Plastic overconsumption has emerged as a major environmental pollutant, with degraded micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) particles being consumed by a vast variety of species. MNPs, particles < 5 mm, contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can bind to hormone receptors and disrupt the proper endocrinological function of a variety of organs. This review explores the toxicological impact of MNPs on the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid, pineal body, ovaries, and testes, as well as the effects of the endocrinological regulatory axes, including the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG), hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT), and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axes. The disruption of these hormonal feedback systems leads to reproductive dysfunction, neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and metabolic disorders. The gonads are particularly susceptible, with studies demonstrating oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis, and infertility due to MNP exposure. Given the widespread presence of MNPs and their impact on human health, further research is critical to understand their long-term effects and develop strategies to reduce exposure.

Endometriosis, a chronic estrogen-dependent disease, is associated with a risk of developing gynecological cancers. The mechanisms of this association remain unclear, but emerging evidence implicates key signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ARID1A alterations, in malignant transformation. This article examines current reports on the association between endometriosis and cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers, with particular emphasis on diagnostic challenges and molecular mechanisms. Imaging methods such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography (CT) are used for diagnosis, as well as biomarkers such as Cancer Antigen-125 (CA-125) and Human Epididymal protein 4 (HE4), but their specificity is limited, motivating research into novel molecular and non-invasive diagnostics. Laparoscopy is an invasive diagnostic method, serving as the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis. We discuss personalized clinical strategies, including risk-based surveillance for patients with atypical lesions or ARID1A alterations, and implications for ovarian cancer management in endometriosis. Prospective cohort studies will be necessary to further understand the complex mechanisms of endometriosis’s malignant transformation. Optimizing therapy and improving quality of life require a holistic, individualized approach to patient care. This review provides an integrated synthesis of epidemiological and molecular evidence, highlighting both established and emerging targets for diagnosis and treatment in endometriosis-associated malignancies.

Molecular imaging and precision therapies are transforming ophthalmology, enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment of sight-threatening diseases. This review focuses on age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and uveitis, examining high-resolution imaging techniques such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, MALDI-MSI, and spatial transcriptomics. Artificial intelligence supports these methods by improving image interpretation and enabling personalized analysis. The review also discusses therapeutic advances, including gene therapies (e.g., AAV-mediated RPE65 delivery), stem cell-based regenerative approaches, and biologics targeting inflammatory and neovascular processes. Targeted molecular therapies targeting specific signaling pathways, such as MAPK, are also explored. The combination of single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, and machine learning facilitates the development of personalized treatment strategies. Although these technologies hold enormous potential, their implementation in routine clinical care requires further validation, regulatory approval, and long-term safety assessment. This review highlights the potential and challenges of integrating molecular imaging and advanced therapies in the future of precision ophthalmic medicine.

The widespread presence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in food, their increasing detection in human tissues, and growing evidence of dietary exposure have raised concerns regarding their potential impact on human health. Although the carcinogenic potential of MNPs has not yet been established in human populations, mechanistic studies have identified effects on biological pathways relevant to carcinogenesis. This review summarizes current knowledge on dietary and systemic exposure to MNPs and evaluates the strength and limitations of the evidence linking MNP exposure with gastrointestinal carcinogenesis, with particular emphasis on colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent studies have demonstrated the presence and accumulation of microplastics in human tissues, including colorectal tumor samples, indicating internal exposure but not establishing a causal relationship between MNP exposure and tumor development. Experimental studies indicate that MNPs may promote oxidative stress (OS), DNA damage, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic alterations, and disruption of gut microbiota homeostasis, all of which are biological processes implicated in carcinogenesis. The biological effects of MNP appear to depend on their physicochemical characteristics, including particle size, polymer composition, surface properties, and associated chemical contaminants. The integration of exposure data with mechanistic evidence supports the biological plausibility of MNP-associated effects relevant to gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. However, much of the current evidence relies on in vitro and animal models using exposure conditions that may not fully reflect chronic, environmentally relevant human exposure. Crucially, major knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding human epidemiological evidence, long-term exposure assessment, analytical limitations, and evidence for causality. Future research should focus on standardized analytical approaches, longitudinal studies, physiologically relevant exposure models, and an improved understanding of how specific MNP characteristics influence molecular pathways associated with carcinogenesis.

Introduction and objective: COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV 2 is a still serious danger. The disease which triggered off the COVID-19 pandemic and one of the biggest health crises in many years, began in the city of Wuhan, China, in 2019. The aimof this review is to distinguish most of the specific...