1.Research progress of CRISPR/Cas9 in genetically inherited eye diseases
Zhangyu LIU ; Xun QIN ; Jiayu HUANG ; Qin JIANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(6):912-917
Currently, researchers have identified several mutated genes associated with hereditary eye diseases; however, effective therapeutic options remain scarce. The emergence of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)and its associated proteins(CRISPR-associated proteins, Cas)offers a promising approach for treating these diseases. CRISPR/Cas9 enables precise targeting and modification of specific genetic sequences, allowing for the correction of mutated genes, as well as knockout or replacement of pathogenic genes to achieve therapeutic effects. In ophthalmology, CRISPR/Cas9 has been applied to various hereditary eye disorders, including corneal dystrophy, congenital cataracts, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa. Additionally, significant progress has been made to utilize CRISPR/Cas9 to develop disease models. Therefore, it has great potential for clinical applications. However, challenges such as delivery efficiency and off-target effects remain. This review summarizes the mechanism of CRISPR/Cas9, its applications in genetic eye diseases and disease models, as well as the existing challenges, aiming to provide new insights for treatment.
2.Research progress of new aluminum-containing vaccine adjuvants
Hongmei REN ; Yerong XIONG ; Xiaoying XUN ; Lei JIANG ; Jiasheng TU
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(2):236-243
Aluminum adjuvants are widely used in the field of vaccines due to their ability to induce efficient and long-lasting immune responses and good safety profile. With the development of immunology, the requirements for adjuvants have gradually increased, and traditional aluminum adjuvants can no longer meet all the needs of application. The development of novel aluminum adjuvants has become a hot research topic in order to achieve good immunity-enhancing effects and induce specific types and strengths of immune responses. This review briefly introduces the mechanism of action and safety of aluminum adjuvants, with focus on the research progress of novel aluminum adjuvants in recent years, mainly including nano-aluminum adjuvants and composite aluminum adjuvants (aluminum adjuvants compounded with immunity-stimulating molecules or delivery carriers), and a prospect of their future research direction, aiming to provide some reference for the further development and clinical application of aluminum adjuvants.
3.Correlation Between Cardiovascular Events and Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis:A Cross-Sectional Study
Fuyuan ZHANG ; Quan JIANG ; Jun LI ; Yuchen YANG ; Xieli MA ; Tian CHANG ; Congmin XIA ; Jian WANG ; Xun GONG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(15):1572-1578
ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between the occurrence of cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome. MethodsThe cross-sectional study selected 6713 RA patients from 122 centres nationwide, in which general information such as name, gender, age, height, body weight, and course of disease were collected by completing a questionnaire; patients were classified into eight types of syndrome according to the information of their four examinations,i.e. wind-dampness obstruction syndrome, cold-dampness obstruction syndrome, dampness-heat obstruction syndrome, phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome, stasis-blood obstructing collateral syndrome, qi-blood deficiency syndrome, liver-kidney insufficiency syndrome, and qi-yin deficiency syndrome. According to the occurrence of cardiovascular events, they were divided into the occurrence group and the non-occurrence group, and the condition assessment data and laboratory examination indexes were recorded. The test of difference between groups was used to analyse the possible risk factors for the occurrence of RA cardiovascular events, and binary logistic regression was used to analyse the correlation between TCM syndromes and RA cardiovascular events. ResultsA total of 6713 RA patients were included, including 256 cases in occurrence group and 6457 in non-occurrence group. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of height, gender, insomnia, appetite, white blood cell(WBC), hemoglobin(HGB), platelets(PLT), rheumatoid factor(RF), anti-cyclic peptide containing citrulline(CCP), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT), urea creatinine(CREA), and glucose(GLU)(P>0.05). The TCM syndromes between groups showed significant statistic differences(P<0.05). Patients in occurrence group had longer disease duration, heavier body weight, and older age; more severe conditions such as disease activity(DAS-28), number of painful joints(TJC), number of swollen joints(SJC), health questionnaire scores(HAQ), visual analog scores(VAS), restlessness, and fatigue; higher blood sedimentation rate(ESR), low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C), triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), D-Dimer, and lower high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C)(P<0.05). The distribution of syndrome types showed that dampness-heat obstruction syndrome accounted for the largest proportion of patients in both groups and was higher in RA cardiovascular events. Logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of RA cardiovascular events was strongly associated with dampness-heat obstruction syndrome[OR=5.937, 95%CI (4.434, 7.949), P<0.001]. ConclusionThe occurrence of RA cardiovascular events were associated with TCM syndromes, and the probability of cardiovascular events in the RA patients with dampness-heat obstruction syndrome was 5.937 times higher than patients with other TCM syndromes.
