The amount of the funds supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) played as an important role in judging the capabilities and tendency of scientific research.It is believed that the supporting rate of NSFC is promoted via scientific management policies.To explore the tendency and potential of scientific management plan in the first affiliated hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,we analyze the projects supported by NSFC of our hospital from 2002 to 2011.Accordingly,our outcomes show the supporting rates of variable programs from NSFC were similar to the average for whole nation.The inspiring policies encourage our staff to put their passion on the scientific research and funding application.The quality of bidding documents for NSFC is partially improved by the suggestions and lecture of invited experts who took the charge of evaluation of funds from NSFC for actively guide,so as to increase goal average.Of note,a cohort of the researchers at the age below 45 did the main contribution to scientific research developing and programs application from NS-FC.Furthermore,we will pay more attention to reach 3 point following:1.the policy of matching fund to strengthen the competition of the researchers all over the nation.2.the policy of Integrated research resources for the major programs.3.further improvement of projects supervision.

Objective To explore the clinical features of very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deifciency (VLCADD). Methods The clinical manifestation and the biochemical data of one baby girl with VLCADD were summarized and related literatures were reviewed. Results Female patient, aged 7 months, presented with recurrent vomit, haematemesis, stare, nodal tachycardia, hypoglycemia, abnormal liver function and myocardial enzyme. She died after one month due to frequent relapse together with withdrawing treatment. Conclusion VLCADD as a rare disease that cause sudden unexpected death in infant, the early diagnosis and treatment are important to patients.

AIM:To investigate the role of mesenchymal stem cell-induced regulatory dendritic cells ( MSC-DCregs) in mouse acute graft-versus-host disease( aGVHD) model.METHODS: Bone marrow cells from BALB/c ( H-2 d ) mice were isolated and were induced to differentiate into DCs.The DCs were selected by flow cytometry, and after 10 d co-culture with MSCs, they were induced to be MSC-DCregs.Male 8-week-old C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice were used as do-nor mice.The female 8-week-old BALB/c (H-2d) mice, who had received 100 cm source-skin distance, 30 cm ×30 cm radiation field, 700 cGy total body irradiation (TBI) pretreatment were used as recipient mice.The recipients were divided into 5 groups:control group, TBI group ( injected with medium only) , bone marrow transplantation group ( injected with 1 ×107 bone marrow cells), aGVHD group (injected with 1 ×107 bone marrow cells and 1 ×107 spleen cells), and MSC-DCregs group (injected with 1 ×107 bone marrow cells, 1 ×107 spleen cells and 1 ×106 MSC-DCregs).The white blood cell count, recipients’ chimerism, clinical evaluation of aGVHD, survival analysis and pathological changes were deter-mined.RESULTS:Hematopoieic recovery was seen at 10 d after transplantation.The recipients’ chimerism was parallel to the donors’ at 30 d.The median survival time of the mice in aGVHD group and MSC-DCregs group was 27 d and 33 d, and the survival rates at 30 d were 20% and 100% (P<0.01), respectively.The clinical scores of the mice in MSC-DCregs group were lower than those in aGVHD group ( P<0.01) .Moreover, the pathological changes in the skin and liver of the mice in MSC-DCregs group were less serious than those in aGVHD group.CONCLUSION: The MSC-DCregs in-duce an aGVHD tolerance in vivo, and further research of its mechanism is still in great necessary.

Objective To elucidate whether focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a secondary development of the COL4-linked thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) or the primary FSGS produces thin glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Methods The family members presented microscopic hematuria,increasing proteinuria with the years and a dual pathological diagnosis of FSGS and TBMN was made in the proband.DNA linkage analysis at locus 2q36-37 that contains the COL4A3/COL4A4 genes was performed with polymorphic micmsateilite markers D2S434,D2S279,D2S1370,D2S256 and D2S427.Haplotypes were constructed at the COL4A3/COL4A4 loci for affected and unaffected family members.All exons of COL4A3 and COL4A4 genes were screened for mutations in the proband.Mutation screening was also performed for NPHS1,NPHS2,CD2AP,WTI,TRPC6 and ACTN4 to exclude familial FSGS.Mutation or polymorphism found in the family were examined in 50 healthy controls. Results In this family hematuria segregated with the 55224 haplotype at the COL4A3/COL4A4 locus.G to A substitution at nucleotide 1214 resulting in an glycine being replaced by glutamate (G405E) was demonstrated for the first time in cxon 20 of COL4A4 gene.G4OSE was present in all four members of the family with hematuria but not in the seven unaffected family members nor in 50 healthy controls.A novel polymorphism segregating with hematuria (IVS1-4C＞T in exon 2 ofCOL4A3) was also found which was only present in all four affected family members but not in the seven unaffected family members. No mutations were demonstrated in FSGS associated genes,however,a novel SNP (R268Q),which distributed with the disease ineompletely,was described in the NPHS1 gene coding nephrin,the podocyte slit diaphragm protein. Conclusions In this family,FSGS occurres on the basis of TBMN.Maybe the particular COL4A3/COL4A4 mutation and polymorphism work together to develop proteinuria and eventually leading to FSGS.But whether the mutation and the polymorphism segregating with the disease predispose to develop FSGS in TBMN patients is required further study.

