1.The Role of Lysosomal Dysfunction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Pathogenesis to Targeted Therapies
Yue-Yan WU ; Xin CHEN ; Ce-Fan ZHOU ; Jing-Feng TANG ; Rui ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):609-622
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal cancer with high morbidity rates worldwide. It is a major threat to public health in China, due to the combination of known and new risk factors, such as endemic hepatitis B virus (HBV), dietary aflatoxin exposure, and the occurrence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Although many methods for surveillance and multimodal therapies, such as surgery, local ablation, transarterial therapy, and new systemic agents, have been available, the survival rates of HCC remains poor. They have very limited durable responses, long post-treatment recurrence rates, and high resistance to treatment. This reflects an imperfect picture of the biological cause of the disease and a need for new mechanistic or targeted techniques. A significant characteristic of HCC, in common with other aggressive cancers, is the presence of reprogrammed, hyperactive cell metabolism. Tumor cells hijack metabolic pathways to promote their uncontrolled growth, stress survival, invasion and metastasis. While classical mechanisms such as the Warburg effect, lipid metabolism and glutamine utilization have been understood, the lysosome, which was once viewed as a static “waste disposal unit” to remove old organelles and proteins, is instead a dynamic signaling and metabolic core. The lysosomes incorporate nutrients, energy and stress signals by master regulators such as mTORC1 (activated on its surface) that balance anabolic growth and catabolic recycling to the cellular demands. In HCC, lysosomes are not passive, but are highly active and dysregulated. HCC cells upregulate lysosomes, which scavenge intracellular components via enhanced autophagy and engulf extracellular proteins via macropinocytosis, crucial for survival in the nutrient-poor, hypoxic tumor microenvironment. In addition to metabolism, lysosomes exhibit pro-invasive functions by secreting hydrolases to remodel the extracellular matrix, promote angiogenesis, and suppress stromal immune cells to foster a pro-tumor microenvironment. In a clinical context, lysosomes play an important role in therapeutic resistance: they sequester and inactivate chemotherapeutics via lysosomal sequestration, and enhanced autophagic flux protects the cell from therapy-induced damage, contributing to relapse, as lysosomal dysfunction is a key cause of treatment failure. This makes lysosomes promising yet challenging therapeutic targets in HCC. Recent preclinical and early clinical studies investigate multiple strategies to exploit the susceptibility of lysosomes: lysosome-specific agents, alkalinizing the lysosome lumen or inducing membrane permeabilization and lysosome-dependent cell death; pharmacological inhibition of key lysosomal enzymes or autophagy to impair nutrient recycling and stress adaptation; smart nanotherapeutic agents or antibody-drug conjugates, specifically activated in the acidic lysosomal environment or utilizing lysosomal pathways for efficient intracellular drug release; and combination strategies of lysosome-targeting agents with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immunotherapy to overcome resistance and achieve synergistic antitumor effects. In summary, our review systematically presents the role of lysosomes in HCC, from metabolic reprogramming and microenvironmental adaptation to therapeutic resistance. By synthesizing the latest mechanistic insights and preclinical advances, this review highlights the indispensable role of lysosomes in the complex HCC biological network, emphasizing that an in-depth understanding of this dynamic organelle holds great promise for developing innovative, targeted therapies, offering new hope for improving the poor prognosis of global HCC patients.
2.Interpretation of Evidence-to-decision Framework and Its Application in Pharmacovigilance Guidelines of Chinese Patent Medicines
Hongyan ZHANG ; Xin CUI ; Yuanyuan LI ; Zhifei WANG ; Mengmeng WANG ; Shuo YANG ; Xiaoxiao ZHAO ; Fumei LIU ; Yaxin WANG ; Rui MA ; Yanming XIE ; Lianxin WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):220-228
To interpret the evidence-to-decision (EtD) framework and to illustrate its application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) guideline development using the example of the Pharmacovigilance Guideline of Chinese Patent Medicine, thereby providing methodological references for TCM guideline standardization. Based on the core three stages of the EtD framework (formulating the question, making an assessment of the evidence, and drawing conclusions), critical decision points and evaluation evidence within the evidence-translation process were systematically addressed, aligning with the purpose, scope, and key questions of the guideline. Qualitative research methods, such as the nominal group technique, were employed to formulate recommendations. The analysis was conducted based on the EtD framework. During question formulation, the specific characteristics and practical needs of pharmacovigilance for Chinese patent medicines were clarified, focusing on the core objective of safety assurance throughout the product lifecycle. In the evidence assessment, multi-source evidence was integrated, including policy documents, literature research, and expert consensus, completing the evidence evaluation. Finally, in recommendation-forming, dispersed research evidence and expert experience were synthesized into consensus, culminating in the guideline's completion through solicitation of opinions and peer review. The EtD framework provides a structured tool for evidence-to-decision translation in TCM guideline development, effectively enhancing the transparency and scientific rigor of the process. Therefore, it is recommended that TCM guideline development adopt the EtD framework to improve the evidence-to-decision process with TCM characteristics.
