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BackgroundThis study aimed to explore individual prevalence of respiratory symptoms and to describe the Korean population's treatment approaches, preventive health behaviors, and mental health conditions during the pandemic.MethodsWe analyzed responses from an online nationwide survey, conducted between February 2021 to May 2021, about people's experiences during the pandemic. Statistical analysis was also performed to see if there were any significant differences in treatment and prevention strategies between different groups of respondents (between those had respiratory symptoms, compared with those who did not, and between those tested positive for COVID-19, compared with those who did not).ResultsA total of 2,177 survey respondents completed the survey and, of these, only 142 had experienced symptoms. The most frequently reported respiratory infections related symptoms were runny or blocked nose (47.6%), cough (45.5%), fever (44.1%), sore throat (42.0%), and fatigue (30.1%). More than half of the respondents (53.1%) used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches as means of preventive measures. In terms of preventive behaviors, the more emphasized behaviors were mask-wearing (58.9%) and hand-washing after coming home (42.7%). The majority of the respondents (64.9%) did not show signs of mental health issues.ConclusionIn South Korea, conventional medicine was mainly used for COVID-19 treatment whereas CAM was commonly used as preventive measures. COVID-19 was also found to have less impact on the general population's mental health. The findings of this study may shed light on how the pandemic impacted the general population.

Background: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are a major reason for consultations in primary care, hospital admissions, deterioration in function, and mortality. 70% of patients presenting with AECOPD in UK primary care are currently in receipt of antibiotics which is part of the standard care. However, the majority of exacerbations are not caused by bacteria. Finding effective non-antibiotic treatments for COPD exacerbations is a priority to reduce antibiotic use. The Chinese herbal medicine Shufeng Jieduâ (SFJD) has the potential to reduce treatment failure and duration of hospital stay. This study aims to test the feasibility of a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on SFJD in AECOPD. Methods: This study is a phase III, two-arm individually double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled feasibility trial with nested qualitative study, coordinated by the Southampton clinical trial unit (SCTU). Patients aged ≥40 years old, with a current AECOPD, presenting with increased sputum purulence/ volume, or breathlessness, and for whom the GP is considering use of antibiotics, will be eligible to participate. We aim to recruit seven eligible participants per month, randomise them to receive either the patent Chinese herbal medicine SFJD capsules or placebo for 14 consecutive days and to follow up for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes include the feasibility of recruitment, study retention, and the completion of trial diaries. Discussion: If this trial demonstrates the feasibility of recruitment, delivery and follow-up, we will seek funding for a fully powered placebo-controlled trial of SFJD for the treatment of AECOPD in primary care. Trial registration: This trial is registered via ISRCTN on 1st July 2021, identifier: ISRCTN26614726.

Background Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are a major reason for consultations in primary care, hospital admissions, deterioration in function, and mortality. Despite the majority of exacerbations not being caused by bacteria, as many as 70% of patients who present in UK primary care with AECOPD are prescribed antibiotics as part of standard care. However, finding effective non-antibiotic treatments for COPD exacerbations is a priority to reduce antibiotic use. The Chinese herbal medicine Shufeng Jiedu® (SFJD) has the potential to reduce treatment failure and duration of hospital stay. This study aims to determine the feasibility of conducting a fully powered randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on SFJD for AECOPD in UK primary care. Methods This study is a phase III, two-arm individually double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled feasibility trial with nested qualitative study, coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trial Unit (SCTU). Patients aged ≥ 40 years, with a current AECOPD, presenting with increased sputum purulence/volume, or breathlessness, and for whom the GP is considering use of antibiotics, will be eligible to participate. We aim to recruit seven eligible participants per month and randomise them to receive either the patent Chinese herbal medicine SFJD capsules or placebo for 14 consecutive days and to follow-up for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes include the feasibility of recruitment, study retention, and the percentage of diary completion. Discussion If this trial demonstrates the feasibility of recruitment, delivery, and follow-up, we will seek funding for a fully powered placebo-controlled trial of SFJD for the treatment of AECOPD in primary care. Trial registration This trial is registered via ISRCTN on 1 July 2021, identifier: ISRCTN26614726.

