• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1007-1012
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• 2015

EphA7 is a key molecule in regulating the development of the dien- and mesencephalon. To get insight into the mechanism of how EphA7 gene expression is regulated during the dorsal specification of the dien- and mesencephalon, we investigated the cis-acting regulatory sequence driving EphA7 to the dorsal midline of the dien- and mesencephalon. Transgenic LacZ reporter analysis, using overlapping EphA7 BACs, was used to narrow down the dorsal midline-specific enhancer, revealing the 25.3 kb genomic region as the enhancer candidate. Strikingly, this genomic DNA was located far downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site, +302.6 kb to +327.9 kb. Further enhancer mapping, using comparative genomic analysis and transgenic methods, showed that the 187 bp genomic DNA alone, approximately 305 kb downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site, was sufficient to act as the dorsal midline-specific enhancer of EphA7. Importantly, our results indicate that the 187 bp dorsal midline-specific enhancer is critically regulated by homeobox transcription factors during the development of the dien- and mesencephalon.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2014

Eph receptors and their ligands ephrins have been implicated in guiding the directed migration of neural crest cells (NCCs). In this study, we found that Wnt1-Cre-mediated expression of ephrinA5-Fc along the dorsal midline of the dien- and mesencephalon resulted in severe craniofacial malformation of mouse embryo. Interestingly, expression of cephalic NCC markers decreased significantly in the frontonasal process and branchial arches 1 and 2, which are target areas for the migratory cephalic NCCs originating in the dien- and mesencephalon. In addition, these craniofacial tissues were much smaller in mutant embryos expressing ephrinA5-Fc. Importantly, EphA7-positive cephalic NCCs were absent along the dorsal dien- and mesencephalon of mutant embryos expressing ephrinA5-Fc, suggesting that the generation of cephalic NCCs is disrupted due to ephrinA5-Fc expression. NCC explant experiments suggested that ephrinA5-Fc perturbed survival of cephalic NCC precursors in the dorsal midline tissue rather than affecting their migratory capacity, which was consistent with our previous report that expression of ephrinA5-Fc in the dorsal midline is responsible for severe neuroepithelial cell apoptotic death. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that expression of ephrinA5-Fc decreases a population of cephalic NCC precursors in the dorsal midline of the dien- and mesencephalon, thereby disrupting craniofacial development in the mouse embryos.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2019

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of occult spinal dysraphism (OSD) and subsequent neurosurgery in pediatric patients with isolated or combined dorsal midline cutaneous stigmata with or without other congenital malformations. Methods: We carried out a retrospective review of patients who underwent sonography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for OSD because of suspicion of dorsal midline cutaneous stigmata (presumed to be a marker for OSD) between January 2012 and June 2017. Information about patient characteristics, physical examination findings, spinal ultrasound and MRI results, neurosurgical notes, and accompanying congenital anomalies was collected. Results: Totally 250 patients (249 ultrasound and one MRI screening) were enrolled for analysis. Eleven patients underwent secondary MRI examinations. The prevalence of OSD confirmed by an MRI was 2.4% (6 patients including one MRI screening). Five patients (2%) had tethered cord and underwent prophylactic neurosurgery, 3 of whom had a sacrococcygeal dimple and a fibrofatty mass. Prevalence of tethered cord increased as markers associated with a sacrococcygeal dimple increased (0.5% of the isolated marker group, 8.1% of the 2-marker group, and 50% of the 3-marker group). Incidence of OSD with surgical detethering in 17 other congenital anomaly patients was 11.8%, which was higher than the 1.3% in 233 patients without other congenital anomalies. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the presence of dorsal midline cutaneous stigmata, particularly fibrofatty masses, along with a sacrococcygeal dimple is associated with OSD or cord tethering requiring surgery. OSD should be suspected in patients with concurrent occurrence of other congenital anomalies.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2005

A retrograde tracer, WGA-apo-HRP-gold, was injected into midline thalamic nuclei and subsequently orexin-A immunostaining was performed on the tuberal region of the hypothalamus in order to investigate orexinergic projections to the midline thalamus. Injection site was targeted within one specific region, i.e., paraventricular, centromedian, rhomboid, reuniens, or intermediodorsal nucleus, but it proved to be either one or a combination of these thalamic nuclei. The distribution of WG/orexin-double-labeled neurons exhibited a general pattern in that the majority of labeled cells were observed within the ventral portion of the lateral hypothalamus as well as the perifornical nucleus (PeF). A small number of double-labeled cells were also observed at the dorsomedial nucleus, the area dorsal to the PeF, dorsal portion of the lateral hypothalamus, and the posterior hypothalamus. These orexin-immunoreactive neurons might have wake-related influences over a variety of functions related with midline thalamic nuclei, which include autonomic control, associative cortical functions, and limbic regulation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2011

Previous studies suggest that EphA7 plays a critical role in neural tube closure or cortical progenitor apoptosis. In this report, enhancer trap assay was used to modify various EphA7 BAC clones and screen a large genomic region spanning 570 kb downstream of the EphA7 gene. We found that the dorsal midline-specific EphA7 enhancer resides on the 457D20 EphA7 BAC clone and is localized to a 35 kb genomic region in between +345.7 kb to +379.8 kb downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site. Identification of the EphA7 BAC clone containing a long-range dorsal midline enhancer may constitute a useful tool for investigating the biological functions of EphA7 in vivo.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2002

