1.Current Status of Stratified Diagnosis and Treatment of Sjögren's Syndrome and Reflections on It
Wenjing LIU ; Xinyao ZHOU ; Quan JIANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(3):244-250
Stratified diagnosis and treatment is a crucial approach in precision medicine, aiming to optimize medical care by grouping patients based on clinical manifestations, biomarkers, and pathological characteristics. Based on clinical stages, symptoms, age, gene expression, and pathology, research on Sjögren's syndrome (SS) has proposed various stratification methods, incorporating both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine perspectives. These methods provide essential support for early diagnosis, risk assessment, and personalized treatment. Key strategies include moving SS intervention time forward, to leverage TCM's preventive principles, integrating TCM and Western tools to enhance precision, innovating clinical trial designs, developing multifactorial risk prediction models and digital imaging technologies, and constructing combined prognostic models for personalized follow-up and big data-driven treatment. These insights offer a comprehensive framework for advancing SS precision medicine.
2.Healthcare institution resilience and the influencing factors during infectious disease outbreaks
Yaqun FU ; Jiawei ZHANG ; Bing HAN ; Quan WANG ; Zheng ZHU ; Zhijie NIE ; Yiyang TAN ; Qing LIU ; Xiaoguang LI ; Jing GUO ; Rongmeng JIANG ; Li YANG
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2025;57(3):529-536
Objective:To analyze the association between healthcare workers mental health,institu-tional supplies and facilities,inter-organizational coordination during infectious disease outbreaks,and the healthcare institution resilience.Methods:An online questionnaire survey was conducted among the healthcare workforce from 146 institutions in Beijing from January 13,2023 to February 9,2023,and a total of 1 434 eligible respondents were included.The sample comprised 408 responses from tertiary hos-pitals,117 from secondary hospitals,and 909 from primary care institutions.The resilience indicator for healthcare institutions was defined as the degree to which medical services met patient demands,with in-fluencing factors including physical factors,such as material shortages and facility space adaptation or ex-pansion,organizational factors such as information sharing and patient referral,and psychological factors were evaluated using job satisfaction(extrinsic satisfaction,intrinsic satisfaction),burnout(emotional exhaustion,depersonalization,reduced personal accomplishment),and depression status.Ordered mul-ticlassification Logistic regression was used to examine the impact of various factors on the degree to which healthcare services met patient needs;additionally,demographic factors that might influence institutional resilience were controlled.Results:During the emergency response phase,93%of hospitals maintained the capacity to meet patient needs,though tertiary hospitals demonstrated significantly higher rates of service inadequacy(21.05%).Material shortages were reported across all institutions,with tertiary hos-pitals experiencing more frequent multi-item shortages.Inter-institutional collaboration patterns revealed substantial variation:87.50%of primary care facilities,42.86%of secondary hospitals,and 31.58%of tertiary hospitals.Healthcare workers across all levels reported mild depressive symptoms and moderate-to-severe burnout levels.Regression analysis showed high satisfaction(overall satisfaction β=0.04,ex-trinsic satisfaction β=0.06,and intrinsic satisfaction β=0.08),low degree of job burnout(emotional exhaustion β=-0.04,depersonalization β=-0.07 and reduced personal accomplishment β=0.01),low degree of depression(β=-0.06)were significantly associated with higher healthcare institution re-silience.In addition,material shortages were significantly associated with lower resilience,and renova-tion and expansion of treatment spaces,and information sharing,were all associated with higher resilience.Demographic factors(age,gender,marital status,educational background,etc.)had no sig-nificant impact on resilience.Conclusion:Mental health status significantly influences healthcare institu-tion resilience.As human resources constitute the core asset of healthcare institutions,strategic optimiza-tion of workforce allocation and psychological support interventions can effectively strengthen resilience.Moreover,healthcare institution resilience is positively impacted by orderly material supply chains,timely resource distribution,and adaptive reconfiguration of clinical spaces.Finally,facilitating information sharing also enhances institutional resilience.
3.Mechanisms of the Masquelet technique to promote bone defect repair and its influencing factors.
