1.Molecular Crosstalk Mechanisms of Shoutai Wan and Juyuan Jian on Maternal-fetal Interface Subcellular Clusters in CBA/J×DBA/2 Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Model
Jingxin GAO ; Qiuping CHEN ; Xiaoyan ZHENG ; Pengfei ZENG ; Rui ZHOU ; Yancai TANG ; Qian ZENG ; Wenli GUO ; Jinzhu HUANG ; Weijun DING ; Linwen DENG ; Hang ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):70-87
ObjectiveTo systematically compare the differential regulation of the maternal-fetal interface cell lineages and communication networks in the CBA/J×DBA/2 mouse model of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) by the two classic therapeutic methods-tonifying the kidney to stabilize the fetus and invigorating the spleen to stabilize the fetus (Shoutai Wan, Juyuan Jian)-of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at the single-cell resolution and clarify their modern scientific connotations. MethodsFemale non-pregnant CBA/J mice were caged with male BALB/c (blank group) and DBA/2 (modeling group) mice separately. Pregnant mice in the modeling group were randomly grouped as follows: high/low-dose Shoutai Wan, high/low-dose Juyuan Jian, model (RPL), and positive control (dydrogesterone), with 10 mice in each group. Starting from the day after the detection of the vaginal plug, mice were administrated with drugs or an equal volume of normal saline by gavage for 10 consecutive days. After the intervention, the following indicators were measured. ① Macroscopic evaluation: general conditions, uterine wet weight, embryo loss rate, four coagulation parameters [prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), and thrombin time (TT)], and peripheral blood estradiol (E2) and progesterone (Pg) levels. The decidua with embryos was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 homolog (LC3)Ⅰ/Ⅱ was quantified by Western blot. ② Mechanism analysis at the single-cell level: The decidua with embryos from the blank, model, high-dose Shoutai Wan, and high-dose Juyuan Jian groups (6 mice per group, with 3 single-cell samples per group, totaling 24 mice) were analyzed by the BD Rhapsody™ platform, and the whole-cell atlas was drawn by uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) dimensionality reduction clustering combined with the single-cell mouse cell atlas (scMCA). The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and cell interaction networks were analyzed via Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and CellChat, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) map of subtype cells was constructed. The CytoTRACE pseudo-temporal analysis was performed to explore the developmental trajectories of core immune cells (natural killer cells, NK cells) from maternal and fetal sources. Results① Pathological and Western blot results indicated that compared with the blank group, the RPL group showed an increase in the embryo loss rate (P<0.01), down-regulated expression of Bcl-2, LIF, MMP-2, and Vegf in the decidua with embryos (P<0.05), up-regulated protein levels of CXCL-12, AngⅡ, and IL-6 (P<0.05), blocked angiogenesis, apoptosis-inflammation imbalance, and coagulation dysfunction. Both prescriptions dose-dependently reduced the abortion rate and restored the angiogenesis-inflammation balance, and Shoutai pill showed superior performance in restoring the E2 level to the Pg level (P<0.05). ② Single-cell transcriptome analysis indicated that compared with the blank group, the RPL group showed differences in multiple key cell populations such as decidual cells, trophoblast cells, endothelial cells, erythroblasts, NK cells, and macrophages at the maternal-fetal interface. Immunity and angiogenesis were the key links in RPL. Compared with the RPL group, high-dose Shoutai Wan reversed the changes of NK cells in the embryonic layer (upregulating the mRNA levels of 17 genes and downregulating the mRNA levels of 29 genes) and macrophages (upregulating the mRNA levels of 117 genes and downregulating the mRNA levels of 53 genes) through the regulation of gene expression. High-dose Shoutai pill regulated the immune cells to affect unfolded proteins, cell adhesion, and programmed cell death, thereby promoting decidualization and angiogenesis and modulating embryo-membrane development. High-dose Juyuan Jian regulated the key subgroups of NK cells (up-regulating the mRNA levels of 9 genes and down-regulating the mRNA levels of 17 genes) and macrophages (up-regulating the mRNA levels of 110 genes and down-regulating the mRNA levels of 81 genes), which affected decidual inflammation and apoptosis and