The chemical reprogramming of unipotent adult germ cells towards authentic pluripotency and de novo establishment of imprinting

Although somatic cells can be reprogrammed to pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) with pure chemicals, authentic pluripotency of chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) has never been achieved through tetraploid complementation assay. Spontaneous reprogramming of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) was another non-transgenic way to obtain PSCs, but this process lacks mechanistic explanation. Here, we reconstructed the trajectory of mouse SSC reprogramming and developed a five-chemical combination, boosting the reprogramming efficiency by nearly 80- to 100-folds. More importantly, chemical induced germline-derived PSCs (5C-gPSCs), but not gPSCs and chemical induced pluripotent stem cells, had authentic pluripotency, as determined by tetraploid complementation. Mechanistically, SSCs traversed through an inverted pathway of in vivo germ cell development, exhibiting the expression signatures and DNA methylation dynamics from spermatogonia to primordial germ cells and further to epiblasts. Besides, SSC-specific imprinting control regions switched from biallelic methylated states to monoallelic methylated states by imprinting demethylation and then re-methylation on one of the two alleles in 5C-gPSCs, which was apparently distinct with the imprinting reprogramming in vivo as DNA methylation simultaneously occurred on both alleles. Our work sheds light on the unique regulatory network underpinning SSC reprogramming, providing insights to understand generic mechanisms for cell-fate decision and epigenetic-related disorders in regenerative medicine.

Catgut implantation at stellate ganglion for postmenopausal osteoporosis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy differences between catgut implantation at stellate ganglion combined with oral administration of alendronate sodium and oral administration of alendronate sodium alone on postmenopausal osteoporosis (PO).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients of PO were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of alendronate sodium. Based on the treatment of control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with catgut implantation at stellate ganglion. The treatment was given once a week in the two groups; the consecution treatment of four weeks constituted one session, and totally six sessions were given. The changes of total syndrome score, bone mineral density of lumbar vertebra (L to L) and femeral neck (FN) and estradiol were observed before and after treatment; the clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared before treatment, the total syndrome score, bone mineral density of lumbar vertebra (L to L) and FN and estradiol were significantly improved after treatment (all <0.05); which were more significant in the observation group (all <0.05). Compared before treatment, the level of estradiol in the control group was not significantly changed after treatment (>0.05), while that in the observation group was significantly changed after treatment (<0.05). After treatment, the level of estradiol in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, which was significantly higher than 83.3% (25/30) in the control group (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Catgut implantation at stellate ganglion combined with oral administration of alendronate sodium are superior to oral administration of alendronate sodium alone for postmenopausal osteoporosis, which improve the clinical symptoms, regulate the hormone level and increase bone mineral density.</p>

Moxibustion at Geshu (BL 17) for diabetic limb arterial obliteration at early stage / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy differences between moxibustion at Geshu (BL 17) and oral administration of cilostazol on diabetic limb arterial obliteration (DLAO) at early stage as well as the impacts on hemorheology and arterial inner dimension of lower extremity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy patients of DLAO at early stage were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each one. The two groups were treated with regular treatment of blood glucose and blood lipid. The patients in the control group was treated with oral administration of cilostazol, 50 mg, twice a day; the patients in the observation group were treated with moxibustion at Geshu (BL 17), once a day. The consecution treatment of two weeks constituted one session, and totally 4 sessions were given. The total syndrome score, hemorheology index (including low and high shear viscosity of blood, plasma viscosity, hematocrit and erythrocyte aggregation index) and arterial inner dimension of lower extremity (including popliteal artery, posterior tibial artery and dorsalis pedis artery) were compared before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those before treatment, the total syndrome score, hemorheology index and arterial inner dimension of lower extremity were significantly improved after treatment in the two groups (all<0.05). The total syndrome score, hemorheology index in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all<0.05), but the improvement of arterial inner dimension of lower extremity was not significantly different between the two groups (>0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 91.4% (32/35) in the observation group, which was significantly superior to 85.7% (30/35) in the control group (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion at Geshu (BL 17) is superior to oral administration of cilostazol for DLAO at early stage, which could effectively improve the clinical symptoms, blood flow and blood vessel and increase the blood flow of lower limb.</p>

Therapeutic Observation of Thread Embedding at Back-Shu Points for Stroke-associated Pneumonia / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of thread embedding at Back-Shu points in treating stroke-associated pneumonia.Method Seventy patients with stroke-associated pneumonia were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by regular medications, while the treatment group was additionally intervened by thread embedding at the Back-Shu points. Before and after the intervention, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil ratio (NE%), and symptoms and signs scores were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The CRP, WBC, NE%, and symptoms and signs scores were significantly changed after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). After intervention, the CRP, WBC, NE%, and symptoms and signs scores in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 91.4% in the treatment group, versus 82.9% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Thread embedding at the Back-Shu points can promote the treatment of stroke-associated pneumonia.

Effects of acupuncture at stellate ganglion on lower limb atherosclerosis of early diabetes mellitus / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy between acupuncture at stellate ganglion combined with intravenous administration of alprostadil and simple intravenous administration of alprostadil on lower limb atherosclerosis of early diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients of lower limb atherosclerosis of early diabetes mellitus were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. Patients in the two groups were treated with basic treatment to control blood glucose and lipid. In addition, patients in the control group were treated with intravenous administration of alprostadil (10 µg) and sodium chloride solution (100 mL); based on this, patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at stellate ganglion. The treatment was given once a day; the consecutive treatment of two weeks constituted one session, and totally 4 sessions were given. The total syndrome score, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood flow of posterior tibial artery and dorsal artery of foot were observed before and after treatment; the clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared before treatment, the total syndrome score, HbA1c, blood flow of posterior tibial artery and dorsal artery of foot were significantly improved after treatment (all P < 0.05), which were more obvious in the observation group (all P < 0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, which was significantly superior to 86.7% (26/30) in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture at stellate ganglion combined with intravenous administration of alprostadil achieve better effect than simple intravenous administration of alprostadil for lower limb atherosclerosis of early diabetes mellitus, which improve the clinical symptoms, regulate blood sugar and increase the blood flow of lower limb.</p>