Methods and compositions containing a berberine compound or berberine related or derivative compound are provided for the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia, elevated cholesterol, andor cardiovascular disease in mammalian subjects. A controller can execute with a real-time operating system such that the controller can include two or more controller engine instances executing as processes on the controller. The connecting rod linearly reciprocates the striking member. A higher priority is given to a short-term temporal processing result and a spatial processing result. Each wire is electrically connected between the positive electrode of the LED bare chip and one of the at least two positive pads or between the negative electrode of the LED bare chip and one of the at least two negative pads. The optical absorbance measurement channel includes a plasma separation region and at least one sub channel including a cuvette that is in fluid communication with the plasma separation region and configured to receive a plasma portion of a blood sample that has been passed through the plasma separation region.