ObjectiveStudy the relationship among CaSR expression, tubulointerstitial damage,metabolic disturbance of calcium and phosphorus and microvascular density around the tubulointerstitium in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.Methods36 cases of children with primary nephrotic syndrome were divided into hormone-sensitive group and steroid-resistant group.Semi-quantitative scores for tubulointerstitial pathological evaluation of the extent of damage, automatic biochemical analyzer for the determination of serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) concentration of renal tubular epithelial CaSR expression and microvessel microvascular density around the tubulointerstitium were determined by immunohistochemical assay.ResultsMore severe the tubulointerstitial damage, lower level of serum Ca and higher level of serum P were observed [(2.26 ± 0.15) mmol/L]in children of the steroid-resistant group and the steroid-sensitive group [(1.90 + 0.12) mmol/L, P ＜ 0.05].CaSR expression (4.63 + 0.78) of renal tubular epithelial cells in the steroid- sensitive group was significantly lower than that in the steroid-resistant group (6.56 + 1.22, P ＜ 0.05), but microvascular density was significantly higher in the steroid- sensitive group(2.98 +0.35 vs 2.02 +0.24, P ＜0.05).When the tubulointerstitial damage was mild, CaSR expression (4.15 +0.58) in renal tubular epithelial cells in the steroid- sensitive group (4.26 ±0.61) was lower than the steroid-resistant group(3.12 ± 0.33; 3.01 ± 0.21), and microvascular density was higher,but the difference was not significant(P ＞0.05).In the moderate tubulointerstitial damage, CaSR expression in renal tubular epithelial cells in the steroid- sensitive group (5.35 ± 0.64) was significantly lower than the resistant group (7.37 +0.81, P ＜0.01), and microvascular density was significantly higher than the resistant group (2.81 ±0.16, 2.02 ±0.14, P ＜0.05).Compared by mild and moderate tubulointerstitial damage in children with the steroid-resistant, CaSR expression (11.46 ± 1.38) in children with severe tubulointerstitial damage was significantly increased, and microvascular density (1.15 ± 0.11) was significantly decreased (all P ＜ 0.01).ConclusionsCaSR expression was increased and microvascular density around the tubulointerstitium was decreased in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.Dut to steroid resistance, the cytotoxic of steroid damaged the renal tubular epithelial cells, the metabolic disturbance of calcium and phosphorus and the damage of blood vessel endothelium finally resulted in severe tubulointerstitial damage.

Objective Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of the activity of branched-chain 2-keto acid dehydrogenase complex.The complex contains E1α,E1β and E2 subunits which are encoded by BCKDHA,BCKDHB or DBT genes respectively.Mutation in any gene will cause MSUD.The aim of this study was to analyze the gene mutations of four cases with MSUD and carry out prenatal diagnosis for these four families for MSUD.Methods From 2005 to 2010,four neonates (two males and two females) were diagnosed as MSUD at 2,5,10and 26 days of life.The coding regions of BCKDHA gene and BCKDHB gene in the above four cases were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by direct DNA sequencing.During the second pregnancy of the same mother,the amniotic fluid was drawn out at 16-20 weeks for gene mutation analysis after the amniocytes were cultured.Results Mutation analysis revealed six mutations in four patients,including four novel mutations (c.308T＞C,c.562G＞T,c.1279C＞G and c.1280-1291de112) and two previously reported mutations.Five mutations (c.308T＞C,c.562G ＞T,c.868G＞A,c.1279C＞G and c.1280-1291de112) were detected on BCKDHA gene in three patients.While one mutation (c.853C＞T) was found on BCKDHB gene in one patient.Only one mutation was found in the amniocytes of each patient's mother at their second pregnancies suggesting a MSUD heterozygous fetus.Conclusions Analysis of BCKDHA and BCKDHB allowed preliminary understand of gene mutations in the four MSUD families,and made prenatal diagnosis possible,which helped in consultation in the second pregnancy.

