Browse publications by year: 2025

  1. Tsui MT, Wang S, Cheng ML
    Mar Pollut Bull, 2025 Mar;212:117462.
    PMID: 39729831 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117462
    Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant of widespread concern, and modern Hg levels have been much elevated compared to pre-industrial levels. The majority of environmental Hg assessment has occurred in the developed world within the temperate region, but recent years we have witnessed increases in research activities in polar, subtropical, and tropical biomes. East Asia is currently the biggest emitter of anthropogenic Hg, while intense research is ongoing in China, Korea, and Japan, relatively little has been done in the neighboring regions. Southeast (SE) Asia is a geographic region mostly within tropical biomes and neighboring two large global Hg emitters (i.e., China and India), and contains vast marine resources that would be prone to Hg contamination. The region consists of 10 countries of different economic and development status, and has a population near 700 million, a rapid industrialization and commercialization occurring in the region, including Hg-emitting activities such as coal burning and artisanal gold mining. Here, we identified 31 published studies since 1980s reporting marine Hg pollution in SE Asia, but the majority of the studies did not measure the neurotoxic form of Hg, methylmercury, while the majority of studies in SE Asia were concentrated in a few countries, namely Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Recommendations are provided to propel the Hg biogeochemical cycling studies in this rapidly developing region on the planet.
    MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern; Environmental Monitoring*
  2. Lin X, Hu W, Hii KS, Xiao W, Tan H, Ma L, et al.
    Mol Ecol, 2025 Apr;34(7):e17709.
    PMID: 40026276 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17709
    Climate change has significantly altered the spatiotemporal distribution and phenology of marine organisms, yet the long-term trends and mechanisms driving these changes remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we analysed historical Noctiluca scintillans bloom data from coastal China (1933, 1952, 1981-2023), sea surface temperature (SST) records from the past 40 years, and 509 field samples using Single Molecule Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing (2019-2024). Our results indicate that SST is the primary driver of N. scintillans blooms, exhibiting a nonlinear unimodal correlation. Long-term SST warming has caused a northward shift in bloom locations, aligning with the 21.9°C-22.7°C isotherms, as reflected by the increasing average latitudes of bloom occurrences. Over the past 4 decades, bloom frequency and duration have followed an overall increasing trend, displaying an approximate 10-year cyclical pattern. Ocean warming has also contributed to earlier bloom initiation, extended peak bloom periods and delayed bloom termination, shaping the long-term dynamics of N. scintillans blooms. SMRT sequencing confirmed that local N. scintillans populations persist year-round, serving as latent seed sources that can rapidly bloom when environmental conditions become favourable. These findings provide critical insights into the dynamics of harmful algal blooms in the context of climate change and lay a foundation for future ecological and environmental research.
    MeSH terms: China; Dinoflagellida/genetics; Dinoflagellida/growth & development; Temperature; Climate Change*; Spatio-Temporal Analysis
  3. Jairoun AA, Al-Hemyari SS, Shahwan M, Alkhoujah S, El-Dahiyat F, Jaber AAS, et al.
    Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm, 2025 Mar;17:100576.
    PMID: 40026320 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100576
    OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to investigate how regulatory frameworks and policies are used to support the use of sustainable medicines within the pharmaceutical sector.

    METHODS: The Scopus database was searched to retrieve papers. Advanced search tool of the Scopus online database was used focused on the papers that have the search query included in their titles. Data analysis incorporated bibliometric indicators like publication counts and trends, visualized through VOSviewer software version 1.6.20.

    KEY FINDINGS: A total of 43 publications on Sustainable Medicines Use were found between 2000 and 2024. Leading countries in publication output on sustainable medicines use were United Kingdom, United States, India, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland, indicating their collaborative relationships and publication volumes. A total of 92 institutions have been involved in research on Sustainable Medicines Use. Key institutions such as the Faculty of Engineering and the Laboratory for Process and Environmental Engineering, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, Greiner Environmental Inc., and the University of Florence are prominently featured, indicating their significant contributions to research in this area. Key journals such as the "Journal of Cleaner Production," "Business Strategy and the Environment," "Chemical Engineering Transactions," "Benchmarking," and "Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering" are prominently featured. The retrieved articles have been cited an average count of 22.26. The overlay visualization created using VOSviewer suggest a shift towards exploring new drug categories, innovative approaches, and the commercial aspects of sustainability. Future research directions are likely to delve deeper into innovative methods and sustainable chemical practices (green chemistry), reflecting an emphasis on developing greener processes and products.

