Puerarin stimulates osteoblasts differentiation and bone formation through estrogen receptor, p38 MAPK, and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways.

Puerarin is an isoflavone extracted from Radix Puerariae, a traditional Chinese herb used to treat many diseases such as osteoporosis. In this study, puerarin was shown to stimulate alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, type I collagen (Col I) secretion, and mineralized nodules formation of primary osteoblasts. Whereas the estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780 was able to reduce the increase in ALP activity and Col I secretion induced by puerarin. Furthermore, puerarin was shown to elevate levels of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and ß-catenin proteins in a time-dependent manner. Pretreatment of osteoblasts with ICI 182780 can reduce this elevation, whereas pretreatment with p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580 did not affect the increase of ß-catenin protein. Meanwhile, intragastric administration of puerarin protected against reduction in bone mineral density and bone mineral content in ovariectomized rats, and improved femur trabecular bone structure. Taken together, ER, p38 MAPK, and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways were involved in puerarin-stimulated osteoblasts differentiation and bone formation.

Monitoring portal vein complications following liver transplantation by color Doppler flow imaging / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To explore the diagnostic value of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in monitoring portal vein complications (PVC) following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five hundred and four patients received OLT and had CDFI examinations before and after their transplantations. CDFI monitoring parameters before the operation included portal vein diameter, blood flow velocity and the presence of thrombi within the portal vein. Monitoring parameters after the operation included portal vein diameters of donor and receiver sides, and the diameter of the mouth of anastomosis, inner side of blood vessel echo, the direction of blood flow and its speed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 504 patients examined, the median velocity of the portal blood flow was 46.27 cm/s (range: 15.8 to 110.8) on the day of the operation. The blood flow speed of 358 cases (71.03%) was higher than 40 cm/s. Of the 358 patients, 347 (68.85%) had a blood flow speed lower than 40 cm/s one month after the operation. Sixty-four patients (12.70%) showed hepatofugal blood flow once, and only one case had a total hepatofugal blood flow. Thirteen patients (2.58%) had portal vein complications, including 4 cases with portal vein thrombosis and 9 with portal vein stenosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Not all abnormal portal vein blood flow signals will lead to complications. It is worthwhile to monitor the portal blood flows. CDFI plays an important role in the diagnosis of portal vein complications after orthotopic liver transplantation.</p>