Search Results (20,643)

Background: Pharmacological treatment under conditions of slow fibrinolysis/thrombolysis requires the targeted delivery of plasminogen-activating activity. Echogenic liposomal formulations (regular TELIP) of single-chain tissue plasminogen activator (sctPA), while possessing high affinity to fibrin, contain free/loosely bound sctPA. We hypothesized that removal of free sctPA, which competes with liposomes and plasmin for fibrin, enhances unique features of the TELIP. Methods: Optimized and regular TELIP were assessed for the distribution of active sctPA (loosely bound, tightly bound, encapsulated), stability, binding to fibrin, initiating fibrinolysis in vitro and ex vivo using a battery of biochemical methods. Results: One milligram of the regular TELIP consists of 2.0–5.0 × 10⁹ echogenic liposomes (700–900 nm diameter). Non-specifically bound sctPA readily dissociates at the physiological ionic strength and pH. While up to 60% of sctPA in the regular TELIP is loosely bound with 6–15% encapsulated, and the rest is tightly bound to the liposomes; in the optimized TELIP, more than 80% of active sctPA is tightly bound with up to 40% of encapsulated. The latter is protected from high-molecular-weight ligands and could be released by an ultrasound pulse. Optimized TELIP shows low competition with plasmin for fibrin and effectively supports fibrinolysis in vitro and ex vivo. The optimized TELIP with maximal load of sctPA 3% (w/w) retains integrity at 37 °C for 5 h in vitro and up to 2 h ex vivo. Conclusions: The optimized TELIP is stable in vitro and ex vivo, does not interfere with fibrinolysis and retains a high level of encapsulated sctPA delivered precisely to the thrombus/fibrin clot. Full article

Background/Objectives: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent subtype of renal cancer, characterized by frequent metastasis and poor prognosis. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a pivotal role in tumor progression. Protocadherin 9 (PCDH9) has emerged as a potential tumor suppressor, but its relationship with EMT markers in ccRCC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns and prognostic significance of PCDH9, β-catenin (CTNNB1), Snail (SNAI1), and Vimentin (VIM) in ccRCC. Methods: Immunofluorescence analysis was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 48 ccRCC patients (31 low-grade, 17 high-grade) and adjacent normal renal cortex. Findings were validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-KIRC) dataset via GEPIA2/GEPIA3 platforms, including differential expression, correlation, and survival analyses. Results:PCDH9 mRNA was significantly downregulated in ccRCC tumors (TCGA-KIRC), while VIM was upregulated at the transcriptomic level. Tissue-level immunofluorescence quantification revealed discordant patterns, highlighting the influence of cellular heterogeneity on bulk protein assessment. The strong positive correlation between PCDH9 and CDH1 observed in normal kidney was completely lost in tumor tissue. Unexpectedly, PCDH9 showed positive correlations with EMT transcription factors (ZEB1, SNAI1) in tumors. In univariate survival analysis, high PCDH9 and CTNNB1 expression were associated with improved overall survival. Multivariate Cox regression revealed endpoint-specific prognostic signatures: VIM independently predicted disease progression, while SNAI1 predicted overall mortality. CTNNB1 was consistently protective across both endpoints. Conclusions: Our findings support a tumor-suppressive role for PCDH9 in ccRCC and reveal disruption of epithelial adhesion molecule co-regulation during tumorigenesis. The identification of endpoint-specific prognostic signatures has implications for patient stratification and suggests that ccRCC exhibits a partial EMT phenotype rather than classical EMT. Full article