Jiang-Hong WU ; Quan-Wei BAO ; Shao-Kang WANG ; Pan-Yu ZHOU ; Shuo-Gui XU
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(3):157-163
The Masquelet technique, also known as the induced membrane technique, is a surgical technique for repairing large bone defects based on the use of a membrane generated by a foreign body reaction for bone grafting. This technique is not only simple to perform, with few complications and quick recovery, but also has excellent clinical results. To better understand the mechanisms by which this technique promotes bone defect repair and the factors that require special attention in practice, we examined and summarized the relevant research advances in this technique by searching, reading, and analysing the literature. Literature show that the Masquelet technique may promote the repair of bone defects through the physical septum and molecular barrier, vascular network, enrichment of mesenchymal stem cells, and high expression of bone-related growth factors, and the repair process is affected by the properties of spacers, the timing of bone graft, mechanical environment, intramembrane filling materials, artificial membrane, and pharmaceutical/biological agents/physical stimulation.
Humans
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Bone Transplantation/methods*
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Membranes, Artificial
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Bone Regeneration
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Animals
4.Clinical characteristics and prognosis of chronic disseminated candidiasis in children with acute leukemia following chemotherapy: a multicenter clinical study.
Xin-Hong JIANG ; Pei-Jun LIU ; Chun-Ping WU ; Kai-Zhi WENG ; Shu-Quan ZHUANG ; Shu-Xian HUANG ; Xiao-Fang WANG ; Yong-Zhi ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(5):540-547
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of chronic disseminated candidiasis (CDC) in children with acute leukemia (AL) following chemotherapy.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on children diagnosed with CDC (including confirmed, clinically diagnosed, and suspected cases) after AL chemotherapy from January 2015 to December 2023 at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital, and Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University. Clinical characteristics and prognosis were analyzed.
RESULTS:
The incidence of CDC in children with AL following chemotherapy was 1.92% (32/1 668). Among the children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the incidence of CDC in the high-risk group was significantly higher than in the low-risk group (P=0.002). All patients presented with fever unresponsive to antibiotics during the neutropenic period, with 81% (26/32) involving the liver. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly elevated (≥50 mg/L) in 97% (31/32) of the patients. The efficacy of combined therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and caspofungin or posaconazole for CDC was 66% (19/29), higher than with caspofungin (9%, 2/22) or liposomal amphotericin B (18%, 2/11) monotherapy. The overall cure rate was 72% (23/32). The proportion of patients with CRP ≥50 mg/L and/or a positive β-D-glucan test for more than 2 weeks and breakthrough infections during caspofungin treatment was significantly higher in the treatment failure group compared to the successful treatment group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
CDC in children with AL after chemotherapy may be associated with prolonged neutropenia due to intensive chemotherapy. Combination antifungal regimens based on liposomal amphotericin B have a higher cure rate, while persistently high CRP levels and positive β-D-glucan tests may indicate poor prognosis.
Adolescent
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
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Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use*
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Candidiasis/diagnosis*
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Chronic Disease
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Leukemia/complications*
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Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/complications*
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Prognosis
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Retrospective Studies
5.Analyses of the risk factors of delayed extubation after extended thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis
Meiping WANG ; Xueqi SUN ; Li JIANG ; Ran LOU ; Quan SI ; Tingting WANG ; Gaojun LU
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(1):52-59
Objective:To explore the risk factors of delayed extubation after expanded thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis.Methods:Patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent expanded thymectomy from May 2021 to January 2024 and were admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided in to the delayed extubation and successful extubation according to the length of mechanical ventilation whether exceeding than 48 hours. Multivariable logistics regression was used to explore the risk factors for delayed extubation after expanded thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis.Results:A total of 95 patients were included.15 (15.8%) of whom were delayed extubation. Compared with the successful extubation patients, the length of mechanical ventilation (94.0 h vs. 15.5 h, P<0.001), ICU station (7.1 days vs. 1.7 days, P<0.001), and hospitalization station (16.0 days vs. 9.1 days, P<0.001) were significantly prolonged in the delayed extubation patients. Adjusted for age,gender, BMI, clinical classification, pathological classification of thymoma, dose of pyridostigmine preoperative, perioperative pneumonia, preoperative pulmonary dysfunction, SBT passing for the first time, neck lift time greater than 20 seconds, the multivariable logistic regression shown, the risk of delayed extubation increased by 29% ( OR=1.290, 95% CI 1.090-1.714), 1% ( OR=1.009, 95% CI 1.002-1.034), 3.9-fold ( OR=4.977, 95% CI 1.486-10.939), and 64% ( OR=1.635, 95% CI 1.396-2.682) for every 60 mg/day increase in preoperative dose of pyridostigmine, pathological classification of thymoma, perioperative pneumonia, and preoperative pulmonary dysfunction, respectively. Neck lift time greater than 20 seconds can reduce the risk of delayed extubation 48% ( OR=0.524, 95% CI 0.322-0.794). Conclusion:Preoperative administration of a large dose of pyridostigmine, pulmonary dysfunction, pathological classification of thymoma, and perioperative pneumonia were risk factors for delayed extubation after thymectomy in these patients. And neck lift time greater than 20 seconds decreased the risk of delayed extubation. In the clinical practice,for high risk of MG patients with delayed extubation, the neck lifting test may be used to assess muscle strength and reduce the occurance of tracheal reintubation and its advise effects.
