Arthritis is the most prevalent joint disease and is characterized by articular cartilage degradation, synovial inflammation, and changes in periarticular and subchondral bone. Recent studies have reported that Yes-associated protein (YAP) and the transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) have significant effects on the proliferation, migration, and survival of chondrocytes and fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLSs). YAP/TAZ signaling pathway, as well as the related Hippo–YAP signaling pathway, are responsible for the condition of cells and articular cartilage in joints. They are tightly regulated to maintain metabolism in chondrocytes and FLSs because abnormal expression may result in cartilage damage. However, the roles and mechanisms of the Hippo–YAP pathway in arthritis remain largely unknown. This review summarizes the roles and key functions of YAP/TAZ and the Hippo–YAP signaling pathway in FLSs and chondrocytes for the induction of proliferation, migration, survival, and differentiation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) research. We also discuss the therapeutic strategies involving YAP/TAZ and the related Hippo-YAP signaling pathway involved in OA.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is closely related to aging, and autophagy is implicated in the retardation of aging. Activated synoviocytes play important roles in OA; the synoviocytes could produce osteopontin (OPN) and its main receptors CD44 and integrin, which are all involved in OA. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether OPN has an effect on autophagy in osteoarthritic synoviocytes. We cultured human OA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and treated them with rhOPN and antibodies against CD44 and CD51/61 (αvβ3 integrin) or isotype IgG to block the interaction between receptors and ligands. Infection with lentivirus mRFP-GFP-LC3, laser confocal imaging and Western blotting were used to determine changes in the expression of autophagy markers, and cell proliferation of FLS was assessed with a CCK-8 assay. Our results showed the expression level of autophagy marker protein LC3 II and the mRFP-GFP-LC3 puncta were significantly decreased after treatment with rhOPN when compared with the control group, when the FLS were incubated with antibodies against CD44 or CD51/61 (αvβ3 integrin) or with control isotype IgG for 1 h, followed by rhOPN treatment for 48 h, rhOPN could suppress the relative expression of LC3 II and Beclin1 via integrin and CD44 in the FLS, CCK-8 assay also showed that rhOPN significantly increased the cell proliferation and viability of FLS. OPN could inhibit autophagy via CD44 and αvβ3 integrin and promote the proliferation of FLS, playing an important role in OA synovitis.

Hydatid disease is an infectious disease caused by echinococcus granulosus which mainly caused liver and lungs damaged in humans. Bone involvement is rare and accounts for only 0.5%-4% in hydatid disease, spine is more prone to be infected with a proportion of 50% in musculoskeletal tissue. We present a case of spinal hydatidosis in a 47‑year‑old male presenting with low back pain radiating to the legs, progressive weakness and hypaesthesia in the lower limbs accompanied with difficulty walking. Computed tomography (CT) images showed a spinal hydatid cyst in lumbar vertebra2 and caused bone destruction of the vertebral body and lamina. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images showed hyperintense cystic components on lumbar vertebra2 with the appearance of a lobulated, multiocular, septated cystic mass and compressing of the spinal cord at segments lumbar vertebra1-2. The patient underwent subtotal vertebral resection to completely remove the damaged vertebral and paravertebral cysts, and histopathological examination showed the characteristic features of hydatid cysts. The patient received antiparasitic drugs treatment post-operation. The surgical removement combined with antiviral drugs is an effective way to treat spinal hydatidosis.

研究颞下经小脑幕入路到脑干侧方的显微解剖结构，为脑干侧方、环池、岩斜区域临床手术提供解剖学资料。 在8例（16侧）发育正常成人尸头标本上进行颞下经小脑幕入路解剖学研究，尸头偏向一侧以颧弓根部为最高点，耳廓上方行马蹄形切口，以颧弓中点为切口前端，后缘达横窦中外侧三分之一处，皮瓣翻向颞部。去除骨瓣后，在显微镜下剔除蛛网膜及软脑膜，观察手术入路的暴露范围，明确途径中相关神经及血管的位置关系，对重要结构进行拍照及测量相关参数。 颧弓根部上缘可准确定位中颅窝底，10例成年人颅骨标本的星点至乳突尖部、星点至外耳道上脊、顶乳突缝前角至外耳道上脊、顶乳突缝前角至星点的平均距离分别为47.23 mm、45.27 mm、26.16 mm、23.08 mm。颞下入路在切开小脑幕后可充分暴露上至后床突下至岩骨脊、弓状隆起的区域，可以处理中斜坡、环池、中脑和桥脑腹侧面或外侧面的病变，并可通过颧骨切除扩大幕上的显露区域，岩骨磨除技术扩大幕下的显露范围，其中滑车神经全长、距小脑幕缘的距离、在小脑幕夹层中走形长度、穿入幕下处距离岩骨脊的距离分别为（16.95±4.74） mm、（1.27±0.73） mm、（5.72±1.37） mm、（4.51±0.39） mm。 通过后床突或弓状隆起作为定位安全打开小脑幕，动眼神经可作为解剖标志定位大脑后动脉和小脑上动脉。 通过显微解剖学研究，可明确颞下经小脑幕入路的暴露范围、术中的难点，有利于临床医师精准安全地规划手术方式，降低手术并发症。

Background Hydatid disease is an infectious disease caused by echinococcus that causes liver and lung damage in humans. Bone involvement is rare and accounts for only 0.5%-4% of hydatid diseases; the spine is more prone to be infected with a proportion of 50% in musculoskeletal tissue. Missed hydatid cysts may lead to serious consequence, it is necessary to diagnosis and treatment of hydatid cysts at early stage. Case presentation We present a case of a 47-year-old Han Chinese male diagnosed with spinal hydatidosis. The patient lived in pasturing areas accompanied by symptoms of low back pain radiating to the legs, progressive weakness, and hypoesthesia in the lower limbs accompanied by difficulty walking. Computed tomography (CT) images showed a spinal hydatid cyst in the lumbar vertebra2 (L2) that caused bone destruction in the vertebral body and lamina. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images showed hyperintense cystic components on L2 with the appearance of a lobulated, multiocular, septate cystic mass and compression of the spinal cord at the segments of L2. The patient underwent subtotal vertebral resection to completely remove the damaged vertebral and paravertebral cysts, and histopathological examination revealed the characteristic features of hydatid cysts. The patient received a postoperative antiparasitic drug treatment and finally achieved a successful treatment. Conclusions Spinal hydatidosis is a rare infectious disease. It should be considered as an important differential diagnosis for patients accompanying by spinal bone destruction with animal contact history. Surgical removal combined with antiviral drugs is an effective way to treat spinal hydatidosis. In addition, long term follow-up is mandatory for avoiding its recurrence.