Projections from the prefrontal cortex to subdivisions of the dorsal raphe nucleus were investigated in the rat using retrograde and anterograde tracing methods. A retrograde tracer, gold-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-apo-HRP-gold), was injected into each subdivision of the dorsal raphe including lateral wing, dorsomedial, and ventromedial areas. The majority of retrogradely labeled cells were located in the prelimbic, infralim-bic, and dorsal peduncular areas of the medial prefrontal cortex. A few cells were also identified in the cingulate, various regions of the orbital, and agranular insular cortices. Secondly, an anterograde tracer, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L), was injected into the medial prefrontal cortex involving the prelimbic or infralimbic areas. Axonal fibers with varicosities were identified in all subdivisions of the DR including the lateral wing, dorsomedial, and ventromedial areas. Projections were bilateral, with ipsilateral predominance. Axonal fibers were observed at the lateral border of medial longitudinal fasciculus or in the interfascicular region at the midline. The present findings demonstrate that both the midline and lateral wing regions of the dorsal raphe nucleus receive excitatory input from cognitive and emotional centers of the cerebral cortex.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.589-594
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• 2015

The shadow enhancer of the short gastrulation (sog) gene directs its sequential expression in the neurogenic ectoderm and the ventral midline of the developing Drosophila embryo. Here, we characterize three unusual features of the shadow enhancer midline activity. First, the minimal regions for the two different enhancer activities exhibit high overlap within the shadow enhancer, meaning that one developmental enhancer possesses dual enhancer activities. Second, the midline enhancer activity relies on five Single-minded (Sim)-binding sites, two of which have not been found in any Sim target enhancers. Finally, two linked Dorsal (Dl)- and Zelda (Zld)-binding sites, critical for the neurogenic ectoderm enhancer activity, are also required for the midline enhancer activity. These results suggest that early activation by Dl and Zld may facilitate late activation via the noncanonical sites occupied by Sim. We discuss a model for Zld as a pioneer factor and speculate its role in midline enhancer activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.10
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• pp.572-577
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• 2016

The short gastrulation (sog) shadow enhancer directs early and late sog expression in the neurogenic ectoderm and the ventral midline of the developing Drosophila embryo, respectively. Here, evidence is presented that the sog primary enhancer also has both activities, with the late enhancer activity dependent on the early activity. Computational analyses showed that the sog primary enhancer contains five Dorsal (Dl)-, four Zelda (Zld)-, three Bicoid (Bcd)-, and no Single-minded (Sim)-binding sites. In contrast to many ventral midline enhancers, the primary enhancer can direct lacZ expression in the ventral midline as well as in the neurogenic ectoderm without a canonical Simbinding site. Intriguingly, the impaired transcriptional synergy between Dl and either Zld or Bcd led to aberrant and abolished lacZ expression in the neurogenic ectoderm and in the ventral midline, respectively. These findings suggest that the two enhancer activities of the sog primary enhancer are functionally consolidated and geographically inseparable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.14 no.3 s.35
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• pp.183-195
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• 1990

The author has studied the effect of clothes design to mask the dorsal curvature that is one of the commonest changes in elderly women. Body measurements including the body type and the status of dorsal curvature were perfor-med on 153 women of over 60 years of age, and then a body form to fit to the mean measure-ments was made to evaluate the effects of various designs to it. With 31 pattern designs modified by changing in their slash lines and gathers using darts, the diminishing effect of the rounded back were evaluated by means of sensory test. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: I . Results from the body measurements 1) The mean body type in elderly women was that of obesity. 2) With the advancement of age, the angle to indicate the degree of dorsal curvature as well as the angle to indicate the posture are increased. II . Concerning to the clothes design to diminish the shape of dorsal curvature 1) Among the designs by the position of darts, the basic pattern (Fig. 5-1-(1)) showed the best effect to mask the shape of dorsal curvature. 2) Out of the applied designs of princess lines, that in which the slash line is pointing toward the shoulder point (Fig. 5-2-(1)) seemed to be most effective. 3) What has angled princess line (Fig. 5-3-(1)) had the most diminishing effect among the waist darts and armhole princess lines. 4) Among the V-shaped designs, the slashed at the shoulder point (Fig. 5-4-(1)) had the best effect to lessen the shape of the dorsal cuuature. 5) Wider angle yoke had better effect to the narrow angle one among the designs with straight yoke, and that with downward direction (Fig. 5-5-(1)) showed the best effect. 6) Between straight wide angle yoke and curved yoke, that of curved one with downward direction (Fig. 5-6-(1)) had better effect as far as the masking effect of dorsal curvature is concerned. 7) Gathers around the neck showed better effect to those around the shoulder, and the more amount of gathers (Fig. 5-7-(1)), there was better effect. 8) The design with midline gathers at the level of horizontal slash line of armhole (Fig. 5-8-(1)) showed better effect to that with seperated gathers. 9) In case of design with gathers at the horizontal line of armhole, it showed the better effect with less amount of gathers in midline ones, but with more amount in the side ones. 10) Considering all 7 different designs with better effect in covering the shape of dorsal curvature, it was evident that the design with gathers was far better than the design with application of slash lines.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.33-33
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• 1998

The most recent, Jeong and Nakabo (1997) described Raja koreana as a new species based on an adult female specimen collected from the southwestern coast of Korean Peninsula. Raja koreana has several unique characters not shared with any other supraspecific taxa of Rajoidei, but it was provisionally included in the genus Raja because of having no information of its clasper. Later, two mature males and a few specimens of the species were collected from near the type locality. Therefore, a new genus should be erected for this species. The new genus is characterized by the followings: Rostral shaft straight, narrow and thick in depth: unsegmented base with filamentous cartilage. Dorsal surface of tail with a row of distinct thorns along midline, patches of distinct thorns anterior to first dorsal fin and between first and second dorsal fins in bathe sexes; most thorns directed anteriorly, and thornlets directed posteriorly. Scapulocoracoid comparatively short and high, rear corner high, without anterior bridge, postventral fenestra expanded. Distal tip of accessory terminal 1 claspser cartilage well separated from the tip of accessory terminal 2 clasper cartilage.