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.

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.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide, affecting approximately 607 million people in 2021, with projections exceeding 1.1 billion by 2050. The knee is the most commonly affected joint and many patients experience inadequate symptom relief with conservative management or are not candidates for total knee arthroplasty. Periarticular arterial embolization, particularly genicular artery embolization (GAE), has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment targeting pathological neovascularization and synovial inflammation in OA pathogenesis. Objective: This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the use of periarticular embolization in the treatment of OA across multiple joints including the knee, hip, shoulder, hand and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted examining clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating periarticular artery embolization for OA treatment. Conclusion: Periarticular artery embolization represents a promising minimally invasive treatment option for patients with mild-to-moderate OA who have failed conservative therapy. It demonstrates high technical success rates (approaching 100%) with favourable safety profiles for knee OA, with emerging applications in other joints. However, standardized procedural protocols, long-term outcome data and multicenter randomized control trials are needed to definitively establish its role in OA treatment and optimize patient selection criteria.

Aim: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis may remain active into adulthood. This review aims to characterize patients with this condition in terms of quality of life, psychosocial well-being, and various comorbidities, especially those that have recently been described. Material and methods: Methods involved analyzing studies investigating the mentioned features: meta-analyses, reviews, and cohorts. Conclusions: Results show that quality of life and psychosocial well-being, occupational and social functioning, and, sometimes, cognitive functioning are decreased, while pain and fatigue are increased. In contrast, analyses of emotional health outcomes did not show a higher prevalence of depression or anxiety in adults with JIA. Half of young adults with JIA have active disease, and more than one-third suffer detectable degrees of disability and organ damage. Frequent complaints and conditions are: abdominal pain, TMJ pain, uveitis, and juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome. JIA may also affect BMI, inflammation, and pain of the joints, Growth disorders, overall dysregulation of the immune system, and a negative correlation between disease activity and vitamin D levels. Nevertheless, patients with JIA exhibit lower functional impairment and better quality of life compared to other rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathies. Understanding the lasting impact on health and life satisfaction among adult patients with JIA requires a comprehensive approach that accounts for the multifactorial aspects of the individual's experience with the disease.