1.Mechanism of Electroacupuncture Alleviating Inflammatory Pain in Rats by Regulating ErbB Subtypes in the Spinal Dorsal Horn
Yuxin WU ; Shuxin TIAN ; Zhengyi LYU ; Dingru JI ; Xingzhen LI ; Yue DONG ; Binyu ZHAO ; Yi LIANG ; Jianqiao FANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):69-78
ObjectiveTo observe the changes in the levels of different subtypes of epidermal growth factor receptor (ErbB), namely ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4, in the spinal dorsal horn of inflammatory pain model rats, and to explore their mechanism of mediating hyperalgesia as well as the intervention mechanism of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli (ST 36)" and "Kunlun (BL 60)". MethodsThe study was divided into five parts. In experiment 1, 14 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control and inflammatory pain group (7 rats each group) to observe the pain behavior and the protein expression of different ErbB receptor subtypes in the spinal dorsal horn. In experiment 2, 30 rats were randomly divided into control group 1, inflammatory pain group 1, and low-, medium-, and high-concentration TX1-85-1 groups, with 6 rats in each group, to observe the effect of inhibiting spinal ErbB3 on inflammatory pain. In experiment 3, 12 rats were randomly divided into control virus group and ErbB3 knockdown virus group, with 6 rats in each group, to observe the effect of knocking down ErbB3 in the spinal dorsal horn on inflammatory pain. In experiment 4, 44 rats were randomly divided into control group 2, inflammatory pain group 2, electroacupuncture group, and sham electroacupuncture group, with 11 rats in each group, to observe the effect of electroacupuncture. In experiment 5, 40 rats were randomly divided into control group 3, inflammatory pain group 3, electroacupuncture group 1, and electroacupuncture + NRG1 group, with 10 rats in each group, to observe the effect of activating ErbB3 on electroacupuncture. A rat model of inflammatory pain was established by subcutaneous injection of 100 μl of complete Freund's adjuvant into the sole of the unilateral hind foot of SD rats. Rats in the low-, medium-, and high-concentration TX1-85-1 groups were intrathecally injected with ErbB3 inhibitor TX1-85-1 on day 5 to day 7 after modeling. Rats in the ErbB3 knockdown virus group were injected with ErbB3 knockdown virus packaged with adenovirus vector-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into the spinal dorsal horn in situ 3 weeks before modeling. Rats in each electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at bilateral "Zusanli (ST 36)" and "Kunlun (BL 60)" from day 1 to day 7 after modeling, with dense-sparse waves at a frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz and a current of 0.5-1.5 mA for 30 minutes once a day. Rats in the electroacupuncture + NRG1 group were intrathecally injected with ErbB3 ligand recombinant human neuregulin-1 (NRG1) after electroacupuncture intervention from day 5 to day 7 after modeling. The mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency of rats were measured on day 1, 3, 5, and 7 after modeling to evaluate behavior, and Western Blot was used to detect the protein and phosphorylation levels of each ErbB subtype in the spinal dorsal horn. ResultsCompared with the control group, rats in the inflammatory pain group showed decreased mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency of rats, and increased expression of phosphorylated ErbB3 (p-ErbB3) protein in the spinal dorsal horn on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after modeling (P<0.01). On day 5 and day 7 after modeling, compared with the inflammatory pain group 1, the mecha-nical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency of rats in the medium- and high-concentration TX1-85-1 groups increased, and the expression of p-ErbB3 protein decreased (P<0.05). On day 1, 3, 5, and 7 after modeling, compared with the control virus group, the mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency of rats in the ErbB3 knockdown virus group increased (P<0.05). On day 5 and day 7 after modeling, compared with the inflammatory pain group 2 and the sham electroacupuncture group, the mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency of rats in the electroacupuncture group increased, and the expression of p-ErbB3 protein decreased (P<0.05). On day 5 and day 7 after modeling, compared with the electroacupuncture + NRG1 group, the mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency of rats in the electroacupuncture group 1 increased (P<0.05). ConclusionThe p-ErbB3 in the spinal dorsal horn involved in hyperalgesia in rats with inflammatory pain, and electroacupuncture at "Zusanli (ST 36)" and "Kunlun (BL 60)" can alleviate inflammatory pain by inhibiting the expression of p-ErbB3 protein in the spinal dorsal horn of rats.