Background: Shufeng Jiedu (SFJD) capsules can be used as adjunctive treatment for patients with community-acquired pneumonia, but the effectiveness and safety of SFJD are not clear. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of SFJD based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, CNKI, VIP, CBM, Wanfang and trial registry platforms from their inception to March 2022. Two reviewers screened studies, extracted the data and assessed risk of bias independently. The data were pooled for meta-analysis or presented narratively.Results: Seventeen RCTs involving 1840 participants were included. All trials compared SFJD plus antibiotics to antibiotics, or combined with symptomatic treatment in both groups. The overall certainty of evidence was assessed as moderate to very low certainty. Compared with routine treatment (antibiotics alone or antibiotics plus symptomatic treatment), SFJD plus routine treatment showed beneficial effects in resolution of fever (MD −1.20 days, 95%CI −1.73 to −0.67; 10 RCTs; very low certainty), cough (MD −1.02 days, 95%CI −1.23 to −0.81; 9 RCTs; moderate certainty), phlegm (MD −1.46 days, 95%CI −2.84 to −0.08; 6 RCTs; very low certainty), pulmonary crepitations (MD −1.61 days, 95%CI −2.64 to −0.59; 8 RCTs; low certainty), shortness of breath (MD −2.80 days, 95%CI −2.88 to −2.72; 2 RCTs; low certainty) and chest pain (MD −2.85 days, 95%CI −3.01 to −2.69; 1 RCT; low certainty). There was no significant difference in pathogen clearance (1 RCT). No serious adverse events were reported, but 2.60% (5/192) patients reported nausea in the SFJD groups, 1.04% (2/192) participants in routine group, and no significant difference was identified.Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that adding SFJD may shorten the duration of symptom relief in community-acquired pneumonia for 1–2 days. The adverse events were minor and controllable, and no serious adverse events were reported. Well-reported trials and potential of reducing antibiotics were expected in the future studies.

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) mind-body therapies in patients with neuropathic pain.This systematic review was undertaken according to the PRISMA 2020 statement.We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in seven English databases and four Chinese databases up to March 2022.The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 was used for the quality assessment, and the mean difference with a 95% confidence interval for data pooling. The review was registered in the INPLASY (INPLASY202240016).Twenty-three RCTs were identified, including 1,693 patients with lumbar herniated discs (LHD), cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), sympathetic cervical spondylosis (SCS), trigeminal neuralgia, and central poststroke pain. Pooled results showed that for LHD, TCM mind-body therapy used alone (MD: -0.57, [-0.77, -0.36], P＜0.01, week 8) or combined with physiotherapy (MD: -1.02, [-1.12, -0.91], P＜0.01, week 4) showed advantages over physiotherapy alone on pain relief. However, there was no statistical difference on physical function. For CSR, TCM mind-body movement combined with physiotherapy had better effect than physiotherapy alone on pain relief (MD: -1.15, [-1.37, -0.94], P＜0.01, week 4). Six trials reported safety. Nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and pain at the acupuncture point were observed.Low-quality evidence showed that TCM mind-body therapies might reduce pain intensity and improve physical function when used as an adjuvant therapy or monotherapy. There is a need to conduct high-quality trials to confirm the effectiveness and safety of TCM mind-body therapies for neuropathic pain.

