Scabies remains a significant public health concern globally, affecting people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic groups. The epidemic characteristics of scabies are yet unravelled, especially in high-income countries and elderly population. In this study, we sought to investigate incidence and prevalence and their trends of scabies worldwide from 1990 to 2017 via the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2017. The prevalence and incidence of scabies tend to a moderate increase after age 70....

In December 2019, Wuhan, China suffered a serious outbreak of a novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID) caused by novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV 2). To quickly identify the pathogen, we designed and screened primer sets, and established a sensitive and specific qRT-PCR assay for SARS-CoV 2; the lower limit of detection (LOD) was 15 (95% CI: 9.8–21) copies per reaction. We combined this qRT-PCR assay with an automatic integration system for nucleic acid...

Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells, located in the epithelium of most peripheral tissues, constitute the first-line defense against pathogen infections. Our previous study reported that gastric subserous layer (GSL) vaccination induced a “pool” of protective tissue-resident memory CD4+T (CD4+TRM) cells in the gastric epithelium. However, the mechanistic details how CD4+TRM cells form in the gastric epithelium are unknown. Here, our results suggested that the vaccine containing CCF in combination with Silk fibroin hydrogel (SF) broadened...

We, the Editors and Publisher of the journalArchives of Physiology and Biochemistry, have retracted the following article: Wei Zhang, Jun Ma, Shan Wang, Tao Huang & Min Xia (2020) Tranilast attenuates neuropathic pain during type-2 diabetes by inhibiting hypoxia-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines in Zucker diabetic fatty rat model, Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2020.1854309 Since publication, the authors informed the Publisher and Editor that the authors had not received ethics approval from the Institutional Animal...

This study aimed to reveal the mechanism of miR-146b-5p in the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) derived from children with aplastic anemia (AA). Here, we found that miR-146b-5p was highly expressed in BMSCs from children with AA, and the BMSCs surface markers expressions in BMSCs derived from children with AA and the healthy controls exerted no significant differences. Besides, the overexpression of miR-146b-5p in normal human-derived BMSCs promoted the adipogenic differentiation of...

Obtaining ideal gene delivery vectors is still a major goal in cancer gene therapy. CAMEL, a short hybrid antimicrobial peptide, can kill cancer cells by membrane lysis. In this study, we constructed a series of non-viral vectors by attaching fatty acids with different chain lengths to the N-terminus of CAMEL. Our results showed that the cellular uptake and transfection efficiency of acyl-CAMEL started to significantly increase from a chain length of 12 carbons. C18-CAMEL was...

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) caused an outbreak in Wuhan, China, and soon spread to other parts of the world. It was believed that 2019-nCoV was transmitted through respiratory tract and then induced pneumonia, thus molecular diagnosis based on oral swabs was used for confirmation of this disease. Likewise, patient will be released upon two times of negative detection from oral swabs. However, many coronaviruses can also be transmitted through oral–fecal route by...

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) caused an outbreak in Wuhan, China, and soon spread to other parts of the world. It was believed that 2019-nCoV was transmitted through respiratory tract and then induced pneumonia, thus molecular diagnosis based on oral swabs was used for confirmation of this disease. Likewise, patient will be released upon two times of negative detection from oral swabs. However, many coronaviruses can also be transmitted through oral–fecal route by...

This study aims to investigate the potential mechanisms and identify core biomarkers of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The profile GSE113850 was downloaded to analyze the differentially expressed genes. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein–protein interaction network analysis were used to reveal the main signal pathways of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and hub genes. The correlation between core gene expression and pathological stages, the disease-free survival analysis, the overall survival...

Circulating in China and 158 other countries and areas, the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has caused devastating mortality and posed a great threat to public health. However, efforts to identify effectively supportive therapeutic drugs and treatments has been hampered by our limited understanding of host immune response for this fatal disease. To characterize the transcriptional signatures of host inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 (HCoV-19) infection, we carried out transcriptome sequencing of the RNAs isolated from the bronchoalveolar...

In December 2019, Wuhan, China suffered a serious outbreak of a novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID) caused by novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV 2). To quickly identify the pathogen, we designed and screened primer sets, and established a sensitive and specific qRT-PCR assay for SARS-CoV 2; the lower limit of detection (LOD) was 14.8 (95% CI: 9.8–21) copies per reaction. We combined this qRT-PCR assay with an automatic integration system for nucleic acid...

Background: Novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) is prevalent around the world. We aimed to describe epidemiological features and clinical course in Shanghai. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 325 cases admitted at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, between January 20 and February 29, 2020. Results: 47.4% (154/325) had visited Wuhan within 2 weeks of illness onset. 57.2% occurred in 67 clusters; 40% were situated within 53 family clusters. 83.7% developed fever during the disease course. Median times from...

Different primers/probes sets have been developed all over the world for the nucleic acid detection of SARS-CoV-2 by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) as a standard method. In our recent study, we explored the feasibility of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for clinical SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection compared with qRT-PCR using the same primer/probe sets issued by Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) targeting viral ORF1ab or N gene, which showed that...