intervened in glycolysis. ③ The pseudo-temporal analysis and communication network indicated that the communication frequency of the RPL group decreased. High-dose Shoutai Wan restored maternal-fetal tolerance through pathways such as NKG2D, CDH5, GDF, and FASLG. High-dose Juyuan Jian enhanced the IL-6/LIFR/JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and desmosome/SEMA6/tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) signaling to improve endometrial receptivity. The RPL group showed an increased proportion of toxic dNK7, a decreased proportion of reparative dNK4, and blocked embryo fNK1. High-dose Shoutai Wan down-regulated dNK7 and up-regulated dNK4. High-dose Juyuan Jian inhibited the terminal differentiation of dNK7 and up-regulated LILRB1, thus restoring the balance of cytotoxicity and repair. ConclusionBoth the kidney-tonifying and spleen-invigorating methods are effective in treating RPL. NK and macrophages are the key immune cells in the interaction between the embryo and the membrane. The kidney-tonifying method (Shoutai Wan) has an advantage in regulating the phenotypes of unfolded protein, cell adhesion, and programmed cell death, and shows expression characteristics closer to the physiological state in the regulation of NKG2D and CDH5 signals. The spleen-invigorating method (Juyuan Jian) has an advantage in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and glycolysis and shows higher communication intensity in the IL-6 and LIFR pathways.
2.Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang and Its Single Active Ingredient in Treatment of Dyspepsia Caused by Chronic Cholecystitis: A Review
Wenwen YANG ; Yubei LU ; Lin CHEN ; Jing ZHANG ; Ying GAO ; Yajuan ZHANG ; Xiaoyan LI ; Jianfei YANG ; Xiaoli SHI ; Huanhuan LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):289-298
Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang was first recorded in the Treatise on Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun). This prescription is composed of Bupleuri Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Trichosanthis Radix, Ostreae Concha, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. It has the effects of soothing Lesser Yang, warming the spleen, and stimulating the generation of body fluid. It is mainly used to treat digestive tract diseases such as chronic cholecystitis (CC), irritable bowel syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Dyspepsia caused by CC presents a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, poor appetite, postprandial fullness, aversion to greasy food, soft stool, and bitter mouth, being a type of biliary dyspepsia. In modern medicine, dyspepsia caused by CC is mainly managed by medical treatment and surgical treatment. Internal medicine mainly focuses on reducing inflammation, promoting the function of gallbladder, resolving stones, alleviating spasms, and relieving the pain for CC, demonstrating definite short-term efficacy but suffering from single effects, high recurrence rate, and poor compliance. Although surgical treatment can cure cholecystitis, it is accompanied by the increased incidence of adverse events such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dyspepsia. Modern clinical studies have confirmed that Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang can significantly alleviate the symptoms such as abdominal pain and dyspepsia of CC patients. Pharmacological studies have found that Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang mainly contains active ingredients such as Bupleuri Radix saponins, baicalin, cinnamaldehyde, gingerol, Trichosanthis Radix polysaccharide, Ostreae Concha polysaccharide, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma total flavonoids. Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang can ameliorate the symptoms of dyspepsia caused by CC by inhibiting inflammatory responses, improving gallbladder contraction and gastrointestinal motility, regulating the bile acid-intestinal flora axis and the brain-gut axis, and modulating blood lipids through multiple targets. By reviewing the previous literature, this article summarizes the research progress in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by CC with Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang and its main active ingredients as well as the pathogenesis of this disease and puts forward the shortcomings and improvement strategies for the current research. The review aims to provide a reference for the further research on Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by CC.