To summarize the complications of core drilling intramedullary nail in the treatment of femoral shaft closed fracture and explore the treatment strategy.From August 2014 to June 2018, a total of 215 patients with closed femoral shaft fractures were treated with closed reduction core drill intramedullary nail, including 129 males and 86 females, aged from 18 to 62 years, with an average of (44.2±10.6) years old. The time from injury to operation was 3 to 21 days. There were 102 cases of AO type A fracture, 82 cases of AO type B fracture and 31 cases of AO type C fracture. The time of operation, the amount of blood loss during operation, the duration of hospitalization, the time of fracture healing and the HSS score of knee joint function at the last follow-up were recorded. The observation of complications included:iatrogenic fracture, core drill broken, core drill twist, postoperative infection, and fracture nonunion.The average operation time was (63.2± 15.6) min and intraoperative blood loss was (150.0±34.5) ml. All the incisions reached grade A healing. Patients were follow up for a mean of (18.5±3.2) months, the average hospital stay was (4.3±1.2) days, and the average fracture healing time was (5.6±2.3) months. At the final follow-up, the average HSS score of knee joint was 90.3±4.7. Related complications occurred in 37 cases (17.2%). The core drill related complications occurred in 13 cases (6.0%), including core drill broken in 5 cases (2.3%), core removal in 1 case and slotting in 4 cases;core drill twist in 8 cases (3.7%). After the core was cut, the core was removed. Similar complicationsof conventional intramedullary nail:iatrogenic fracture was performed in 12 cases (5.6%), including 10 cases of fracture end split and 2 cases of distal perimedullary fracture of intramedullary nail. The patients with cleavage at the fracture end were not treated after judging their stability, and the patients with fracture around the distal end of the intramedullary nail were fixed with auxiliary steel plate during operation;1 case(0.4%) with delayed infection after operation, debridement and external fixation was replaced and healed after bone transfer; fracture nonunion occurred in 11 cases (5.1%), of which 7 cases (3.3%) were hypertrophic nonunion and healed with additional plate. Atrophic nonunion occurred in 4 cases (1.9%), which healed after additional steel plate and bone graft.Core drilling intramedullary nail is an effective method for the treatment of closed femoral shaft fracture, and the complications include core drill related complications and conventional intramedullary nail similar complications. Accurate preoperative evaluation, careful operation during operation and early postoperative symptomatic treatment can effectively reduce the occurrence of related complications.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, clinical effectiveness, and safety of the Chinese herb Bupleuri radix for the treatment of acute uncomplicated respiratory tract infections (ARTIs).Methods: Four English and four Chinese databases were searched from their inception to June 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing therapeutic effects of Bupleuri radix on ARTI were eligible for inclusion. The risk of bias for each trial was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. RevMan 5.4 software was used for data analyses with effects estimated as risk ratios (RR) or mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the online GRADEpro tool.Results: Seven randomized trials involving 910 patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection (AURTI) were included. The review identified Bupleuri radix agents with four administration routes (oral, acupoint injection, intramuscular injection, nebulized inhalation). Bupleuri radix acupoint injection compared with placebo showed statistically significant effects in reducing fever resolution time (MD: −33.32 h, 95%CI: −35.71, −30.93), and in increasing the proportion of participants with fever resolved within 48 h from treatment onset (RR: 14, 95%CI: 1.96, 99.94). Bupleuri radix acupoint injection combined with usual care is more effective in reducing the temperature at day 1 from treatment onset (MD: −1.00°C, 95%CI: −1.19, −0.81) compared with usual care alone. Bupleuri radix pills showed similar antipyretic effects to acetaminophen. However, Bupleuri radix intramuscular injection plus vitamins failed to demonstrate an effect in reducing fever, when compared with ribavirin plus vitamins. It suggested that oral administration of Bupleuri radix solution for injections, pills, and Bupleuri radix decoction have a similar effect on improving global AURTI symptoms including two key symptoms (nasal discharge and cough), when compared with usual care alone. Only two trials reported whether or not there were any AEs and found no occurrence of adverse events in the herbal group.Conclusion: Low-certainty or very low-certainty evidence demonstrated that Bupleuri radix (solution for injections and pills) has an antipyretic effect on febrile patients with AURTI, but it has no effect on other AURTI symptoms. However, these findings need to be further confirmed by well-designed clinical trials with adequate sample sizes.Systematic review registration: (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails), PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021234066.

Background: To evaluate the evidence behind claims that Chinese Herbal Medicine, specifically “three medicines and three formulations” (3M3F, comprising Jinhua Qinggan, Lianhua Qingwen, Xuebijing, Qingfei Paidu, Huashi Baidu and Xuanfei Baidu), is an effective treatment for COVID-19. Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE and CNKI databases, preprint servers, clinical trial registries and supplementary sources for Chinese- or English-language randomised trials or non-randomised studies with comparator groups, which tested the constituents of 3M3F in the treatment of COVID-19 up to September 2020. Primary outcome was change in disease severity. Secondary outcomes included various symptoms. Meta-analysis (using generic inverse variance random effects model) was performed when there were two or more studies reporting on the same symptom. Results: Of 607 articles identified, thirteen primary studies (six RCTs and seven retrospective non-randomised comparative studies) with 1467 participants met our final inclusion criteria. Studies were small and had significant methodological limitations, most notably potential bias in assessment of outcomes. No study convincingly demonstrated a statistically significant impact on change in disease severity. Eight studies reported sufficiently similar secondary outcomes to be included in a meta-analysis. Some statistically significant impacts on symptoms, chest CT manifestations, laboratory variables and length of stay were demonstrated, but such findings were sparse and many remain unreplicated.Conclusions: These findings neither support nor refute the claim that 3M3F alters the severity of COVID-19 or alleviates symptoms. More rigorous studies are required to properly ascertain the potential role of Chinese Herbal Medicine in COVID-19.Systematic review registration: This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020187502) prior to data collection and analysis.