Objective To elucidate the clinicopathological and hereditary characteristics in Fabry nephropathy.Methods The clinical and pathological features of 14 patients with Fabry nephropathy were collected.The activities of α-Gal A were measured in 4 probands.Screenings of GLA mutations were done in 12 patients.Results The ratio of Fabry nephropathy in the patients with renal biopsy was 0.074 ％ (14/19 005),the average diagnostic age was (30.57±9.32) years,male to female ratio was 2.5∶ 1.All the patients had proteinuria,and the median of urine total protein (UTP)was 1.71 g/24 h (0.32-4.71 g/24 h).Two of them got nephrotic proteinuria,5 of them got microscopic hematuria,4 of them got renal function insufficiency.Angiokeratomas was the most common manifestation (10/14),followed by cardiac involvement (6/14).Hypohidrosis and diseases of central neural system could also be seen in these patients.There were 9 classic phenotype,the remaining 5 were variants/renal variants.The family information was collected in 10 pedigrees,6 of them had family histories of kidney disease.Renal pathology showed vacuolization of glomerular visceral epithelial cells was the prominent feature,global and segmental glomerulosclerosis were seen in some patients by light microscopy.The myelin bodies or zebra bodies were identified in podocytes by electron microscopy,but only were found in some podocytes of 2 females.The activity of α-Gal A was decreased compared with the normal range in 4 probands.The mutations of GLA were demonstrated in 11 patients.Three novel mutations of GLA gene were identified,which were all deletion/insertion mutations with classic phenotypes.Most variants carried the mutations located in the buried/partial buried areas of α-Gal A (3/11).The classical phenotype carried GLA mutations as W162X,F169S,S201F,N272K,L310R,while variant phenotype carried GLA mutations as I91T,R112H,Q312H.Conclusions The ratio of Fabry nephropathy in patients with renal biopsy is 0.074％.Angiokeratomas and cardiac involvement are often accompanied with Fabry nephropathy.The genotypes of GLA may have close relationships with the phenotypes of Fabry nephopathy.

Objective:To analyse the relationship of ultrastructural changes of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and glomerular distributions of laminin α1 and laminin α5 in patients with Alport' s syndrome. Methods: Twenty patients with Alport' s syndrome were recruited. The thickness of GBM and the extension of thickening and splitting GBM were measured under transmission electron microscope. Normal renal tissues from 6 nephrectomies of renal carcinoma were taken as controls. Paraffin embedded sections of formalin-fixed renal tissue were processed for immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to laminin α1 and laminin α5. Their distributions in GBM were evaluated by a semiquantitative scale of positive extension; absent, 0≤25% , 1; 25%-50% , 2; 50%-75% , 3;≥75% , 4. Results: There were a variety of degrees of thickening or splitting GBM in patients with Alport' s syndrome. Laminin al was positive in glomerular mesangial area and absolutely negative in GBM and laminin α5 was evenly positive in GBM in normal tissue. In Alport' s syndrome, laminin α1 was much weaker in glomerular mesangial area, but strongly positive in GBM; laminin α5 in GBM was prominently reduced. There was a high negative correlation of semiquantitative scores between laminin al and laminin α5 (r =-0. 83, P＜0. 001). The extension of thickening or splitting GBM was positively correlated with scores of laminin al in GBM ( r = 0. 76, P＜0.001; r = 0. 56, P=0. 015 ) , and was negatively correlated with scores of laminin α5 in GBM ( r =-0. 59, P =0. 010; r=-0. 53, P =0.025). Conclusion: Abnormal distribution of laminin al and laminin α5 in GBM is correlated with GBM thickening and splitting in human Alport' s syndrome.

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy offers an intrinsic advantage over conventional transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy because of the potentially lower risk for early and late donor intraperitoneal complications. Herein we presented our experience performing retroperitoneal laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy in 105 donors. All donor nephrectomy was successful. There were no donor deaths and no conversion to open surgery. Mean operation time was 112 min (range, 70-200 min). Intraoperative blood loss was 10-150 mL with an average of 30 mL. Warm ischemia time was 1.3 to 6 min with an average of 3.1 min. Postoperative retroperitoneal hematoma occurred in only one case and there were no other surgical complications. Donors were discharged from the hospital 5 to 10 days postoperation. Average postoperative hospital stay was 6.4 days. One graft was removed due to acute rejection. Delayed graft function occurred in two recipients but renal function returned to normal within four weeks. The other recipients had normal renal function in two weeks except three recipients in four weeks. We believe that retroperitoneal laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy is safe, reliable, and less invasive.

