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Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) is a notable insect pest that invades major cereal crops, causing significant damage and loss. Resistances of 2nd instar larvae of two Egyptian field populations of S. frugiperda, collected from the Fayoum and Giza governments, were measured against eight insecticides, including traditional insecticides (profenofos and cypermethrin), bio-insecticides (emamectin benzoate, spinosad, and Bacillus thuringiensis), and insect growth regulators (IGRs) (lufenuron, diflubenzuron, and methoxyfenozide). In addition, the synergistic effects of three synergists (Piperonyl butoxide (PBO), diethyl maleate (DEM), and triphenyl phosphate (TPP) were assessed, and the activities of detoxification enzymes (acetylcholine esterase (AChE), cytochrome P-450 (CYP-450), carboxylesterase (CarE), and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) were also determined. Resistance surveillance revealed that the Fayoum field population showed moderate resistance to cypermethrin (RR = 5.75-fold), followed by spinosad (RR = 2.62-fold), and lufenuron (2.01-fold). On the other hand, the Giza population exhibited significant resistance to cypermethrin only (RR = 3.65-fold). Our results revealed that emamectin benzoate was the most effective insecticide, with an LC50 value of 0.003 mg/L for the Fayoum population and 0.001 mg/L for the Giza population, compared to the susceptible strain (0.005 mg/L). Among the biological insecticides, Bacillus thuringiensis was the least toxic insecticide of all the tested strains. Synergism assays indicated that DEM and TPP had the most synergistic effect on spinosad (SR = 8.00-fold for both), followed by PBO (SR = 5.71-fold) for the Fayoum population, compared with spinosad alone. The assay of detoxification enzymes showed that GST activity significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the two field strains compared to the susceptible strain. However, no significant changes were observed among the tested strains in CYP-450, CarE, or AChE. The findings of this study provide substantial insights into tracking and managing the development of insecticide resistance in S. frugiperda in Egypt.

Potassium (K⁺) is the most important cationic nutrient for all living organisms. Vacuolar two‐pore K⁺ (TPK) channels are important players in the regulation of cellular levels of K⁺ but have not been characterised in rice. In order to assess the role of OsTPKb, a K⁺ selective ion channel predominantly expressed in the tonoplast of small vacuoles, we generated overexpressing (OX) lines using a constitutive promoter and compared their phenotypes with control plants. Relative to control plants, OX lines showed better growth when exposed to low‐K⁺ or water stress conditions. K⁺ uptake was greater in OX lines which may be driven by increased AKT1 and HAK1 activity. The enhanced K⁺ uptake led to tissue K⁺ levels that were raised in roots and shoots. Furthermore, energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analyses showed a higher cytoplasm: vacuole K⁺ ratio which is likely to contribute to the increased stress tolerance. In all, the data suggest that TPKb can alter the K⁺ status of small vacuoles, which is important for general cellular K⁺ homeostasis which, in turn, affects stress tolerance.

Biodegradable cellulose nanocrystals hydrogels (CNCsH) were synthesized from cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) which were prepared from office wastepaper (OWP) by a chemical crosslinking method using epicholorohydrin (ECH) as a cross-linker. CNCsH were tested for their swelling behavior and biodegradability and the point of zero charge had been determined. The ability of CNCsH for removing the Acid Red 8 (AR8) anionic dye from its aqueous solution was evaluated. The different parameters affecting removal of the dye, such as pH, initial concentration of dye, content of CNCs, temperature and adsorbent dosage were investigated. The optimum conditions for 68% removal efficiency were pH = 1, initial concentration of dye = 10 ppm, contact time = 105 min, CNCs content = 5% and CNCsH dosage = 0.5 g at 30 °C. The adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic parameters have been studied. The results showed an appropriate fit for Langmuir adsorption isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetics model with an adsorption capacity of 17.12 mg/g. According to the obtained values of thermodynamic parameters, the removal of Acid red 8 by CNCs hydrogels was exothermic spontaneous process.