4.Construction and application of the "Huaxi Hongyi" large medical model
Rui SHI ; Bing ZHENG ; Xun YAO ; Hao YANG ; Xuchen YANG ; Siyuan ZHANG ; Zhenwu WANG ; Dongfeng LIU ; Jing DONG ; Jiaxi XIE ; Hu MA ; Zhiyang HE ; Cheng JIANG ; Feng QIAO ; Fengming LUO ; Jin HUANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):587-593
Objective To construct large medical model named by "Huaxi HongYi"and explore its application effectiveness in assisting medical record generation. Methods By the way of a full-chain medical large model construction paradigm of "data annotation - model training - scenario incubation", through strategies such as multimodal data fusion, domain adaptation training, and localization of hardware adaptation, "Huaxi HongYi" with 72 billion parameters was constructed. Combined with technologies such as speech recognition, knowledge graphs, and reinforcement learning, an application system for assisting in the generation of medical records was developed. Results Taking the assisted generation of discharge records as an example, in the pilot department, after using the application system, the average completion times of writing a medical records shortened (21 min vs. 5 min) with efficiency increased by 3.2 time, the accuracy rate of the model output reached 92.4%. Conclusion It is feasible for medical institutions to build independently controllable medical large models and incubate various applications based on these models, providing a reference pathway for artificial intelligence development in similar institutions.
5.Research progress on molecular mechanisms of ginsenosides in alleviating acute lung injury.
Han-Yang ZHAO ; Xun-Jiang WANG ; Qiong-Wen XUE ; Bao-Lian XU ; Xu WANG ; Shu-Sheng LAI ; Ming CHEN ; Li YANG ; Zheng-Tao WANG ; Li-Li DING
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4451-4470
Acute lung injury(ALI) is a critical clinical condition primarily characterized by refractory hypoxemia and infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissue, which can progress into a more severe form known as acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). Immune cells and inflammatory cytokines play important roles in the progression of the disease. Due to its unclear pathogenesis and the lack of effective clinical treatments, ALI is associated with a high mortality rate and severely affects patients' quality of life, making the search for effective therapeutic agents particularly urgent. Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, the dried root of the perennial herb Panax ginseng from the Araliaceae family, contains active ingredients such as saponins and polysaccharides, which possess various pharmacological effects including anti-tumor activity, immune regulation, and metabolic modulation. In recent years, studies have shown that ginsenosides exhibit notable effects in reducing inflammation, ameliorating epithelial and endothelial cell injury, and providing anticoagulant action, indicating their comprehensive role in alleviating lung injury. This review summarizes the pathogenesis of ALI and the molecular mechanisms through which ginsenosides act at different stages of ALI development. The aim is to provide a scientific reference for the development of ginsenoside-based drugs targeting ALI, as well as a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma in the treatment of ALI.
Ginsenosides/pharmacology*
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Humans
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Acute Lung Injury/immunology*
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Animals
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Panax/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal
6.Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy in Patients with Stage IB-IIIB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.
Zihao LI ; Xin WANG ; Yulong WANG ; Zhuoer CUI ; Xin WANG ; Xiao LI ; Guanchao JIANG ; Xun WANG
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(6):415-426
BACKGROUND:
Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy has emerged as an indispensable therapeutic modality for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its clinical application experience remains limited, and the associations between various clinical factors and treatment benefits remain undefined. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy in patients with stage IB-IIIB NSCLC in a real-world setting, analyze survival outcomes among subgroups with diverse clinical characteristics, and identify potential clinical predictive factors for pathological response.
METHODS:
This study included patients with stage IB-IIIB NSCLC who underwent radical lung resection after 2-4 cycles of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy at Peking University People's Hospital between August 2019 and March 2024. Medical records and follow-up information were collected to analyze therapeutic response, adverse events and survival outcomes. Logistic analysis was used to identify clinical predictors of pathological response.
