This paper systematically summarizes the latest research progress of quorum sensing system and the formation and regulatory mechanism of bacterial biofilms. The role of quorum sensing system in various stages of biofilm formation is described, including initial adhesion, microcolony formation and biofilm maturation. In addition, the molecular mechanism of quorum sensing system to regulate the formation of biofilms and the biofilm prevention and control strategies for quorum sensing system are also discussed. Finally, the future development direction of quorum sensing system and bacterial biofilm research is prospected.

Objective: MRI and CT techniques were used to examine carotid artery stenosis and carotid ulcer plaque in patients with carotid artery stenosis, and the diagnostic value of MRI and CT was explored through comparative studies.Methods: MRI examinations were performed by using high-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging 3D Black Blood Technology, and CT examinations were performed by means of Computed Tomography Angiography. The cases consisted of 68 patients with carotid artery stenosis accompanied by carotid ulcerative plaques admitted to the Department of Neurology of a tertiary hospital from January 2020 to December 2020, who underwent quantitative measurements with both high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging 3D black blood technology (cervical part) and computed tomography angiography, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was taken up as the gold standard to compare and analyze the two tests for the diagnostic value of carotid artery stenosis and carotid ulcerative plaque.Results: In our group of 68 patients with carotid artery stenosis accompanied by carotid ulcerative plaques, there were 10 unilateral lesions and 58 bilateral lesions, with a total of 126 diseased carotid arteries; 3 diseased vessels with poor image quality were excluded, and 123 diseased carotid arteries were included in the comparative study. The two methods were compared in the measurement of lumen area, wall area and external area of the wall of the diseased carotid artery (p = .273, p = .240, p = .941), the difference was not statistically significant; in the comparison of luminal stenosis rate, t = 0.905, p > .05, the difference was not statistically significant; Pearson correlation analysis showed that the two methods were positively correlated with the luminal stenosis rate measured by DSA (r = 0.961, 0.952, p < .001). Using DSA as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, and Youden’s J statistic of the two methods for stenosis > 70% were 93.88%, 100.00% and 0.939 for the high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging 3D black blood technology, and 91.83%, 93.24% and 0.851 for the computed tomography angiography technology, respectively; in terms of the diagnosis of carotid ulcerative plaques, the high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging 3D black blood technology detected 38 cases, computed tomography angiography detected 35 cases, DSA detected 33 cases, the sensitivity, specificity and Youden’s J statistic of the two methods for the diagnosis of carotid ulcerative plaques were compared, the high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging 3D black blood technology was 100.00%, 91.44%, 0.914, and computed tomography angiography was 78.79%, 90.00% and 0.688.Conclusions: There was no difference between high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging 3D black blood technology and computed tomography angiography in the measurement of lumen area, wall area and external area of the wall of the diseased carotid artery, and there was no difference in luminal stenosis rate, and there was a higher diagnostic value in luminal stenosis rate and the diagnosis of carotid ulcerative plaques, but the diagnostic value of carotid ulcerative plaques was higher with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging 3D black blood technology.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death globally, is characterized by persistent airflow limitation. In China, the prevalence among individuals aged 40 and above reaches 13.7%, with a noticeable trend toward younger groups. However, inadequate screening rates at the primary healthcare level and delayed diagnosis pose significant challenges. Researches have indicated that standardized screening questionnaires combined with AI-assisted lung function interpretation technology can enhance the efficiency of early diagnosis. Treatment requires individualized medication combined with non-pharmacological interventions (health education, telemedicine, and smart inhalation devices) to enhance the adherence and the symptom control. In terms of management, the community-based primary healthcare system, home oxygen therapy, and multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation programs can shorten the hospitalization duration during acute exacerbations and then improve outcomes. The findings indicate that an integrated strategy combining early screening, tiered diagnosis and treatment, digital management and community-family collaboration is key to reducing disability and mortality rates from COPD. In the future, it is needed to focus on strengthening primary healthcare capabilities and implementing evidence-based precision interventions to drive a shift from “passive treatment” to “proactive healthcare management,” thereby alleviating socioeconomic burdens.