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory arterial disease and the primary underlying cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its development and progression are driven by a mechanistically interconnected triad of endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation. Current pharmacotherapy, primarily focused on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction through statin-based and adjunctive therapies, does not fully address the residual inflammatory and calcific components of atherosclerotic risk. Menaquinone-7 (MK-7), a long-chain isoform of vitamin K2 with superior bioavailability and extrahepatic tissue distribution, has emerged as a multi-target modulator of atherogenic processes. Its classical function is to serve as a cofactor for the gamma-carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs), principally matrix Gla protein (MGP), the primary endogenous inhibitor of vascular calcification. Beyond this established pathway, a growing body of experimental evidence indicates that MK-7 may modulate endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production through carboxylation-dependent activation of Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6 (Gas6) and suppress lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis via Ferroptosis Suppressor Protein 1 (FSP1)-mediated reduction of vitamin K hydroquinone (VKH₂). In addition, it may attenuate nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)-driven inflammatory gene transcription in vascular cells. Previous reviews mainly focused on how vitamin K2 influences vascular calcification and cardiovascular outcomes. However, emerging mechanistic evidence linking MK-7 to endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, ferroptosis, and vascular inflammation has not been comprehensively integrated. This review summarizes the current knowledge of in vitro, animal, observational, and randomized controlled trial evidence for MK-7 in the context of atherosclerosis. It particularly emphasises mechanistic pathways, the strength of evidence, and translational limitations, highlighting the lack of direct human vascular evidence in several areas. Full article

Background: Amikacin remains a key agent in the treatment of severe and complicated infections due to its bactericidal activity and low risk of Clostridioides difficile infection. It retains activity against most aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas. However, its use is limited by nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Methods: This narrative review evaluates clinical indications, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, dosing strategies, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), and safety profile of amikacin in adult patients based on 56 selected publications. A total of 24 articles were identified through database searches (PubMed and Embase), complemented by 32 additional sources to provide clinical and pharmacological context. Results: Available evidence demonstrates considerable uncertainty regarding the comparative effectiveness of different monitoring strategies. Lower trough concentrations are generally associated with reduced nephrotoxicity; however, an optimal safety threshold has not been clearly established. Guideline-recommended targets vary substantially and are supported by low-quality evidence. Amikacin pharmacokinetics, tissue penetration and toxicity are influenced by patient-specific factors, including critical illness, renal function variability, and concomitant nephrotoxic therapy, particularly vancomycin. Ototoxicity remains an additional clinically relevant concern. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that uniform dosing and monitoring paradigms are insufficient. Patient-tailored strategies integrating TDM and mitigation of modifiable risk factors are required. Prospective studies comparing monitoring regimens are needed to optimize the safe clinical use of amikacin and inform future guideline development. Full article

The reuse of treated oilfield-produced water (PW) presents a viable solution to water scarcity in arid regions; however, elevated boron (B) levels pose a significant constraint for sustainable irrigation. This study evaluates boron dynamics in a soil–plant system irrigated with treated PW and examines the effectiveness of nature-based solutions in mitigating its accumulation. A controlled experiment using two soil types and multiple water sources was conducted, with biochar and gypsum applied as soil amendments. Boron concentrations were assessed in plant tissues, roots, and soil layers. Results showed significant boron accumulation under PW irrigation, exceeding safe agronomic thresholds, and soil analysis indicated greater boron retention in surface layers. Boron concentrations reached maximum average concentrations exceeding 200 mg kg⁻¹. To elucidate species-specific tolerance mechanisms, bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) and translocation factors (TFs) were calculated. Results revealed a distinct root-trapping strategy, with high BAF values under oilfield-produced water, while TF values remained significantly lower, indicating that these forage species successfully restricted boron translocation to aerial tissues. Full article

