modeling-paracrine-noncanonical-wnt-signaling-in-vitro

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling <em>In Vitro</em>

Noncanonical Wnt signaling regulates intracellular actin filament organization and polarized migration of progenitor cells during embryogenesis. This ...

Keck School of Medicine of USC

The epicardium is an epithelial monolayer that plays a central role in heart development and the myocardial response to injury. Recent developments in our understanding of epicardial cell biology have revealed this layer to be a dynamic participant in fundamental processes underlying the development of the embryonic ventricles, the coronary vasculature, and the cardiac valves. Likewise, recent data have identified the epicardium as an important contributor to reparative and regenerative processes in the injured myocardium. These essential functions of the epicardium rely on both non-cell autonomous and cell-autonomous mechanisms, with the latter featuring the process of epicardial Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). This review will focus on the induction and regulation of epicardial EMT, as it pertains to both cardiogenesis and the response of the myocardium to injury. 

Epicardial Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Heart Development and Disease.

It is currently estimated that nearly one-third of patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have stage I-II disease on clinical evaluation. Curative-intent surgical resection has been a cornerstone of the therapeutic management of such patients, offering the best clinical and oncologic outcomes in the long-term. In 1999, Peter Bach and colleagues brought attention to racial disparities in the receipt of curative-intent surgery in the NSCLC population. In the time since this seminal study, there is accumulating evidence to suggest that disparities in the receipt of definitive surgery continue to persist for patients with early stage NSCLC. In this review, we sought to provide an up-to-date assessment of 20 years of surgical disparities literature in the NSCLC population. We summarized common and unrecognized disparities in the receipt of surgical resection for early stage NSCLC and demonstrated that demographic and socioeconomic factors such as race/ethnicity, special patient groups, income and insurance continue to impact the receipt of definitive resection. Additionally, we found that discrepancies in patient and provider perceptions of and attitudes toward surgery, access to invasive staging, distance to treatment centers and negative stigmas about lung cancer that patients experience may act to perpetuate disparities in surgical treatment of early stage lung cancer.

Disparities in the surgical management of early stage non-small cell lung cancer: how far have we come?

Injury to healthy dermis and the dermoepidermal junction initiates a robust healing process consisting of fibrous tissue overgrowth, collagen deposition, and scar formation. The conventional management of scars and other skin injuries has largely relied upon surgical soft tissue transfer to resurface and/or replace damaged and dysmorphic tissue with new skin. However, these strategies are invasive, expensive, and may further exacerbate integumentary injury. In this study, we examine the creation of in situ redox generated pH changes in fresh human skin. We believe this process of "electrochemical therapy" (ECT) leads to changes in collagen matrix structure. Our objective is to map local tissue pH landscapes and image changes in collagen structure of non-injured skin following ECT.

Multiphoton Microscopy of Collagen Structure in Ex Vivo Human Skin Following Electrochemical Therapy.

Socioeconomic status (SES) disparities in the surgical management of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are well described. Disparities in the receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy are poorly understood. We assessed the influence of SES on adjuvant chemotherapy after resection in patients with pN1 NSCLC.

Disparities in Guideline-Concordant Treatment for Pathologic N1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Recently, there have been concerted efforts to improve racial and ethnic diversity in the physician-scientist workforce. Identifying factors associated with career choices among those underrepresented in medicine and science is a necessary first step to advance this objective. The aim of the present study was to assess the attitudes and factors associated with academic and research career interests among underrepresented predoctoral physician-scientists.

Factors associated with underrepresented minority physician scientist trainee career choices.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) frequently occurs in conjunction with extracardiac developmental anomalies, including cleft malformations. The clinical impact of concomitant cleft disease on the surgical management of CHD has not been studied. We evaluated cardiac surgical outcomes in patients with concomitant CHD and cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).

Clinical Importance of Concomitant Cleft Lip/Palate in the Surgical Management of Patients With Congenital Heart Disease.

A growing body of evidence has demonstrated racial disparities in bariatric surgery (BS) outcomes. We aimed to investigate the impact of race on postoperative percent excess weight loss (%EWL) and patient satisfaction.

Racial disparities in bariatric surgery postoperative weight loss and patient satisfaction.

Though the proportion of women in medical schools has increased, gender disparities among those who pursue research careers still exists. In this study, we seek to better understand the main factors contributing to the existing gender disparities among medical students choosing to pursue careers in medical research.

Omar Toubat

Department of Surgery

Keck School of Medicine of USC

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

Omar Toubat

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Surgery

Keck School of Medicine of USC

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

Department of Surgery