Objective: In combination with Maximum Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax) from SPECT/CT scans in lung cancer patients, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), molecular fragments in the N end of osteocalcin (N-MID), total procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (TPINP), and bone mineral density (BMD) measurements to explore the clinical early diagnosis of lung cancer bone metastasis.Methods: A total of 107 patients diagnosed as lung cancer at a tertiary-level Class A hospital between January 2021 and June 2022 were enrolled, comprising 37 cases with bone metastasis and 70 cases without bone metastasis. All patients underwent relevant examinations. SPECT/CT was performed in the supine position with anterior and posterior whole-body bone imaging, using a matrix of 256 × 1,024, an energy peak of 140 keV, and a window width of 20%. SUVmax was measured. BMD measurement utilizes dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to assess the first to fourth lumbar vertebrae, bilateral femoral necks, and total hip joints in the examinees, yielding bone mineral content per unit area (g/cm²). Fasting blood samples in the morning were taken and a fully automated biochemical analyzer was used to measure ALP levels, and a fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer was used to measure serum N-MID and TPINP levels.Results: Patients with bone metastasis exhibited ALP, N-MID and TPINP levels of 120.30 ± 33.32 U/L, 19.03 ± 3.54 mg/L and 82.21 ± 26.65 mg/L, respectively, significantly higher than those in patients without bone metastasis (94.43 ± 30.30 U/L, 15.50 ± 4.01 mg/L, 55.58 ± 21.01 mg/L), p < .001, indicating a significant difference; The lumbar spine BMD in patients with bone metastasis was 0.82 ± 0.12 g/cm², compared to 0.89 ± 0.14 g/cm² in patients without bone metastasis, p = .011, demonstrating a statistical significance. Comparisons between patients with and without bone metastasis revealed no statistically significant differences in gender, pathological type, femoral neck BMD, or whole-body BMD (p > .05). The SUVmax value for adenocarcinoma patients was 11.45 ± 1.98, significantly lower than 13.51 ± 2.00 for patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 13.98 ± 2.02 for other types (p < .001), representing a statistically significant difference. For patients with tumors with diameter > 5 cm and TNM stage III–IV, SUVmax values were 13.38 ± 1.95 and 12.99 ± 2.00, respectively, significantly higher than those with tumors ≤ 5 cm (11.50 ± 2.01) and TNM stage I–II (11.77 ± 1.93), with p < .001 and p = .002, respectively, demonstrating a statistical significance. Comparison in SUVmax of gender and age showed p > .05, indicating no statistically significant difference. In patients with TNM stage III–IV, ALP, N-MID and TPINP levels were 110.39 ± 21.12 U/L, 18.62 ± 2.22 mg/L and 70.31 ± 17.02 mg/L, respectively, significantly higher than those in patients with TNM stage I–II (97.45 ± 19.82, 15.12 ± 2.14 and 60.12 ± 15.65, respectively. The corresponding p values were .001, < .001 and .002, indicating a statistical significance. Comparison in ALP, N-MID and TPINP levels among patients of different genders, ages, pathological types and tumor diameters showed p > .05, indicating no statistically significant differences. The areas under the ROC curves for ALP, N-MID and TPINP in the diagnosis of bone metastasis were 0.695, 0.734 and 0.837, respectively, with p < .05.Conclusions: Serum ALP, N-MID and TPINP levels were significantly elevated in patients with bone metastasis of lung cancer in comparison to those without bone metastasis, while SUVmax showed no significant difference. SUVmax, ALP, N-MID and TPINP are associated with certain clinical and pathological characteristics in lung cancer patients. Among these, ALP, N-MID and TPINP demonstrate a potential diagnostic value for detecting bone metastasis in lung cancer.

Objective: Under the support of visual ultrasound technology, this study investigates the efficacy of the combination of betamethasone and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for the precise treatment of frozen shoulder. The findings aim to inform clinical practice.Methods: A total of 84 patients with frozen shoulder who visited the outpatient department of a tertiary Class A hospital between January 2021 and June 2023 were selected. They were randomly assigned to receive either local betamethasone injection guided by visual ultrasound technology or combined betamethasone and PRP injection for precise treatment. The betamethasone local injection group comprised 42 patients, while the combined betamethasone and PRP injection group comprised 42 patients. The application of visual ultrasound technology identifies and marks the lesion site. Under ultrasound guidance, a posterior approach is used to puncture into the joint capsule space between the humeral head and glenoid labrum. Following successful puncture, drug injection therapy is administered. Shoulder joint pain levels and shoulder joint function were compared between the two groups at baseline, 6 weeks post-treatment, and 12 weeks post-treatment. Blood glucose levels were monitored at baseline, 1 day post-treatment, and 3 days post-treatment. Adverse reactions, including rash, abnormal liver function, gastrointestinal reactions, and dizziness/headache, were observed in this study.Results: After 6 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for shoulder pain severity and shoulder function were 3.62 \pm 1.03 and 1.03 \pm 0.25, respectively, in the combined betamethasone and PRP injection group. In the betamethasone local injection group, these scores were 4.56 \pm 1.31 and 1.54 \pm 0.32, respectively. Comparisons between the two groups yielded p values of .001 and < .001, indicating statistically significant differences. Constant-Murley Shoulder Function Score (CMS) results for the combined betamethasone and PRP injection group were 50.37 \pm 6.23 and 80.72 \pm 10.69, respectively. For the betamethasone local injection group, the scores were 46.85 \pm 6.11 and 73.54 \pm 8.23, respectively. Comparing the two groups, the p-values were .011 and < .001, respectively, indicating statistically significant differences. Comparison of blood glucose levels between the two groups: After 1 day and 3 days of treatment, fasting blood glucose levels in the combined betamethasone and PRP injection group were 5.67 \pm 0.14 and 5.69 \pm 0.13 mg/dL, respectively, while those in the betamethasone local injection group were 6.29 \pm 0.35 and 6.35 \pm 0.38 mg/dL, respectively. Compared between the two groups, the p-values were < .001 and < .001, respectively, indicating statistically significant differences. 2-hour postprandial blood glucose levels at 1 day and 3 days post-treatment were 6.85 \pm 0.25 and 6.87 \pm 0.28 mg/dL in the combined betamethasone and PRP injection group, and 8.34 \pm 0.21 and 8.49 \pm 0.34 mg/dL in the betamethasone local injection group. Comparisons between the two groups yielded p values of < .001 and < .001, respectively, indicating statistically significant differences. The incidence of adverse reactions in the combined betamethasone and PRP injection group was 11.90%, including 1 case of rash, 1 case of abnormal liver function, 2 cases of gastrointestinal reactions, and 1 case of dizziness and headache. The adverse reaction incidence rate in the betamethasone local injection group was 21.43%, including 2 cases of rash, 2 cases of abnormal liver function, 3 cases of gastrointestinal reactions, and 2 cases of dizziness and headache. Comparing the two groups, p > .05, indicating no statistically significant difference.Conclusions: Compared with the betamethasone local injection group, the combined betamethasone and PRP injection group demonstrated lower VAS scores and higher CMS scores at 6 and 12 weeks post-treatment. Additionally, fasting blood glucose and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose levels were lower at 1 and 3 days post-treatment. There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Ultrasound-guided injection of betamethasone combined with PRP demonstrates effective treatment for frozen shoulder and warrants further clinical application.