Epimorphin Mediates Mammary Luminal Morphogenesis through Control of C/EBPβ

We have shown previously that epimorphin (EPM), a protein expressed on the surface of myoepithelial and fibroblast cells of the mammary gland, acts as a multifunctional morphogen of mammary epithelial cells. Here, we present the molecular mechanism by which EPM mediates luminal morphogenesis. Treatment of cells with EPM to induce lumen formation greatly increases the overall expression of transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)β and alters the relative expression of its two principal isoforms, LIP and LAP. These alterations were shown to be essential for the morphogenetic activities, since constitutive expression of LIP was sufficient to produce lumen formation, whereas constitutive expression of LAP blocked EPM-mediated luminal morphogenesis. Furthermore, in a transgenic mouse model in which EPM expression was expressed in an apolar fashion on the surface of mammary epithelial cells, we found increased expression of C/EBPβ, increased relative expression of LIP to LAP, and enlarged ductal lumina. Together, our studies demonstrate a role for EPM in luminal morphogenesis through control of C/EBPβ expression

Development of a quantitative prediction model for peripheral blood stem cell collection yield in the plerixafor era

BACKGROUND AIMS: Predicting autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection yield before leukapheresis is important for optimizing PBSC mobilization and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for treating hematological malignancies. Although guidelines for plerixafor usage based on peripheral blood CD34+ (PB-CD34+) cell count are available, their predictive performance in the real world remains unclear. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed 55 mobilization procedures for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma and developed a novel quantitative prediction model for CD34+ cell collection yield that incorporated four clinical parameters available the day before leukapheresis; namely, PB-CD34+ cell count the day before apheresis (day -1 PB-CD34+), number of prior chemotherapy regimens, disease status at apheresis and mobilization protocol. RESULTS: The effects of PB-CD34+ cell counts on CD34+ cell collection yield varied widely per patient characteristics, and plerixafor usage was recommended in patients with poorly controlled disease or those with a history of heavy pre-treatments even with abundant day -1 PB-CD34+ cell count. This model suggested a more proactive use of plerixafor than that recommended by the guidelines for patients with poor pre-collection condition or those with a higher target number of CD34+ cells. Further, the authors analyzed the clinical outcomes of ASCT and found that plerixafor use for stem cell mobilization did not affect short- or long-term outcomes after ASCT. CONCLUSIONS: Although external validations are necessary, the results can be beneficial for establishing more effective and safer mobilization strategies

Influence of obesity on the short-term outcome of laparoscopic colectomy for colorectal cancer

Purpose: Obesity has been generally associated with increased surgical risk. However, data on the outcome of laparoscopic colectomy in obese and non-obese patients are controversial. The aim of this study is to assess the short-term outcome of laparoscopic colectomy for colorectal cancer (CRC) in obese patients as compared with non-obese patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection for CRC during the past six years were retrospectively evaluated. The patients with CRC involving the sigmoid or rectosigmoid colon and subjected to intracorporeal anastomosis were included in this study. They were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI): obese (BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m 2 ), pre-obese (BMI: 25.0-27.9 kg/m 2 ) and non-obese (BMI < 25.0 kg/m 2 ). Results: Nine patients (13.0 %) were obese, 11 patients (15.9%) were pre-obese and 49 patients (71.1%) were non-obese. Patient characteristics, such as age, gender, tumor location, previous laparotomy, were similar among the three groups. There were no significant differences in operative time, blood loss, intraoperative complications and conversion rates. Postoperative complications and duration of postoperative hospital stay were also similar among the three groups. However, two of the three patients in the pre-obese group had to be operated on again due to incarceration of the small bowel into a port site. Conclusions: Laparoscopic colectomy can be safely performed in obese patients with short-term results similar to those obtained in non-obese and pre-obese patients

Influence of obesity on the short-term outcome of laparoscopic colectomy for colorectal cancer

Purpose: Obesity has been generally associated with increased surgical risk. However, data on the outcome of laparoscopic colectomy in obese and non-obese patients are controversial. The aim of this study is to assess the short-term outcome of laparoscopic colectomy for colorectal cancer (CRC) in obese patients as compared with non-obese patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection for CRC during the past six years were retrospectively evaluated. The patients with CRC involving the sigmoid or rectosigmoid colon and subjected to intracorporeal anastomosis were included in this study. They were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI): obese (BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m 2 ), pre-obese (BMI: 25.0-27.9 kg/m 2 ) and non-obese (BMI < 25.0 kg/m 2 ). Results: Nine patients (13.0 %) were obese, 11 patients (15.9%) were pre-obese and 49 patients (71.1%) were non-obese. Patient characteristics, such as age, gender, tumor location, previous laparotomy, were similar among the three groups. There were no significant differences in operative time, blood loss, intraoperative complications and conversion rates. Postoperative complications and duration of postoperative hospital stay were also similar among the three groups. However, two of the three patients in the pre-obese group had to be operated on again due to incarceration of the small bowel into a port site. Conclusions: Laparoscopic colectomy can be safely performed in obese patients with short-term results similar to those obtained in non-obese and pre-obese patients