RESULTS:
Among 183 enrolled patients, 116 (63.4%) were stage III. Grade 3-4 immune-related adverse events (irAEs) occurred in 39 (21.3%) patients. Radiographic complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) was achieved in 118 (64.5%) patients. R0 resection was achieved in 180 (98.4%) patients. Major pathologic response (MPR) was observed in 107 (58.5%) patients, with 78 (42.6%) achieving pathologic complete response (pCR). Squamous cell carcinoma and radiographic objective response were associated with pathological response (pCR/MPR). With a median follow-up of 22.1 [interquartile range (IQR): 18.3-32.2] months, the 2-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 82.5% and 90.4%, respectively. Achievement of pathological response (pCR/MPR) was correlated with prolonged survival outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy is safe and effective for patients with stage IB-IIIB NSCLC. Patients achieving pCR or MPR exhibit significantly better survival benefits from neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy. Squamous cell carcinoma and radiographic objective response can serve as clinical predictors of pathological response.
Humans
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/mortality*
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Male
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Lung Neoplasms/mortality*
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Female
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Middle Aged
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Neoadjuvant Therapy/adverse effects*
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Aged
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Neoplasm Staging
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Adult
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Immunotherapy/adverse effects*
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Treatment Outcome
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Retrospective Studies
7.Glucocorticoid Discontinuation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis under Background of Chinese Medicine: Challenges and Potentials Coexist.
Chuan-Hui YAO ; Chi ZHANG ; Meng-Ge SONG ; Cong-Min XIA ; Tian CHANG ; Xie-Li MA ; Wei-Xiang LIU ; Zi-Xia LIU ; Jia-Meng LIU ; Xiao-Po TANG ; Ying LIU ; Jian LIU ; Jiang-Yun PENG ; Dong-Yi HE ; Qing-Chun HUANG ; Ming-Li GAO ; Jian-Ping YU ; Wei LIU ; Jian-Yong ZHANG ; Yue-Lan ZHU ; Xiu-Juan HOU ; Hai-Dong WANG ; Yong-Fei FANG ; Yue WANG ; Yin SU ; Xin-Ping TIAN ; Ai-Ping LYU ; Xun GONG ; Quan JIANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(7):581-589
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM).
METHODS:
This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis.
RESULTS:
Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings.
CONCLUSIONS
RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy*
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Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Retrospective Studies
8.Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Secondary Gynecological and Obstetric Diseases Based on the Theory of "Bi (痹) of both Body and Viscera"
Hui XU ; Quan JIANG ; Congmin XIA ; Rouman ZHANG ; Xun GONG ; Chuanhui YAO ; Zixia LIU ; Yuchen YANG ; Xieli MA
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(23):2438-2442
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may lead to secondary gynecological and obstetric disorders such as decreased ovarian reserve function, menstrual abnormalities, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Based on "bi (痹) of both body and viscera" theory, this paper proposed that the core mechanism of SLE secondary gynecological and obstetric diseases lies in the mutual transformation between "body bi" and "viscera bi", which together affect the uterus. Physiologically, uterus forms an internal-external network with the body and viscera through the meridians and blood vessels. Pathologically, when the healthy qi is deficient, nourishment of the body and viscera is impaired; when toxins and stasis accumulate, pathogenic factors disturb the uterus through the chong (冲) and ren (任) meri-dians. The resulting obstruction in the uterus can, in turn, manifest externally and aggravate damage to the body and viscera. Therefore, the pathogenesis of SLE secondary gynecological and obstetric diseases follows a dynamic trajectory of "body bi first, body bi affecting viscera, and then bi of both body and viscera". In treatment, the principle of harmonizing and balancing the healthy qi is emphasized. The main approach is to regulate the viscera, stabilize the body, and nourish the uterus, with the coordination of nourishing the viscera through the body, thereby achieving simultaneous treatment of both body and viscera. This highlights the guiding significance of the "bi of both body and viscera" theory in preventing and treating SLE secondary gynecological and obstetric diseases.
