1.Reflections on Research and Development of New Tibetan Medicines Based on Ancient Famous Classical Formulas
Siyi LIU ; Xiu XIANG ; Wei HAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):261-267
With the increasing attention paid by the state to traditional medicine and the need for the inheritance and innovative development of Tibetan medicine in the new era, the research and development of new Tibetan medicines has attracted the attention of the industry. This article analyzes the characteristics of prescriptions, dosage forms, preparation methods, and processing of the 34 Tibetan medicine formulas included in the Catalogue of Ancient Famous Classical Formulas(Second Batch), discusses the problems and challenges in the research and development of ancient famous classical formulas of Tibetan medicine, and puts forward opinions and suggestions in order to promote the research and development of new Tibetan medicine. The main issues that may be encountered in the research and development of 34 Tibetan medicine formulas are as follows:①Some medicinal material resources are scarce, and planting/breeding technologies are not yet mature. Among the 34 formulas, there are not only ingredients derived from endangered protected animals, but also national second-class protected plants and rare high-altitude wild species. ②The quality control level of Tibetan medicinal materials urgently needs to be strengthened and improved. After review, among the 102 medicinal materials in the 34 Tibetan medicine formulas, there are 2 varieties that currently have no national or local medicinal material standards/decoction piece processing specifications. Excluding those without quality standards, the proportion of varieties without any quantitative testing items is 49%. ③There are a large number of mineral medicines in Tibetan medicine formulas, making quality control difficult. The proportion of formulas containing mineral medicines among the 34 formulas is 35%, and most of them have not yet established a targeted quality standard system. ④Some Tibetan medicinal materials in the 34 formulas have unclear origins, with issues such as different substances with the same name and the same substance with different names. ⑤The 34 formulas contain medicinal materials labeled as toxic or slightly toxic in the current quality standards. It is recommended to accelerate the verification of key information of Tibetan medicine, and on this basis, to intensify research on planting and breeding, quality control in response to the above issues. It is also suggested to encourage the rational use of new technologies and processes that are suitable for the characteristics of preparations to develop new drugs from ancient famous classical formulas of Tibetan medicine, and promote the inheritance and innovative development of Tibetan medicine.
2.Diagnostic Techniques and Risk Prediction for Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) Syndrome
Song HOU ; Lin-Shan ZHANG ; Xiu-Qin HONG ; Chi ZHANG ; Ying LIU ; Cai-Li ZHANG ; Yan ZHU ; Hai-Jun LIN ; Fu ZHANG ; Yu-Xiang YANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2585-2601
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and metabolic disorders are the 3 major chronic diseases threatening human health, which are closely related and often coexist, significantly increasing the difficulty of disease management. In response, the American Heart Association (AHA) proposed a novel disease concept of “cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome” in October 2023, which has triggered widespread concern about the co-treatment of heart and kidney diseases and the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders around the world. This review posits that effectively managing CKM syndrome requires a new and multidimensional paradigm for diagnosis and risk prediction that integrates biological insights, advanced technology and social determinants of health (SDoH). We argue that the core pathological driver is a “metabolic toxic environment”, fueled by adipose tissue dysfunction and characterized by a vicious cycle of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, which forms a common pathway to multi-organ injury. The at-risk population is defined not only by biological characteristics but also significantly impacted by adverse SDoH, which can elevate the risk of advanced CKM by a factor of 1.18 to 3.50, underscoring the critical need for equity in screening and care strategies. This review systematically charts the progression of diagnostic technologies. In diagnostics, we highlight a crucial shift from single-marker assessments to comprehensive multi-marker panels. The synergistic application of traditional biomarkers like NT-proBNP (reflecting cardiac stress) and UACR (indicating kidney damage) with emerging indicators such as systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and Klotho protein facilitates a holistic evaluation of multi-organ health. Furthermore, this paper explores the pivotal role of non-invasive monitoring technologies in detecting subclinical disease. Techniques like multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) and impedance cardiography (ICG) provide a real-time window into microcirculatory and hemodynamic status, enabling the identification of early, often asymptomatic, functional abnormalities that precede overt organ failure. In imaging, progress is marked by a move towards precise, quantitative evaluation, exemplified by artificial intelligence-powered quantitative computed tomography (AI-QCT). By integrating AI-QCT with clinical risk factors, the predictive accuracy for cardiovascular events within 6 months significantly improves, with the area under the curve (AUC) increasing from 0.637 to 0.688, demonstrating its potential for reclassifying risk in CKM stage 3. In the domain of risk prediction, we trace the evolution from traditional statistical tools to next-generation models. The new PREVENT equation represents a major advancement by incorporating key kidney function markers (eGFR, UACR), which can enhance the detection rate of CKD in primary care by 20%-30%. However, we contend that the future lies in dynamic, machine learning-based models. Algorithms such as XGBoost have achieved an AUC of 0.82 for predicting 365-day cardiovascular events, while deep learning models like KFDeep have demonstrated exceptional performance in predicting kidney failure risk with an AUC of 0.946. Unlike static calculators, these AI-driven tools can process complex, multimodal data and continuously update risk profiles, paving the way for truly personalized and proactive medicine. In conclusion, this review advocates for a paradigm shift toward a holistic and technologically advanced framework for CKM management. Future efforts must focus on the deep integration of multimodal data, the development of novel AI-driven biomarkers, the implementation of refined SDoH-informed interventions, and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration to construct an efficient, equitable, and effective system for CKM screening and intervention.
3.Mechanism of Astragaloside Ⅳ on db/db Mice with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on AMPK Signaling Pathway
Min ZHOU ; Xiu LIU ; Yongjun WU ; Qin XIANG ; Rong YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(5):72-79
ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of astragaloside Ⅳ (AS Ⅳ) on db/db mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on network pharmacology and experimental validation. MethodA total of 24 db/db mice were randomly divided into four groups: model group, metformin group, and low-dose and high-dose AS Ⅳ groups. Six C57 mice were used as the blank group. The low-dose and high-dose AS Ⅳ groups were given AS Ⅳ of 0.015 and 0.030 g·kg-1 by gavage, and the metformin group was given 0.067 g·kg-1 by gavage. The blank and model groups were given equal volumes of distilled water by gavage. After intragastric administration, fasting blood glucose (FBG) was detected, and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Serum lipid level and liver histopathology were detected. The target and enrichment pathway of AS Ⅳ for treating T2DM and NAFLD were predicted by network pharmacology, and the main enrichment pathway was verified by molecular biology techniques. The protein expressions of AMPK, p-AMPK, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) in liver tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank group, the levels of body mass, liver weight coefficient, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in mice treated with AS Ⅳ were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The pathology of liver tissue showed significant improvement in lipid accumulation, and imaging results showed that the degree of fatty liver was reduced after AS Ⅳ therapy. Network pharmacological prediction results showed that vascular endothelial growth factor α (VEGFA), galactoagglutinin 3 (LGALS3), serine/threonine kinase B2 (Akt2), RHO-associated coiled-coil protein kinase 1 (ROCK1), serine/threonine kinase B1 (Akt1), signaling and transcriptional activator protein (STAT3), and messtimal epidermal transformation factor (MET) were key targets in "drug-disease" network. The results from the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment showed that the AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway was strongly associated with T2DM and NAFLD. Western blot results showed that compared with the blank group, the expression levels of p-AMPK/AMPK in the model group were significantly down-regulated, while those of SREBP-1 and FAS proteins were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression levels of p-AMPK/AMPK in the metformin group and high-dose AS Ⅳ group were significantly up-regulated, while those of SREBP-1 and FAS proteins were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionAS Ⅳ regulates the expression of lipid proteins by activating the AMPK signaling pathway, thereby improving lipid metabolism.
4.Efficacy and safety of whole-brain low-dose radiotherapy combined with ICI and intrathecal chemotherapy for leptomeningeal metastases from lung cancer
Xiang LISHA ; Zhang XUANWEI ; Yu MIN ; Xiu WEIGANG ; Zou BINGWEN ; Xu YONG ; Liu YONGMEI ; Zhou LIN ; Xue JIANXIN ; Lu YOU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2024;51(18):943-949
Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of whole-brain low-dose radiotherapy(LDRT)combined with PD-1 inhibitor sin-tilimab and intrathecal pemetrexed(IP)for the treatment of refractory non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)with leptomeningeal metastases(LM).Methods:Retrospective analysies were was performed on eight NSCLC patients with LM at the West China Hospital of Sichuan Uni-versity from December 2022 to May 2024.Among the eight patients,there were four were males and four were females,with a median age of 49 years(rangeing,between 34 to 58 years).All patients were treated with whole-brain LDRT combined with immune checkpoint inhibit-or(ICI)and intrathecal chemotherapy regimens,and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated according to the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology(RANO)criteria and the Karnofsky physical status(KPS)score.Adverse reactions were assessed according to the Common Criteria for the Evaluation of Adverse Events(CTCAE version 5.0).Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method.The classification proportion of cerebrospinal fluid subsets before and after treatment was analyzed using by single-cell sequencing,and the differential ana-lysis of gene expression in parallel cells was performed.Results:The best clinical treatment effects in eight patients were were evaluated us-ing the RANO criteria:five patients(62.5%)were evaluated as improved and three(37.5%)as stable.The median KPS score of the eight pa-tients was 30(20-50)before treatment,which was significantly improved to 60(40-90)after treatment(P=0.000 9).The remission rate of neurological symptoms was 100%(8/8)in eight patients.The median neurological progression-free survival(NPFS)was 12 months.The res-ults of single-cell sequencing in CSF of patientss(P1)showed that the proportion of T cells in the patient samples after whole-brain LDRT treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment(6.08%vs.68.87%),and the proportion of tumor cells was significantly lower(12.92%vs.0.6%).The differential analysis of gene expression showed that CCL5 and CXCL13 were significantly upregulated in T cells of CSF after WB-LDRT treatment.Conclusions:The combination of whole-brain LDRT with ICI and IP in the treatment of NSCLC with LM can signific-antly alleviate neurological symptoms,improve quality of life and prolong the NPFS of patients,which is a safe and effective treatment.
5.Changes in superior mesenteric artery blood flow velocity monitored by ultrasound can predict enteral nutrition intolerance in mechanically ventilated critical ill patients
Bei-Bei CHEN ; Qin XIE ; Xiang-Qin XU ; Yu-Min MA ; Zhao-Xiu LIU
Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition 2024;31(3):154-161,166
Objective:To explore the predictive value of blood flow velocity changes in superior mesenteric artery (SMA) monitored by ultrasound on feeding intolerance (FI) of enteral nutrition (EN) in mechanically ventilated ICU patients. Methods:One-hundred and eight mechanically ventilated patients in Intensive Care Department of the Second People's Hospital of Nantong from February 2022 to February 2023 were enrolled. SMA blood flow parameters and enteral nutrition tolerance were monitored on the 1st,3rd,and 7th day (D1,D3,D7) after initiation of EN. Differences in SMA blood flow parameters between tolerant and intolerant group,as well as intolerant subgroups (mild,moderate,and severe) were analyzed. The predictive value of SMA blood flow parameters for FI and the risk factors of FI were also evaluated,and the relationship between SMA blood flow parameters and intestinal barrier function were preliminarily explored . Result:The SMA blood flow velocity parameters,peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV),were higher at D1,D3,and D7 in the tolerant groups compared to the intolerant group (all P<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that as the degree of intolerance increased,PSV gradually decreased. EDV at D1,D3,and D7 also gradually decreased with the increased severity of FI (all P<0.05);The AUC of PSV and EDV predicting FI in D1,D3,and D7 patients were 0.752 (95% CI:0.660~0.830) and 0.773 (95% CI:0.682~0.848),0.774 (95% CI:0.683~0.849) and 0.796 (95% CI:0.708~0.868),0.743 (95% CI:0.650~0.822) and 0.713 (95% CI:0.618~0.796). respectively. PSV,norepinephrine use,and blood phosphorus levels were independent prognostic factors for FI at D3. Patients with FI showed a negative correlation between PSV,EDV,and diamine oxidase (PSV:r=-0.857,P<0.001;EDV:r=-0.795,P<0.001). Conclusion:Changes in blood flow velocity in the superior mesenteric artery by ultrasound monitoring can effectively predict enteral nutrition intolerance in mechanically ventilated patients,it might have potential clinical application values in ICU patients.
6.Design and application of portable intelligent cleaner for medical lumen instruments
Mei-Hua YU ; Chen-Yang ZHAN ; Li-Yun HE ; Cai-Hong LIU ; Bao-Xiu HUANG ; Yan-Min YAN ; Xiang-Dong HUANG
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2024;45(10):114-117
Objective To design a portable intelligent cleaner for medical lumen instruments to enhance cleaning efficiency.Methods The portable intelligent cleaner had a box-body shape and a shell made of 304 stainless steel,which was composed of a circuit control board,a micro pump,lithium batteries,a charging interface,a rinse tube and connectors.The circuit control board used a STM32G030C8T6 integraged circuit,which was equipped with a countdown digital tube to display the time left for cleaning;the micro pump and lithium batteries were placed at the inner wall of the box bottom,the charging interface and water inlet/outlet inteface were put on the outside of the front wall of the box bottom,the water inlet/outlet interface was connected with a silicon rinse tube linked to an adapter at its distal end,and the adapters with different calibers were compatible with sizes of medical lumen instruments.Totally 9 672 pieces of lumen instruments received by some hospital's disinfection supply center from May to October 2021 were divided into 2 groups with the convenience sampling method,with 4 836 pieces in each group.The odd-numbered instruments were enrolled into a control group and cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner and a lumen brush,and the even-numbered instruments were included into an experimental group and cleaned conventionally after pretreatment by the intelligent cleaner.The two groups were compared in terms of eaning efficiency and satisfaction.Results Testing by visual inspection,magnifying glass with light source and white stripe method showed that the experimental group behaved better than the control group in the cleaning qualification rate,whose satisfaction rate(100%)was also higher than that of the control group(86.53%),with all the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion The portable cleaner with easy operation enhances the cleaning quality and efficiency for medical lumen instruments.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(10):114-117]
7.Correlation between Combined Urinary Metal Exposure and Grip Strength under Three Statistical Models: A Cross-sectional Study in Rural Guangxi
Jian Yu LIANG ; Hui Jia RONG ; Xiu Xue WANG ; Sheng Jian CAI ; Dong Li QIN ; Mei Qiu LIU ; Xu TANG ; Ting Xiao MO ; Fei Yan WEI ; Xia Yin LIN ; Xiang Shen HUANG ; Yu Ting LUO ; Yu Ruo GOU ; Jing Jie CAO ; Wu Chu HUANG ; Fu Yu LU ; Jian QIN ; Yong Zhi ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(1):3-18
Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength. Methods We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.Results In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β=-2.119), As (β=-1.318), Sr (β=-2.480), Ba (β=0.781), Fe (β= 1.130) and Mn (β=-0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength (P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95% confidence interval:-1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn (Pinteractions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).Conclusion In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.
8.Method development and validation for testing the concentration of anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody in serum based on ELISA
Zhen-Xiang HU ; Li-Xiu HE ; Bo WANG ; Xi CHEN ; Gui-Li LIU ; Yu-Min QIN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(11):1642-1645
Objective To establish an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method for testing the concentration of a monoclonal antibody target tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in animal serum.Methods The critical parameters of the method including coating concentration of human TNF-α,source,concentration and stability of HRP-labeled goat anti-human immunoglobulin G(IgG)were investigated.The specificity,accuracy,precision,linearity and Limited of Determination of the method were investigated.Results The critical parameters of the method were confirmed as below:TNF-α was coated at 400 ng·mL-1;HRP labeled goat anti-human IgG antibody was diluted at 1:3.0 ×105;the diluted horseradish peroxidase labeled goat anti-human IgG antibody is well stored at 4 ℃ for 3 days.Meanwhile the method was confirmed to have good specificity,the recovery rate ranged from 84.00%to 106.82%,the coefficient of variation of different antibody concentration levels were no more than 10%;the method had a good linearity and the standard curve was y=(-8.37×103-2.37 × 106)/[1+(x/29.80)106]+2.37 × 106(R2=0.999);the limit of quantification was 1 ng·mL-1,all of which met the requirements.Conclusion A accurate and robust ELISA method was developed to test the concentration of anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody in serum.
9.A retrospective comparative study between robotic thyroidectomy through transoral vestibular approach and bilateral breast-axillary approach.