Long noncoding RNA GAS5 is down-regulated in cardiomyocytes in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Here, we studied the involvement of GAS5 in DCM by analyzing its expression in DCM mouse model and cardiac muscle cell line (HL-1 cells). Compared with normal mice, GAS5 was severely down-regulated in heart tissues of DCM mice. GAS5 overexpression improved cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy in DCM mice. In addition, the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, Pro-caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were increased in...

Long noncoding RNA GAS5 is down-regulated in cardiomyocytes in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Here, we studied the involvement of GAS5 in DCM by analyzing its expression in DCM mouse model and cardiac muscle cell line (HL-1 cells). Compared with normal mice, GAS5 was severely down-regulated in heart tissues of DCM mice. GAS5 overexpression improved cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy in DCM mice. In addition, the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, Pro-caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were increased in...

This study explored whether lipid disorders or an elevated atherogenic index of plasma (AIP, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases) could predict major kidney function decline. We conducted a retrospective 7-year cohort study of 3712 Chinese adults followed up between 2010 and 2017. Major kidney function decline was defined as a ≥ 30% reduction in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between lipid...

This study explored whether lipid disorders or an elevated atherogenic index of plasma (AIP, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases) could predict major kidney function decline. We conducted a retrospective 7-year cohort study of 3712 Chinese adults followed up between 2010 and 2017. Major kidney function decline was defined as a ≥ 30% reduction in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between lipid...

Smart polymers as ideal drug nanocarriers have attracted much attention due to the effective drug delivery, internalization and release once triggered by intracellular stimuli, as well as reduced cytotoxicity. We here reported the anionic micelle consisting of copolymer (PEG-b-PAsp) and a PBE (Phenylboronic Ester) group grafted, which can achieve fast response to intracellular ROS and enhanced anti-tumor activity. With this, PEG-b-PAsp-g-PBE/DOX system showed better tumor growth inhibition when studied on HeLa cell lines with high...

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with increasing spread. Currently SFTS transmission has expanded beyond Asian countries, however, with definitive global extents and risk patterns remained obscure. Here we established an exhaustive database that included globally reported locations of human SFTS cases and the competent vector, Haemaphysalis longicornis (H. longicornis), as well as the explanatory environmental variables, based on which, the potential geographic range of H. longicornis and risk areas...

From December 2019, an outbreak of unusual pneumonia was reported in Wuhan with many cases linked to Huanan Seafood Market that sells seafood as well as live exotic animals. We investigated two patients who developed acute respiratory syndromes after independent contact history with this market. The two patients shared common clinical features including fever, cough, and multiple ground-glass opacities in the bilateral lung field with patchy infiltration. Here, we highlight the use of a low-input...

From December 2019, an outbreak of unusual pneumonia was reported in Wuhan with many cases linked to Huanan Seafood Market that sells seafood as well as live exotic animals. We investigated two patients who developed acute respiratory syndromes after independent contact history with this market. The two patients shared common clinical features including fever, cough, and multiple ground-glass opacities in the bilateral lung field with patchy infiltration. Here, we highlight the use of a low-input...

Quantitative real time PCR (RT-PCR) is widely used as the gold standard for clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2. However, due to the low viral load specimens and the limitations of RT-PCR, significant numbers of false negative reports are inevitable, which results in failure to timely diagnose, cut off transmission, and assess discharge criteria. To improve this situation, an optimized droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used for detection of SARS-CoV-2, which showed that the limit of detection...

Managing recovered COVID-19 patients with recurrent-positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA test results is challenging. We performed a population-based observational study to characterize the viral RNA level and serum antibody responses in recurrent-positive patients and evaluate their viral transmission risk. Of 479 recovered COVID-19 patients, 93 (19%) recurrent-positive patients were identified, characterized by younger age, with a median discharge-to-recurrent-positive length of 8 days. After readmission, recurrent-positive patients exhibited mild (28%) or absent (72%) symptoms, with no disease progression....

Managing recovered COVID-19 patients with recurrent-positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA test results is challenging. We performed a population-based observational study to characterize the viral RNA level and serum antibody responses in recurrent-positive patients and evaluate their viral transmission risk. Of 479 recovered COVID-19 patients, 93 (19%) recurrent-positive patients were identified, characterized by younger age, with a median discharge-to-recurrent-positive length of 8 days. After readmission, recurrent-positive patients exhibited mild (28%) or absent (72%) symptoms, with no disease progression....

Following acute infection, individuals COVID-19 may still shed SARS-CoV-2 RNA. However, limited information is available regarding the active shedding period or whether infectious virus is also shed. Here, we monitored the clinical characteristics and virological features of 38 patients with COVID-19 (long-term carriers) who recovered from the acute disease, but still shed viral RNA for over 3 months. The median carrying history of the long-term carriers was 92 days after the first admission, and the...