    CONCLUSION: This study offers a thorough analysis of the legislative and governmental strategies promoting the use of sustainable medicine. It offers important insights for promoting sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry by pointing out gaps, defining useful frameworks, and suggesting doable solutions. Achieving sustainable pharmaceutical practices that support worldwide environmental and public health objectives requires sustained research, policy development, and international cooperation. The area needs to keep developing and implementing sustainable methods like green chemistry to decrease environmental harm and improve sustainability. Furthermore, collaborations among academia, industry, and international organizations are essential to progress and interchange effective strategies.

  4. Alhatim HA, Abdullah MN, Jamaludin SA, Nurdin AB, Amer SA
    J Taibah Univ Med Sci, 2025 Feb;20(1):62-72.
    PMID: 40026413 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2025.01.003
    OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at characterizing whether the autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) used in forensic identification might differ between leukemic blood samples and saliva samples.

    METHODS: Blood and saliva samples were collected from 27 patients diagnosed with acute leukemia in Riyadh City, KSA. DNA was extracted, and 15 STR loci were amplified.

    RESULTS: Approximately 59.3% of patients with leukemia exhibited mutations at the STR loci. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) occurred in 40.7% of the patients at D19S433, D16S539, vWA, D13S317, TH01, FGA, and D2S1338. Microsatellite instability (MSI) was detected in 22.2% of patients at TPOX, vWA, D19S433, D16S539, and D18S51. D19S433 and D16S539 were the most affected loci, exhibiting an alteration percentage of 18.52%, followed by vWA (11.11%); in contrast, D2S1338, D18S51, and TPOX were the least affected loci, showing a mutation percentage of 3.7%. D13S317, TH01, and FGA showed moderate genetic mutation (7.41%). CSF1PO, D21S11, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, and amelogenin did not show genetic changes in all samples. The overall genetic variability between saliva and blood samples significantly differed (P 

  5. Rosani NS, Zamin RM, Aman RRAR, Zuhdi ASM, Danaee M, Zulkafli IS
    Rev Cardiovasc Med, 2025 Feb;26(2):25252.
    PMID: 40026505 DOI: 10.31083/RCM25252
    BACKGROUND: Additional bifurcations at the left main coronary artery (LMCA) could modify the geometry of the left coronary system, disturbing haemodynamic flow patterns and potentially altering endothelial shear stress (ESS). A low ESS has been implicated in atherogenesis. The emergence of the ramus intermedius (RI) from the LMCA creates additional branching, but the specific role of the RI in plaque deposition at the left coronary system remains unclear. This study sought to elucidate the potential effects of the RI on plaque formation at the LMCA and its bifurcation.

    METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional single-centre study was conducted using data from 139 female patients who were identified to have low risk of cardiovascular disease. These patients underwent cardiac computed tomography angiography between January 2017 and December 2018. Contrasted multiplanar coronary images taken during the best diastolic phase were analysed for the presence (experimental group) or absence (control group) of the RI. Measurements of plaques were done at the LMCA and at a 10 mm distance from the ostia of daughter arteries. Plaque data at the left bifurcation region were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and binary logistic regression tests. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

    RESULTS: Amongst these low-risk patients, 33.8% (n = 47) had an RI. In the presence of RI, there was an eight-fold increased risk of plaque deposition at the LMCA (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 8.5) and a three-fold increased risk of plaque deposition at the proximal left anterior descending (pLAD), especially on its lateral wall (aOR = 3.5). However, the RI did not influence plaque deposition at the distance of 10 mm from the ostium of the proximal left circumflex artery.

    CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the RI increases the risk for atherosclerosis plaque deposition by three to eight-fold at the pLAD artery and the LMCA.

