In orthopedics, bone fixation imposes the use of implants in almost all cases. Over time, the materials used for the implant have evolved from inert materials to those that mimic the morphology of the bone. Therefore, bioabsorbable, biocompatible, and bioactive materials have emerged. Our study aimed to review the main types of implant materials used in orthopedics and present their advantages and drawbacks. We have searched for the pros and cons of the various types of material in the literature from over the last twenty years. The studied data show that consecrated metal alloys, still widely used, can be successfully replaced by new types of polymers. The data from the literature show that, by manipulating their composition, the polymeric compounds can simulate the structure of the different layers of human bone, while preserving its mechanical characteristics. In addition, manipulation of the polymer composition can provide the initiation of desired cellular responses. Among the implanting materials, polyurethane is distinguished as the most versatile polymeric material for use both as orthopedic implants and as material for biomechanical testing of various bone reduction and fixation techniques.

Zilebesiran represents an innovative antihypertensive therapy employing small interfering RNA (siRNA) to inhibit hepatic angiotensinogen, a key regulator of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system. By directly targeting the source of angiotensin II production, zilebesiran offers a novel mechanism distinct from conventional antihypertensive treatments. In the clinical studies KARDIA-1 and KARDIA-2, zilebesiran demonstrated clinically significant reductions in systolic blood pressure, with effects lasting up to 24 weeks after a single subcutaneous injection. In KARDIA-1, doses of 300 mg and 600 mg administered every 6 months resulted in reductions of over 15 mmHg in systolic blood pressure at 3 months compared with placebo. KARDIA-2 further showed an additional reduction of up to 12.1 mmHg at 3 months when zilebesiran was used as an adjunct to standard antihypertensive therapy. KARDIA-3 is currently evaluating the therapy in a larger global population to assess its impact on major cardiovascular outcomes. Zilebesiran has demonstrated a favorable safety profile with minimal adverse events, offering potential advantages for patients with resistant or uncontrolled hypertension and those at high cardiovascular risk, especially where adherence to daily oral medications is challenging. Beyond blood pressure reduction, zilebesiran may protect target organs, including the heart, kidneys, and retina. In conclusion, zilebesiran represents a promising siRNA-based therapy that may redefine the management of difficult-to-control hypertension, offering durable, targeted, and patient-friendly treatment with broad cardiovascular benefits. Future studies will clarify its long-term safety, efficacy across diverse populations, and integration into personalized hypertension management strategies.

Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide, with current therapies such as intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy benefiting only a limited proportion of patients. Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to secondary brain injury, creating a strong rationale for adjunctive therapies targeting immune modulation. Fingolimod, a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulator originally approved for multiple sclerosis, has shown promising effects in both preclinical and early clinical studies of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We conducted a structured narrative review of preclinical and clinical studies published between 2015 and 2024, using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria were original studies evaluating fingolimod in ischemic stroke models or human patients, either as monotherapy or in combination with reperfusion therapies. Exclusion criteria included conference abstracts without peer review, studies lacking mechanistic insight, and non-English publications. Results: Preclinical evidence demonstrates that fingolimod reduces infarct size, preserves blood–brain barrier integrity, and modulates neuroinflammation through multiple mechanisms, including T cell sequestration, microglial polarization, and mitochondrial protection. Clinical trials, though limited in size, suggest improved short- and long-term outcomes when fingolimod is used in combination with intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular therapy, with a manageable safety profile. Novel nanotechnology-based delivery systems further enhance central nervous system (CNS) targeting and reduce systemic side effects. Conclusions: Fingolimod represents a promising multi-targeted adjunctive strategy for ischemic stroke, acting at the intersection of immune modulation, vascular protection, and neuroprotection. While current findings are encouraging, larger randomized controlled trials and biomarker-driven patient selection are needed to validate its clinical utility. This review highlights the translational potential of fingolimod and outlines key directions for future research.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period represent a condition characterized by a thrombotic predisposition. The majority of pregnant women do not face acute or severe thrombotic events. In general, mild inconveniences such as leg swelling or moderately painful thrombotic events (phlebitis) are encountered. However, when pregnancy is associated with inherited or acquired deficits that affect homeostasis, the risk of acute or even life-threatening events can increase significantly. The major consequence is the loss of the fetus or the venous thromboembolism that endangers the mother’s life. Venous thromboembolism is caused by deep vein thrombosis, therefore timely detection and especially the assessment of the extent of the thrombotic event are crucial. In this paper we have summarized the most important paraclinical investigations. The study emphasizes the importance of selecting the methods of investigation. The right choice allows establishing a correct diagnosis and individualizing the treatment.

