This study demonstrated that FRG extract had an adjuvant effect on advanced NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy. Further studies with a larger sample size will verify the current findings.

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Bimetallic electrocatalysts have emerged as a viable strategy to tune the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) for the selective production of valuable base chemicals and fuels. However, obtaining high product selectivity and catalyst stability remain challenging, which hinders the practical application of eCO2RR. In this work, it was found that a small doping concentration of tin (Sn) in copper oxide (CuO) has profound influence on the catalytic performance, boosting the Faradaic efficiency (FE) up to 98% for carbon monoxide (CO) at −0.75 V versus RHE, with prolonged stable performance (FE > 90%) for up to 15 h. Through a combination of ex situ and in situ characterization techniques, the in situ activation and reaction mechanism of the electrocatalyst at work was elucidated. In situ Raman spectroscopy measurements revealed that the binding energy of the crucial adsorbed *CO intermediate was lowered through Sn doping, thereby favoring gaseous CO desorption. This observation was confirmed by density functional theory, which further indicated that hydrogen adsorption and subsequent hydrogen evolution were hampered on the Sn-doped electrocatalysts, resulting in boosted CO formation. It was found that the pristine electrocatalysts consisted of CuO nanoparticles decorated with SnO2 domains, as characterized by ex situ high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. These pristine nanoparticles were subsequently in situ converted into a catalytically active bimetallic Sn-doped Cu phase. Our work sheds light on the intimate relationship between the bimetallic structure and catalytic behavior, resulting in stable and selective oxide-derived Sn-doped Cu electrocatalysts.

Arnebin-1, a naphthoquinone derivative, plays a crucial role in the wound healing properties of Zicao (a traditional wound healing herbal medicine). It has been noted that Arnebin-1, in conjunction with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), exerts a synergistic pro-angiogenic effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and accelerates the healing process of diabetic wounds. However, the mechanisms responsible for the pro-angiogenic effect of arnebin-1 on HUVECs and its healing effect on diabetic wounds have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, in an aim to elucidate these mechanisms of action of arnebin-1, we investigated the effects of arnebin-1 on the VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent signaling pathways in HUVECs treated with VEGF by western blot analysis. The pro-angiogenic effects of arnebin-1 on HUVECs, including its effects on proliferation and migration, were evaluated by MTT assay, Transwell assay and tube formation assay in vitro. The expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and VEGF were determined by western blot analysis in the HUVECs and wound tissues obtained from non-diabetic and diabetic rats. CD31 expression in the rat wounds was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. We found that the activation of the VEGFR2 signaling pathway induced by VEGF was enhanced by arnebin-1. Arnebin-1 promoted endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation through the PI3K-dependent pathway. Moreover, Arnebin-1 significantly increased the eNOS, VEGF and HIF-1α expression levels in the HUVECs and accelerated the healing of diabetic wounds through the PI3K-dependent signaling pathway. CD31 expression was markedly enhanced in the wounds of diabetic rats treated with arnebin-1 compared to the wounds of untreated diabetic rats. Therefore, the findings of the present study indicate that arnebin-1 promotes the wound healing process in diabetic rats by eliciting a pro-angiogenic response.

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