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Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis characterized by progressive cartilage degradation, with its pathogenesis closely related to chondrocyte autophagy. Chondrocytes are the only cells in articular cartilage, and the function of chondrocytes plays a vital role in maintaining articular cartilage homeostasis. Autophagy, an intracellular degradation system that regulates energy metabolism in cells, plays an incredibly important role in OA. During the early stages of OA, autophagy is enhanced in chondrocytes, acting as an adaptive mechanism to protect them from various environmental changes. However, with the progress of OA, chondrocyte autophagy gradually decreases, leading to the accumulation of damaged organelles and macromolecules within the cell, prompting chondrocyte apoptosis. Numerous studies have shown that cartilage degradation is influenced by the senescence and apoptosis of chondrocytes, which are associated with reduced autophagy. The relationship between autophagy, senescence, and apoptosis is complex. While autophagy is generally believed to inhibit cellular senescence and apoptosis to promote cell survival, recent studies have shown that some proteins are degraded by selective autophagy, leading to the secretion of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) or increased SA-β-Gal activity in senescent cells within the damaged region of human OA cartilage. Autophagy activation may lead to different outcomes depending on the timing, duration, or type of its activation. Thus, our study explored the complex relationship between chondrocyte autophagy and OA, as well as the related regulatory molecules and signaling pathways, providing new insights for the future development of safe and effective drugs targeting chondrocyte autophagy to improve OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the significance of enterostomy in the emergency management of Fournier gangrene., Methods: The clinical data of 51 patients (49 men and 2 women) with Fournier gangrene who were treated at our hospital over the past 12 years were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according the surgical technique performed: enterostomy combined with debridement (the enterostomy group, n = 28) or debridement alone (the control group, n = 23). Patients in the enterostomy group received thorough debridement during surgery and adequate local drainage after surgery, as well as administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The clinical data and outcomes in both groups were analyzed., Results: The surgical procedures were successful in both patient groups. In the enterostomy group, 10 (35.8%) patients required skin grafting with a total of six debridement procedures. While in the control group, six (26.1%) patients required four debridement procedures. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Following surgery, the time to normal body temperature (6 d vs 8 d, P < 0.05) and average length of hospital stay (14.3 ± 7.8 d vs 20.1 ± 8.9 d, P < 0.05) were shorter in the enterostomy group. The case fatality rate was lower in the enterostomy group than that in the control group (3.6% vs 21.7%, P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Enterostomy can decrease the case fatality rate of patients with Fournier gangrene.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacies and features of treating Hangman's fracture by anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)., Methods: Since June 2005 to December 2008, 36 cases with Hangman's fracture were analyzed with their clinical data including history, symptoms, signs, radiological findings and treatments. According to the classification system designed by Levine and Edwards depending on the radiological manifestations of Hangman's fractures, they were subdivided into type I (n = 9) (conservative therapy), type II (n = 17) and type IIA (n = 10). Conservative therapy was offered to type I in 9 cases, while ACDF with cervical gear protection for 4 weeks after surgery was performed to type II in 17 cases and type IIA in 10 cases. A combination of operation time, days of hospitalization, complications, neurological improvement and fusion rate was assessed., Results: An average follow-up of 15 months (range: 10 - 36) was achieved. No vertebral redisplacement and angulation deformity occurred. Axial pain was relieved in each case. The preoperative neurological deficits in all patients got improvements. No spinal cord injury, vertebral artery injury or cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred. No complication related to internal fixator was found. Average operative time and hospitalization were similar to those of ACDF for lower cervical spine (98 minutes vs. 9 days). Fusion was achieved within 6 months in all cases., Conclusion: ACDF at C2-C3 may be an effective and safe way to treat Hangman's fracture.

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) for abating fever of common cold., Methods: Two hundred and sixty-one cases were randomly assigned to a treatment group of 133 cases and a control group of 128 cases. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) and the control group with antondine injection. The transient effect of abating fever within 24 h was observed., Results: After treatment, the body temperature at all observation time points in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The effect-appearing time (1.42 +/- 1.79) h in the treatment group was shorter than that in the control group (3.44 +/- 5.10) h (P < 0.01). The cured rate and the abating fever rate were 27.8% and 75.9% in the treatment group, and 10.9% and 55.5% in the control group, with significant differences between the two groups, the treatment group being better than the control group (P < 0.01). The abating fever rate for the wind-heat type common cold was 75.3% in the treatment group and 50.0% in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups, the treatment group being better than the control group (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: The method of acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) has a definite therapeutic effect on high fever of common cold, and for wind-heat type common cold, Dazhui (GV 14) first may be chosen to abate high-fever and the treatment should be taken as early as possible.