  6. J J, Haw SC, Palanichamy N, Ng KW, Thillaigovindhan SK
    MethodsX, 2025 Jun;14:103201.
    PMID: 40026592 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103201
    In recent days, Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques are broadly used in medical data processing in decision-making. A lung tumour, one of the most dangerous medical diseases, requires early diagnosis with a higher precision rate. With that concern, this work aims to develop an Integrated Model (IM- LTS) for Lung Tumor Segmentation using Neural Networks (NN) and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). The model integrates two architectures, MobileNetV2 and U-NET, for classifying the input lung data. The input CT lung images are pre-processed using Z-score Normalization. The semantic features of lung images are extracted based on texture, intensity, and shape to provide information to the training network.•In this work, the transfer learning technique is incorporated, and the pre-trained NN was used as an encoder for the U-NET model for segmentation. Furthermore, Support Vector Machine is used here to classify input lung data as benign and malignant.•The results are measured based on the metrics such as, specificity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy and F-Score, using the data from benchmark datasets. Compared to the existing lung tumor segmentation and classification models, the proposed model provides better results and evidence for earlier disease diagnosis.
  7. Chin YH, Anthony Bernard DM, Foo SH
    Cureus, 2025 Jan;17(1):e78160.
    PMID: 40027009 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.78160
    Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) syndrome is characterized by reduced sensitivity to thyroid hormones (TH). It is an autosomal dominant genetic disease commonly caused by a mutation of the thyroid hormone receptor beta (THR-β) gene. Manifestations of RTH can be variable, as one can be clinically euthyroid to hyperthyroid or hypothyroid. We would like to share a case of resistance to thyroid hormone beta (RTH β) that presented with atrial fibrillation (AF) and was treated as Graves' disease with antithyroid drugs initially but was otherwise clinically euthyroid. The diagnosis was subsequently revised to RTH after a delay of more than eight years when the patient was referred to endocrinology for an aberrant thyroid function test with persistently raised TH and an unsuppressed thyrotropin level after performing the appropriate investigations. This case illustrates the challenge in diagnosing RTH in individuals with apparently preserved cardiac tissue TH sensitivity mimicking Graves' disease and the importance of recognition of RTH to avoid inappropriate therapy to suppress the compensatory increase in TH production to maintain the euthyroid state in affected individuals.
  8. Choo XW, Wong JW, Abdul Malik Khiew MA, Khoo KS, Ramanaidu A, Ramasamy A, et al.
    Cureus, 2025 Jan;17(1):e78223.
    PMID: 40027031 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.78223
    Spinal tuberculosis (TB), or Pott's disease, is a rare but serious form of extrapulmonary TB that primarily affects the thoracic spine and can result in severe neurological complications. Patients with underlying endocrine disorders, such as panhypopituitarism, are at increased risk of developing infections due to immune suppression caused by hormonal deficiencies and long-term steroid replacement therapy. We report the case of a 24-year-old Malay male patient with a known history of empty sella syndrome and panhypopituitarism on hormone replacement therapy, who presented with progressive left lower limb weakness over one week. An MRI of the spine revealed a multiloculated pre- and paravertebral collection with intraspinal extension. A spine biopsy confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis via TB GeneXpert testing. The patient was started on anti-TB therapy. However, due to worsening neurological function, he underwent posterior spinal fusion and decompression surgery, which resulted in improved lower limb function. Spinal TB should be considered in patients with neurological deficits and predisposing conditions, such as endocrine disorders, even in the absence of classical TB symptoms.
  9. Sallam M, Al-Mahzoum K, Yousef ZM, Alfouzan JS, Alharbi MJ, Alsubaiei MK, et al.
    Ther Adv Vaccines Immunother, 2025;13:25151355251324384.
    PMID: 40027198 DOI: 10.1177/25151355251324384
    BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant respiratory health risk to senior citizens, contributing substantially to hospitalizations and mortality. With the recent approval of three RSV vaccines for the elderly, it is critical to understand the factors that can shape the RSV vaccination attitudes to inform public health strategies that can enhance uptake among this vulnerable population.

    OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the potential factors that could influence the attitudes toward RSV vaccination among senior citizens in Arab countries.

