Myocardial differentiation is associated with the activation and expression of an array of cardiac specific genes. However, the transcriptional networks that control cardiac gene expression are not completely understood. Myocardin is a cardiac and smooth muscle-specific expressed transcriptional coactivator of Serum Response Factor (SRF) and is able to potently activate cardiac and smooth muscl...

We report a critical role for the T-box transcription factor Tbx5 in development and maturation of the cardiac conduction system. We find that Tbx5 is expressed throughout the central conduction system, including the atrioventricular bundle and bundle branch conduction system. Tbx5 haploinsufficiency in mice (Tbx5(del/+)), a model of human Holt-Oram syndrome, caused distinct morphological and f...

We used non-invasive high frequency ultrasound to screen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenized mouse fetuses for congenital cardiovascular anomalies. We ultrasound scanned 7546 mouse fetuses from 262 mutagenized families, and identified 124 families with cardiovascular defects. Represented were most of the major congenital cardiovascular anomalies seen clinically. The ENU-induced mutations in sever...

We present a case report of a patient diagnosed with Holt-Oram syndrome (HOS) presenting with clinical and electrophysiologically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome. Pre-operative Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an abnormal course of the median nerve; as such an atypical incision and approach were carried out to decompress the nerve to excellent post operative clinical effect. To our knowledg...

BACKGROUND The Holt-Oram Syndrome (HOS) or the Heart-Hand syndrome is considered as an overt autosomal hereditary disease with a complete influential effect and variable expression that emerges due to a genetic mutation. It can be vividly characterized by heart disorders and deficiencies in hand structure. Despite the existing genetic heterogeneity, the variable integration between HOS and the ...