3.Effects of baicalin on insulin resistance in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus and its mechanism
Kewei SHI ; Xi CHEN ; Xiaoyan ZHAO ; Bo YANG ; Yunchun LIU ; Yueyue GAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(4):450-455
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of baicalin (BC) on insulin resistance in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its underlying mechanism based on the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 (SUV39H1)/histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) axis. METHODS A GDM rat model was established by a combination of a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection. The successfully modeled rats were divided into the GDM group, BC low-dose group, BC high-dose group, and high-dose of BC+AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) group, with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 pregnant rats fed a normal diet served as the control group. Rats in each group were given corresponding drugs/normal saline intragastrically and/or intraperitoneally, once daily for 2 consecutive weeks. After the last administration, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), pancreatic function indexes [fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin sensitivity index (ISI)], blood lipid indexes (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), liver function indexes (alanine transferase, aspartate transferase, alkaline phosphatase), inflammatory indicators (C-reactive protein, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6), metabolic regulatory protein [complement-C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 (CTRP3)], insulin sensitivity related factors [glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), adiponectin], and oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA)] were measured. Pathological changes in liver tissue were observed, and the expressions of proteins related to the AMPK/SUV39H1/H3K9me3 axis in liver tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the GDM group, rats in the BC low- and high-dose groups showed varying degrees of improvement in pathological changes such as disordered cell arrangement, vacuolar degeneration, lipid deposition, and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue. Their FBG and FINS levels, HOMA-IR, the levels of blood lipid indexes, liver function indexes, inflammatory indicators and MDA, and the expressions of SUV39H1 and H3K9me3 were significantly decreased or down-regulated, while metabolic regulatory protein, insulin sensitivity-related factors and AMPK protein phosphorylation levels were significantly increased ( P <0.05). The improvement was more significant in the BC high-dose group ( P <0.05). Compound C could significantly reverse the ameliorative effects of high-dose BC on the above quantitative indicators ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS BC can significantly reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, increase serum levels of CTRP3, GLUT4 and adiponectin, thereby improving insulin resistance in GDM rats. These effects may be related to the activation of AMPK and inhibition of SUV39H1-mediated H3K9me3 modification.
4.Intense pulsed light combined with pranoprofen eye drops for meibomian gland cysts in children
Tingru CHEN ; Jiong HE ; Xiaoyan LUO ; Xinrui LUO
International Eye Science 2026;26(4):724-728
AIM: To explore the therapeutic effect and prognosis of intense pulsed light combined with pralprofen eye drops for meibomian gland cysts in children. METHODS: Children with meibomian gland cysts visited the hospital for treatment from April 2023 to October 2024 were selected as the research subjects. All subjects were grouped using the random number table methed. In the control group, patients were treated with hot compress. In the drug group, patients were treated with pralprofen eye drops combined with hot compress. In the laser group, patients were treated with intense pulsed light combined with hot compress. In the combination group, patients were treated with pralprofen eye drops combined with intense pulsed light and hot compress. The treatment effective rate, cyst surface area, ocular symptom score, and occurrence of adverse reactions of children in each group were compared. RESULTS: A total of 80 children(80 eyes)were enrolled in this study, with 20 cases(20 eyes)in each of the control group, drug group, laser group, and combination group. The mean age was 7.49±1.09 y in the control group(9 males and 11 females), 7.63±0.98 y in the drug group(11 males and 9 females), 7.39±0.59 y in the laser group(12 males and 8 females), and 7.63±1.21 y in the combination group(12 males and 8 females). The total effective rate was 70%(14/20)in the combination group, which was significantly higher than that in the control group, drug group, and laser group(all P<0.05). After treatment, the cyst surface area and ocular symptom scores decreased to varying degrees in all groups. Notably, at 21 d post-treatment, the cyst surface area and ocular symptom scores in the combination group were significantly lower than those in the control group, drug group, and laser group(all P<0.05). No adverse reactions occurred in the combination group, which was lower than that in the control group, drug group, and laser group, with no statistically significant difference among the four groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Intense pulsed light combined with pralprofen eye drops can improve the ocular symptoms of children with meibomian gland cysts, reduce the surface area of meibomian gland cysts, increase the clinical cure rate, and this treatment method is highly safe.
