in the disinfection of the impression materials examined. The control group with no treatment and the water and flushing group had a significantly higher bacterial load compared to the other disinfectant-treated groups in terms of bacterial load, and no significant difference has been observed between the disinfectant solutions (p < 0.05). Simple rinsing of the impressions in sterile water reduced the number of microorganisms but did not decontaminate the impressions. Conclusion Washing with water alone is insufficient for measured disinfection. Although NaClO is an effective disinfectant even at low concentrations, microorganism growth was not observed at 5.25% concentration. It is appropriate to use NaClO at 1 and 5.25% concentrations for impression disinfection.

Modulations in microRNA (miRNA) expression can contribute to disease pathogenesis and biological processes by regulating target proteins. We aimed to compare serum miRNA levels (miR-19a-3p, miR-19b-3p, miR-21, miR-26a-5p, miR-146a, let-7b-3p, miR-155, miR-16, miR-590, miR-1307-3p) between COVID-19 patients and healthy controls to investigate their clinical significance and contribution to disease pathogenesis. Blood samples were obtained from 70 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and from 30 healthy individuals as a control group for comparison. The patients were stratified into three categories based on disease severity: mild, moderate, and severe. miRNA expression levels were quantified via real-time PCR, with relative quantification performed using the Livak ΔΔCT method by calculating the 2^(−ΔΔCT) fold change values. In patients with COVID-19, the expression levels of miR-1307-3p, miR-146, miR-26a-5p, miR-21, miR-19b-3p, and let-7b-3p demonstrated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). A non-significant downward trend of miR-16 was observed, with miRNA expression profiles exhibiting variability across the different patient groups. Considering host–virus interactions, we posit that miRNAs hold significant potential both as novel therapeutic targets and as pivotal regulators in deciphering the intricate pathogenesis of COVID-19. Comprehensive elucidation of disease pathogenesis requires the synergistic integration of in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches in conjunction with rigorous clinical investigations.