Cardiac α-Actin (ACTC1) Gene Mutation Causes Atrial-Septal Defects Associated With Late-Onset Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Familial atrial septal defect (ASD) has previously been attributed primarily to mutations in cardiac transcription factors. Here, we report a large, multi-generational family (78 members) with ASD combined with a late-onset dilated cardiomyopathy and further characterize the consequences of mutant α-actin.

Methods: We combined a genome-wide linkage analysis with cell biology, microscopy, and molecular biology tools to characterize a novel ACTC1 (cardiac α-actin) mutation identified in association with ASD and late-onset dilated cardiomyopathy in a large, multi-generational family.

Neurochemical effects of the synthetic ACTH4-9-analog Hoe 427 (Ebiratide) in rat brain.

The ACTH4-9-analog Hoe 427 systemically injected in a dose range from 0.01-10 micrograms/kg caused a fall in acetylcholine (ACh) content in different brain areas of the rat. This effect occurred 0.

Learning and memory processes of an ACTH4-9 analog (ebiratide; Hoe 427) in mice and rats.

These experiments investigated the effects of the new ACTH4-9 analog ebiratide (Hoe 427) [H-Met(O2)-Glu-His-Phe-D-Lys-Phe-NH-(CH2)8-NH2 X 3 CH3COOH] on memory processes in mice and rats in five training tasks. With all five training and testing procedures (inhibitory avoidance test with ECS- or scopolamine-induced amnesia, up-hill avoidance, one-way shuttle box avoidance and eight-arm radial maze) ebiratide was most effective in a dose range of 1-10 micrograms/kg SC.

Renal tolerance of ofloxacin, a new gyrase inhibitor.

An open study was carried out in 12 male, healthy volunteers to investigate the renal tolerance of ofloxacin, a new, broad-spectrum oral antibacterial agent. Subjects received single doses of 300 mg and then repeated doses of 300 mg ofloxacin twice daily for 7 days. Urine was collected in several fractions during the study and the excretion of creatinine, alanine-aminopeptidase (AAP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and n-acetyl-beta-glucose aminidase (NAG) was calculated in 12-hour fractions.