2.From Gene Expression to Transcriptome-wide Association Study: Development and Comparison of Methodology
Kun FANG ; Guozhuang LI ; Linting WANG ; Qing LI ; Kexin XU ; Lina ZHAO ; Zhihong WU ; Jianguo ZHANG ; Nan WU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):223-229
Over the past two decades, genome-wide association study(GWAS) has identified numerous genetic variants and loci associated with heritable diseases. With the gradual maturation and saturation of GWAS methodologies, transcriptome-wide association study(TWAS) offers a novel perspective by linkinggenetic phenotypes to gene expression levels. By integrating TWAS with other multi-omics analyses, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of heritable diseases. This article provides an overview of recent groundbreaking and representative TWAS methods and tools, analyzes their strengths and limitations, and discusses future trends in TWAS development.
3.Impact of birth weight on the trajectory of blood pressure among primary school students
CUI Chengpeng, YE Siyan, FANG Yanfei, LI Yan, PENG Zeqin, XIAO Yuqing, WU Meng, LIU Qin
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(3):309-313
Objective:
To explore the early effects of birth weight at different gestational ages on blood pressure trajectory among primary school students, so as to provide evidence for incorporating gestational age birth weight into individualized early warning and intervention strategies for childhood hypertension.
Methods:
From May to November 2023, a purposeful sampling method was used to recruit 1 676 students in grade 1-3 from three primary schools in a certain urban district of Chongqing. Follow up assessments were conducted in May 2024(T1), November 2024(T2), and May 2025(T3). General demographic and birth related information were collected via self administered questionnaires, while height, weight and blood pressure were obtained through physical examinations. Linear mixed effects model was used to analyze the associations between birth weight at different gestational ages and blood pressure trajectories.
Results:
During the T1-T3 period, the systolic blood pressure of boys were 98.5 (93.0, 104.5 ),98.5 (93.5, 105.0), and 97.5 (92.5, 103.5)mmHg, respectively, while the diastolic blood pressure were 60.5 (56.5, 65.0), 61.5 ( 57.0 , 65.5), and 60.0 (56.0, 64.0)mmHg, respectively. For girls, the systolic blood pressure were 95.5 (90.0, 102.0),95.5 (90.5, 101.5), and 96.0 (90.5, 101.5)mmHg, respectively, and the diastolic blood pressure were 60.5 (56.0, 64.5 ),61.5 (57.5, 65.5), and 59.5 (56.0, 63.0)mmHg, respectively. Through Friedman test within both boys and girls, diostolic blood pressure were statistically significant across three measurements( χ 2=48.85,81.54,both P <0.01). The proportion of normal blood pressure increased , and the proportion of prehypertension and hypertension decreased with time( χ 2=39.72,25.62,both P < 0.01 ). Linear mixed effects model analysis revealed that after adjusting for age, sex, household income monthly, parental education, family history of hypertension and maternal pregnancy complications, large for gestational age had significantly higher trajectories of systolic ( β = 1.50) and diastolic( β =0.94) blood pressure compared to appropriate for gestational age(both P <0.01).
Conclusion
Large for gestational age is associated with elevated blood pressure trajectories during school age, and it may be considered as an early indicator for individualized screening and intervention for childhood hypertension.
