Minocycline and matrix metalloproteinase inhibition in acute intracerebral hemorrhage: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating cerebrovascular disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Minocycline is a matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) inhibitor that may attenuate secondary mechanisms of injury in ICH. The feasibility and safety of minocycline in ICH patients were evaluated in a pilot, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Patients with acute onset (<12 h from symptom onset) ICH and small initial hematoma volume (<30 ml) were randomized to high-dose (10 mg/kg) intravenous minocycline or placebo. The outcome events included adverse events, change in serial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score assessments, hematoma volume and MMP-9 measurements, 3-month functional outcome (modified Rankin score) and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were randomized to minocycline (n = 10) or placebo (n = 10). The two groups did not differ in terms of baseline characteristics. No serious adverse events or complications were noted with minocycline infusion. The two groups did not differ in any of the clinical and radiological outcomes. Day 5 serum MMP-9 levels tended to be lower in the minocycline group (372 ± 216 ng/ml vs. 472 ± 235 ng/ml; P = 0.052). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that minocycline was associated with a 217.65 (95% confidence interval -425.21 to -10.10, P = 0.041) decrease in MMP-9 levels between days 1 and 5. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose intravenous minocycline can be safely administered to patients with ICH. Larger randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of minocycline and MMP-9 inhibition in ICH patients are required.

A comparison of salivary calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase in children with severe, moderate caries, and caries free in Tehran's kindergartens.

The most common dental disease in childhood is dental caries. This study was carried out to recognize the components of saliva which are protective factors in children to evaluate and predict caries susceptible and caries resistant individuals. Unstimulated whole saliva was obtained from 75 children aged 3-5 years. They divided into three groups: decayed missing and filled teeth (dmft) > 6 (severe caries), 1 P > 0.05 ). Although the results showed that salivary phosphate and alkaline phosphatase in caries free group and calcium in the group with severe caries were somewhat more than those in other groups. Despite of the results of the present study, the relationship between salivary components and caries rate in children remains controversial. So more studies are necessary to achieve some practical criteria for predicting dental caries, recognition of susceptible persons, and finally prevention of caries in children.

Application of peripheral blood Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR for diagnosis of tuberculosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is a global health problem. Failure to accurately identify cases of active MTB has serious effects on both patients and the community. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear has poor sensitivity and culture methods have a delay ranging from 1 to 8 weeks for diagnosis. Nucleic acid amplification assays may be suitable candidates for this purpose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, we evaluated Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in peripheral blood samples with PCR technique in 190 patients with pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis whom were admitted to Tehran Imam Khomeini hospitals during 2006-2010. Three ml citrated blood samples were obtained from cases. DNA extraction was performed by QIAGEN commercial kit and PCR performed with IS1081 Primer. RESULTS: Fifty six cases had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and 134 were pulmonary. Overall sensitivity and specificity of the PCR assay was 41.1% and 95.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MTB-PCR assay on PBMC using IS1081 primer has a low sensitivity and now can not use as a single or alternative diagnostic test for tuberculosis. However, with regard to its high specificity can use for help diagnosing of TB in cases have no enough sputum (or other specimens) to examination for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture.