Background: Kidney transplantation (KT) is the most obvious method of treating a patient with end-stage renal disease. In the early stages of KT, urine production is considered a marker of successful reperfusion of the kidney after anastomosis. However, there is no clear conclusion about the relationship between initial urine output after KT and 1-year renal function. Thus, we investigated the factors that affect 1-year kidney function after KT, including urine output. Methods: This retrospective study investigated the relationship between urine output in the 3 days after KT and transplanted kidney prognosis after 1-year. In total, 291 patients (129 living-donor and 162 deceased-donor transplant recipients) were analyzed; 24-h urine volume per body weight (in kilograms) was measured for 3 days postoperatively. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), determined by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease algorithm, was used as an index of renal function. Patients were grouped according to eGFR at 1-year after KT: a good residual function group, eGFR ≥60, and a poor residual function group, eGFR < 60. Result: Recipients' factors affecting 1-year eGFR include height (P = 0.03), weight (P = 0.00), and body mass index (P = 0.00). Donor factors affecting 1-year eGFR include age (P = 0.00) and number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches (P = 0.00). The urine output for 3 days after KT (postoperative day 1; 2 and 3) was associated with 1-year eGFR in deceased-donor (P = 0.00; P = 0.00 and P = 0.01). And, postoperative urine output was associated with the occurrence of delayed graft function (area under curve (AUC) = 0.913; AUC = 0.984 and AUC = 0.944). Conclusion: Although postoperative urine output alone is not enough to predict 1-year GFR, the incidence of delayed graft function can be predicted. Also, the appropriate urine output after KT may differ depending on the type of the transplanted kidney. Trial registration: Clinical Research Information Service of the Korea National Institute of Health in the Republic of Korea (KCT0003571).

Osteoporosis is one of the most common bone diseases, occurring due to an imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ishige sinicola, a brown alga, on osteoblast differentiation through the activation of the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)/runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) signalling pathway in MC3T3-E1 cells. A cell proliferation assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, alizarin red staining, and expression analysis of osteoblastic genes were carried out to assess MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation. We found that I. sinicola extract (ISE) increased cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Ishige sinicola extract markedly promoted ALP activity and mineralization. Alizarin red S staining demonstrated that ISE treatment tended to increase extracellular matrix calcium accumulation. Moreover, ISE up-regulated the osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand ratio. Ishige sinicola extract also increased the protein expression levels of type 1 collagen, ALP, osteocalcin, osterix, BMP-2, and Runx2. Therefore, ISE showed potential in stimulating osteoblastic bone formation, and it might be useful for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by decreased bone strength, decreased bone mass, and bone deterioration. The current study investigates the effects of Gloiopeltis furcata ethanol extract (GFE) on antioxidant activity and osteoblast differentiation in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Antioxidant activities of GFE were examined by evaluating 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and total polyphenol content. Results showed that GFE contains 3.04 mg gallic acid equivalents/mL. GFE exhibited significantly strong scavenging activity in the DPPH assay, and 54.26% SOD activity was exhibited at 1,000 mg/mL concentration. Furthermore, GFE significantly increased the viability and proliferation of the MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Exposure to GFE promoted alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralized nodules in MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, a dose-dependent increase in the expression of proteins associated with osteoblast growth and differentiation, such as Runx2, ALP, and osterix, was observed in the GFE-treated cells. Taken together, these results indicate that GFE encompasses both antioxidant potential and osteoblast differentiation properties. Thus, we conclude that GFE can potentially be applied as an alternate therapy for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.