Background/Objectives: Herbivorous insects feed on plant tissues to obtain nutrients necessary for growth and development while simultaneously ingesting diverse plant secondary metabolites. Understanding the fate of these compounds during digestion is important for advancing knowledge of insect nutritional physiology and diet-associated biochemical processes. This study aimed to comparatively profile metabolites in host plants and corresponding insect gut extracts to generate insights into compound transfer and compositional changes within these systems. Methods: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics was combined with Ultraviolet-Visible (UV–Vis) quantification of total phenols and flavonoids to compare host plant tissues and insect gut extracts in three systems: fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae on maize (Zea mays), desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) on wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum), and silkworm (Bombyx mori) on mulberry (Morus alba). The analytical approach targeted semi-volatile and moderate polar compounds within the constraints of the extraction and detection workflow. Results: UV–Vis analysis revealed consistent enrichment of total phenols in insect guts relative to host plants (1.4- to 0.35-fold), while flavonoids were reduced (2- to 7-fold). GC-MS analyses showed clear separation of gut and plant metabolomes, with <35% shared metabolites and the majority unique to insect guts. Insect extracts were enriched in hydrocarbons, fatty acids, sterols, and terpenoid derivatives, reflecting extensive biochemical transformation. Sex-specific metabolite differences were observed in silkworm and desert locust guts despite identical diets. These findings show differences between plant and gut metabolite profiles, reflecting selective enrichment, depletion, and restructuring of dietary compounds during digestion. Overall, this study provides comparative metabolic data on insect–plant feeding systems and highlights the gut as a dynamic environment associated with changes in dietary metabolite composition. These findings contribute to understanding how plant-derived compounds are represented in insect gut extracts and establish a baseline framework for future studies investigating the biochemical processes underlying insect digestion and nutrient utilization. Full article

Background: An original pre-column derivatisation strategy combining liquid chromatography, supported by gas chromatography, was developed for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), formaldehyde (FA), and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in selected plant oils and model edible animal tissues (i.e., muscle, adipose tissue, liver, and brain). Methods: In oils, direct derivatisation with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) was applied to quantify the target aldehydes (as hydrazones) without prior saponification. In the analysed animal tissue samples, MDA and FA were released by saponification and subsequently derivatised with DNPH, whereas 4-HNE was extracted from these samples and subsequently derivatised with DNPH. Derivatised aldehydes were quantified using C18 ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (C18-UHPLC) with photodiode array detection (DAD) under binary-gradient elution conditions, supported by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detection (FID). Results: The combination of the original binary gradient elution programme, selective DAD, and a high-performance C18 column (150 mm, 1.6 µm particle size) resulted in excellent baseline stability, good linearity, and satisfactory repeatability and specificity in the determination of MDA, FA, and 4-HNE. C18-UHPLC–DAD enabled satisfactory separation of MDA, FA and 4-HNE hydrazones from endogenous matrix components in solutions of processed oils and animal tissues, while the addition of acetonitrile to these sample solutions further reduced background interference. C18-UPLC-DAD provided satisfactory symmetrical peak shapes, peak purities, and recoveries of MDA, FA, and 4-HNE in analysed plant oils and ovine tissues, compared with GC–FID. Compared with GC–FID, C18-UHPLC-DAD provided superior resolution of derivatised aldehydes in matrices of analysed biological samples. Conclusions: The determination of lipid peroxidation biomarkers in oils and animal tissues using our novel C18-UHPLC-DAD method may contribute to the optimisation of breeding practices, helping to minimise animal stress and enhance the health-promoting properties of food products. Full article

Acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) is a bio-based, biocompatible, and biodegradable photopolymerizable resin that exhibits shape-memory behavior, making it attractive for a wide range of biomaterial applications. Despite various strategies to fabricate porous AESO scaffolds for tissue regeneration, achieving high pore interconnectivity remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate the utility and versatility of thermoreversible terpenes as porogens in AESO to enable the formation of highly aligned and interconnected pore architectures. More specifically, a blend of 90 wt% camphene and 10 wt% camphor was employed as the terpene system, since it could be completely melted at 70 °C, uniformly mixed with liquid AESO, and subsequently crystallized at −20 °C. This process generated a bicontinuous network comprising terpene crystals and liquid AESO, thereby enabling efficient UV photopolymerization of AESO. Following terpene removal via freeze-drying, highly aligned pore networks with excellent pore interconnectivity were obtained, which are hardly achievable using conventional liquid or solid porogens. The porosity and mechanical properties of the AESO scaffolds were tuned by adjusting terpene content. Porosity increased from 61.5 to 81.5% as terpene content rose from 60 to 80 vol%. As a result, tensile strength decreased from 0.29 ± 0.045 to 0.17 ± 0.017 MPa, while elongation at break increased from 20.2 ± 4.9 to 35.5 ± 1.34%. Furthermore, this approach is compatible with vat photopolymerization (VP), a 3D printing technique. As a proof of concept, dual-scale porous AESO scaffolds, composed of unidirectional channels surrounded by highly aligned porous frameworks, were successfully fabricated. These results indicate that a variety of dual-scale porous AESO scaffolds, with greatly enhanced mechanical properties at given porosities coupled with outstanding tissue regeneration, can be produced through VP using terpene porogens, in contrast to conventional porous scaffolds comprising uniform porous frameworks. Full article