Objective: To investigate the effect of pseudodeficiency alleles on the newborn screening of glycogen storage disease type Ⅱ(GSDⅡ) by using afluorometric enzymatic assay to determine acid α-glucosidase (GAA) activity in dried blood spot (DBS). Methods: A total of 30 507 newborns′ DBSs, obtained from Newborn Screening Center of Xinhua Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from May to December 2017, were screened for GSD Ⅱ by fluorometric enzymatic assay of GAA activity. The suspected positive DBSs after the first and second screening were directly analyzed by Sanger sequencing of GAA to confirm the diagnosis. Retrospective analysis of 3 172 controls without GSDⅡand 36 GSD Ⅱ patients were conducted to investigate the carrier status of pseudodeficiency alleles. Statistical analysis of frequency of pseudodeficiency alleles were carried out by Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability test. Results: GAA activity of 30 507 newborns showed a positively skewed distribution.Twenty-nine cases of newborns, suspected to be GSDⅡwere confirmed to be normal with genetic analysis of the original DBSs. Among the 29 suspected positive cases, 24 cases were homozygous for pseudodeficiency alleles c.[1726A/A; 2065A/A], and the other 5 cases were c.[1726G/A; 2065G/A] heterozygote. The frequency of c.1726G>Ahomozygote in 3 172 non-GSD Ⅱcontrols was 2.08% (66/3 172), and c.1726G>A homozygote occurred in allelic conjunction with c.2065G>Ahomozygote. Frequency of c.[1726A; 2065A] haplotype in 3 172 controls was 3.2%(206/6 344). Frequency of c.[1726A/A; 2065A/A] homozygote in 36 GSDⅡpatients (16.67%, 6/36) was significantly higher than that in non-GSD Ⅱcontrols(2.08%, 66/3 172) (χ²=34.517, P<0.001). Conclusions Pseudodeficiency alleles show a high frequency in Chinese, which leads to a high false positive rate in the newborns screening of GSDⅡ.The afterword genetic analysis of the original DBS after the GAA activity screening could reduce the effect of pseudodeficiency alleles on the newborns screening of GSDⅡ.

Objective:To develope a titanium specimen with good osteogenic activity through fabrication of a composite hydroxyapatite coating on ordered micro-/nanotextured titanium surface.Methods:An ordered micro-/nanotextured structure was prepared on the surface of titanium (the control), and then hydroxyapatite was deposited on the as-prepared ordered micro-/nanotextured structure by alternative loop immersion method. The ordered micro-/nanotextured structures before and after hydroxyapatite deposition were denoted as HA and MN, respectively. Surface morphology was observed using a scanning electron microscope. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) were seeded on the surface of three different materials. Cell morphology was observed with a scanning electron microscope. Cell adhesion and cell proliferation were evaluated using 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and cell counting kit-8 assay, respectively. Extracellular matrix mineralization and the expression levels of osteogenesis-related genes were evaluated by alizarin red staining and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. Each group has three samples in every experiment.Results:After alternative loop immersing, the MN's original microholes (20 μm in diameter) were retained, and the uniform petal-like hydroxyapatite was deposited on the MN's original titania nanotubes (70 nm in diameter). Compared with the control, BMMSC on MN and HA elongated further and intersected along the micron structure with noticeable pseudopodia and pseudoplates, and the trend was more pronounced especially on HA. The number of early adherent cells on HA was remarkably larger than that on the control and MN at each time point ( P<0.05). On day 1, the A value of cell proliferation on HA was significantly higher than that on the control and MN ( P<0.05). The A value of cell proliferation on HA was significantly lower than that on the control and MN on day 3 ( P<0.05). On day 7, the A value of cell proliferation on HA was significantly lower than that on MN ( P<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in the A value of cell proliferation between HA and the control on day 7 ( P>0.05). The Avalue of extracellular matrix mineralization on HA (0.607±0.011) was significantly higher than that on the control and MN (0.268±0.025 and 0.522±0.022, respectively) ( t=-0.25, P<0.001; t=-0.34, P<0.001). The expression levels of bone related genes on HA were significantly higher than those on the control and MN ( P<0.05). Conclusions:HA could promote the BMMSC adhesion and osteogenic differentiation, support BMMSC proliferation, and demonstrate good osteogenic activity.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of glycogen storage disease type IV (GSD IV) clinically, in laboratory tests and in gene mutation. Methods The clinical manifestations, biochemical indexes, activity of chitotriosidase, and the follow-up of the treatment in 5 cases of GSD IV were analyzed. Results Five patients (3 boys and 2 girls) aged 4 months - 5 years presented hepatosplenomegaly and elevated liver enzyme levels for 2 months at hospital visit. Two patients had motor developmental delay and weakness but their creatine kinase (CK) level were normal. Glycogen storage and liver fibrosis were observed in the liver biopsy in 4 patients. Target sequencing found that all 5 children carried the complex heterozygous mutation of the GBE1 gene with 2 reported mutations(p.R515C,p.R524Q)and 7 novel mutations.The novel mutation contains 5 missense mutations (p.I460T, p.F76S, p.F538V, p.L650R, p.W455R), one insertion mutations (c.141_142insGCGC), and one large fragment deletion (exon 3-7). Therefore, diagnosis of liver type of GSD IV was confirmed in those children. Two patients died of liver cirrhosis. The liver transplantation was performed due to liver cirrhosis in one patient whose chitotriosidase activity increased obviously before transplantation and decreased significantly after the transplantation and liver enzyme levels were returned to normal 4 months after transplantation. In the other two patients their growth and liver enzyme levels were normal;one had not received special treatments while the other was treated with raw corn starch and level of chitotriosidase was normal. Conclusions The clinical manifestations of GSD IV are heterogeneous. Target sequencing can be used for fast and noninvasive diagnosis of GSD IV. Chitotriosidase activity is useful in the prognosis assessment for GSD IV.