3.Interpretation of Evidence-to-decision Framework and Its Application in Pharmacovigilance Guidelines of Chinese Patent Medicines
Hongyan ZHANG ; Xin CUI ; Yuanyuan LI ; Zhifei WANG ; Mengmeng WANG ; Shuo YANG ; Xiaoxiao ZHAO ; Fumei LIU ; Yaxin WANG ; Rui MA ; Yanming XIE ; Lianxin WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):220-228
To interpret the evidence-to-decision (EtD) framework and to illustrate its application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) guideline development using the example of the Pharmacovigilance Guideline of Chinese Patent Medicine, thereby providing methodological references for TCM guideline standardization. Based on the core three stages of the EtD framework (formulating the question, making an assessment of the evidence, and drawing conclusions), critical decision points and evaluation evidence within the evidence-translation process were systematically addressed, aligning with the purpose, scope, and key questions of the guideline. Qualitative research methods, such as the nominal group technique, were employed to formulate recommendations. The analysis was conducted based on the EtD framework. During question formulation, the specific characteristics and practical needs of pharmacovigilance for Chinese patent medicines were clarified, focusing on the core objective of safety assurance throughout the product lifecycle. In the evidence assessment, multi-source evidence was integrated, including policy documents, literature research, and expert consensus, completing the evidence evaluation. Finally, in recommendation-forming, dispersed research evidence and expert experience were synthesized into consensus, culminating in the guideline's completion through solicitation of opinions and peer review. The EtD framework provides a structured tool for evidence-to-decision translation in TCM guideline development, effectively enhancing the transparency and scientific rigor of the process. Therefore, it is recommended that TCM guideline development adopt the EtD framework to improve the evidence-to-decision process with TCM characteristics.
4.Research progress on low-dose atropine combined with other interventional measures in myopia prevention and control
Dongdong DENG ; Xue LI ; Rui XIN ; Mulan TIAN ; Hui ZHANG
International Eye Science 2026;26(11):1973-1977
Myopia has evolved into a global public health concern, highlighting the critical importance of myopia prevention and control. This paper elaborates on the pathogenetic mechanisms of myopia and relevant therapeutic interventions, with a focused discussion on the action mechanisms and research advances of low-dose atropine combined with other interventional measures for myopia control. By comparing the advantages and limitations of such combined regimens, this review aims to provide scientific and safe strategies for myopia prevention and management.
5.Research progress on the relationship between sleep status and visual acuity in children and adolescents
Wenjuan LUO ; Rui YAO ; Xin ZHANG ; Hongmei LUO
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(1):135-139
Myopia is a common eye disease among children and adolescents, and it is also a major and common public health problem for children and adolescents worldwide. Although the myopia rate among children and adolescents in different provinces , cities , and regions varies , the incidence of myopia is generally high , showing a trend of high incidence and younger age. Myopia in children and adolescents is closely related to sleep conditions . The sleep time of most children and adolescents in China does not reach the recommended length of time for this age group, and their sleep quality is poor, which affects their study and life. The biological connection and molecular mechanism between sleep and myopia are hot topics in clinical research . This article reviews the epidemiological characteristics of myopia and sleep status in children and adolescents , as well as the biological mechanisms between sleep and myopia , with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for preventing myopia in children and adolescents.