BackgroundDigital interventions have potential to efficiently support improved hygiene practices to reduce transmission of COVID-19.ObjectiveTo evaluate the evidence for digital interventions to improve hygiene practices within the community.MethodsWe reviewed articles published between 01 January 2000 and 26 May 2019 that presented a controlled trial of a digital intervention to improve hygiene behaviours in the community. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), China National Knowledge Infrastructure and grey literature. Trials in hospitals were excluded, as were trials aiming at prevention of sexually transmitted infections; only target diseases with transmission mechanisms similar to COVID-19 (e.g. respiratory and gastrointestinal infections) were included. Trials had to evaluate a uniquely digital component of an intervention. Study designs were limited to randomised controlled trials, controlled before-and-after trials, and interrupted time series analyses. Outcomes could be either incidence of infections or change in hygiene behaviours. The Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to assess study quality.ResultsWe found seven studies that met the inclusion criteria. Six studies reported successfully improving self-reported hygiene behaviour or health outcomes, but only one of these six trials confirmed improvements using objective measures (reduced consultations and antibiotic prescriptions), Germ Defence. Settings included kindergartens, workplaces, and service station restrooms. Modes of delivery were diverse: WeChat, website, text messages, audio messages to mobiles, electronic billboards, and electronic personal care records. Four interventions targeted parents of young children with educational materials. Two targeted the general population; these also used behaviour change techniques or theory to inform the intervention. Only one trial had low risk of bias, Germ Defence; the most common concerns were lack of information about the randomisation, possible bias in reporting of behavioural outcomes, and lack of an analysis plan and possible selective reporting of results.ConclusionThere was only one intervention that was judged to be at low risk of bias, Germ Defence, which reduced incidence and severity of illness, as confirmed by objective measures. Further evaluation is required to determine the effectiveness of the other interventions reviewed.

BACKGROUND To control the COVID-19 pandemic, people should adopt protective behaviors at home (self-isolation, social distancing, putting shopping and packages aside, wearing face coverings, cleaning and disinfecting, and handwashing). There is currently limited support to help individuals conduct these behaviors. OBJECTIVE This study aims to report current household infection control behaviors in the United Kingdom and examine how they might be improved. METHODS This was a pragmatic cross-sectional observational study of anonymous participant data from Germ Defence between May 6-24, 2020. Germ Defence is an open-access fully automated website providing behavioral advice for infection control within households. A total of 28,285 users sought advice from four website pathways based on household status (advice to protect themselves generally, to protect others if the user was showing symptoms, to protect themselves if household members were showing symptoms, and to protect a household member who is at high risk). Users reported current infection control behaviors within the home and intentions to change these behaviors. RESULTS Current behaviors varied across all infection control measures but were between sometimes (face covering: mean 1.61, SD 1.19; social distancing: mean 2.40, SD 1.22; isolating: mean 2.78, SD 1.29; putting packages and shopping aside: mean 2.75, SD 1.55) and quite often (cleaning and disinfecting: mean 3.17, SD 1.18), except for handwashing (very often: mean 4.00, SD 1.03). Behaviors were similar regardless of the website pathway used. After using Germ Defence, users recorded intentions to improve infection control behavior across all website pathways and for all behaviors (overall average infection control score mean difference 0.30, 95% CI 0.29-0.31). CONCLUSIONS Self-reported infection control behaviors other than handwashing are lower than is optimal for infection prevention, although handwashing is much higher. Advice using behavior change techniques in Germ Defence led to intentions to improve these behaviors. Promoting Germ Defence within national and local public health and primary care guidance could reduce COVID-19 transmission.

