Despite the advantages presented by synthetic polymers such as strength and durability, the lack of biodegradability associated with the persistence in the environment for a long time turned the attention of researchers to natural polymers. Being biodegradable, biopolymers proved to be extremely beneficial to the environment. At present, they represent an important class of materials with applications in all economic sectors, but also in medicine. They find applications as absorbers, cosmetics, controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, etc. Chitosan is one of the natural polymers which raised a strong interest for researchers due to some exceptional properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, non-antigenicity, low-cost and numerous pharmacological properties as antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidant, antidiabetic, immunoenhancing. In addition to this, the free amino and hydroxyl groups make it susceptible to a series of structural modulations, obtaining some derivatives with different biomedical applications. This review approaches the physico-chemical and pharmacological properties of chitosan and its derivatives, focusing on the antimicrobial potential including mechanism of action, factors that influence the antimicrobial activity and the activity against resistant strains, topics of great interest in the context of the concern raised by the available therapeutic options for infections, especially with resistant strains.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that, untreated or poorly controlled, can lead to serious complications, reducing life expectancy and quality. Diabetic patients are more likely to develop infections, including many common infections, but also pathognomonic ones such as emphysematous pyelonephritis, malignant otitis externa, mucormycosis and Fournier’s gangrene. Considering the fact that diabetic patients experience more frequently urinary tract infections (UTIs) with a worse prognosis than non-diabetic people, we conducted a review study based on data in the literature, following the particularities of UTIs in this group of patients, the risk factors, the mechanisms involved and the challenges in their management. The findings highlight that UTI in diabetic patients have some particularities, including a more frequent evolution to bacteremia, increased hospitalizations, and elevated rates of recurrence and mortality than non-diabetic patients. The possible risk factors identified seem to be female gender, pregnancy, older age, UTI in the previous six months, poor glycemic control and duration of diabetes. The mechanisms involved are related to glucosuria and bladder dysfunction, factors related to bacterial strains and host response. The bacterial strains involved in UTIs in diabetic patients and their antibiotic susceptibility profile are, with some exceptions, similar to those in non-diabetic people; however, the antimicrobial agents should be carefully chosen and the duration of the treatment should be as those required for a complicated UTI. The data related to the risk of developing UTIs in patients treated with SGLT-2 inhibitors, a new class of oral hypoglycaemic agents with cardiovascular and renal benefits, are controversial; overall, it was evidenced that UTIs occurred at the initiation of the treatment, recurrent infection was uncommon and the majority of UTIs responded to treatment with standard antibiotics. Moreover, interruption or discontinuation of SGLT-2 inhibitor as a result of UTI was rare and SGLT-2 inhibitors did not increase the risk of severe infections such as urosepsis and pyelonephritis.

Pesticides play an essential role in modern agriculture, yet increasing evidence links their widespread use to neurotoxic effects that contribute to both neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. In recent years, new classes of pesticides such as neonicotinoids and pyrethroids have garnered attention due to their potential to disrupt neurodevelopment, even at low exposure levels. Furthermore, emerging evidence underscores the involvement of the gut–brain axis, neuroinflammation, and epigenetic modulation in pesticide-induced neuropathology. This review aims to synthesize these latest advancements while highlighting underexplored mechanisms, thereby offering a comprehensive and current perspective on pesticide-related neurotoxicity. Data from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) indicate that several food products include residues of pesticides recognized for their neurotoxic properties. Although environmental exposure levels are lower than those in occupational contexts, the magnitude and persistence of food-based exposure demand thorough evaluation. This review integrates evidence coming from epidemiological, in vivo and in vitro investigations, emphasizing the correlations between pesticide exposure and conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cognitive deficits in children. Neurodevelopmental toxicity is especially alarming since symptoms may manifest subtly and with a delayed onset after early-life exposure, indicating the significant neurotoxic potential of pesticide residues and emphasizing the need for their careful evaluation in food safety assessments. Improved regulatory procedures and public health efforts are essential to reducing long-term brain damage.

Wound healing is a complex, tightly regulated process essential for maintaining skin barrier function. Chronic wounds, often complicated by biofilm-forming bacteria and elevated oxidative stress, pose significant challenges in clinical management. The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has further exacerbated the problem, limiting therapeutic options and complicating wound treatment. Traditional wound care approaches frequently fail to provide real-time accurate insights into wound status, leading to delayed or suboptimal treatments. Recent advancements in modern and smart wound dressings, which integrate various biosensors, different new drug delivery systems, and wireless communication technology, offers promising solutions for monitoring wound progression over time. These innovations enable early detection of adverse events such as bacterial infections and inflammation, facilitating more effective, on-demand treatment. This review highlights the current state of antibiotic-embedded wound dressings, discusses their limitations, and explores the potential of next-generation wound dressings incorporating microelectronic sensors for real-time monitoring and adaptive therapeutic responses to support healing and combat antimicrobial resistance.

The increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is essential for moving towards a healthier and more sustainable diet. Vegetarian diets are gaining in popularity due to their environmental and health implications; however, there is a need for additional research investigating pesticide residues in these foods. It is increasingly recognized that the global food system must prioritize nutritional quality, health, and environmental impact over quantity. Food contaminants, including pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metals, pose a substantial threat to food safety due to their persistent nature and harmful effects. We conducted a literature search utilizing four distinct databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, NIH, ScienceDirect) and several combinations of keywords (pesticides, food, vegetarian diet, toxicity, sustainable, removal). Consequently, we selected recent and relevant studies for the proposed topic. We have incorporated articles that discuss pesticide residues in food items, particularly in plant-based products. This study rigorously analyzes the harmful environmental impacts of pesticides and ultimately provides sustainable solutions for their elimination or reduction, along with environmentally sound alternatives to pesticide use. This study concludes that the transition towards sustainable agriculture and food production is essential for reducing pesticide residues in food, thereby protecting human health, wildlife populations, and the environment. This paper argues for the urgent need to transform global food systems to prioritize health and sustainability.

Diabetes mellitus has become a major public health problem due to aspects such as an alarming increase in prevalence, the morbidity and mortality associated with its complications and, not least, the economic burden. SGLT2 inhibitors are a relatively new but valuable class of drugs that demonstrated multifaceted effects in addition to hypoglycemic action. Moreover, these drugs demonstrated cardiovascular and renal benefits, even in individuals without diabetes, being recommended by current guidelines to patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, or at high risk for it, as well as to patients with chronic kidney disease. The prescription of this class of drugs is limited by the risk of urogenital infections, despite their multiple demonstrated benefits. Data regarding the prevalence of SGLT2 inhibitors associated with urogenital infections depend on several factors related to the study carried out and to other additional conditions that could precipitate such infections. While SGLT2 inhibitors have a well-established association with the risk of genital infections, the association with urinary tract infections remains controversial and uncertain. This review will be focused on urogenital infections associated with the administration of SGLT2 inhibitors, highlighting their prevalence, risk factors, mechanisms involved, clinical relevance and particularities of management.