Mature adipocytes are suggested to promote breast cancer progression in the cancer microenvironment. However, the contribution of mature adipocytes to breast cancer development is unclear. In the present study, we transplanted breast cancer cells into the mammary fat pad of the mature adipocyte-lineage tracing mice. Histological evaluation revealed that “Adipocyte-derived fibroblast-like cells (AFC)” appeared in the tumors. Some AFC were positive for pericyte markers or pro-adipogenic fibroblasts (PAF) markers. These results indicate that mature adipocytes can be transformed into pericytes and PAF in breast cancer microenvironment.

A woman in her 70s first presented with asymptomatic right internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, which was discovered incidentally during investigation for dizziness, and was followed up with MRA for over 10 years. She experienced sudden onset of headache, and CT revealed SAH. Cerebral angiography revealed a plexiform arterial network from the C2 portion of the right ICA that extended from the sylvian fissure to the temporal lobe. Angiography was used to visualize the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) from the contralateral side via the anterior communicating artery. She was followed conservatively and discharged home with a modified Rankin scale score of 0. Three years after the onset of SAH, she has not experienced any rebleeding episodes. In this case, MRA revealed ICA stenosis, so antiplatelet drugs were administered, and she was followed up with MRA. However, MRA can only provide morphological evaluation with blood flow investigation and cannot allow detailed evaluation of nonvisualized blood vessels. Plexus vessels that develop as collateral circulation associated with asymptomatic intracranial ICA stenosis/occlusion can also be at risk of bleeding. Rather than continuing indecisive follow-up with MRAs, we recommend invasive tests such as cerebral angiography to accurately understand and follow any progressive development of this condition.

A 77-year-old woman presented to our hospital with constipation and abdominal pain. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a whirl sign in the sigmoid colon mesentery and a dilated sigmoid colon with a large lump of stool masses. The patient was diagnosed with sigmoid volvulus and underwent a nonoperative procedure; however, detorsion was impossible due to the torsion caused by the stool masses. Owing to the appearance of peritoneal irritation symptoms, she subsequently underwent an emergency Hartmann's procedure (resection of the sigmoid colon with the creation of a colostomy). The presence of a large lump of hard stool masses in the twisted and dilated bowel strongly suggests resistance to nonoperative procedures; thus, emergency surgery should be considered.