Abstract: ACTH analog compounds of the present invention include compounds comprising an ACTH peptide sequence with one or more structural modifications that can have one or more of the following preferred ACTH analog biological functions: (1) reduction of corticosteroid secretion by adrenal membrane in the presence of the ACTH analog compared to unmodified ACTH, (2) reduction of corticosteroid secretion by adrenal membrane in the presence of endogenous ACTH and (3) increased MC-2R binding affinity with reduced activation of the MC-2R receptor compared to unmodified ACTH binding to the MC-2R melanocortin. The ACTH analog compounds of the present invention are therefore useful for treatment or prevention of diseases and disorders related to ACTH, ACTH receptors or corticosteroid secretion, such as premature labor and Cushing's Disease.

Abstract: In a stepping motor control method having an object for correctly and relatively simply determining the position of a pseudo-track center in the dead zone of a stepping motor, a forwardly and reversely rotatable stepping motor is rotated by that a plurality of the excitation phases thereof are sequentially driven by a driving pulse, a head is moved to a predetermined track position of a disc-shaped recording medium, a predetermined one of the excitation phases of the stepping motor is additionally driven by being intermittently supplied with a driving current for a minute period of time when the head moves to the predetermined track position and enters the dead zone of the stepping motor and the head is stopped at an end of the dead zone of the stepping motor.