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A field experiment was concluded in the 2022 spring season.in field of Al-Khader district, 30 km south of Al-Muthanna Governorate, to evaluate the impact of the productivity of sunflower to fractionation (30 kg Ha-1 ) of humic acids at three levels (one batch, two batches, three batches) and spraying with an extract Azolla at four concentrations (0, 20%, 40% and 60%), A randomized complete block design was used for the experiment with three replications and by split-plot method by placing humic acid fractionation levels in a main plots, spraying Azolla concentrations in the secondary plots. The study found that level of fragmentation was superior in two batches in 1000 seeds weight, the individual yield of the plant and the total seed yield with averages of (84.85 gm and 98.31 gm plant-1 and 5.24 tons ha1 ) for the traits in sequence, while the level of fragmentation was superior by three batches in the diameter of the disc and the number of seeds Filled with two averages of (22.75 cm and 961.25 seeds disc-1 ) for the two traits, respectively, spraying Azolla extract at a concentration of 40% was significantly better and generated the greatest mean of disc diameter, number of filled seeds, 1000 seeds weight, individual plant yield and total seed yield, which amounted to 22.60 cm and 1027.86 seed disc-1, 85.81 gm, 102.75 gm plant-1 and 5.47 tons ha-1 ) for the traits respectively. The interaction between the two research variables was significant because the two together (40% Azolla extract with splitting in three batches) achieved the highest two averages The weight of 1,000 seeds and the total number of seeds reached (1089.30 seeds disc1 and 90.27 g) for the two traits, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Identification of the high risk alleles, genotypes and haplotypes of the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in different populations is beneficial for understanding their roles in type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis and intervention practices. This study aimed to identify T1D-associated HLA gene alleles in the Omani population. Methods: The present case-control study included 73 diabetic seropositive children (mean age 9.08 ± 3.27 years) attending the paediatric clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, Oman, and 110 healthy controls. HLA--A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 genes were genotyped using a sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR). Results: Two HLA class I alleles (B*08, B*58) and three class II alleles (DQB1*02, DRB1*03 and DRB1*04) were associated with T1D susceptibility, while one class I (B*51) and three class II (DQB1*05, DQB1*06 and DRB1*16) alleles were associated with T1D protection. HLA-DRB1*03 and DQB1*02 alleles showed the strongest risk association among all alleles. Six DRB1 residues (E9, S11, S13, Y30, V70 and K71) were significantly associated with T1D susceptibility. Heterozygous genotypes, HLA-DRB1*03/*04 and DQB1*02/*03 were significantly associated with T1D susceptibility (P <0.0001, odds ratio [OR] = 63.21 and P = 0.02, OR = 3.63, respectively). Furthermore, a significant combined action of DRB1*03-DQB1*02 haplotype in T1D risk (P = 0.000176, OR = 15) and DRB1*16-DQB1*05 haplotype in protection (P = 0.0312, OR = 0.48) was detected. Conclusion: Known HLA class II gene alleles are associated with T1D in Omani children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out during the spring season of 2022 at a farm in the Al- Khader district 30 km south of Samawah. The experiment was conducted to study the role of fractionation (30 kg H-1) of humic acids for three batches (First batch, Second batch and Third batch) and spraying with Azolla extract using four concentrations ( 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%), on the vegetative growth indicators of sunflower. The treatments were arranged as a split-plot design with two plots, the fractionation (30 kg H-1) (Al-Mughayer, 2019) of humic acids in the main plot and Azolla spray concentrations in the second plot, using three replications .The results showed a superiority in the second batch for the percentage of nitrogen in the leaves with an average of (1.27%) and did not show significant differences in the plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area and stem diameter. Foliage and stem diameter were (34.06 leaves -1, 9514 cm2 one plant and 28.14 mm) for the characteristics, respectively, while the spraying concentration of 60% was superior in the percentage of nitrogen in the leaves with an average of (1.25%). The interaction between the study factors was high significantly, as was (40% Azolla extract at the second batch) the highest average of nitrogen content in the leaves, which was up to (1.30%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is produced by and impacts different cell types in human. IL‐6 is associated with different diseases and