: To evaluate the effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for frozen shoulder in perimenopausal diabetic women. : A single blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on sixty-two perimenopausal women diagnosed with diabetic frozen shoulder. They were divided randomly into two groups. Group (A) received physiotherapy program in the form of maitland joint mobilization for shoulder joint, self-stretching exercises, range of motion exercises (ROM) and strengthening exercises. Sessions were held 3 times per week, for 4 weeks. Group (B) study group: received the same physiotherapy program in addition to ESWT, once per week, for 4 weeks. Visual analogue scale was used to measure pain intensity, shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) was used to evaluate disability level, while an electrogoniometer was used to measure shoulder flexion, abduction and external rotation range of motion. All measurements were recorded pretreatment and posttreatment program. : For intragroup comparison, significant improvement in all treatment outcomes was noted in both groups (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found between both groups regarding all outcome measures in case of intergroup comparison in the study (P > 0.05). : The use of ESWT have a positive effect in reducing pain and improving shoulder range of motion in perimenopausal women suffering from frozen.

Preliminary evaluation of efficacy and safety of uzara use in treatment of moderate and severe primary dysmenorrhea in comparison to ibuprofen. This randomized, comparative two way cross-over study comprised 60 single female students at Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt, aged 19-28 years with moderate (n = 46) or severe (n = 14) primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomized to take either uzara (80 mg/8 hours for two doses, then 40 mg/8 hours) then ibuprofen (400 mg/6 hours) in two subsequent cycles or vice versa. The pain intensity, using VAS, was recorded immediately before taking the medication (0 hour) and after 4, 12, 24, 48-60, 96-120 hours. Main outcome measures included effectiveness of pain relief defined as drop of VAS to 3 or less, patient's global evaluation of the drug, absence from school, the use of a rescue medication, and, in those who continued the treatment, the pain intensity difference (PID) at different points after start of medication and its sum (SPID). Uzara was comparably effective to ibuprofen (78.3% vs. 86.7% of cycles; respectively), with comparable rates of effectiveness on global evaluation (being around 50% for either drug), and rates of school absences (11.7% vs. 13.3%; respectively). The need for rescue medication was different (18.3% and 10%; respectively), albeit with no statistical significance. The means of PID at different time points and SPID were comparable, with significantly lower average mean of VAS scores compared to that felt with no medication (1.6 vs. 6.8, p<0.001). Side effects were less with uzara than ibuprofen (0% vs. 8.3%, p<0.05). Uzara might be as effective as ibuprofen in management of primary dysmenorrhea but with less side effects. These findings need to be confirmed by a properly designed trial with a larger sample size. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN25618258.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by increased red blood cell production, with high risk of venous and arterial thrombosis. Mutations in the JAK2 gene, particularly JAK2 V617F, play a central role in its pathogenesis. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is a novel long-acting interferon showing promise in managing PV through hematologic and molecular control. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ropeginterferon alfa-2b in patients with PV based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of available clinical trials. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus on May 8, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing Ropeginterferon alfa-2b in PV were included. The PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251051466). Quality assessment was performed using RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools. A random-effects model was applied using R software. Eight studies involving 761 patients were included and only six studies included in single arm meta-analysis with 328 patients. The pooled proportion of complete hematological response at 12 months was 0.63 (95% CI [0.51–0.73]), with high heterogeneity. Reductions in JAK2 V617F allele burden were significant (MD: 26.57, 95% CI [13.49–39.65]). Molecular response was achieved in 25% (95% CI [0.04–0.70]) of patients. The most common adverse events were elevated liver enzymes (AST: 0.28; ALT: 0.32), influenza-like illness (0.11), and anemia (0.09), with unresolved heterogeneity in all outcomes. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b shows promising efficacy in achieving hematological and molecular responses in patients with PV. However, notable heterogeneity and safety concerns, particularly liver-related adverse effects, warrant further investigation in large-scale trials. Graphical Abstract

