Objective: This study was designed to determine the efficacy of ivermectin, an FDA-approved drug, in producing clinical benefits and decreasing the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 among asymptomatic subjects that tested positive for this virus in Lebanon. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 100 asymptomatic Lebanese subjects that have tested positive for SARS-CoV2. Fifty patients received standard preventive treatment, mainly supplements, and the experimental group received a single dose (according to body weight) of ivermectin, in addition to the same supplements the control group received. Results: There was no significant difference (p = 0.06) between Ct-values of the two groups before the regimen was started (day zero), indicating that subjects in both groups had similar viral loads. At 72 h after the regimen started, the increase in Ct-values was dramatically higher in the ivermectin than in the control group. In the ivermectin group, Ct increased from 15.13 ± 2.07 (day zero) to 30.14 ± 6.22 (day three; mean ± SD), compared to the control group, where the Ct values increased only from 14.20 ± 2.48 (day zero) to 18.96 ± 3.26 (day three; mean ± SD). Moreover, more subjects in the control group developed clinical symptoms. Three individuals (6%) required hospitalization, compared to the ivermectin group (0%). Conclusion: Ivermectin appears to be efficacious in providing clinical benefits in a randomized treatment of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects, effectively resulting in fewer symptoms, lower viral load and reduced hospital admissions. However, larger-scale trials are warranted for this conclusion to be further cemented.

The journal retracts the article, Effects of a Single Dose of Ivermectin on Viral and Clinical Outcomes in Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infected Subjects: A Pilot Clinical Trial in Lebanon

Ivermectin, an antiparasitic agent with reported antiviral properties, has been investigated for repurposing in the treatment of COVID-19. This study aimed

Optimizing cell lysis is essential for reliable single-cell genomic analysis. This study sought to refine enzymatic lysis conditions to minimize incubation time while maintaining DNA integrity. Microdissected human leukocytes were digested with proteinase K under various incubation durations (2-16 h) and temperatures (37-60 °C), and genomic DNA recovery was assessed through Y-chromosome-specific PCR amplification. Shorter incubation periods combined with elevated temperatures, particularly at 60 °C, achieved amplification efficiencies comparable to or greater than those obtained with the conventional overnight digestion at 37 °C. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the optimized and standard conditions. These results indicate that enzymatic lysis duration can be substantially reduced without compromising DNA yield or quality. The proposed approach enables same-day genomic preamplification and enhances the throughput of single-cell workflows, offering practical advantages for clinical diagnostics and forensic genetics.