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Abstract Patient‐derived xenografts (PDX) involve transplanting patient cells or tissues into immunodeficient mice, offering superior disease models compared with cell line xenografts and genetically engineered mice. In contrast to traditional cell‐line xenografts and genetically engineered mice, PDX models harbor the molecular and biologic features from the original patient tumor and are generationally stable. This high fidelity makes PDX models particularly suitable for preclinical and coclinical drug testing, therefore better predicting therapeutic efficacy. Although PDX models are becoming more useful, the several factors influencing their reliability and predictive power are not well understood. Several existing studies have looked into the possibility that PDX models could be important in enhancing our knowledge with regard to tumor genetics, biomarker discovery, and personalized medicine; however, a number of problems still need to be addressed, such as the high cost and time‐consuming processes involved, together with the variability in tumor take rates. This review addresses these gaps by detailing the methodologies to generate PDX models, their application in cancer research, and their advantages over other models. Further, it elaborates on how artificial intelligence and machine learning were incorporated into PDX studies to fast‐track therapeutic evaluation. This review is an overview of the progress that has been done so far in using PDX models for cancer research and shows their potential to be further improved in improving our understanding of oncogenesis.

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a clinical syndrome with neurogenic claudication, low back ache, with radiating pain to lower limbs, due to a decrease in spinal canal dimensions. Degeneration is the most common etiology, resulting due to facet joint arthropathy and intervertebral disc protrusion. Surgical intervention should be considered when conservative methods fail or if there is a progressive worsening of signs or symptoms. Most of surgical techniques are based on the principles of decompression with or without stabilization and fusion. Two or more levels of laminectomy with stabilization and fusion provide effective spinal stability but have limited adverse effect. Methodology: This is a study of 40 patients with lumbar canal stenosis, who were admitted in Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital, from July 01, 2016, to August 01, 2022. The patients admitted were allocated alternatively into two groups, decompression alone and decompression with stabilization/fusion with 20 cases each, respectively. Results: Both the groups were analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively based on demographic criteria and on clinical history, radiographic angle measurements, and Oswestry Disability Index. Conclusion: The diagnosis of LSS is often challenging and requires proper clinical assessment of the patients and their symptoms and correlates with the radiological findings. Considering these, we suggest decompression alone may be considered rather than stabilization and fusion in patients with less than two-level stenosis and stabilization with fusion more than two levels.

Heart failure (HF) is a widespread cardiovascular condition that poses significant risks to a wide spectrum of age groups and leads to terminal illness. Although our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of HF has improved, the available treatments still remain inadequate. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as crucial players in cardiac function, showing possibilities as potential targets for HF therapy. These versatile molecules interact with chromatin, proteins, RNA, and DNA, influencing gene regulation. Notable lncRNAs like Fendrr, Trpm3, and Scarb2 have demonstrated therapeutic potential in HF cases. Additionally, utilizing lncRNAs to forecast survival rates in HF patients and distinguish various cardiac remodeling conditions holds great promise, offering significant benefits in managing cardiovascular disease and addressing its far-reaching societal and economic impacts. This underscores the pivotal role of lncRNAs in the context of HF research and treatment.

Natural polymers have attracted significant attention in drug delivery applications due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility. However, their surface properties often limit their use as drug delivery vehicles, as they may exhibit poor wettability, weak adhesion, and inadequate drug loading and release. Plasma treatment is a promising surface modification technique that can overcome these limitations by introducing various functional groups onto the natural polymer surface, thus enhancing its physicochemical and biological properties. This review provides a critical overview of recent advances in the plasma modification of natural polymer-based drug delivery systems, with a focus on controllable plasma treatment techniques. The review covers the fundamental principles of plasma generation, process control, and characterization of plasma-treated natural polymer surfaces. It discusses the various applications of plasma-modified natural polymer-based drug delivery systems, including improved biocompatibility, controlled drug release, and targeted drug delivery. The challenges and emerging trends in the field of plasma modification of natural polymer-based drug delivery systems are also highlighted. The review concludes with a discussion of the potential of controllable plasma treatment as a versatile and effective tool for the surface functionalization of natural polymer-based drug delivery systems.

Antibiotic resistance represents one of the biggest challenges, and there is an urgent need for plant-based antimicrobial agents that enable managing this crisis effectively. In this work, we aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of Astragalus candolleanus (A. candolleanus) hydromethanolic root extract against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Kocuria rhizophila) strains by the cup-plate method. The root was powdered and extracted with 70% methanol by cold maceration for 5 days. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed with different solvents in the order of increasing polarity. Pure compounds were isolated by column chromatography and were characterized through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Targeted predictions of the isolated compounds were also studied using Swiss Target prediction software and prediction of activity spectra for substances. The extract showed a broad zone of inhibition against pathogenic bacteria. Four pure compounds were isolated, of which a novel terpenoid compound has been identified as stemmadenine along with scillirosidin, cephalotaxine, and myxoxanthophyll. The structures of the isolated phytoconstituents were elucidated by spectral analysis. The four pure components isolated from the roots of A. candolleanus are suggested to be effective against tested pathogens. Overall results of drug design suggest that myxoxanthophyll is a promising bioactive compound endowed with antibacterial activity.

The current study analyzes the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using the Cassia auriculate flower extract as the reducing and stabilizing agent. The Cassia auriculate- silver nanoparticles (Ca-AgNPs) obtained are characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The results of the spectral characterization have revealed that the surface Plasmon resonance band observed at 448 nm confirms the formation of AgNPs. TEM analysis of the Ca-AgNPs was a predominately spherical shape with a size assortment of 30 to 80 nm and an angular size of 50 nm. The well-analyzed Ca-AgNPs were used in various biological assays, including healthcare analysis of antimicrobial, antioxidant (DPPH), and cytotoxic investigations. Ca-AgNPs showed efficient free radical scavenging activity and showed excellent antimicrobial activity against to pathogenic strains. The occurrence of Ca-AgNPs lead to reduced Live/Dead ratio of bacteria (from 36.97 ± 1.35 to 9.43 ± 0.27) but improved the accumulation of bacterial clusters. The cytotoxicity of Ca-AgNPs was carried out by MTT assay against MCF-7 breast cancer cells and a moderate cytotoxic. The approach of flower extract-mediated synthesis is a cost-efficient, eco-friendly, and easy alternative to conventional methods of silver nanoparticle synthesis.

Small RNA (sRNA) has become an alternate biotechnology tool for sustaining eco-agriculture by enhancing plant solidity and managing environmental hazards over traditional methods. Plants synthesize a variety of sRNA to silence the crucial genes of pests or plant immune inhibitory proteins and counter adverse environmental conditions. These sRNAs can be cultivated using biotechnological methods to apply directly or through bacterial systems to counter the biotic stress. On the other hand, through synthesizing sRNAs, microbial networks indicate toxic elements in the environment, which can be used effectively in environmental monitoring and management. Moreover, microbes possess sRNAs that enhance the degradation of xenobiotics and maintain bio-geo-cycles locally. Selective bacterial and plant sRNA systems can work symbiotically to establish a sustained eco-agriculture system. An sRNA-mediated approach is becoming a greener tool to replace xenobiotic pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemical remediation elements. The review focused on the applications of sRNA in both sustained agriculture and bioremediation. It also discusses limitations and recommends various approaches toward future improvements for a sustained eco-agriculture system.