6.Effect of Folic Acid-modified Crebanine Polyethylene Glycol-polylactic Acid Hydroxyacetic Acid Copolymer Nanoparticles Combined with Ultrasonic Irradiation on Subcutaneous Tumor Growth of Liver Cancer in Mice
Rui PAN ; Junze TANG ; Hailiang ZHANG ; Kun YU ; Xiaoyu ZHAO ; Xin CHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):217-225
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of folic acid-modified crebanine polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid hydroxyacetic acid copolymer(PEG-PLGA) nanoparticles(FA-Cre@PEG-PLGA NPs, hereinafter referred to as NPs) combined with ultrasonic irradiation on subcutaneous tumor of liver cancer in Kunming(KM) mice. MethodsEighty-four healthy male KM mice were utilized to establish a subcutaneous tumor model of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma with H22 cells, then mice were randomly divided into model group, placebo group, hydroxycamptothecin group(8 mg∙kg-1), low, medium and high dose crebanine raw material groups(2, 2.5, 3 mg∙kg-1, hereinafter referred to as the low, medium and high dose crebanine groups, respectively), low, medium and high dose NPs groups(2, 2.5, 3 mg∙kg-1), and low, medium and high dose NPs combined with ultrasonic irradiation groups(2, 2.5, 3 mg∙kg-1, hereinafter referred to as the low, medium and high dose combination groups, respectively). The corresponding doses of drugs were administered via tail vein injection, the model group received no treatment, while the placebo group was injected with an equivalent amount of normal saline. Dosing was conducted for a total of 10 times on alternate days. The body mass of the mice was monitored, and parameters such as body mass change rate, thymus index, spleen index, tumor volume, tumor weight, relative tumor growth rate(T/C), and tumor inhibition rate(TGI) were calculated. Pathological changes in liver and kidney tissues as well as the tumor were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. Additionally, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and creatinine(CREA) in serum of mice were detected by biochemical method. Furthermore, the effect of ultrasound on the distribution of NPs in subcutaneous tumors of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma was observed by in vivo imaging technique. ResultsAmong different treatment methods, the combination of NPs and ultrasound irradiation had the best therapeutic effect. Compared with the model group, the body mass growth rates of mice in the medium and high combination groups decreased, while the thymus index and spleen index increased, but there was no statistically significant difference in serum AST, ALT, BUN and CREA levels, indicating that NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation had little effect on the normal physiological state of the body, oth groups had TGI>40% and T/C<60%, indicating a clear anti-tumor effect. Pathological analysis showed that compared with the NPs groups, the combination groups exhibited varying degrees of necrosis in tumor cells, accompanied by less damage to the liver and kidneys. In vivo imaging of small animals showed that compared with the high dose NPs group, the high dose combination group had stronger tumor targeting ability(P<0.01). ConclusionNPs combined with ultrasonic irradiation can not only effectively targeted the drug to the tumor site, inhibit the subcutaneous tumor growth of mouse liver cancer, but also decrease damage to liver and kidney tissues.
7.Effect and mechanism of betaine in reversing ABCB1 transporter-mediated multidrug resistance in chemotherapy of prostate cancer
Ya-Jie LI ; Hang ZHANG ; Li-Hong NIE ; Kang-Jie AN ; Yu-Xin YANG ; Guo-Lin TIAN ; Rui-Ning ZHAO
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(2):197-206
Objective To investigate the effect and mechnism of betaine(BET)in reversing chemotherapy resistance in prostate cancer(PCa)by inhibiting ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1(ABCB1).Methods The PCa chemotherapy-sensitive C4-2B cells were cultured,and the TaxR cells resistant to docetaxel(DTX)were established by gradient increase the concentration of DTX.The drug resistance of C4-2B and TaxR cells against DTX was assessed using CCK-8 and the colony formation experiment.Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to detect ABCB1 expression.The TaxR cells were divided into:(1)Control group,negative control group(NC),siABCB1-1 group(transfected with siABCB1-1),and siABCB1-2 group(transfected with siABCB1-2).Western blotting was used to detect the effect of small interfering RNA on silencing ABCB1,and CCK-8 was used to detect the differences in DTX resistance between each group.(2)Different concentrations of BET(0,100,200,400,600,800 mmol/L)groups.These groups were subjected to CCK-8 to detect cell viability,and Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of ABCB1.