Effect of the number of response alternatives on brain activity in response selection

Sung-Ho, W,Kyoung-Min, L WILEY-LISS, INC 2007 HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING Vol.28 No.10

<P>It is well-known in motor control literature that a response time (RT) increases as a logarithmic function of the number of response alternatives (NA) (Hick's law). In this study, we identified neural correlates for this relationship using event-related functional MRI and a choice finger-movement task. Behaviorally, average RTs of all subjects increased as a logarithmic function of the NA in accordance with the law. From a voxel-wise search for brain areas where the activity was correlated with NA and thence the RT, a positive correlation was found at the posterior cingulate and left superior frontal gyri, whereas a negative correlation was observed at areas in bilateral inferior parietal lobules. This differential modulation by the task context, namely, the NA available for a choice response with identical stimulus and response, indicates that these regions are involved in various aspects of response selection, intentional retrieval of motor program, or spatial expectancy. Hum Brain Mapp 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Technique of semiautomatic surface reconstruction of the visible Korean human data using commercial software

Park, Jin Seo,Shin, Dong Sun,Chung, Min Suk,Hwang, Sung Bae,Chung, Jinoh WILEY-LISS, INC 2007 Clinical Anatomy Vol. No.

<P>This article describes the technique of semiautomatic surface reconstruction of anatomic structures using widely available commercial software. This technique would enable researchers to promptly and objectively perform surface reconstruction, creating three-dimensional anatomic images without any assistance from computer engineers. To develop the technique, we used data from the Visible Korean Human project, which produced digitalized photographic serial images of an entire cadaver. We selected 114 anatomic structures (skin [1], bones [32], knee joint structures [7], muscles [60], arteries [7], and nerves [7]) from the 976 anatomic images which were generated from the left lower limb of the cadaver. Using Adobe Photoshop, the selected anatomic structures in each serial image were outlined, creating a segmented image. The Photoshop files were then converted into Adobe Illustrator files to prepare isolated segmented images, so that the contours of the structure could be viewed independent of the surrounding anatomy. Using Alias Maya, these isolated segmented images were then stacked to construct a contour image. Gaps between the contour lines were filled with surfaces, and three-dimensional surface reconstruction could be visualized with Rhinoceros. Surface imperfections were then corrected to complete the three-dimensional images in Alias Maya. We believe that the three-dimensional anatomic images created by these methods will have widespread application in both medical education and research. Clin. Anat. 20:871–879, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Optimization of the concentration of autologous serum for generation of leukemic dendritic cells from acute myeloid leukemic cells for clinical immunotherapy

Choi, Bo-Hwa,Kang, Hyun-Kyu,Park, Jung-Sun,Kim, Sang-Ki,Pham, Than-Nhan Nguyen,Zhu, Xiao-Wei,Cho, Duck,Nam, Jong-Hee,Chung, Ik-Joo,Kim, Young-Jin,Rhee, Joon-Haeng,Kim, Hyeoung-Joon,Lee, Je-Jung Wiley-Liss 2006 JOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS Vol.21 No.4

<P>Clinical application of immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) requires the efficient induction of dendritic cells (DCs) from AML blast cells using in vitro culture. We examined the effect of autologous serum on the properties of leukemic DCs derived from leukemic cells of AML patients by culture in AIM-V medium with GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-α, and 0, 2, 5, or 10% human autologous serum. The expressions of CD80, CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR were upregulated under all culture conditions; however, 10% autologous serum induced the highest expression levels of several molecules. The capacity of leukemic DCs to stimulate allogeneic T cells increased with increasing serum concentration. Stimulation of autologous CD3+ T cells with leukemic DCs grown in the presence of various concentrations of autologous serum resulted in induction of more IFN-γ-secreting cells than was the case for unprimed CD3+ T cells. Leukemic DCs cultured with 10% autologous serum induced the highest numbers of IFN-γ-secreting cells and CD8+CD56+ T cells from autologous T cells. These results suggest that culture of AML blast cells in the presence of autologous serum could be used to generate leukemic DCs for immunotherapy against AML. The highest serum concentration appeared optimal for generating the most potent leukemic DCs. J. Clin. Apheresis. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Dynamic DNA methylation reprogramming: Active demethylation and immediate remethylation in the male pronucleus of bovine zygotes

Park, Jung Sun,Jeong, Young Sun,Shin, Sang Tae,Lee, Kyung-Kwang,Kang, Yong-Kook Wiley-Liss,Inc 2007 Developmental dynamics Vol.236 No.9

<P>DNA methylation reprogramming (DMR) is believed to be a key process by which mammalian zygotes gain nuclear totipotency through erasing epigenetic modifications acquired during gametogenesis. Nonetheless, DMR patterns do not seem to be conserved among mammals. To identify uniform rules underlying mammalian DMRs, we explored DMRs of diverse mammalian zygotes. Of the zygotes studied, of particular interest was the bovine zygote; the paternal DNA methylation first decreased and was then rapidly restored almost to the maternal methylation level even before the two-cell stage. The 5-azadeoxycytidine treatment led to complete demethylation of the male pronucleus. The unusually dramatic changes in DNA methylation levels indicate that the bovine male pronucleus undergoes active demethylation, which is followed by de novo methylation. Our results show that, in bovine, the compound processes of active DNA demethylation and de novo DNA methylation, along with de novo H3-K9 trimethylation also, take place altogether within this very narrow window of pronucleus development. Developmental Dynamics 236:2523–2533, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Dynamic expression patterns of zebrafish 1G5 (1G5z), a calmodulin kinase-like gene in the developing nervous system

