Bilineage embryo-like structure from EPS cells can produce live mice with tetraploid trophectoderm

Self-organized blastoids from extended pluripotent stem (EPS) cells possess enormous potential for investigating postimplantation embryo development and related diseases. However, the limited ability of postimplantation development of EPS-blastoids hinders its further application. In this study, single-cell transcriptomic analysis indicated that the "trophectoderm (TE)-like structure" of EPS-blastoids was primarily composed of primitive endoderm (PrE)-related cells instead of TE-related cells. We further identified PrE-like cells in EPS cell culture that contribute to the blastoid formation with TE-like structure. Inhibition of PrE cell differentiation by inhibiting MEK signaling or knockout of Gata6 in EPS cells markedly suppressed EPS-blastoid formation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that blastocyst-like structures reconstituted by combining the EPS-derived bilineage embryo-like structure (BLES) with either tetraploid embryos or tetraploid TE cells could implant normally and develop into live fetuses. In summary, our study reveals that TE improvement is critical for constructing a functional embryo using stem cells in vitro.

Therapeutic Observation of Moxibustion plus Tuina for 0-Grade Diabetic Foot / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion plus tuina in treating 0-grade diabetic foot.Method Seventy patients with 0-grade diabetic foot were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by conventional medication, while the treatment group was by moxibustion plus tuina in addition to the interventions given to the control group. The Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) was observed before intervention and after 2 treatment courses, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The ABI scores were changed significantly after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). After intervention, there was a significant difference in comparing the ABI score between the two groups (P<0.05). The total effective rate and recovery rate were respectively 94.3% and 71.4% in the treatment group, versus 74.3% and 20.0% in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Moxibustion plus tuina is an effective approach in treating 0-grade diabetic foot.