(3)Control group,DTX group(20 nmol/L DTX),BET group(200 mmol/L BET),and DTX+BET group(20 nmol/L DTX+200 mmol/L BET),flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis rate and cell cycle,and Western blotting to detect the protein expression of apoptosis-related proteins(Bcl2,BAX,c-caspase-3).(4)Control group,BET group(200 mmol/L BET),wortmannin(WM)group(100 μmol/L WM),and BET+WM group(200 mmol/L BET+100 μmol/L WM).Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of PI3K,Akt,and ABCB1.(5)Control group,BET group(200 mmol/L BET),and BAY group(10 μmol/L BAY),BAY+BET group(200 mmol/L BET+10 μmol/L BAY).Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of NF-κB p65,p-ikBα and ABCB1.Network pharmacology combined with transcriptome sequencing was used to predict the possible pathways for BET to reverse chemotherapy resistance.Results Compared with C4-2B cells,TaxR cells showed significantly increased resistance to DTX(P<0.01),and high expression of ABCB1(P<0.01).After silencing ABCB1 with siRNA,TaxR cells'resistance to DTX was significantly inhibited(P<0.01).The inhibition rate of TaxR cells treated with 200 mmol/L BET was less than 20%,and it significantly decreased the expression of ABCB1 protein in TaxR cells(P<0.05).Compared with control group,the combination of 200 mmol/L BET and 20 nmol/L DTX resulted in higher apoptosis rate and higher S stage cell ratio,lower expression of Bcl-2 protein and higher expression of BAX and c-caspase-3 proteins than the two drugs used alone(P<0.05).Compared with control group,the combination of 200 mmol/L BET and 100 μmol/L WM significantly down-regulated the protein expression of PI3K,Akt and ABCB1(P<0.01).The combination of 200 mmol/L BET and 10 μmol/L BAY significantly down-regulated the protein expression of NF-κB p65,p-ikBα and ABCB1(P<0.01).Conclusion BET may reverse TaxR cells'chemotherapy resistance by down-regulating ABCB1 expression through the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.
8.Hearing loss prevalence and burden of disease in China: Findings from provincial-level analysis.
Yu WANG ; Yang XIE ; Minghao WANG ; Mengdan ZHAO ; Rui GONG ; Ying XIN ; Jia KE ; Ke ZHANG ; Shaoxing ZHANG ; Chen DU ; Qingchuan DUAN ; Fang WANG ; Tao PAN ; Furong MA ; Xiangyang HU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(1):41-48
BACKGROUND:
Without timely and effective rehabilitation, hearing loss may profoundly affect human life quality. China has a large population of hearing-impaired individuals, which imposes a heavy health burden on society. Moreover, this population is projected to increase rapidly owing to China's aging society.
METHODS:
We used data from a population-representative epidemiological investigation of hearing loss and ear diseases in four Chinese provinces. We estimated the national prevalence using multiple linear regression of the age-group proportions and prevalence in 31 provinces with clustering analysis. We used years lived with disability (YLDs) to analyze the disease burden and forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss by 2060 in China.
RESULTS:
An estimated 115 million people had moderate-to-complete hearing loss in 2015 across the 31 provinces of China (8.4% of 1.37 billion people). Of these, 85.7% were older than age 50 years (99 million people) and 2.4% were younger than 20 years old (2.8 million people). Of all YLDs attributable to hearing loss, 68.9% were attributable to moderate-to-complete cases. By 2060, a projected 242 million people in China will have moderate-to-complete hearing loss, a 110.0% increase from 2015.
CONCLUSIONS
The hearing loss prevalence in China is high. Population aging and socioeconomic factors substantially affect the prevalence and severity of hearing loss and the disease burden. The prevalence and severity of hearing loss are unevenly distributed across different provinces. Future public health policies should take these trends and regional variations into account.
Humans
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China/epidemiology*
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Hearing Loss/epidemiology*
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Prevalence
;
Middle Aged
;
Male
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Female
;
Adult
;
Aged
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Adolescent
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Young Adult
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Infant
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Aged, 80 and over
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Cost of Illness
9.Effects of different processing methods on traits and chemical constituents of Forsythiae Fructus.
