OBJECTIVE To comprehensively evaluate the different drying methods of Metapanax delavayi based on multi-index dimensions， including sun drying （SD）， shade drying （ND）， hot air drying （HAD）， vacuum drying （VD）， and vacuum freeze drying （VFD）. METHODS An electronic eye was used to evaluate the appearance of samples with five drying methods. An electronic tongue was used to evaluate taste. The microstructure was evaluated by scanning electron microscope. The contents of moisture， total ash， acid-insoluble ash and water-soluble extract were detected by the methods in Chinese Pharmacopoeia . The contents of neochlorogenic acid， chlorogenic acid， cryptochlorogenic acid， 3，5- O -dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4，5- O -dicaffeoylquinic acid were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The comprehensive quality evaluation of five samples based on chemometrics， entropy weight-technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution （TOPSIS） and grey relational analysis （GRA） with the above indicators as variables， the key indicators affecting the qualit y were screened by variable importance in projection （VIP） ＞1.0. RESULTS The color results of five samples showed that average L * ， a * ， b * ranged from 47.532 to 56.986， －4.957 to －0.718， 19.313 to 28.194， respectively. The taste results of the five samples showed that the presented high response values were for sourness and bitterness. Microstructural observation demonstrated that the ND samples showed smooth surfaces with compact texture； SD samples exhibited rough surfaces with obvious cracks； VD samples showed relatively rough surfaces with layered stacked morphology； HAD samples showed loose and coarse structures； VFD samples showed relatively smooth surfaces. The average moisture content ranged from 7.064% to 8.513%， the average total ash content ranged from 5.214% to 5.706%， the average acid-insoluble ash content ranged from 0.576% to 0.720%， and the average water-soluble extract content ranged from 26.081% to 28.395%. The contents of the five constituents were 2.559-8.940， 8.731-21.037， 1.710-4.479， 1.967-6.130， 1.199-2.001 mg/g， respectively. The results of cluster analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis showed that the five samples were divided into three categories， both the VFD sample and HAD sample were clustered into one category， and the other samples were clustered into one category. The VIP values of chlorogenic acid， L * ， b * ， 3，5- O -dicaffeoylquinic acid， neochlorogenic acid and a * were higher than 1.0. The results of the entropy weight-TOPSIS method combined with GRA showed that the comprehensive closeness coefficients of the five samples were 0.414， 0.488， 0.412， 0.452 and 0.563， respectively. CONCLUSIONS Among the five drying samples， the quality of VFD sample was the best. Chlorogenic acid， L * ， b * ， 3，5- O -dicaffeoylquinic acid， neochlorogenic acid and a * were the key indicators to distinguish the quality of the different drying methods of M. delavayi .

This study aimed to comprehensively examine the association of gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate the observational associations of gallstones and cholecystectomy with cancer risk, using data from a nationwide cohort involving 239 799 participants. General and gender-specific two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further conducted to assess the causalities of the observed associations. Observationally, a history of gallstones without cholecystectomy was associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-4.28), liver and bile duct cancer (aOR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17-5.16), kidney cancer (aOR=2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.94), and bladder cancer (aOR=2.23, 95% CI 1.01-5.13) in the general population, as well as cervical cancer (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.56) in women. Moreover, cholecystectomy was associated with high odds of stomach cancer (aOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.29-4.49), colorectal cancer (aOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.18-2.85), and cancer of liver and bile duct (aOR=2.58, 95% CI 1.11-6.02). MR analysis only supported the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer. This study added evidence to the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer, highlighting the importance of cancer screening in individuals with gallstones.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Gallstones/complications* ; Female ; Male ; Cholecystectomy/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Neoplasms/etiology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology*

Objective To investigate the roles of protein kinase C(PKC)β_2 and PPARα in the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1)in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)exposed to high glucose,and to explore their relationship.Methods The HUVECs were divided into eight groups:normal glucose(NG,5 mmoL/L D-glucose)group,high glucose(HG,25 mmol/L D-ucose)group,osmotic control(L,NG+20 mmol/L L-glucose)group,normal glucose transfected with empty vector(NN,NG+AdS-null)group,high glucose transfected with PKCβ_2(HB,HG+Ad5-PKCβ_2)group,high glucose plus fenofibrate(HF,HG+40 μmol/L fenofibrate)group,and HB plus fenofibrate (HBF,HB+40μmol/L fenofibrate)group.HUVECs were incubated with fenofibrate for 20 minutes as HF20 group.All cells in various groups were cultured for 6 days.The expressions of VEGF and VCAM-1 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR.PPARα protein expression was tested by Western blot.The expression and traaslocation of PKCβ_2 protein were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopo.Results (1)HG increased VEGF and VCAM-1 mRNA expressions,with 1.91 and 1.56 folds of NG group,respectively(both P<0.05).VEGF and VCAM-1 mRNA expressions in HB group further increased,with 2.59 and 2.07 folds of NG group,respectively(both P<0.05).Fenofibrate significantly decreased VEGF and VCAM-1 mRNA expressions,with 68%and 74%of HG group,respectively(both P<0.05).There were no significant difierences in the expressiong of VEGF,VCAM-1 mRNA between HF20 and HG groups.(2)The protein expression of PPARα decreased by 20%in HG group compared with NG group,and further decreased in HB group,being 78%of HG group.Compared with HG group,PPARαexpression increased by 13%in HF group(P<0.05).(3)HG induced PKCβ_2 translocation from cytosol to nucleus and quantitative analysis showed the ratio of plasma/nuclear fluorescence intensity in HG group decreased by 37% compared with NG group(P<0.05).The PKCβ_2 translocation was more obvious in HB group than in HG group.Conclusion Hiigll glucose stimulates VEGF and VCAM-1 mRNA expressions in HUVECs via PKCβ_2 activationdependent PPARα pathway.