Objective To explore the value of the combination of homocysteine analysis, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)and gas chromatography mass spectrometry(GC/MS)in the prenatal diagnosis of combined methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuria(cblC defect)in amniotic fluid.Methods This is a retrospective study of 187 cases of pregnancies that came to our hospital for prenatal diagnosis between 2014/01-2017/03,among which 78 cases′probands were cblC defect patients and 109 cases′probands were not organic academia patients(control group).Amniotic fluid samples from pregnant women were obtained at 16 -24 weeks of gestation.Propionylcarnitine(C3)and acetylcarnitine (C2)were measured by LC-MS/MS, methylmalonic acid and methylcitric acid were analyzed by GC /MS, and homocysteine was determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay.Some pregnancies received MMACHC gene sequencing with cultured cells from amniotic fluid.Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests.Results Among those 78 pregnant women whose probands were diagnosed to be cblC defect,24 cases were diagnosed to be cblC defect(positive group)and 54 pregnant women were diagnosed to be negative(negative group).In positive group, levels of homocysteine, C3, C3/C2, methylmalonic acid and methylcitric acid were all significantly higher than their normal reference ranges, negative group and control group(P values are 0.00).Cases that were diagnosed to be cblC defect by MMACHC gene sequencing were all turned out to be positive in the tests of the above metabolites in amniotic fluid.Cases with negative results of the metabolites were all excluded to be cblC defect by gene sequencing. Besides,2 cases of pregnancies were diagnosed to be positive by homocysteine and mass spectrometric analysis while only one mutation were detected by gene sequencing.Conclusions The combination of homocysteine, LC-MS/MS and GC/MS analysis in amniotic fluid turns out to be reliable for prenatal diagnosis of cblC defect,which may further cover the defect of prenatal diagnosis of those pregnancies whose probands′gene mutation is unknown.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics, genotypes and long-term outcomes of individuals with 3-methylglutaconic aciduria.Methods:The clinical features, biochemical data, genetic test results and treatment outcomes of six children with 3-methylglutaconic aciduria admitted to the Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Xinhua Hospital from February 2017 to February 2019 were retrospectively analyzed and the Gesell developmental diagnosis schedule was performed to evaluate the development of four patients.Results:Among 6 children with 3-methylglutaconic aciduria 2 were males and 4 were females.Four cases had 3-methylglutaconic aciduria type Ⅰ and 2 cases had 3-methylglutaconic aciduria with deafness,encephalopathy, and Leigh-like syndrome. Five of 6 patients were detected by newborn screening among whom 4 remained asymptomatic, and only one had a postmortem diagnosis. Among them, 4 patients remained asymptomatic, while two presented with clinical symptoms such as jaundice and dyspnea and the age of disease onset was 1 and 2 days respectively. The concentration of 3-methylglutaconic acid in urine of all affected individuals was between 22.38 and 77.09 mmol/molCr, which was above the normal value. Genetic tests were performed for all patients. Eleven variants were identified in 2 genes, of which 10 variants were novel and only c.442C>T p.(R148X) has been previously reported; Seven variants (c.656-2delA, EX5-EX6 Del, c.942+3A>G, c.373C>T p.(R125W), c.895-3C>G, c.667C>T p.(R223X) and c.894+5G>A) were in AUH gene. The others (c.548G>A p.(R138Q), c.442C>T p.(R148X), c.1339C>T p.(R447X) and c.973dupA p.(M325Nfs*5) were in SERAC1 gene. After being treated with leucine diet restriction and L-carnitine, 4 patients with AUH gene variation who were from asymptomatic phase developed normally, whereas those 2 patients with SERAC1 gene variation had a poor prognosis. During the follow-up, 2 patients exhibited varying degrees of psychomotor retardation, the rest had normal course of development.Conclusions:There are significant clinical heterogeneities among individuals with 3-methylglutaconic aciduria. The most common pathogenic variants are splicing variations, followed by nonsense, missense and frameshift mutations. Leucine-free diet and oral L-carnitine therapy are effective for some patients. Newborn screening is essential for early diagnosis and improvement of prognosis.