Rong-Rong XU ; Rui LI ; Chu-Han ZHANG ; Wei TIAN ; Xin-Guo WANG ; Li-Ying NIU ; Wei FENG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(2):465-471
This study aims to investigate the correlations of the appearance traits, total antioxidant capacity, and component content of Forsythiae Fructus processed by different methods, explore the effects of different processing methods on the abovementioned three aspects of Forsythiae Fructus, and screen out the internal and external indicators that have important effects on its quality. It determined the length, diameter, stem length, chroma value L~*, a~*, b~*, and other appearance indexes and antioxidant activity of Forsythiae Fructus processed by different methods. The content of forsythiaside A, rutin, forsythin, pinoresinol, and phillygenin was determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography(UPLC). Correlation analysis, principal component analysis(PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and independent sample t-test analysis were performed on the appearance indexes and the component content. The correlation analysis showed that there were differences in the appearance traits and the component content. L~* and E~* had highly significant negative correlations with pinoresinol and phillygenin(P<0.01) and significant positive correlations with forsythiaside A(P<0.05). There were a highly significant negative correlation between a~* and forsythiaside A(P<0.01) and highly significant positive correlations of a~* with pinoresinol and phillygenin(P<0.01). There were a highly significant positive correlation between b~* and forsythiaside A(P<0.01) and highly significant negative correlations of b~* with pinoresinol and phillygenin(P<0.01). The total antioxidant capacity had highly significant negative correlations with pinoresinol and phillygenin(P<0.01). The PCA results showed that there were differences among Forsythiae Fructus samples processed by different methods. OPLS-DA marked five important indicators, which were forsythiaside A, stem length, E~*, L~*, and b~*. The results of independent sample t-test showed that the content of forsythiaside A, pinoresinol, and phillygenin, the total antioxidant capacity, and the appearance traits such as L~*, a~*, b~*, and E~* were significantly different between the Forsythiae Fructus samples processed by steaming and boiling(P<0.05). According to content determination and a related biological activity analysis, steaming is a good choice from the perspective of improving the stability of chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of Forsythiae Fructus. From the point of view of improving the stability of chemical constituents and anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of Forsythiae Fructus, it is recommended to use boiling as the processing method. Based on the above analysis methods, the main indexes for the appearance traits of Forsythiae Fructus processed by different methods are powder chroma value(L~*, a~*, b~*, E~*), stem length, and total antioxidant capacity, and those for chemical constituents are the content of forsythiaside A, pinoresinol, and phillygenin. This study provides reference for seeking scientific processing methods of Forsythiae Fructus.
Forsythia/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
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Fruit/chemistry*
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Antioxidants/analysis*
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Glycosides/analysis*
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Principal Component Analysis
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Furans
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Lignans
10.Pharmacokinetics study of Dayuanyin in normal and febrile rats.
Yu-Jie HOU ; Kang-Ning XIAO ; Jian-Yun BI ; Xin-Jun ZHANG ; Xin-Rui LI ; Yu-Qing WANG ; Ming SU ; Xin-Ru SUN ; Hui ZHANG ; Bo-Yang WANG ; Li-Jie WANG ; Shan-Xin LIU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(2):527-533
Based on the pharmacokinetics theory, this study investigated the pharmacokinetic characteristics of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, wogonoside, and wogonin in normal and febrile rats and summarized absorption and elimination rules of Dayuanyin in them to provide reference for further development and clinical application of Dayuanyin. Blood samples were taken from the fundus venous plexus of normal and model rats after intragastric administration of Dayuanyin at different time points. The concentration of each substance in blood was determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) technique at different time points. DAS 2.0, a piece of pharmacokinetics software, was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters of each component. The results show that the 4 components had good linear relationship in their respective ranges, and the results of methodological investigation met the requirements. The pharmacokinetic parameters of C_(max), T_(max), t_(1/2), AUC_(0-t), AUC_(0-∞), and MRT_(0-t) were calculated by the DAS 2.0 non-compartmental model. Compared with those in the normal group, C_(max) and AUC_(0-t) of the 4 components in the model group were significantly increased. There were significant differences in the pharmacokinetic characteristics between the normal and model groups, suggesting that the absorption and elimination of Dayuanyin may be affected by the changes of internal environment of the body in different physiological states.
Animals
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Rats
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Male
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Fever/metabolism*
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Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Glucosides/pharmacokinetics*
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Monoterpenes


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