    DESIGN: A multinational cross-sectional study, adhering to STROBE guidelines, was conducted using a survey instrument previously validated through exploratory factor analysis to assess attitudes toward the newly approved RSV vaccine.

    METHODS: A self-administered online survey was distributed conveniently among senior citizens mainly across five Arab countries. The survey collected data on demographics, vaccination history, and key constructs related to RSV vaccine attitude, including "Fear," "Information," "Accessibility," "Benefits," and "Conspiracy."

    RESULTS: A total of 483 participants were included in the study, with the majority from five Arab countries: Jordan (n = 239, 49.5%), Kuwait (n = 74, 15.3%), Egypt (n = 68, 14.1%), Saudi Arabia (n = 51, 10.6%), and the UAE (n = 23, 4.8%), alongside participants from other Arab nations (n = 28, 5.8%). Among the respondents, 51.1% (n = 247) expressed acceptance of the RSV vaccine, 22.4% (n = 108) were hesitant, and 26.5% (n = 128) exhibited refusal. Multivariate analysis identified perceived benefits (β = 0.484, p 

  10. Krishnan Pandarathodiyil A, Shree K H, Ramani P, Sivapathasundharam B, Ramadoss R
    J Oral Biol Craniofac Res, 2025;15(2):288-296.
    PMID: 40027855 DOI: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2025.01.012
    BACKGROUND: Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are autoimmune conditions that often coexist in female patients. Biomarkers such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) are used for diagnosis, but their predictive power for treatment outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the correlation between age, ANA, RF, and treatment response in female patients with both SS and RA.

    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationships between age, ANA, RF levels, RA (disease present), and treatment response using Pearson correlation analysis and a neural network model, to predict treatment outcomes in patients with coexisting SS and RA.

    METHODS: A cohort of 56 female patients aged 30-73 was analyzed. Descriptive statistics provided an overview of key variables, followed by Pearson correlation analysis to assess relationships between age, ANA, RF, RA, and treatment response. A neural network model was developed to predict treatment response based on age, ANA, and RF levels, using a training-to-testing split of 81.3 % and 18.8 %, respectively.

    RESULTS: The Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between age and ANA levels (r = .541, p = 0.031), though no significant correlations were found between age, RF, RA, and treatment response. The neural network model achieved an accuracy of 92.3 % during training and 100 % accuracy during testing for most treatment categories. However, the model struggled to accurately distinguish between certain classes, particularly treatment categories 1 and 3.

    CONCLUSION: Age showed a significant correlation with ANA levels, indicating that older patients may have elevated ANA. The neural network model demonstrated strong predictive power for treatment response, although further refinement is needed to improve its ability to distinguish between all response categories. These findings suggest that machine learning models could enhance personalized treatment strategies for patients with SS and RA, but additional validation with larger datasets is required.

  11. Kusumawardani LA, Risni HW, Naurahhanan D, Syed Sulaiman SA
    PMID: 40028003 DOI: 10.2147/IJNRD.S503573
    BACKGROUND: Nephrotoxic drugs can worsen the kidney function of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). There is still a limited amount of research investigating nephrotoxic drugs in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze the prevalence of potentially nephrotoxic drugs (PND) prescriptions and the association of patients' characteristics with PND prescribing.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study employed retrospective data from Universitas Indonesia Hospital (RSUI), focusing on CKD outpatients treated between January 2019 and December 2022. CKD patients over the age of 18 were included, with exclusions for those suspected of having CKD, those with a history of kidney transplants, or missing critical data. The study outcome was the prevalence of patients prescribed PND, determined using reliable references to assess potential nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, compliance with clinical guidelines was evaluated at the individual drug level, with each PND within a prescription treated as a separate case. Descriptive analyses were carried out to determine prevalence, which were presented as percentages. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between patient characteristics and the prescription of PND.

    RESULTS: In total, 248 patients were evaluated. The findings revealed that 177 out of 248 patients (71.4%) were prescribed at least one PND. The categories of these drugs included antihypertensives (50.9%), antigout medications (17.8%), antiplatelets (10.5%), antibiotics (9.8%), NSAIDs (5.8%), and antiulcer agents (5.2%). Of 275 cases of PND prescriptions, 220 (80.0%) complied to treatment guidelines, while 55 (20.0%) did not. Logistic regression analysis indicated that patients taking more than four additional medications were more likely to be prescribed PNDs than those on fewer medications (aOR 2.454, 95% CI 1.399-4.305).