9.Distritution Characteristics of TCM Syndromes and Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Efficacy in 2506 Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Different Course of Disease:A Real-World Retrospective Study
Zhengyao SHEN ; Jingtao LI ; Yuchen YANG ; Shujuan ZHANG ; Quan JIANG ; Xun GONG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(23):2453-2459
ObjectiveTo investigate the syndrome evolution patterns, characteristics of the used herbal medicinals, and efficacy variations across different stages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression. MethodsBased on the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN), 2,506 RA patients were retrospectively enrolled and categorized into <6 months group (166 cases), 6 months to <5 years group (1063 cases), 5 to <20 years group (1067 cases), and ≥20 years group (210 cases). Syndromes were differentiated before and after traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment, including damp-heat obstruction, wind-damp obstruction, cold-damp obstruction, blood stasis obstructed in the collaterals, phlegm-stasis obstruction, liver-kidney insufficiency, qi and blood deficiency, and qi-yin deficiency. The syndrome evolution rate was calculated for high-frequency syndromes before and after treatment. Analysis was conducted on top 20 frequently used Chinese herbs at the first diagnosis. Clinical efficacy of the 28-joint disease activity score based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and 28-joint disease activity score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) before and after treatment were assessed. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors affecting the efficacy of TCM treatment. ResultsPatients with course of disease shorter than 6 months predominantly presented with cold-dampness obstruction syndrome (49/166, 29.5%), wind-dampness obstruction syndrome (46/166, 27.7%), and dampness-heat obstruction syndrome (43/166, 25.9%). For patients with course of disease logner than 6 months and shorter than 5 years and those within 5 to 20 years, the dominant syndrome was dampness-heat obstruction syndrome (324/1063, 30.5% and 318/1067, 29.8%, respectively). In patients with disease duration ≥20 years, liver-kidney insufficiency syndrome and dampness-heat obstruction syndrome both predominated, each accounting for 25.24% (53/210). The syndromes with more than 100 cases before treatment and a syndrome evolution rate greater than 10% after treatment were dampness-heat obstruction (201/738, 27.2%), liver-kidney insufficiency (119/367, 32.4%), and phlegm-stasis obstruction syndromes (73/172, 42.4%). These were classified as high-frequency syndromes. After treatment, damp-heat obstruction syndrome and liver-kidney insufficiency syndrome primarily evolved into wind-damp obstruction syndrome, while phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome evolved into damp-heat obstruction and cold-damp obstruction syndrome. The top two commonly used Chinese herbs across all groups were Gancao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) and Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba). In the <6 months group and the 6 months to <5 years group, high-frequency herbs also included Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae), Duhuo (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), and Qianghuo (Radix et Rhizoma Notopterygii). In the 5 to <20 years group and the ≥20 years group, the usage of Huangqi (Radix Astragali), Fuling (Poria), Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), and Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) increased, while the proportion of Fangfeng and Duhuo decreased. After treatment, the DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP scores in all groups significantly decreased (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in clinical efficacy based on DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP across all groups (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed significantly reduced treatment efficacy in the 6 months-5 years group (OR=0.4), 5~20 years group (OR=0.5), and ≥20 years group (OR=0.4) compared to the <6 months group. ConclusionRA syndromes follow a progression pattern from excess to deficiency, with corresponding transition in herbal usage from pathogen-eliminating to healthy qi-reinforcing approaches. TCM intervention can significantly reduce disease activity of RA, with superior efficacy in patients with disease duration shorter than 6 months.
10.Bioequivalence study of telmisartan tablets in Chinese healthy subjects
Cheng SUN ; Yan ZHANG ; Hong-Xia FANG ; Gui-Ying CHEN ; Xiao-Juan ZHANG ; Hong-Xun SUN ; Bin JIANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(2):249-253
Objective To evaluation the bioequivalence of telmisartan tablets(80 mg)between test formulation and reference formulation in Chinese healthy subjects.Methods A single-center,randomized,open-label,two-preparations,single administration,partial repeat crossover of three sequences in three postprandial cycles and complete repeat crossover of two sequences in four fasting cycles,bioequivalence test was designed.Chinese healthy subjects were included in the bioequivalence trial,with 33 randomly assigned to the postprandial group and 32 randomly assigned to the fasting group.In each period,blood samples was collected before and after administration.The plasma concentration of the drug was determined by LC-MS/MS,using WinNonlin version 8.3 calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters and perform a statistical analysis using SAS version 9.4.Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of telmisartan tablets after oral administration of test or reference were as follows.Fasting group Cmax were(556.10±456.06)and(580.99±533.50)ng·mL-1;AUC0-t were(3 475.15±3 785.16)and(3 450.54±3 681.02)ng·mL-1·h;AUC0-∞ were(3 214.06±2 272.06)and(3 194.84±2 187.45)ng·mL-1·h.The 90%confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratio of Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0-∞ were within the requirements of the equivalent range of bioequivalence(80.00%-125.00%).Postprandial group Cmax were(299.26±124.72)and(291.29±126.34)ng·mL-1;AUC0-t were(3 682.24±2 799.72)and(3 636.71±2 158.42)ng·mL-1·h;AUC0-were(3 544.53±1 553.06)and(3 969.38±2 528.22)ng·mL-1·h.The 90%confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratio of Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0-∞ were within the requirements of the equivalent range of bioequivalence(80.00%-125.00%).Conclusion Under fasting and fed conditions,two kinds of telmisartan tablets are bioequivalent in Chinese healthy subjects.

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