Background/Objectives: Capsular contracture (CC) is the most frequent complication of breast implant surgery, affecting up to 20% of augmentation and up to 40% of post-mastectomy reconstruction patients. Diagnosis relies on the Baker classification with poor interobserver reliability (κ = 0.55). This study evaluated shear-wave elastography (SWE) as an objective diagnostic tool for CC via quantitative measurement of periprosthetic capsule stiffness. Methods: A prospective single-center comparative study (Romania) enrolled 26 augmentation patients (50 breasts) with asymptomatic Baker I/II CC as controls, and 25 breasts with confirmed Baker III/IV CC in post-mastectomy reconstruction patients as the study group. Stiffness was measured using the SuperSonic MACH 30 platform (mean, median, min, max, SD in kPa). Analysis included Mann-Whitney U tests, ROC curves with bootstrapped 95% CIs, and Youden’s J index. Confounder analyses (Spearman correlations, multivariable logistic regression, partial correlations) assessed the independence of SWE findings from implant depth, periprosthetic tissue thickness, region-of-interest (ROI) diameter, and body mass index (BMI). Results: All four primary stiffness parameters differed significantly between groups (p < 10⁻¹¹, r > 0.97). Control median stiffness was 32.6 kPa versus 138.0 kPa in the study group. All four parameters achieved outstanding discriminative performance (AUC 0.988–0.994); SWE median yielded the highest AUC (0.994; 95% CI 0.980–1.000). A threshold of 82 kPa provided 100% sensitivity, 98% specificity, and 100% NPV. Baker Grades III (~92 kPa) and IV (~147 kPa) also differed significantly (p = 0.0001). No covariate (implant depth, periprosthetic tissue thickness, ROI diameter, BMI) significantly influenced SWE values within either group (all intra-group Spearman ρ p > 0.05), and SWE median stiffness remained the sole significant predictor in the fully adjusted multivariable model (adjusted OR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.08–1.31, p < 0.001). Conclusions: SWE objectively differentiates normal periprosthetic capsules from clinically significant CC with outstanding accuracy. An 82 kPa median stiffness threshold offers a reproducible, non-invasive complement to the Baker classification and provides a foundation for elastography-based CC staging. Full article

Atraphaxis virgata and Atraphaxis pyrifolia are xerophytic species of the Polygonaceae family that remain insufficiently characterized from pharmacognostic, phytochemical, and toxicological perspectives. This study provides an integrated evaluation of both species through anatomical authentication, sequential extraction of CO₂-extracted residual biomass, GC–MS and LC–MS metabolite profiling, and acute oral toxicity assessment. Anatomical analysis revealed shared xeromorphic traits, including cuticular protection, dorsiventral mesophyll organization, structured vascular bundles, and calcium oxalate druses. It also identified species-specific differences in leaf thickness, mesophyll arrangement, vascular architecture, and druse morphology. GC–MS analysis showed distinct chemical profiles: A. virgata displayed a concentrated profile dominated by acetophenone- and benzofuran-related constituents, whereas A. pyrifolia showed a broader spectrum of carbohydrate-derived, phenolic-related, and oxygenated constituents. LC–MS analysis supported the tentative annotation of diverse polyphenolic classes, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, and phenylpropanoid derivatives. Acute oral toxicity testing showed no mortality at doses up to 2000 mg/kg, supporting a low acute oral toxicity classification under the tested conditions. However, histological examination revealed mild to moderate dose-dependent alterations in liver and kidney tissues at higher doses. The novelty of this work lies in linking diagnostic anatomical traits, species-specific metabolite patterns, residual biomass valorization, and preliminary safety evidence within a single comparative framework. These findings provide a basis for pharmacognostic authentication, phytochemical standardization, and future bioactivity-guided evaluation of Atraphaxis species. Full article

Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) is a highly effective regulator of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and adhesion, suggesting a significant therapeutic potential as a tissue regeneration promoter both in acute and chronic tissue damage settings. Despite an extensive list of pathologies that lend themselves as viable targets for FGF2-based therapy (ranging from periodontics to burns to diabetic ulcers to coronary artery disease), the success record in the clinic remains modest, with no FDA approvals obtained so far. The inferior stability of this protein is frequently cited as the most significant factor behind its disappointing performance as a biotherapeutic. Multiple strategies have been designed and tested in an effort to ameliorate this problem, but the success remains elusive. We investigate the aggregation propensity of a recombinantly produced FGF2 using native mass spectrometry (MS) to identify conditions favoring formation of small soluble oligomers, which are considered precursors to larger aggregates. Tandem MS of proteolytic fragments produced by digestion of the oligomeric species allows the formation of external disulfide bonds to be identified as the process leading to oligomerization. Specifically, Cys-31 (one of the two unpaired cysteine residues in intact FGF2) appears to be a particularly active promoter of oligomerization by forming external disulfide bonds. As a high-pI protein, FGF2 readily associates with heparin, and molecular modeling identifies a positive charge basin proximal to Cys-31 as a potential heparin binding site, which can readily accommodate a synthetic heparin mimetic fondaparinux. Adding an equimolar amount of the latter to the FGF2 solution not only leads to formation of a stable protein/polyanion complex (as revealed by native MS), but also inhibits formation of FGF2 oligomers (presumably via a combination of steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsion). These findings advance our understanding of FGF2 stability, which will be invaluable for optimizing its formulation, storage, and administration. Full article

Ofloxacin (OFL) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) are common co-occurring antibiotic contaminants in aquatic environments, yet their long-term combined toxicity to freshwater fish remains poorly elucidated. In this study, adult mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were used as a model to investigate histopathological alterations, oxidative stress responses, gene expression, and gut microbiota changes after 30 days of exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of OFL and SMX (0 ng/L, 50 ng/L, 1 μg/L, and 20 μg/L), either individually or in combination. The results showed that both single and combined exposures induced liver and intestinal damage. Oxidative stress responses exhibited clear tissue specificity, with activation of antioxidant defenses in the liver, whereas the intestine was mainly characterized by decreased SOD and GST activities, as well as reduced MDA content. Changes in gene expression were relatively limited, with significant alterations observed only in hepatic sod2 and hsp90 and intestinal hsp70 in certain treatment groups. Gut microbiota analysis showed that OFL exerted a stronger disruptive effect than SMX, as reflected by increased alpha diversity, reduced abundance of core genera, and functional remodeling, whereas combined exposure triggered weaker microbial community restructuring relative to single exposures. Overall, OFL and SMX induced tissue-specific toxicity in mosquitofish by causing tissue injury, oxidative stress imbalance, and gut microbiota dysbiosis, with OFL showing the stronger overall effect. Full article