    CONCLUSION: Although non-compliance cases are relatively low, PNDs are frequently prescribed to CKD patients, with the risk rising as the number of comedications increases. Measures are needed to ensure guideline compliance, including accurate dosage assessments and outcome monitoring.

  12. Mansor MA, Yang C, Chong KL, Jamrus MA, Liu K, Yu M, et al.
    ACS Omega, 2025 Feb 25;10(7):6306-6322.
    PMID: 40028152 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c08606
    Enriching and isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have attracted significant interest due to their important role in early cancer diagnosis and prognosis, allowing for minimally invasive approaches and providing vital information about metastasis at the cellular level. This review comprehensively summarizes the recent developments in microfluidic devices for CTC enrichment and isolation. The advantages and limitations of several microfluidic devices are discussed, and the design specifications of microfluidic devices for CTC enrichment are highlighted. We also developed a set of methodologies and design rules of label-free microfluidics such as spiral, deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) and dielectrophoresis (DEP) to allow researchers to design and develop microfluidic devices systematically and effectively, promoting rapid research on design, fabrication, and experimentation.
  13. Li R, Shari Z, Ab Kadir MZA
    Heliyon, 2025 Feb 28;11(4):e42480.
    PMID: 40028605 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42480
    The optimization of building performance has gained significant attention over the past two decades, driven by the need for energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and environmental sustainability. This paper conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of multi-objective optimization (MOO) for building performance, spanning research publications from 2003 to 2023. Utilizing advanced bibliometric tools such as CiteSpace, VoSviewer, and Bibliometrix, we analyzed 1604 documents from the Web of Science Core Collection to map collaborative networks, research trends, and citation patterns. The study identifies notable advancements in the integration of sophisticated optimization algorithms, including genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization (PSO), with simulation platforms like EnergyPlus and MATLAB, while utilizing Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) for enhanced predictive capabilities. These integrations have markedly enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of optimizing key building performance metrics, including energy efficiency, thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), and cost-effectiveness. China and the United States emerged as leading contributors, with higher education institutions playing a critical role in research outputs. Key research hotspots identified include energy consumption, thermal comfort, life cycle assessment, and simulation-based optimization. The effectiveness of genetic algorithms in managing complex multi-objective problems has led to their widespread adoption. Looking forward, future research is anticipated to focus on the development of more integrated and intelligent optimization algorithms that leverage real-time data and user behavior, thus improving the adaptability and sustainability of building performance optimization. This study provides a detailed insight into the evolution and current trends in MOO research, laying a strong foundation for future investigations aimed at advancing building performance in the context of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
  14. Al Ketbi N, Habes M, Shaheen L, Attar RW, Tahat D, Alhazmi AH
    Front Psychol, 2025;16:1500727.
    PMID: 40028651 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1500727
    Social media use has increased after the COVID-19, indicating several effects on users. Talking specifically about its effects on adolescents, several studies have witnessed its positive and negative consequences on young users. This research also aims to examine the positive effects of social media use on adolescents from a Media Mindfulness Perspective, including tolerance, community peace, and online ethical awareness. Theoretically supported by Social Learning Theory, the data were gathered using 379 structured questionnaires. Results indicated an overall positive influence of social media use on adolescents in UAE. It is found that social media use positively affects tolerance among adolescents, suggesting an improved tolerance among the relevant users. Also, the effect of social media uses on community peace remained positive, implying that digital platforms are constructive means of teaching peace and harmony. Finally, results also indicated the positive effects of social media use on online ethical awareness among adolescents in UAE. Overall, these results suggest a positive, constructive role of social media use in changing the behaviors of the young generation. Under the social learning theory, this study also suggested social media as a powerful tool for learning positive behaviors, further influencing and improving societal peace and harmony. Finally, the study's significance and limitations are discussed.
