Identification of helicobacter pylori in the milk of sheep and goat using incubation and PCR methods in Mashhad suburb

Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is identified as the most common gastrointestinal (GI) infection agent in the world. According to some findings shepherd's Helicobacterial infection is due to their contacts to sheep. Considering the controversy, the transmission of HP from the milk of small ruminates to humans and the possibility of the Zenotic nature of the disease has not proven yet. Thus, recognition of the routes of transmission of bacterium to human is vital. Materials and Methods : Using random clustering, 100 samples (81 sheep and 19 goat's samples) were taken from 20 villages of Mashhad suburb during two years. A questionnaire regarding the health status of the shepherds and their family from the point of view GI discomfort was taken. All taken samples were incubated on two specific HP media, HPSPA (Helicobacter pylori Special Peptone Agar) and Columbia Agar including antibiotics. Following centrifugation, DNA extraction was carried out on all precipitated samples. The specific Urease C gene of HP was traced through polymerase-chain reaction (PCR). Results: Considering the negative results of both PCR and isolation tests, neither culture media nor PCR could prove the existence of HP gene or the Urease C gene for the specific HP in samples. Information showed that 20 of shepherds and 25 of their families and also 10 of both are complaining of GI discomfort, without any clear relation to HP. Conclusion: The results showed that two incubation procedures could not detect HPÂ or its gene, Urease C. Probably, the reason could be due to some multifactorial agents, essential for the determination of the strategy of prevention and health. Possibility of transmission of the agent from the small ruminants and milk to humans needs further investigation

Comparison of Auricular Therapy with Sham in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Several studies have shown the clinical effects of auricular therapy for some neuropsychological disorders. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of auricular therapy with the sham procedure in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Design: Randomized sham-controlled trial. Settings/Location: Welfare Centers of Tehran (Iran). Subjects: Fifty children with ADHD (6-14 years old). Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either auricular therapy (Group A) or a sham procedure (Group B) once a week for 6 weeks. Outcome measures: The Children Symptom Inventory (CSI-4) and the parent's version of the Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scale were used to assess the severity of symptoms of attention deficit (AD) and hyperactivity (HA). Outcome evaluation data was obtained at the first and seventh weeks after the interventions. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using Friedman and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: There were 23 patients in group A and 21 patients in group B who completed the study. Based on the CSI-4 assessment, AD scores decreased from the mean (±standard deviation) of 18.39 (±5.44) to 15.39 (±5.89), p = 0.006 in group A, whereas the mean AD scores for group B only changed from 15.0 (±6.4) to 14.9 (±5.94), p = 0.55 in group B. In addition, the mean of the HA scores decreased from 18.0 (±6.73) to 13.3 (±6.75), p = 0.001 in group A, whereas the change in HA scores in group B only diminished and from 11.85 (±6.44) to 11.45 (±5.44), p = 0.74. The CSI-4 assessments and the scores on the Conners questionnaire significantly decreased after the first week of intervention (p = 0.04) in group A, but not in group B. No side effects were observed. Conclusion: Subjects who received auricular therapy in acupuncture points achieved a statistically significant greater reduction in AD and HA symptoms when compared with subjects who received sham acupuncture points. © 2020, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers

Scientific Overview on CSCI-CITAC Annual General Meeting and 2018 Young Investigators’ Forum

The 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Young Investigators’ Forum (YIF) of the Canadian Society of Clinician Investigators (CSCI) and Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada/Association des Cliniciens-Chercheurs en Formation du Canada (CITAC/ACCFC) was held in Toronto, Ontario on November 19–20, 2018, in conjunction with the University of Toronto Clinician Investigator Program Research Day. The theme for the meeting was “Prepare for Success—Things to Master Now for Clinician Scientists in Training”; with lectures and workshops that were designed to provide knowledge and hands-on skills to navigate life as a clinician investigator. The opening remarks were by Jason Berman (President of CSCI), Josh Abraham (President of CITAC/ACCFC) and Nicola Jones (University of Toronto Clinician Investigator Symposium Chair). The keynote speakers were Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie (University of Manitoba), who received the Distinguished Scientist Award, Dr. Davinder Jassal (University of Manitoba), who received the CSCI-RCPSC Henry Friesen Award, and Dr. Aleixo Muise (University of Toronto), who received the Joe Doupe Young Investigator Award. Dr. Minna Woo (University of Toronto), Canada Research Chair in Diabetes Signal Transduction, delivered the keynote lecture “From Onion Cells to Single Cell Seq—A Constant Change in Lenses: A perspective of an evolving clinician scientist”. The workshops, focusing on career development for clinician-scientists, were hosted by Drs. Robert Chen, Stephen Juvet, Lorraine Kalia, Phyllis Billia, Neil Goldenberg, Nicola Jones, Srdjanaa Filipovic, Jason Berman, Josh Abraham, Melanie Szweras, Joseph Ferenbok and Uri Tabori. The AGM also included presentations from clinician investigator trainees from across the country, and these abstracts are summarized in this review. Over 80 abstracts were showcased at this year’s meeting during the poster session, with six outstanding abstracts selected for oral presentations during the President’s Forum