The survival of complex multicellular organisms depends on continuous inter-organ communication networks that coordinate organism-wide responses across physiological conditions and stress states, including adaptation to environmental challenges, infection, and injury. Rather than operating as isolated units, organ systems are integrated through interconnected signaling networks that transmit biological information across tissues. Building on prior work examining individual physiological pathways, this review introduces a unified systems-level framework that integrates inter-organ communication into a coherent model of organism-wide regulation. This review proposes a systems-level framework in which homeostasis is maintained through eight principal communication systems: neural, endocrine, immune-inflammatory, vascular, lymphatic, metabolic, microbiome–gut, and mechanical-structural. Epithelial barriers function as dynamic signaling interfaces within multiple systems, while extracellular vesicles act as cross-system mediators of information transfer rather than as independent communication networks. These systems operate across distinct temporal scales to coordinate host defense, metabolic adaptation, vascular regulation, and tissue repair. The framework further introduces a temporal hierarchy of signaling dynamics that links communication systems to phase-specific responses during physiological stress. Within this integrated network, glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα) is proposed to function as a systems-level regulator of inter-organ communication, supported by converging mechanistic, experimental, and clinical evidence, with variability in the strength of evidence across domains. In contrast to prior reviews, which addressed GRα function within individual systems, this work conceptualizes GRα as a central rheostat coordinating cross-system signaling and temporal transitions in homeostatic correction. Evidence was identified through hypothesis-driven searches using the Consensus AI platform and verified through manual review of primary biomedical literature. GRα, a ligand-activated transcription factor expressed in most nucleated cells, enables hormonal stress signals to coordinate gene-expression programs across tissues, modulating neuroendocrine responses, endothelial function, inflammatory signaling, metabolic regulation, microbiome–host interactions, and tissue remodeling. Systemic responses to stress progress through three phases of homeostatic correction—Priming, Modulatory, and Restorative—within which GRα supports integrated organism-wide adaptation. This integrative framework provides a mechanistic basis for understanding the emergence and temporal evolution of biological responses in health and critical illness. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder with no cure. The goal is to develop an active immunotherapy targeting aggregated alpha synuclein (aSyn), the root cause of PD. TRB-001 is the lead candidate of a novel class of vaccines. It is a peptide/protein conjugate coupled to sugar residues, which is used to target and activate antigen-presenting cells, and addresses aSyn. Methods: A 33-year-old male, diagnosed with PD seven years previously, with a Hoehn & Yahr stage of 1, taking Levodopa/Benserazide (100/25 mg, 6× per day), Rotigotine (8 mg) and Rasagiline (1 mg), amounting to a Levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) of 940 mg, also complicated by impulse control disorder, requested experimental therapy. He received a total of four TRB-001 administrations (weeks 0, 4, 8 and 34) following informed consent. The workup included safety, immunological and clinical parameters. Results: Vaccinations were well tolerated. They induced a high-titer aSyn-specific antibody (Ab) response. Titer increase was associated with a reduction in aSyn plasma levels, suggesting target engagement. The Ab titer and the reduction in aSyn plasma levels were both long-lived. The boost elicited a recall-type Ab titer increase and triggered avidity maturation (factor 7.8). Abs demonstrated a high degree of selectivity for aggregated aSyn (factor 30). Moreover, they were found to preferentially react with tissue from PD brain lysates. The Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) score for the patient remained essentially stable throughout the observation period of 53 weeks. At the time of the boost, the symptomatic PD therapy was simplified to Levodopa/Carbidopa/Entacapone 100/25/200 mg four times a day, amounting to an LEDD of 532 mg. This put an end to the symptoms of the impulse control disorder. Conclusions: Results obtained suggest that this new class of vaccines may yield Ab responses comparable in magnitude and target avidity to the therapeutic setting of monoclonal Abs. TRB-001 is currently being translated to a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1B study. Full article

Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pervasive environmental challenges, with microplastics (MPs) widely distributed across marine ecosystems worldwide. This study aimed to assess the uptake of MPs by key fish and invertebrate species from different locations in the coastal zone of the Bulgarian Black Sea. Fish were collected during routine monitoring surveys in September–November 2024, while invertebrates were obtained via scuba diving. The presence of MPs in fish stomachs and invertebrate soft tissues, and their polymer composition, shape and size were analyzed using an Agilent 8700 LDIR Chemical Imaging System. Potential biological effects of ingested MPs were evaluated by an integrated Specific Oxidative Stress (SOS) index. The results revealed MP uptake levels comparable to those reported globally. Small-sized particles (<50 µm) with rounded shapes were most abundant across studied taxa. Polymer composition varied considerably depending on species and sampling region, indicating differences in exposure sources and environmental conditions. Oxidative stress levels in both fish and invertebrates showed substantial interspecific variation, and clear differences between the northern and southern region of the Bulgarian Black Sea. Overall, elevated uptake of MPs appears to contribute to oxidative stress in marine organisms, potentially affecting their health status, resilience, and adaptive capacity, as reflected by increased SOS index values. Full article