  15. Wu M, Kit CY, Su ELM, Yeong CF, Ahmmad SNZ, Holderbaum W, et al.
    PLoS One, 2025;20(3):e0318660.
    PMID: 40029914 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318660
    This study develops and evaluates quantitative metrics to assess surgical dexterity within virtual reality (VR) simulations to enhance surgical training and performance. By employing advanced VR technology, this research systematically investigates the influence of controlled experimental factors-posture, handedness, and visual magnification-on surgical performance. The impact of human factors such as surgical specialty, experience, and lifestyle factors like sleep and caffeine consumption on surgical dexterity is also analyzed. The findings reveal that seated posture, dominant hand usage, and enhanced visual magnification significantly improve surgical precision and efficiency. Contrary to common beliefs, lifestyle factors such as sleep duration and coffee consumption showed minimal impact on performance metrics. The study highlights the potential of VR simulations to provide a controlled, replicable, and safe environment for surgical training, emphasizing the importance of personalized training protocols that cater to individual surgeon's needs. The insights from this research advocate for integrating quantitative, objective metrics in surgical training programs to refine and accelerate dexterity acquisition, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes and surgical care.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Clinical Competence; Computer Simulation; Female; Hand; Humans; Male; Motor Skills; General Surgery/education
  16. Idris NN, Brosse N, Ziegler-Devin I, Chrusciel L, Girard V, Hussin MH
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2025 Mar 01;306(Pt 2):141627.
    PMID: 40031402 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.141627
    This study investigates the effects of different delignification processes on oil palm frond (OPF) biomass, focusing on the structural characteristics and antioxidant properties of lignin isolated with organosolv pretreatment and a combined pretreatment of organosolv and steam explosion (SE). Functional groups in organosolv lignin (OL) and steam explosion organosolv lignin (SEOL) were analyzed and compared using multiple complementary analyses such as FTIR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, GPC chromatography, CHN and thermal analyses, lignin antioxidant activity via reducing power assay and dissolution test. The findings reveal that SEOL achieved the highest solid recovery at 11.5 % yield among the samples, surpassing OL, which yielded 8.7 %. Both isolated lignin types predominantly feature non-condensed G-type and S-type units, with relatively fewer H-type units, consistent with existing research. Moreover, this study confirms that modification of lignin with SE pretreatment reduces its molecular weight (Mw) and generates smaller fragments, enhancing its water solubility relative to unmodified lignin (DSEOL: 37.4 % > DOL: 17.5 %). This demonstrates that SEOL exhibits enhanced antioxidant properties with superior reducing power compared to OL. Consequently, the modifications have improved the structural properties and antioxidant capabilities of lignin polymers, paving the way for innovative lignin-based applications.
  17. Zhu Z, Muhamad AS, Omar N, Ooi FK, Pan X, Ong MLY
    Complement Ther Med, 2025 May;89:103152.
    PMID: 40032000 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103152
    BACKGROUND: Physical exercise intervention in pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended to increase strength, endurance, and flexibility in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, certain physical intervention may be restrictive to COPD patients, as it induces fatigue and shortness of breath. Mawangdui exercise, a low-to-medium-intensity aerobic exercise, has been gaining popularity in China as an adjuvant physical therapy, particularly for patients with contraindications to exercise, to improve their health.

    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of the traditional Chinese Mawangdui exercise for patients with COPD in a mild to moderate stable stage.

    METHODS: A total of 54 COPD patients in stable stage (Mawangdui group, n = 27; control group, n = 27) were enroled for a period of 12-weeks. The Mawangdui group practised the Mawangdui exercise, while the control group maintained daily activities without additional exercise. The outcomes measurements were pulmonary function, exercise capacity, back-leg-chest muscle strength, sit-and-reach flexibility, dyspnoea symptoms, and quality of life. The outcomes were assessed at baseline, 24 h, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks post-intervention.

    RESULTS: Improvements were observed for Borg CR-10 score, SpO2, BMI, body fat%, fat mass, flexibility mMRC, and SGRQ scores (p 

    MeSH terms: Aged; China; Dyspnea/therapy; Female; Humans; Lung/physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life*; Respiratory Function Tests; Muscle Strength/physiology
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