4.Study on the equivalence of different decoction processes for a shell-based traditional Chinese medicine drug pair based on rat model of hypertension with liver-yang hyperactivity
Minglu LI ; Yuhan CUI ; Fan WU ; Kexin HAN ; Li WU ; Zhuyuan FANG ; Yachun SHU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(10):1283-1289
OBJECTIVE To investigate the equivalence of different decoction processes based on rat model of hypertension with liver-yang hyperactivity. METHODS Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to compare the dissolution differences of inorganic elements in the powder-directly-decocted decoction versus the pieces-decocted-first decoction of Ostreae Concha- Haliotidis Concha- Margaritifera Concha drug pair. Six SD rats were included in the normal group. The spontaneously hypertensive rats were given Aconite decoction for six weeks to induce the hypertension model with liver-yang hyperactivity. After successful modeling, 48 rats were randomly divided into the model group, the captopril group [positive control, 8 mL/(kg·d) ] , as well as low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of pieces decocted first or directly powder decocted [2.02, 4.05, 8.10 mL/(kg·d) ] , with 6 rats in each group. Each group received the corresponding drug or equal volume of pure water intragastrically, once a day, for two consecutive weeks. After the last administration, the degree of irritability, facial temperature, pressure pain threshold, blood pressure, and pathological changes of the thoracic aorta were observed in each group. Serum nitric oxide (NO) and plasma angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ), renin, and aldosterone (ALD) levels were also measured. RESULTS ICP-MS analysis results showed statistically significant differences in the contents of macroelements Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Ga, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sn, and Sb, between the powder-directly-decocted decoction and the pieces-decocted-first decoction ( P <0.05) ,the elements P, Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Hg, Tl, and Pb were not detected in either decoction. Animal experiments showed that after two weeks of administration, compared with the model group, the facial temperature, and blood pressure decreased in all treatment groups, while the pressure pain threshold increased; plasma levels of Ang Ⅱ, renin and ALD, as well as the serum level of NO were all decreased, and thoracic aortic media thickness was significantly reduced, most of the differences in the above indicators were statistically significant ( P <0.05 or P <0.01 or P <0.001). Pathological observation showed improvement in thoracic aortic pathological injury. CONCLUSIONS The powder-directly-decocted process for the Ostreae Concha- Haliotidis Concha- Margaritifera Concha drug pair significantly promotes the dissolution of key elements such as Ca, Mg, and Sr without increasing the dissolution of harmful elements. It is equivalent to the traditional pieces-decocted-first in alleviating liver-yang hyperactivity syndrome, lowering blood pressure, and protecting the vascular endothelium, and even shows better performance in some indicators.
5.Application of Aromatic Inhalation Therapy in Preventing Respiratory Infectious Diseases Based on the Theory of "Aromatics Acting on the Spleen"
Xinxin WU ; Yue ZHANG ; Xiaolei LI ; Haoyue LI ; Fang ZHANG ; Nanjiang YU ; ZHAOJING
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(4):432-436
Aromatic inhalation therapy is a key traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approach for preventing respiratory infectious diseases. Its foundational theory, "aromatics acting on the spleen", is deeply rooted in TCM principles and supported by modern medical research. The theory posits that the aromatic properties of medicinals primarily act on the spleen, and the aromatic inhalation therapy achieved its protective effects by modulation of the spleen and spleen channel to enhance the regulation of wei qi, striae and interstices. In TCM, the spleen is considered the mother of the lungs, with the function of nurturing lung; it is also seen as the source of wei qi, responsible for external defense; and the root of healthy qi, forming the foundation of acquired (postnatal) constitution. Thus, preventive strategies for respiratory infectious diseases focus on strengthening the spleen. From a modern medical perspective, the spleen's role in regulating lung immune responses, the shared immune functions of the respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosa, and the spleen's overall immune modulation provide scientific evidence for using aromatic inhalation therapy to prevent respiratory infections. Additionally, aromatic inhalation therapy offers several advantages, including direct action, rapid onset, minimal side effects, controllable risks, convenience, and ease of dissemination, making it a practical and effective preventive measure for respiratory infectious diseases.
6.Mechanism of Yantiao Prescription in Treating Lipopolysaccharide-induced Acute Lung Injury Based on Arachidonic Acid Metabolic Pathways
Pengcheng LI ; Tianyang CHEN ; Rong FANG ; Anna ZHANG ; Sijia WU ; Wei LIU ; Qian WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):101-110
ObjectiveTo clarify the anti-inflammatory and lung-protective effects of Yantiao prescription on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI), and to explore the impact of Yantiao prescription on the metabolic pathways of arachidonic acid (AA) in vivo. MethodsThirty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the following groups based on body weight: normal group, model group, dexamethasone group (2 mg·kg-1), low-dose Yantiao prescription group (18 g·kg-1), and high-dose Yantiao prescription group (36 g·kg-1), with 6 mice in each group. The ALI mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The treatment groups received oral gavage once a day for 7 consecutive days, and serum and lung tissue were collected at the end of the experiment. The content of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to assess lung tissue pathology. The wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in lung tissue were measured. The content of AA metabolites in serum and lung tissue was measured by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). ResultsCompared with the conditions in the normal group, the content of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01). The alveolar structure in mice was severely damaged, with markedly thickened alveolar walls and extensive inflammatory cell infiltration. The W/D ratio and MPO activity in lung tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01). The content of AA metabolites, including prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 11(S)-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid [11(S)-HETE], and 5-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) in serum and lung tissue was significantly increased (P<0.05), while the content of 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) and 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) in serum was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the results in the model group, the content of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the dexamethasone group, low-dose Yantiao prescription group, and high-dose Yantiao prescription group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Mild thickening of alveolar walls, scattered inflammatory cell infiltration, and relatively intact tissue structure with improved alveolar architecture were observed. The W/D ratio and MPO activity in lung tissue were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The content of AA metabolites PGD2, PGE2, 11(S)-HETE, and 5-HETE in serum from the dexamethasone group was significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the content of 14,15-EET in serum significantly increased (P<0.01), and the content of 5-HETE in lung tissue significantly decreased (P<0.01). In the low-dose and high-dose Yantiao prescription groups, the content of AA metabolites PGD2, PGE2, 11(S)-HETE, and 5-HETE in serum and lung tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the content of 11,12-EET in both serum and lung tissue was significantly increased (P<0.05). ConclusionYantiao prescription has significant protective effects against LPS-induced ALI, which are related to its regulation of AA metabolic pathways in vivo.