6.Role of cordycepin in resisting Neospora caninum infection
Zhengkai WEI ; Rongsheng HUANG ; Xi JIANG ; Dezhi ZHANG ; Quan LIU ; Qianyong LI ; Zhengtao YANG
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(6):1218-1224
Bovine neosporosis,a significant disease affecting the livestock industry,is caused by the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum(N.caninum).The current absence of efficacious vaccines and therapeutics necessitates the exploration of novel interventions.Cordycepin,a bioactive nucleo-side derived from Cordyceps militaris,has garnered attention for its diverse pharmacological properties.This study endeavors to elucidate the inhibitory effects of cordycepin on N.caninum in-fection.The cytotoxicity of cordycepin to bovine macrophages was assessed using the CCK-8 assay to ascertain a non-toxic concentration range.The impact of cordycepin on the N.caninum burden within bovine macrophages was evaluated using qPCR analysis and immunofluorescence assays.Additionally,the modulation of cytokine,interferon,and defensin expression induced by N.cani-num in the presence of cordycepin was examined through qRT-PCR analysis.The results showed that cordycepin exhibited negligible cytotoxicity to bovine macrophages at concentrations ranging from 2.812 5 to 180.000 0 μmol/L,compared to the control group.At concentrations of 5.625 0,11.250 0,and 22.500 0 μmol/L,cordycepin significantly reduced the intracellular N.caninum loads and diminished the intensity of intracellular parasite fluorescence.While N.caninum infection downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6,cordycepin treatment robustly induced their expression.Furthermore,although cordycepin treatment reduced the expression levels of IFN-α,IFN-β,and IFN-γ that were upregulated by N.caninum infection,it maintained substantial expression levels.In conclusion,cordycepin demon-strates a promising resistance against N.caninum infection,suggesting its potential as a therapeu-tic agent for the treatment of bovine neosporosis.
7.Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Secondary Gynecological and Obstetric Diseases Based on the Theory of "Bi (痹) of both Body and Viscera"
Hui XU ; Quan JIANG ; Congmin XIA ; Rouman ZHANG ; Xun GONG ; Chuanhui YAO ; Zixia LIU ; Yuchen YANG ; Xieli MA
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(23):2438-2442
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may lead to secondary gynecological and obstetric disorders such as decreased ovarian reserve function, menstrual abnormalities, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Based on "bi (痹) of both body and viscera" theory, this paper proposed that the core mechanism of SLE secondary gynecological and obstetric diseases lies in the mutual transformation between "body bi" and "viscera bi", which together affect the uterus. Physiologically, uterus forms an internal-external network with the body and viscera through the meridians and blood vessels. Pathologically, when the healthy qi is deficient, nourishment of the body and viscera is impaired; when toxins and stasis accumulate, pathogenic factors disturb the uterus through the chong (冲) and ren (任) meri-dians. The resulting obstruction in the uterus can, in turn, manifest externally and aggravate damage to the body and viscera. Therefore, the pathogenesis of SLE secondary gynecological and obstetric diseases follows a dynamic trajectory of "body bi first, body bi affecting viscera, and then bi of both body and viscera". In treatment, the principle of harmonizing and balancing the healthy qi is emphasized. The main approach is to regulate the viscera, stabilize the body, and nourish the uterus, with the coordination of nourishing the viscera through the body, thereby achieving simultaneous treatment of both body and viscera. This highlights the guiding significance of the "bi of both body and viscera" theory in preventing and treating SLE secondary gynecological and obstetric diseases.