Background/Objectives: Potato (Solanum tuberosum)-derived exosomes (SDEs) are extracellular vesicles (66 nm in diameter) with therapeutic potential. SDEs suppress matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs) 1, 2, and 9, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin 6 (IL6), while exhibiting radical-scavenging activity against the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in vitro and mitigating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in HaCaT cells. SDEs upregulate the antioxidant gene glutathione S-transferase alpha 4 (GSTA4), prevent UVB damage, and regenerate photodamaged HaCaT cells. This study evaluates SDEs’ safety and skin-enhancing properties to improve their beauty-related and medical applications. Methods: The SDEs purified via ultracentrifugation were tested for their cytotoxic effects on HaCaT cell viability in scratch wound healing assays and for skin barrier gene modulation in HaCaT keratinocytes and Detroit 551 fibroblasts. A reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to analyze the changes in skin barrier gene expression following the SDE treatment. Cosmetic prototypes containing SDEs were assessed for skin irritation, cooling effects, periorbital wrinkle reduction, elasticity, and whitening properties. Results: The cytotoxicity and human topical tests confirmed the safety of SDE application. The SDEs accelerated wound closure, elevated the skin barrier gene expression level, and improved the clinical parameters, including wrinkle reduction, elasticity enhancement, and whitening. No irritation or side effects were observed. Conclusions: This study identified natural, edible potato-derived exosomes (SDEs) as highly safe agents that significantly enhance wound healing and promote skin barrier-related gene expression. Their multifunctional anti-aging efficacy—reducing wrinkles, enhancing elasticity, and promoting whitening without irritation—positions them as promising candidates for cosmetic and dermatological innovations. These findings warrant further exploration of SDEs for therapeutic applications, including inflammatory skin disorders and drug delivery systems.

•High-intensity laser therapy alleviates carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnant women.•Conventional physical therapy alleviates carpal tunnel syndrome to a lesser extent.•High-intensity laser therapy could be a rehabilitation modality for pregnant women. Single-blind randomized controlled trial. High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) was recently introduced to the physiotherapy field as a treatment option for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, evidence about its effectiveness on pregnant women with CTS is sparse. To test the effectiveness of HILT combined with a conventional physical therapy program to reduce pain intensity, sensory and motor nerve distal latency, and increase grip strength in pregnant women with CTS compared with the physical therapy alone. Fifty-four pregnant women with mild to moderate CTS were randomized and further allocated into two groups. The HILT group (n = 27) received both HILT and conventional physical therapy, and the control group (n = 27) received only physical therapy, including nerve and tendon gliding exercises and the use of an orthotic device. Participants received the interventions at the University Hospital (omitted for review) three times per week for 5 weeks. An 11-points numerical pain rating scale, electromyography, and a handheld dynamometer were used for data collection before and after the treatment. Participants from both groups presented significant improvement in the median nerve motor nerve distal latency (MNDL), sensory nerve distal latency, numerical pain rating scale, and handgrip strength after the intervention. The between-group difference showed more improvements in participants of the HILT group on reducing pain intensity, mean difference (MD) = -3.11 (-4.1 to 2.1), and sensory nerve distal latency, MD = -0.3 (-0.5 to -0.1) compared with the control group. HILT produced greater improvement in outcomes of pregnant women with mild to moderate CTS whichsuggests that adding HILT to traditional CTS physical therapy protocol is beneficial and safe. High-intensity laser therapy combined with a standard physical therapy program for CTS in pregnant women is better than the physical therapy program alone to improve pain intensity and median nerve sensory distal latency.

Viruses show noticeable evolution to adapt and reproduce within their hosts. Theoretically, patterns and factors that affect the codon usage of viruses should reflect evolutionary changes that allow them to optimize their codon usage to their hosts. Some software tools can analyze the codon usage of organisms; however, their performance has room for improvement, as these tools do not focus on examining the codon usage co-adaptation between viruses and their hosts. This paper describes the vhcub R package, which is a crucial tool used to analyze the co-adaptation of codon usage between a virus and its host, with several implementations of indices and plots. The tool is available from: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/vhcub/.