7.Urban-rural difference in adverse outcomes of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis-diabetes mellitus comorbidity
FANG Zijian ; LI Qingchun ; XIE Li ; SONG Xu ; DAI Ruoqi ; WU Yifei ; JIA Qingjun ; CHENG Qinglin
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(1):7-11
Objective:
To investigate the urban and rural differences in adverse outcomes of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis-diabetes mellitus comorbidity (PTB-DM), so as to provide insights into improving the prevention and treatment measures for PTB-DM.
Methods:
Patients with PTB-DM who were admitted and discharged from 14 designated tuberculosis hospitals in Hangzhou City from 2018 to 2022 were selected. Basic information, and history of diagnosis and treatment were collected through hospital information systems. The adverse outcomes of PTB were defined as endpoints, and the proportions of adverse outcomes of PTB in urban and rural patients with PTB-DM were analyzed. Factors affecting the adverse outcomes of PTB were identified using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model.
Results:
A total of 823 patients with PTB-DM were enrolled, including 354 (43.01%) urban and 469 (56.99%) rural patients. There were 112 (13.61%) patients with adverse outcomes of PTB. The proportions of adverse outcomes of PTB in urban and rural patients were 14.41% and 13.01%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis identified first diagnosed in county-level hospitals or above (HR=2.107, 95%CI: 1.181-3.758) and drug resistance (HR=3.303, 95%CI: 1.653-6.600) as the risk factors for adverse outcomes of PTB in urban patients with PTB-DM, while the treatment/observed management throughout the process (HR=0.470, 95%CI: 0.274-0.803) and fixed-dose combinations throughout the process (HR=0.331, 95%CI: 0.151-0.729) as the protective factors for adverse outcomes in rural patients with PTB-DM.
Conclusions
There are differences in influencing factors for adverse outcomes of PTB in urban and rural patients with PTB-DM. The adverse outcomes of PTB are associated with first diagnosed hospitals and drug resistance in urban patients, and are associated with the treatment/observed management and fixed-dose combinations throughout the process in rural patients.
8.Novel araucarene diterpenes from Agathis dammara exert hypoglycemic activity by promoting pancreatic β cell regeneration and glucose uptake.
Zhewei YU ; Yi ZHANG ; Wenhui WANG ; XinYi WU ; Shunzhi LIU ; Yanlin BIN ; Hongsheng LI ; Bangping CAI ; Zheng WANG ; Meijuan FANG ; Rong QI ; Mingyu LI ; Yingkun QIU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(4):492-503
In this study, araucarene diterpenes, characterized by a pimarene skeleton with a variably oxidized side chain at C-13, were investigated. A total of 16 araucarene diterpenoids and their derivatives were isolated from the woods of Agathis dammara, including 11 previously unreported compounds: dammaradione (1), dammarones D-G (2, 5, 14, 15), dammaric acids B-F (8-12), and dammarol (16). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS) and one-dimensional/two-dimensional (1D/2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), while their absolute configurations were determined through the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) exciton chirality method and Snatzke's method. The hypoglycemic activity of all isolated compounds was evaluated using a transgenic zebrafish model, and a structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis was conducted. Araucarone (3) and dammaric acid C (9), serving as representative compounds, demonstrated significant hypoglycemic effects on zebrafish. The primary mechanism involves the promotion of pancreatic β cell regeneration and glucose uptake. Specifically, these compounds enhance the differentiation of pancreatic endocrine precursor cells (PEP cells) into β cells in zebrafish.