8.Cross-lagged Panel Model Analysis of Blood Inflammatory Index and Cardiovascular Risk in 633 Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(23):2447-2452
ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between hematological inflammatory indices and cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, providing insights for cardiovascular risk management strategies. MethodsClinical data of RA patients were retrospectively collected at admission and follow-up (1 year±10 days between admission and follow-up). The data included general information at admission, and peripheral blood neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, platelet, triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels at both admission and follow-up. Blood inflammatory indicators including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were calculated. Cross-lagged panel model was used to analyze the relationship between blood inflammatory markers and AIP in patients with RA. Gender-stratified analyses were performed. ResultsA total of 633 RA patients were included in this study, of whom 141 were male (22.27%) and 492 were female (77.73%). The proportions of smokers and drinkers, and body mass index were significantly higher in male than in female (P<0.05). At follow-up, the levels of NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI in all 633 patients were higher than at admission (P<0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in AIP levels between admission and follow-up (P>0.05). At admission, female patients had significantly higher levels of NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, SIRI, and AIP than male patients (P<0.05). Among 633 patients, significant bidirectional causal associations were found between NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, SIRI and AIP (P<0.05). Stratified temporal causal analysis based on gender showed that in females, NLR, MLR, PLR, SII and AIP were bidirectionally associated, while the relationship between AIP and SIRI was unidirectional (P<0.05). In males, SII and AIP were mutually correlated (P<0.05), while AIP→NLR, AIP→MLR, AIP→PLR, and AIP→SIRI showed unidirectional associations (P<0.05), and SIRI had no significant association with AIP (P>0.05). ConclusionThere is a bidirectional causal association between blood inflammatory markers and AIP in RA patients, and they can mutually predict changes in each marker after 1 year; the causal association between blood inflammatory markers and AIP is stronger in female than in male.
9.Distritution Characteristics of TCM Syndromes and Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Efficacy in 2506 Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Different Course of Disease:A Real-World Retrospective Study
Zhengyao SHEN ; Jingtao LI ; Yuchen YANG ; Shujuan ZHANG ; Quan JIANG ; Xun GONG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(23):2453-2459
ObjectiveTo investigate the syndrome evolution patterns, characteristics of the used herbal medicinals, and efficacy variations across different stages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression. MethodsBased on the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN), 2,506 RA patients were retrospectively enrolled and categorized into <6 months group (166 cases), 6 months to <5 years group (1063 cases), 5 to <20 years group (1067 cases), and ≥20 years group (210 cases). Syndromes were differentiated before and after traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment, including damp-heat obstruction, wind-damp obstruction, cold-damp obstruction, blood stasis obstructed in the collaterals, phlegm-stasis obstruction, liver-kidney insufficiency, qi and blood deficiency, and qi-yin deficiency. The syndrome evolution rate was calculated for high-frequency syndromes before and after treatment. Analysis was conducted on top 20 frequently used Chinese herbs at the first diagnosis. Clinical efficacy of the 28-joint disease activity score based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and 28-joint disease activity score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) before and after treatment were assessed. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors affecting the efficacy of TCM treatment. ResultsPatients with course of disease shorter than 6 months predominantly presented with cold-dampness obstruction syndrome (49/166, 29.5%), wind-dampness obstruction syndrome (46/166, 27.7%), and dampness-heat obstruction syndrome (43/166, 25.9%). For patients with course of disease logner than 6 months and shorter than 5 years and those within 5 to 20 years, the dominant syndrome was dampness-heat obstruction syndrome (324/1063, 30.5% and 318/1067, 29.8%, respectively). In patients with disease duration ≥20 years, liver-kidney insufficiency syndrome and dampness-heat obstruction syndrome both predominated, each accounting for 25.24% (53/210). The syndromes with more than 100 cases before treatment and a syndrome evolution rate greater than 10% after treatment were dampness-heat obstruction (201/738, 27.2%), liver-kidney insufficiency (119/367, 32.4%), and phlegm-stasis obstruction syndromes (73/172, 42.4%). These were classified as high-frequency syndromes. After treatment, damp-heat obstruction syndrome and liver-kidney insufficiency syndrome primarily evolved into wind-damp obstruction syndrome, while phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome evolved into damp-heat obstruction and cold-damp obstruction syndrome. The top two commonly used Chinese herbs across all groups were Gancao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) and Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba). In the <6 months group and the 6 months to <5 years group, high-frequency herbs also included Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae), Duhuo (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), and Qianghuo (Radix et Rhizoma Notopterygii). In the 5 to <20 years group and the ≥20 years group, the usage of Huangqi (Radix Astragali), Fuling (Poria), Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), and Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) increased, while the proportion of Fangfeng and Duhuo decreased. After treatment, the DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP scores in all groups significantly decreased (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in clinical efficacy based on DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP across all groups (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed significantly reduced treatment efficacy in the 6 months-5 years group (OR=0.4), 5~20 years group (OR=0.5), and ≥20 years group (OR=0.4) compared to the <6 months group. ConclusionRA syndromes follow a progression pattern from excess to deficiency, with corresponding transition in herbal usage from pathogen-eliminating to healthy qi-reinforcing approaches. TCM intervention can significantly reduce disease activity of RA, with superior efficacy in patients with disease duration shorter than 6 months.