Background: The clinical–radiological paradox in multiple sclerosis (MS) underscores the need for biomarkers that better reflect neurodegenerative pathology. Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a dynamic marker of neuroaxonal injury, while brain volumetry provides structural assessment of disease impact. However, the precise link between sNfL and regional atrophy patterns, as well as their combined utility for patient stratification and prediction, remains underexplored. Objective: This study aimed to establish a multimodal biomarker framework by integrating sNfL with comprehensive volumetric MRI to define neurodegenerative endophenotypes and predict neuroaxonal injury using Bayesian inference and machine learning. Methods: In a cohort of 57 MS patients, sNfL levels were measured using single-molecule array (Simoa) technology. Brain volumes for 42 regions were quantified via automated deep learning segmentation (mdbrain software). We employed (1) Bayesian correlation to quantify evidence for sNfL–volumetric associations; (2) mediation analysis to test whether grey matter atrophy mediates the EDSS–sNfL (Expanded Disability Status Scale) relationship; (3) unsupervised K-means clustering to identify patient subtypes based on combined sNfL–volumetric profiles; and (4) supervised machine learning (Elastic Net and Random Forest regression) to predict sNfL from volumetric features. Results: Bayesian analysis revealed strong evidence linking sNfL to total grey matter volume (r = −0.449, BF₁₀ = 0.022) and lateral ventricular volume (r = 0.349, BF₁₀ = 0.285). Mediation confirmed that grey matter atrophy significantly mediates the relationship between EDSS and sNfL (indirect effect = 0.45, 95% CI [0.20, 0.75]). Unsupervised clustering identified three distinct endophenotypes: “High Neurodegeneration” (elevated sNfL, severe atrophy, high disability), “Moderate Injury,” and “Benign Volumetry” (low sNfL, preserved volumes, mild disability). Supervised models predicted sNfL with high accuracy (R² = 0.65), identifying total grey matter volume, ventricular volume, and age as top predictors. Conclusions: This integrative multi-method analysis demonstrates that sNfL is robustly associated with global grey matter and ventricular volumes, and that these measures define clinically meaningful neurodegenerative subtypes in MS. Machine learning confirms that a concise set of volumetric features can effectively predict neuroaxonal injury. These findings advance a pathobiology-driven subtyping framework and provide a validated model for using routine MRI volumetry to assess neuroaxonal health, with implications for prognosis and personalised therapeutic strategies.

Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) was proposed in 2014 as a clinical category to subgroup non-lacunar cryptogenic ischemic strokes that appear embolic but lack an identifiable cause despite thorough investigation. The initial hypothesis was that anticoagulation might offer superior secondary prevention compared to antiplatelet therapy, prompting several large clinical trials. This review synthesizes current knowledge on ESUS. ESUS represents about 17% of ischemic strokes and often affects younger patients with fewer traditional risk factors. Although these patients lack major cardioembolic sources (e.g., atrial fibrillation) or significant arterial stenosis, many have covert embolic substrates. Major trials—NAVIGATE ESUS, RE-SPECT ESUS, and the atrial cardiopathy-focused ARCADIA—found no benefit of anticoagulants over aspirin, challenging the original ESUS framework. These results highlight the heterogeneity within ESUS and underscore the need for individualized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.