Zebrafish
;
Animals
;
Diterpenes/isolation & purification*
;
Insulin-Secreting Cells/cytology*
;
Glucose/metabolism*
;
Hypoglycemic Agents/isolation & purification*
;
Molecular Structure
;
Structure-Activity Relationship
;
Plant Extracts/pharmacology*
;
Regeneration/drug effects*
9.Causal Associations between Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5), PM 2.5 Absorbance, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Risk: Evidence from a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.
Xu ZHANG ; Zhi Meng WU ; Lu ZHANG ; Bing Long XIN ; Xiang Rui WANG ; Xin Lan LU ; Gui Fang LU ; Mu Dan REN ; Shui Xiang HE ; Ya Rui LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):167-177
OBJECTIVE:
Several epidemiological observational studies have related particulate matter (PM) exposure to Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but many confounding factors make it difficult to draw causal links from observational studies. The objective of this study was to explore the causal association between PM 2.5 exposure, its absorbance, and IBD.
METHODS:
We assessed the association of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5 absorbance with the two primary forms of IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) using Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the causal relationship. We conducted two-sample MR analyses with aggregated data from the UK Biobank genome-wide association study. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked with PM 2.5 concentrations or their absorbance were used as instrumental variables (IVs). We used inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the primary analytical approach and four other standard methods as supplementary analyses for quality control.
RESULTS:
The results of MR demonstrated that PM 2.5 had an adverse influence on UC risk (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.010; 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 1.001-1.019, P = 0.020). Meanwhile, the results of IVW showed that PM 2.5 absorbance was also causally associated with UC ( OR = 1.012; 95% CI = 1.004-1.019, P = 0.002). We observed no causal relationship between PM 2.5, PM 2.5 absorbance, and CD. The results of sensitivity analysis indicated the absence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy, ensuring the reliability of MR results.
CONCLUSION
Based on two-sample MR analyses, there are potential positive causal relationships between PM 2.5, PM 2.5 absorbance, and UC.
Humans
;
Mendelian Randomization Analysis
;
Particulate Matter/analysis*
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/genetics*
;
Air Pollutants/analysis*
;
Crohn Disease/genetics*
;
Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics*
;
Genome-Wide Association Study
;
Risk Factors
;
Environmental Exposure
10.Role of Gold Nanorods Functionalized by Nucleic Acid Nanostructures Carrying Doxorubicin in Synergistic Anti-Cancer Therapy.
Hao WU ; Huang Shui MA ; Xing Han WU ; Qiang SUN ; Lin FENG ; Rui Fang JIANG ; Yan Hong LI ; Quan SHI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(4):403-415
OBJECTIVE:
Cancer remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating the development of effective treatment approaches. Developing synergistic therapy can provide a highly promising strategy for anti-cancer treatment through combining the benefits of various mechanisms.
METHODS:
In this study, we developed a synergistic strategy for chemo-photothermal therapy by constructing nanocomposites using gold nanorods (GNRs) and tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNA) loaded with the anti-tumor drug doxorubicin (DOX).
RESULTS:
Our in vitro studies have systematically clarified the anti-cancer behaviors of tFNA-DOX@GNR nanocomposites, characterized by their enhanced cellular uptake and proficient lysosomal escape capabilities. It was found that the key role of tFNA-DOX@GNR nanocomposites in tumor ablation is primarily due to their capacity to induce cytotoxicity in tumor cells via a photothermal effect, which generates instantaneous high temperatures. This mechanism introduces various responses in tumor cells, facilitated by the thermal effect and the integrated chemotherapeutic action of DOX. These reactions include the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress, characterized by elevated reactive oxygen species levels, the promotion of apoptotic cell death, and the suppression of tumor cell proliferation.
CONCLUSION
This work exhibits the potential of synergistic therapy utilizing nanocomposites for cancer treatment and offers a promising avenue for future therapeutic strategies.
Doxorubicin/chemistry*
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Gold/chemistry*
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Nanotubes/chemistry*
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Humans
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Nanocomposites/chemistry*
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Cell Line, Tumor
;
Nucleic Acids/chemistry*
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Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology*
;
Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*


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