Background: Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in January 2020, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been fully and deeply involved in the treatment of COVID-19 in China. An increasing number of clinical trials has been registered to evaluate the effects of TCM in the prevention and therapeutic management of COVID-19.Objective: This study aims to review the existing TCM registered trials, identify promising and available TCM therapies, in order to provide reference for the global management of COVID-19. Methods: All clinical trials on TCM for COVID-19 registered in eight registry platforms worldwide were searched up to May 14, 2020. The data of registration trend, design, objective, interventions, current status, and relevant information were reviewed and summarized. Supportive information on the progress, results and potential value of the included registered trials were searched and reviewed from databases and official websites. Results: 161 TCM trials registered in three registries from January 26 to May 14 were included. 94 (58.4%) were randomized controlled trials, followed by controlled clinical trials (25, 15.5%), single-arm clinical studies (18, 11.2%) and others (24, 14.9%). 114 trials (70.8%) assessed therapeutic effects; while the remaining were for prevention, rehabilitation, and TCM syndrome epidemiology. The three most evaluated TCM interventions were Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in the preparation forms of formulae decoction/granule (41.7%), Chinese patent medicine (24.8%) and Chinese herbal-derived injections (8.1%). The common outcomes in therapeutic trials were symptoms and signs (65.8%), time to viral clearance on PCR (50.9%), and improvement in CT images (43.9%). 78 trials (48.4%) had started recruiting and six trials (3.7%) had completed recruiting. Among the TCM interventions identified from the registered trials, the following are worthy of attention and may have the potential feasibility of being evaluated and then used worldwide due to their rigorous design, previous evidence and availability: for prevention in high-risk populations or suspected cases, moxibustion, Huoxiang Zhengqi pill and Jinye Baidu granule could be considered; for treatment, Qingfei Paidu decoction or granules in mild, moderate and severe cases, Huashi Baidu decoction, Lianhua Qingwen caplsule, Toujie Quwen granule and Xiyanping injection in mild and moderate cases, and Xuebijing injection in severe cases could be considered. For rehabilitation of cured patients, the effect of Tai Chi and Liuzijue on the patients’ lung function and quality of life deserves attention.Conclusion: A series of promising potentially effective TCM interventions including CHM formulae, Chinese patent medicines, herbal-derived injections and non-drug therapies have been identified in clinical practice and are being evaluated by registered clinical trials. Available and applicable interventions within relevant trials are worthy of worldwide attention and application, in order to contribute to the global management of COVID-19 epidemic.

Introduction The side effects associated with standard anxiety medications can limit their use. Therefore, a non-pharmacological approach such as auriculotherapy could play an important role in anxiety management. The main aim of this protocol for a systematic review will be to examine the effectiveness and safety of auriculotherapy for anxiety disorders (AD). Methods The authors will conduct searches on the following databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE Ovid, Stephens Company, PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature Database, British Library's table of contents, World Health Organization, Clinical Trials. We will conduct a systematic review for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness and safety of auriculotherapy compared with placebo, waitlist treatment, routine care, or alternative treatment. To assess the evidence's quality, we plan to use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation tool while, for risk assessments, we will use the statistical software RevMan V 5.4. Data collection and analysis will be performed by two reviewers independently. Discussion If effective and safe, then auriculotherapy may be an appropriate alternative to pharmacological treatment. Registration number: PROSPERO ID: CRD42021254503.

Background Practitioners who enhance how they express empathy and create positive expectations of benefit could improve patient outcomes. However, the evidence in this area has not been recently synthesised. Objective To estimate the effects of empathy and expectations interventions for any clinical condition. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials. Data sources Six databases from inception to August 2017. Study selection Randomised trials of empathy or expectations interventions in any clinical setting with patients aged 12 years or older. Review methods Two reviewers independently screened citations, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and graded quality of evidence using GRADE. Random effects model was used for meta-analysis. Results We identified 28 eligible (n = 6017). In seven trials, empathic consultations improved pain, anxiety and satisfaction by a small amount (standardised mean difference −0.18 [95% confidence interval −0.32 to −0.03]). Twenty-two trials tested the effects of positive expectations. Eighteen of these (n = 2014) reported psychological outcomes (mostly pain) and showed a modest benefit (standardised mean difference −0.43 [95% confidence interval −0.65 to −0.21]); 11 (n = 1790) reported physical outcomes (including bronchial function/ length of hospital stay) and showed a small benefit (standardised mean difference −0.18 [95% confidence interval −0.32 to −0.05]). Within 11 trials (n = 2706) assessing harms, there was no evidence of adverse effects (odds ratio 1.04; 95% confidence interval 0.67 to 1.63). The risk of bias was low. The main limitations were difficulties in blinding and high heterogeneity for some comparisons. Conclusions Greater practitioner empathy or communication of positive messages can have small patient benefits for a range of clinical conditions, especially pain. Protocol registration Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (protocol) DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011934.pub2.

