RESUMO
Given the high rates of incidence and mortality associated with pancreatic cancer (PanC), there is a need to develop alternative strategies to target PanC. Recent studies have demonstrated that fruits of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) exhibit strong anticancer efficacy against PanC. However, the comparative effects of different bitter melon varieties have not been investigated. This has important implications, given that several bitter melon cultivars are geographically available but their differential effects are not known; and that on a global level, individuals could consume different bitter melon varieties sourced from different cultivars for anti-PanC benefits. Considering these shortcomings, in the present study, comparative pre-clinical anti-PanC studies have been conducted using lyophilized-juice and aqueous-methanolic extracts of the two most widely consumed but geographically diverse bitter melon varieties (Chinese [bitter melon juice; BMJ] and Indian [bitter melon extract; BME] variants). We observed that both BMJ and BME possess comparable efficacy against PanC growth and progression; specifically, these preparations have the potential to (a) inhibit PanC cell proliferation and induce cell death; (b) suppress PanC tumor growth, proliferation, and induce apoptosis; (c) restrict capillary tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and decrease angiogenesis in PanC tumor xenografts. Thus, given the comparable pre-clinical anti-PanC efficacy of bitter melon cultivars, the geographical non-availability of a certain cultivar should not be a limiting factor in selecting a variant for moving forward for future clinical use/clinical trials either as a preventive or a therapeutic alternative for targeting PanC.
RESUMO
Radiation induced carotid stenosis (RICS) is known but challenging complication of head and neck irradiation. Endovascular revascularization is preferred treatment modality than surgical revascularization. Sometimes endovascular treatment may be difficult in view of long segment of stenosis and associated pseudoaneurysm. We report a unique technique of carotid stenting named as "conjoined stent technique" in a challenging case of RICS with long segment of stenosis and pseudoaneurysm. In this technique we overlapped distal end of one stent with proximal end of second stent to occlude pseudoaneurysm. "Conjoined stent technique" may be viable option in case of long segment of RICS with associated pseudoaneurysm and alternative to flow diverters in extracranial carotid pseudoaneurysm.