5.Research progress on risk prediction models of postoperative pulmonary complications after lung cancer surgery
Ting DENG ; Jiamei SONG ; Jin LI ; Xiaoyan WU ; Lishan WU ; Shaolin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(02):263-269
Risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) can assist healthcare professionals in assessing the likelihood of PPCs occurring after surgery, thereby supporting rapid decision-making. This study evaluated the merits, limitations, and challenges of these models, focusing on model types, construction methods, performance, and clinical applications. The findings indicate that current risk prediction models for PPCs following lung cancer surgery demonstrate a certain level of predictive effectiveness. However, there are notable deficiencies in study design, clinical implementation, and reporting transparency. Future research should prioritize large-scale, prospective, multi-center studies that utilize multiomics approaches to ensure robust data for accurate predictions, ultimately facilitating clinical translation, adoption, and promotion.
6.Investigation of infection control and prevention strategies on carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae nosocomial outbreak in a hospital in Shandong Province
REN Yulian ; CHEN Xiaoyan ; JI Xiao
China Tropical Medicine 2025;25(2):242-
Objective To analyze and investigate a hospital-acquired outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in a hospital's neurosurgical intensive care unit (NSICU), and to implement rectification based on the investigation results, providing valuable insights and recommendations for controlling similar outbreaks caused by multi-drug-resistant strains. Methods The field epidemiological investigation was conducted to investigate five cases of clustered CRKP pulmonary infection in the NICU in Shandong in 2021. Hygienic monitoring of the environment was undertaken. The main occurrence stages were analyzed, effective control measures were taken, and the effectiveness of the control measures was evaluated. Results The study identified an outbreak of CRKP infections that occurred in the neurosurgical intensive care unit, with the beds of infection cases and spatial positions being centrally distributed. Hygienic monitoring was performed on environmental surfaces, as well as the hands and nasal cavities of medical and cleaning staff. In the first sampling, 3 samples from the patient bed units tested positive for CRKP, while no CRKP was detected on other surfaces, or in samples from the hands and nasal passages of the medical staff and air specimens. The CRKP strains found on surfaces had antibiotic resistance profiles consistent with the patient strains. No further related cases occurred after comprehensive control measures were implemented. Conclusions The comprehensive control measures, including enhanced ward disinfection and isolation, strict management of hand hygiene among medical staff, and personnel training, can effectively control the outbreak of CRKP hospital-acquired infections in NSICU.
7.Rapid health technology assessment of insulin icodec for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Jie LI ; Hong LI ; Guanji CHEN ; Xiaoyan CHANG ; Xiang YANG ; Zhitao JIANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(22):2856-2861
OBJECTIVE To comprehensively evaluate the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of insulin icodec in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), providing evidence-based guidance for new drug selection in hospital and clinical medication decision-making. METHODS PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and foreign health technology assessment (HTA) websites were searched by using rapid health technology assessment from inception to 15 July 2025 for systematic reviews/meta-analyses, pharmacoeconomic studies, and HTA reports on insulin icodec in the treatment of T2DM. After data extraction and quality assessment, the findings of the included studies were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS Ten systematic reviews/meta-analyses and three pharmacoeconomic studies were included. Among them, 4 systematic reviews/meta-analyses were of high quality; the overall quality of the 3 pharmacoeconomic studies was relatively good. Regarding efficacy, insulin icodec was superior to once-daily basal insulin in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and in achieving the target of HbA1c<7% (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between icodec insulin and comparators in lowering fasting plasma glucose (P>0.05). For safety, insulin icodec did not increase the incidence of any adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, clinically significant hypoglycemia (random glucose<3 mmol/L), injection-site reactions, or allergic reactions, compared with once-daily basal insulin overall (P> 0.05); however, insulin icodec was associated with a significant increase in body weight (P<0.05). Domestic economic evaluations indicated that insulin icodec was more cost-effective than insulin glargine and insulin degludec when its annual costs were in the range of 784.90-1 145.96 and 597.66-736.34 US dollars, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Insulin icodec demonstrates favorable efficacy and safety profiles in the treatment of T2DM; however, attention should be paid to the risk of weight gain. Under China’s healthcare system, insulin icodec demonstrates greater economic value only when the patient’s weekly required basal insulin dose falls within a specific range,and clinical practice requires individualization.
8.Key technologies and challenges in online adaptive radiotherapy for lung cancer.
