Vulnerability of frontal brain neurons for the toxicity of expanded ataxin-3.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is caused by the expansion of CAG repeats in the ATXN3 gene leading to an elongated polyglutamine tract in the ataxin-3 protein. Previously, we demonstrated that symptoms of SCA3 are reversible in the first conditional mouse model for SCA3 directing ataxin-3 predominantly to the hindbrain. Here, we report on the effects of transgenic ataxin-3 expression in forebrain regions.

Efficacy of penbutolol + piretanide combinations in the treatment of arterial hypertension.

The efficacy and tolerability of penbutolol alone and in combination with piretanide at two dose levels were investigated in a double-blind parallel group study in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. All three treatments were given as a single daily dose. One hundred and eight patients entered the study; 82 completed a 7-day placebo run-in period followed by 3 weeks of active therapy.

The effects of piretanide, a potassium stable diuretic, on serum electrolytes in patients with congestive heart failure.

In a randomized double-blind, parallel group study, the effects of piretanide on serum electrolytes and on symptoms of congestive heart failure were compared with those of the combination piretanide plus triamterene in out-patients with mild to severe congestive heart failure. A total of 60 patients entered the study; 13 patients were excluded from the statistical analysis (4 due to premature end of the study, 2 due to dose increase, 7 due to concomitant medication (antihypertensive or antihypotensive agents), so that the results of 47 patients were statistically analyzed, 26 of them in the piretanide and 21 of them in the piretanide plus triamterene group. Piretanide (6 mg once daily) and piretanide plus triamterene (6 mg + 50 mg once daily) both produced a significant reduction in certain symptoms of congestive heart failure which was evident at 2 weeks and was maintained and further enhanced over the ensuing 12-week trial period.

A double-blind study of piretanide in the treatment of hypertension.

A double-blind trial was carried out in three parallel groups of patients with mild to moderate hypertension to assess the efficacy and tolerance of piretanide given as a single dose of 3 mg, 6 mg or 12 mg per day over a period of 12 weeks. Active drug treatment in the 90 patients studied was preceded and followed by 2-week periods on placebo. The results showed that although all three groups had significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures, both at rest and standing, compared with initial levels, the decrease was significantly greater in the two higher dosage groups.