Objective To elucidate the features of clinicopathology and mutation in Fabry disease complicated with thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN), and to investigate the kindred. Methods Data of clinicopathology and gene mutation of a female patient of Fabry disease complicated with TBMN admitted to the Department of Nephro]ogy in our hospital were analyzed. Members of her kindred were investigated simultaneously. Results Proband was a 41-year-old Chinese woman who presented syndrome of Fabry disease and TBMN including angiokeratomas, chronic pain, tinnitus, vertigo, left ventricular hypertrophy and nephropathy as proteinuria, microscopic hematuria and hypertension. A percutaneous renal biopsy was performed on the proband, which was consistent with FSGS and vaculization of podocytes by light microscopy.Electron microscopy showed concentric lamellated inclusions in some podocytes. Diffuse thinning of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) with a mean thickness of (216±31) nm was found. The diagnosis of TBMN with suspected Fabry disease was identified. Family screening showed that her daughter had microscopic hematuria, tinnitus and neuropathic pain. One of her sisters only had microscopic hematuria. The activity of α-galacsidase A (α-Gal A )enzyme in the proband and her daughter was 33 units and 75 units respectively (the normal range is 100 to 500 units). They all carried the novel GLA mutation 1208 ins 21 bp and COL4A3 SNP c: 3627G＞A(p:M1209I). While her sister who only had microscopic hematuria just carried the variant of COL4A3 gene-c:3627G ＞A (p:M1209I), and had the normal activity of α-Gal A with no mutation of GLA.Conclusion TBMN should be considered in the patients of Fabry disease with the condition of benign familial hematuria.

AIM:To investigate the expression and potential role of complement 5a receptor (C5aR) in chro-nic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD).METHODS:The expression of C5aR on lymphocytes and the frequency of CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in 20 cGVHD patients and 9 healthy donors was detected by flow cytometry.The correlation between the expression of C5aR and the percentage of Tregs in the cGVHD patients was analyzed.In addition, the splenocytes from the mice were cultured in vitro, and stimulated these splenocytes with recombinant mouse C5a protein (rmC5a).The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cGVHD patients were cultured in vitro, which was inhibited by C5aR antagonist (C5aRA).The frequency of Tregs in these splenocytes and the PBMCs were evaluated by flow cytometry.RESULTS:The expression of C5aR on the lymphocytes was significantly increased in the cGVHD patients compared with the healthy donors, while the percentage of Tregs was markedly lower in the cGVHD patients.The expression of C5aR was negatively correlated with the percentage of Tregs.Furthermore, the development of Tregs was suppressed by rmC5a stimulation, but was promoted by C5aRA in vitro.CONCLUSION:C5aR elevation is associated with Treg reduction in cGVHD, indicating that C5aR may play a potential role in suppressing Tregs, resulting in the incidence of cGVHD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of over expression of miR-34a on cellular proliferation and migration in bladder cancer cell line J82 by targeting Notchl.MethodsmiR-34a was predicted as a putative gene which can target Notchl through bioinformatics analysis,qRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to measure the expression levels of Notchl and miR-34a in invasive transitional cell carcinoma of bladder (TCCB) tissues and J82 cells transfected with miR-34a.Luciferase assay was employed to determine if miR-34a could target Notchl through binding to the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of Notchl mRNA.J82 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.0-miR-34a or pcDNA3.0 control plasmid.MTS colorimetry was used to evaluate the effect of miR-34a on cell proliferation.The effect of miR-34a on cell migration was assessed by transwell migration assay.ResultsThe expression level of miR-34 in invasive TCCB tissues was lower than in adjacent bladder tissues (0.016(0.018) vs 0.042 (0.059),N =16; P =0.0006).On the contrary,the average levels of Notchl mRNA and protein were higher in tumors than in adjacent bladder tissues (2.765(2.156) vs 2.312(1.365),N =16; P =0.0025 and 0.857 ±0.197 vs 0.648 ±0.171 ;P ＜0.0001 ).After the transfection of miR-34a,the expressive level of miR-34a in J82 was highly induced ( (2.408 ±0.789) × 10-4 vs(0.153 ±0.029) × 10-4; P =0.0026).However,the expressive levels of Notchl mRNA and protein were obviously decreased (3.001 ± 0.106 vs 4.998 ± 1.053 ; P =0.0308 and 0.747 ± 0.050 vs 0.988 ± 0.102 ; P =0.0215 ).The results of luciferase assay showed that firefly activity was highly dimished (0.422 ± 0.028 vs 2.392 ± 0.148 ; P ＜ 0.0001 ).Cellular proliferation was inhibited after the transfection of miR-34a in J82 (P ＜ 0.0001 ).Moreover,number of migration cells of J82 was significantly reduced after the ectopic expression of miR-34a ( 179.3 ± 21.02 vs 269.7 ± 23.71 ; P =0.0078 ).ConclusionsmiR-34a inhibits the cellular proliferation and migration of bladder cancer cell line J82 via binding to the 3UTR of Notchl mRNA.