Baiqiang DONG ; Shuohan ZHENG ; Kelly CHEN ; Xuan ZHU ; Sijuan HUANG ; Xiaobo JIANG ; Wenchao DIAO ; Hua LI ; Lecheng JIA ; Feng CHI ; Xiaoyan HUANG ; Qiwen LI ; Ming CHEN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(13):1559-1567
Definitive treatment of lung cancer with radiotherapy is challenging, as respiratory motion and anatomical changes can increase the risk of severe off-target effects during radiotherapy. Online adaptive radiotherapy (ART) is an evolving approach that enables timely modification of a treatment plan during the interfraction of radiotherapy, in response to physiologic or anatomic variations, aiming to improve the dose distribution for precise targeting and delivery in lung cancer patients. The effectiveness of online ART depends on the seamless integration of multiple components: sufficient quality of linear accelerator-integrated imaging guidance, deformable image registration, automatic recontouring, and efficient quality assurance and workflow. This review summarizes the present status of online ART for lung cancer, including key technologies, as well as the challenges and areas of active research in this field.
Humans
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Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy*
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Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods*
9.Epidemiology and management patterns of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in China.
Wanmu XIE ; Yongpei YU ; Qiang HUANG ; Xiaoyan YAN ; Yuanhua YANG ; Changming XIONG ; Zhihong LIU ; Jun WAN ; Sugang GONG ; Lan WANG ; Cheng HONG ; Chenghong LI ; Jean-François RICHARD ; Yanhua WU ; Jun ZOU ; Chen YAO ; Zhenguo ZHAI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(8):1000-1002
10.FLT3 ligand regulates expansion of regulatory T-cells induced by regulatory dendritic cells isolated from gut-associated lymphoid tissues through the Notch pathway.
Na LI ; Jingwei MAO ; Haiying TANG ; Xiaoyan TAN ; Jian BI ; Hao WU ; Xiuli CHEN ; Yingde WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(13):1595-1606
BACKGROUND:
Regulatory dendritic cell (DCreg) subset exhibits a unique capacity for inducing immune tolerance among the variety subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) within gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs). Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L) is involved in the differentiation of DCregs and the subsequent expansion of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) mediated by DCregs, though the precise mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the expansion mechanism of Treg induced by DCreg and the role of FLT3L in this process.
METHODS:
DCregs were distinguished from other DC subsets isolated from GALTs of BALB/c mice through a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay. The functions and mechanisms by which FLT3L promoted Treg expansion via DCregs were investigated in vitro through co-culture experiments involving DCregs and either CD4 + CD25 - T-cells or CD4 + CD25 + T-cells. Additionally, an in vivo experiment was conducted using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model in mice.
RESULTS:
CD103 + CD11b + DC exhibited DCreg-like functionality and was identified as DCreg for subsequent investigation. Analysis of Foxp3 + Treg percentages within a co-culture system of CD4 + CD25 - T-cells and DCregs, with or without FLT3L, demonstrated the involvement of the FLT3/FLT3L axis in driving the differentiation of precursor T-cells into Foxp3 + Tregs induced by DCregs. Cell migration and co-culture assays revealed that the FLT3/FLT3L axis enhanced DCreg migration toward Tregs via the Rho pathway. Additionally, it was observed that DCregs could promote Treg proliferation through the Notch pathway, as inhibition of Notch signaling by DAPT (N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester) suppressed Treg expansion within the co-culture system of DCregs and CD4 + T-cells or CD4 + CD25 + T-cells. Furthermore, the FLT3/FLT3L axis influenced JAG1 expression in DCregs, indirectly modulating Treg expansion. In vivo experiments further established that FLT3L promoted DCreg expansion and restored Treg balance in DSS-induced colitis models, thereby ameliorating colitis symptoms in mice.
CONCLUSION
The FLT3/FLT3L axis is integral to the maintenance of DCreg function in Treg expansion.
Animals
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T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology*
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Dendritic Cells/immunology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Membrane Proteins/metabolism*
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Receptors, Notch/metabolism*
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Lymphoid Tissue/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/physiology*
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Coculture Techniques
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Flow Cytometry

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