Chen Yu LI ; Qing Qing HE ; Xiao Lei LI ; Jing YUAN ; Da Yong ZHUANG ; Peng ZHOU ; Tao YUE ; Yong Xiang LIU ; Chang Xiu SHAO ; Jing XU
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2023;61(3):227-231
Objective: To compare the surgical outcome of robotic thyroidectomy through transoral approach and the bilateral breast-axillary approach. Methods: Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of patients who performed transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT group) or bilateral breast-axillary approach (BABA group) in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, the 960th Hospital of People's Liberation Army from July 2020 to May 2022. Both groups received lobectomy with lymph node dissection of the central region. A total of 100 cases were included in the study, including 48 cases in the TORT group and 52 cases in the BABA group. The propensity score matching method was used for 1∶1 matching of patients between the 2 groups, with a match tolerance of 0.03. There were 31 patients in each group successfully matched. In the TORT group, there were 5 males and 26 females, aged (33.2±7.9) years (range: 21 to 53 years). While there were 4 males and 27 females in the BABA group, aged (34.6±9.2) years (range: 19 to 58 years). The t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test or Fisher exact test were used to compare the clinical efficacy between the two groups. Results: All the patients successfully completed robotic thyroid surgery without conversion to open surgery. Compared with BABA group, the TORT group had longer operation time ((211.3±57.2) minutes vs. (126.2±37.8) minutes, t=6.915, P<0.01), shorter drainage tube retention time ((5.4±1.0) days vs. (6.4±1.2) days, t=-3.544, P=0.001), shorter total hospital stay ((6.6±1.2) days vs. (7.4±1.3) days, t=-2.353, P=0.022), and higher cosmetic score (9.46±0.25 vs. 9.27±0.26, t=2.925, P=0.005). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the number of lymph nodes dissection, metastasis in the central compartment, and the incidence of postoperative complications (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Compared with the bilateral breast-axillary approach, the transoral vestibular approach of robotic thyroidectomy is also safe and effective. It shows similar surgical results to the bilateral breast-axillary approach in strictly selected patients, but the postoperative recovery speed is much faster, and the hospital stay is shorter. Transoral robotic thyroidectomy is a more recommended surgical method for patients with high aesthetic demand.
Male
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Female
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Humans
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Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods*
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Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery*
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Thyroidectomy/methods*
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Retrospective Studies
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Neck Dissection/methods*
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Axilla/pathology*
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Treatment Outcome
10.Precise application of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu in classical formulas.
Yu-Ping SHE ; Pei-Pei ZHANG ; Jing-Yan HU ; Yong-Hua GUO ; Qian CAO ; Xiang YIN ; Xiu-Hua HU ; Ting ZHAO ; Feng-Bo LIU ; Yuan ZHANG ; Sheng-Li WEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(3):681-688
To maintain the precision and stability of the efficacy of classical formulas, this study compared the origins and specifications of Bupleuri Radix and revealed the precise application regularity of Bupleurum chinense(Beichaihu) and Bupleurum scorzonerifolium(Nanchaihu) in classical formulas. The efficacy and indications of formulas with Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign drug in the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases(Shang Han Za Bing Lun) were investigated. The difference in the efficacy of Bupleuri Radix as well as the differences in the chemical composition, and liver-protecting and lipid-lowering effects of the decoctions of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu were analyzed with LC-MS technology based on the CCl_4-induced liver injury model in mice and sodium oleate-induced HepG2 hyperlipidemia cell model. The results showed that seven classical formulas with Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign drug in the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases were mainly used in the treatment of digestive, metabolic, immune, circulatory, and other diseases. Bupleuri Radix mainly played the functions of protecting the liver, benefiting the gallbladder, and lowering the lipid, and had different focuses in different formulas. There were 14 differential components in the decoctions of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu, and the chemical structures of 11 components were identified, including 10 saponins and one flavonoid. The results of the liver-protecting efficacy experiment showed that compared with the Nanchaihu decoction, Beichaihu decoction could reduce the serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) activity in liver injury model mice(P<0.01). The results of the lipid-lowering efficacy experiment proved that Beichaihu and Nanchaihu decoctions both showed highly significant differences in lowering the total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG) content in HepG2 cells(P<0.01), and Nanchaihu decoction was superior to Beichaihu decoction in lowering the lipid. The results of this study preliminarily proved that there were differences in chemical composition, and liver-protecting and lipid-lowering effects of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu decoctions, indicating that it was necessary to determine the precise origin of Bupleuri Radix in the clinical formulation of traditional Chinese medicine. The study provides a scientific basis for both precise clinical medication and purpose-based accurate quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine in clinical application.
Animals
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Mice
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Liver
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Aspartate Aminotransferases
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Bupleurum

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