Won, Minho,Ro, Hyunju,Park, Hae-Chul,Kim, Kyoon E.,Huh, Tae-Lin,Kim, Cheol-Hee,Rhee, Myungchull Wiley-Liss, Inc. 2006 Developmental dynamics Vol.235 No.3

<P>Evolutionarily well-conserved Ca<SUP>2+</SUP>/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) proteins are known for their role as Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> signaling mediators. 1G5 encodes a CaMK like protein, which belongs to a calmodulin (CaM) kinase gene family. Here, we report the isolation of zebrafish homologue of mammalian 1G5, which we named 1G5z. 1G5z is composed of three major domains: (1) an N-terminal serine/threonine kinase domain, (2) a central calmodulin-binding domain, and (3) a C-terminal alanine-rich domain, the 1G5z-specific domain. 1G5z shares 83∼84% homology with other vertebrate 1G5 proteins. Spatiotemporal expression studies found that 1G5z is expressed by means of zygotic transcription and appears in various neuronal tissues from the 20-somite stage. 1G5z transcripts are more regionalized in the brain and spinal cord at 24 hr postfertilization (hpf). At 35 hpf, 1G5z transcripts are exclusively present in the anterior trunk spinal cord as well as in the hindbrain, tegmentum, hypothalamus, and telencephalon. This expression pattern lasts until 48 hpf but ceases in the trunk. At 72 hpf, 1G5z is abundantly transcribed particularly in the specific region of the tectum and eye. We further observed that the number of 1G5z-positive cells is dramatically increased in the mindbomb mutant embryos but abolished in the trigeminal ganglion and caudal trunk sensory neuron of the neurogenin1 morphant at 24 hpf. In addition, bromodeoxyuridine staining further confirmed that the 1G5z-positive cells were postmitotic sensory and interneurons. Developmental Dynamics 235:835–842, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Serial cloning of pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer: Restoration of phenotypic normality during serial cloning

Cho, Seong-Keun,Kim, Jae-Hwan,Park, Jong-Yi,Choi, Yun-Jung,Bang, Jae-Il,Hwang, Kyu-Chan,Cho, Eun-Jeong,Sohn, Sea-Hwan,Uhm, Sang Jun,Koo, Deog-Bon,Lee, Kyung-Kwang,Kim, Teoan,Kim, Jin-Hoi Wiley-Liss,Inc 2007 Developmental dynamics Vol.236 No.12

<P>Somatic cell nuclear transfer (scNT) is a useful way to create cloned animals. However, scNT clones exhibit high levels of phenotypic instability. This instability may be due to epigenetic reprogramming and/or genomic damage in the donor cells. To test this, we produced transgenic pig fibroblasts harboring the truncated human thrombopoietin (hTPO) gene and used them as donor cells in scNT to produce first-generation (G1) cloned piglets. In this study, 2,818 scNT embryos were transferred to 11 recipients and five G1 piglets were obtained. Among them, a clone had a dimorphic facial appearance with severe hypertelorism and a broad prominent nasal bridge. The other clones looked normal. Second-generation (G2) scNT piglets were then produced using ear cells from a G1 piglet that had an abnormal nose phenotype. We reasoned that, if the phenotypic abnormality of the G1 clone was not present in the G2 and third-generation (G3) clones, or was absent in the G2 clones but reappeared in the G3 clones, the phenotypic instability of the G1 clone could be attributed to faulty epigenetic reprogramming rather than to inherent/accidental genomic damage to the donor cells. Blastocyst rates, cell numbers in blastocyst, pregnancy rates, term placenta weight and ponderal index, and birth weight between G1 and G2 clones did not differ, but were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than control age- and sex-matched piglets. Next, we analyzed global methylation changes during development of the preimplantation embryos reconstructed by donor cells used for the production of G1 and G2 clones and could not find any significant differences in the methylation patterns between G1 and G2 clones. Indeed, we failed to detect the phenotypic abnormality in the G2 and G3 clones. Thus, the phenotypic abnormality of the G1 clone is likely to be due to epigenetic dysregulation. Additional observations then suggested that expression of the hTPO gene in the transgenic clones did not appear to be the cause of the phenotypic abnormality in the G1 clones and that the abnormality was acquired by only a few of the G1 clone's cells during its gestational development. Developmental Dynamics 236:3369–3382, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Isolation and functional analysis of a 24-residue linear &agr;-helical antimicrobial peptide from Korean blackish cicada, Cryptotympana dubia (Homoptera)