10.Effect of the Otago Exercise Program on Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults With Sarcopenia
Yuxiang LIANG ; Renjie WANG ; Jiaojiao JIANG ; Liqiong WANG ; Long ZHANG ; Xueli CHUN ; Quan WEI
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(2):543-548
Objective To explore the effects of the Otago Exercise Program(OEP)on activities of daily living,muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults with sarcopenia,to compare OEP with conventional exercise training,and to provide a basis for clinical rehabilitation programs for older adults with sarcopenia.Methods In this randomized controlled trial,120 older adults clinically diagnosed with sarcopenia were enrolled.The participants were randomly assigned to the OEP intervention group(experimental group)and the conventional exercise intervention group(control group),with 60 in each group.The experimental group underwent 12 weeks of OEP training,three times a week,with each session lasting 45 minutes.The control group underwent conventional exercise training following the same schedule.The Modified Barthel Index was used as the primary outcome measure to assess activities of daily living.Secondary outcome measures included muscle strength,gait stability,dynamic balance,and physical function status,evaluated using grip strength,6-meter walking speed,the Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT),and the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB).Results A total of 120 older adults with sarcopenia were included.The mean age of the participants was(80.17±8.48)years.Baseline data before treatment showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups.Both groups completed the treatment within 12 weeks without experiencing any adverse events.The baseline data for the experimental group were as follows,MBI at(67.00±22.76)points,hand grip strength at(15.29±4.94)kg,gait speed at(0.61±0.26)m/s,TUGT time at(15.05±6.74)s,and SPPB score at(6.17±1.40)points,while the corresponding post-intervention findings were as follows,(78.72±15.83)points,(17.67±5.83)kg,(0.77±0.28)m/s,(13.49±6.16)s,and(9.25±1.71)points,respectively.The experimental group showed improvements in all measures from baseline to post-intervention(P<0.05 for all measures).As for the control group,the baseline data for the corresponding measures were as follows,(67.20±22.12)points,(15.00±5.35)kg,(0.58±0.23)m/s,(17.29±6.90)s,and(6.00±1.24)points,respectively.The post-intervention findings increased to(71.13±20.28)points,(15.47±5.72)kg,(0.64±0.28)m/s,(16.50±6.99)s,and(6.73±1.61)points,respectively,but the changes were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Furthermore,an intergroup comparison of intervention effects(post-intervention minus preintervention)revealed significant differences in mean changes from baseline.The experimental group demonstrated improvements of(+11.72±6.32)points in modified Barthel Index,(+11.72±6.32)kg in grip strength,(+0.16±0.09)m/s in gait speed,(—1.56±1.32)s in TUGT time,and(—1.56±1.32)points in SPPB score.In contrast,the control group showed smaller changes of(+3.93±5.65)points,(+0.47±1.37)kg,(+0.06±0.07)m/s,(—0.79±1.54)s,and(+0.73±1.12)points,respectively(all P<0.05).Intergroup comparisons revealed superior outcomes in the experimental group across all measures.Conclusion OEP significantly enhances activities of daily living,improves muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults,and is more effective than conventional rehabilitation exercise programs,making it suitable for extensive clinical application.

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