viral infections, including COVID‐19. To our knowledge, no normal values were reported for IL‐6 in the blood of healthy individuals. We have reviewed and performed a meta‐analysis on a total of 140 studies, including 12,421 values for IL‐6 in the blood of healthy adult donors. Among these studies, 83 did not report a mean value and the standard deviation. Therefore, for the statistical analysis, we used the values reported in 57 studies, which included 3166 values for IL‐6. Results: The reported values for IL‐6 in the blood of healthy donors varied between 0 and 43.5 pg/ml. The pooled estimate of IL‐6 was 5.186 pg/ml (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.631, 5.740). As the age increased by 1 year, IL‐6 values increased by 0.05 pg/ml (95% CI: 0.02, 0.09; p <.01). Though the heterogenicity, as determined by I2 statistics, was high in our study, the differences in IL‐6 values are still at the level of a few pg/ml, which might be related to the differences in the conditions that influence IL‐6 production in the healthy population. Conclusions: This is the first meta‐analysis reporting the levels of IL‐6 in the blood of healthy donors based on a large number of studies and donors. Therefore the 95% CI values determined in our study could well serve as a reference range for quick decision‐making in clinical interventions, particularly those aiming to inhibit IL‐6, especially urgent interventions, for example, COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of wound healing is highly complex, and any changes of the key healing factors or components can produce undesirable outcomes. Current clinical practices such as off-loading, debridement, irrigation, suturing, negative therapy of pressure, grafting and the supplementation of growth factors and so on, have limits in addressing the problems of comprehensive wound care. Due to the dynamic nature of the healing process, the best prevention strategies possible are effective wound management in the early stages and preventing the development of wounds to chronic conditions. The immune system has been shown to play a vital role in the physiological process of wound healing and tissue repair. Many agents that affect the immune system positively, both synthetic and natural, were shown to have implications for wound healing process. In particular, bioactive materials have shown promising consequences in this area, as a result of advances in inter-disciplinary approaches that can potentially be used as a smart wound care. Natural polysaccharides, with their clearly elucidated structures, identified cellular activities and desirable physical properties have the potential to work as therapeutic tools for tissue regeneration and wound healing. In this review article we discuss briefly the essential role of the immune system and emergence of natural wound healing polysaccharide applications. First, we introduce natural polysaccharides and their biological activities from natural sources. Then, we discuss some natural polysaccharides with growth factor-binding affinities and inspired polymer tools, focusing on how wound-healing and tissue reparation can possibly benefit from these promising polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The state of knowledge about the effect of sleep deprivation on the immune system is scarce and conflicting. It would therefore be useful to investigate the consequences of sleep deprivation on the immune system. We have studied the effect of sleep deprivation on the changes in neutrophil functions, and the ex vivo proliferative pattern of CD4+ T lymphocytes in relationship with blood cytokine and chemokine levels due to the crucial role of these cells in mounting potent immune responses. Methods: Healthy volunteers were followed for 3 weeks. They had normal sleep in weeks 1 and 3 and they were sleep-deprived on week 2, sleeping < 6 h per 24 h, a pattern similar to sleep behaviors of many chronically sleep-deprived individuals. We assessed the levels of Th1/Th2 and inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, CD4+ T cells, and the NADPH oxidase activation and phagocytic functions in neutrophils. Results: Our results suggest that sleep deprivation leads to a decreased neutrophil capacity to phagocytose bacteria and activate NADPH oxidase (p < 0.05). Sleep deprivation was associated with a potential increase in CXCL9 levels and decrease in CXCL10/CXCL9 and CCL5/CXCL9 ratios (p < 0.05). Furthermore, our results suggest that the decrease in CD4+ T cell due to sleep deprivation was not associated with changes in their proliferation as observed by Ki67 levels, but rather, it correlated with changes in CXCL10/CXCL9 ratio (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Sleep deprivation may lead to a decreased phagocytosis and NADPH oxidase activity in neutrophils and a decrease in the levels of CD4+ T cells which is related to changes in the Th1-related chemokine balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]