Park, Doo-Sang,Leem, Jae Yoon,Suh, Eun Young,Hur, Jang Hyun,Oh, Hyun-Woo,Park, Ho-Yong Wiley-Liss 2007 Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology Vol.66 No.4

<P>A new antimicrobial peptide, cryptonin, was isolated and characterized from the adult Korean blackish cicada, Cryptotympana dubia. It consists of 24 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 2,704 Da on mass spectroscopy. The predicted &agr;-helical structure analysis and increased helix percent in 40% trifloroethanol of cryptonin suggests that it belongs to the typical linear &agr;-helix forming peptide. Binding of the biotin-labeled cryptonin at the surface of E. coli cells and increased influx of propidium iodide in E. coli after cryptonin treatment indicates that it kills microbial cells by binding bacterial cell surfaces and disrupting the cell permeability. Cryptonin showed strong antibacterial (MIC 1.56–25 &mgr;g/ml) and antifungal (MIC 3.12–50 &mgr;g/ml) activities against tested bacteria and fungi including two antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains; methicilin-resistant S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (MIC 25 &mgr;g/ml, each). Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 66:204–213, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Gradual development of a genome-wide H3-K9 trimethylation pattern in paternally derived pig pronucleus

Jeong, Young Sun,Yeo, Seungeun,Park, Jung Sun,Lee, Kyung-Kwang,Kang, Yong-Kook Wiley-Liss, Inc. 2007 Developmental dynamics Vol.236 No.6

<P>The cytoplasm of a mature oocyte contains many protein complexes that are programmed to restructure incoming sperm chromatins on fertilization. Of the complicated biochemical events that these functional machineries control, the most impressive and important is epigenetic reprogramming. Despite its importance in epigenetic resetting, or “de-differentiation,” of gamete genomes back to an incipient status, the mechanisms of epigenetic reprogramming do not seem to be conserved among mammals. Here, we report that, unlike in the mouse, the pig sperm-derived pronucleus is markedly trimethylated at lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3-m<SUB>3</SUB>K9), which might be associated with preservation of paternally derived cytosine methylation in pig zygotes. The male H3-m<SUB>3</SUB>K9 pattern is gradually established during pronucleus development, and this process occurs independently of DNA replication. Considering these unique epigenetic features, the pig zygote is, we believe, suited to serve as another model of epigenetic reprogramming that is antithetical to the well-characterized mouse model. Developmental Dynamics 236:1509–1516, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Four twist genes in zebrafish, four expression patterns

Germanguz, Igal,Lev, Dmitri,Waisman, Tal,Kim, Cheol-Hee,Gitelman, Inna Wiley-Liss, Inc. 2007 Developmental dynamics Vol.236 No.9

<P>Twist genes code for regulatory bHLH proteins essential for embryonic development and conserved across the metazoa. There are four genes that constitute the zebrafish twist family: twist1a, twist1b, twist2, orthologs of the mammalian twist1 and twist2 genes; and twist3—a gene from a new clade that does not exist in mammals. Presented here are their embryonic mRNA expression profiles. The study extends the known conservation of twist developmental patterns in tetrapods to the fish, e.g., expression in cephalic neural crest, sclerotome and lateral plate mesoderm. Some other expression domains are unique, like hypochord and dorsal aorta; some, like the notochord, may be ancestral patterns retained from protochordates; and the expression in invaginating/migrating cells may have been retained from the jellyfish. Perhaps this is one of the more ancient functions of twist—conserved from diploblasts to humans—to facilitate cell movement. Developmental Dynamics 236:2615–2626, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Lymphatic development in mouse small intestine

Kim, Kyung Eun,Sung, Hoon-Ki,Koh, Gou Young Wiley-Liss, Inc. 2007 Developmental dynamics Vol.236 No.7

<P>Lymphatic vessels in the small intestine serve as essential conduits for the absorption and transport of lipids from the intestine to the thoracic duct. Although the morphology and function of the intestinal lymphatic vasculature are well known, little is known about the embryonic development of these vessels. In this study, we examined development of lymphatic and blood vasculatures in the intestinal tube during mouse embryonic development by immunostaining with recently discovered molecular markers for lymphatic endothelial cells: LYVE-1, VEGFR3, Prox-1, and podoplanin. Immature lymphatics became detectable in mesentery, but not in intestinal tube, around E13.5–E14.5, while organized lymphatic vessel plexuses and capillaries were observed in intestinal tube and villi around E17.5. These lymphatic plexuses and capillaries in the intestinal tube appeared to be formed through an active branching process associated with activation of VEGFR3 and involvement of LYVE-1+ macrophages. Our data also reveal that the lymphatic vessels in the intestinal tube, unlike the blood vessels, have not originated from the mesoderm of intestine. All lymphatic vessels in the intestinal tube originated by extension of mesenteric lymphatic vessels through an active branching process. Although the formation of lymphatic vessels follows the formation of blood vessels in the intestine, a mature lymphatic vasculature is formed before birth. Together, our study reveals the temporal and spatial windows of intestinal lymphatic development during embryonic development in mouse. Developmental Dynamics 236: 2020–2025, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>