Introduction Insomnia can occur independently or in conjunction with other diseases, with the common symptom of poor sleep quantity and/or decreasing time asleep. In Chinese medicine, the acu-point HT7 along heart meridian is a very important acu-point for treating insomnia, however no systematic reviews have been carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of stimulating HT7 as a single point for treating insomnia. Methods A literature search of English and Chinese databases was carried out for randomized controlled trials evaluating the stimulation of HT7 as a sole acu-point for insomnia (irrespective of cause) compared with routine care or placebo. Trial reporting quality was assessed using the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) checklist and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (PROSPERO registration numner: CRD42016036191). Results Four trials involving 436 participants were included. All trials were limited in their reporting and methodological quality. Statistically significant improvements were shown for HT7 simulation used for patients with insomnia who had coronary heart disease (measured by improvement ratio), and the simulation included acupressure (P Conclusions There was insufficient evidence to confirm whether HT7 stimulation could improve insomnia but there are some positive indications which warrant further research. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the poor reporting and methodological quality of included trials.

Introduction Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been fully committed to the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China. An increasing number of clinical trials have been registered to evaluate the effects of TCM for COVID-19. The aim of this study was to review the existing TCM clinical trial registrations and identify potentially promising and available TCM therapies, in order to provide a reference for the global management of COVID-19. Methods All clinical trials on TCM for COVID-19 registered in registry platforms worldwide were searched. The data of registration temporal trend, design, objective, interventions, and relevant information were reviewed and summarized. Results 161 TCM trials were identified from three registries (January 26 to May 14 2020,). Of these, 94 (58.4%) were randomized controlled trials and 114 trials (70.8%) assessed therapeutic effects; while the remainder focused on prevention, rehabilitation, and the epidemiology of TCM syndromes. Eight trials (5.0%) had completed their recruitment. TCM interventions with potential for further evaluation in terms of prevention were moxibustion, Huoxiang Zhengqi pill and Jinye Baidu granules. For treatment of COVID-19, Qingfei Paidu decoction, Huashi Baidu decoction, Lianhua Qingwen capsules, Toujie Quwen granules and Xiyanping injection, and Xuebijing injection were to be tested for their therapeutic effects and symptoms relief. For rehabilitation, Tai Chi and Liuzijue were to be tested for improving patients’ lung function. Conclusion Some potentially promising TCM interventions have been identified and deserve further evaluation to establish their evidence base, particularly on populations outside of China.

Introduction A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to assess the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Methods RCTs that compared either acupuncture with no/sham (placebo) acupuncture or a certain therapy with acupuncture added in the treatment of PCOS were included in the review. Measures of treatment effectiveness were the pooled odds ratios (OR) for women with PCOS having acupuncture compared with women in the control group for the recovery of menstrual cycles, standardized mean difference (SMD) for body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin (FINS), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and the ratio of LH/FSH. Results A total of nine RCTs (531 women) met criteria for inclusion into the systematic review. Using the random effects model, pooling of the effect estimates from all RCTs showed recovery of menstrual cycles (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.09–0.41, P P = 0.04), and LH (SMD = −0.39, 95% CI: −0.65 to −0.12, P P > 0.05). Conclusions Acupuncture appears to significantly improve the recovery of the menstrual cycles and decrease the levels of BMI and LH in women with PCOS. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited methodological quality of included RCTs.

Introduction Most Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) interventions have not been tested in clinical trials and systematic reviews (SRs). It is therefore important to collect knowledge from experienced practitioners to identify (lower level) evidence to support their use and to prioritize interventions for future research. This study aimed to document the CAM treatments for cough and sore throat as part of uncomplicated, acute respiratory tract infections (RTI), most frequently recommended by experienced integrative medical practitioners; and to assess whether these approaches have been tested in clinical trials and SRs. Methods Data on treatment approaches were collected by means of (1) a SR on prescription rates of CAM treatments for RTIs in CAM practice by searching Pubmed and CINAHL databases; and (2) a survey among integrative medical doctors and TCM practitioners in five European countries. Results The SR identified 336 articles. After screening five studies were included (Anthroposophic Medicine (AM): two and homeopathy (HOM): three). The survey resulted in 262 responses (including 99 AM and 95 HOM experts). Of 19 products that were described in both the SR and the survey, two (22%) AM (Hustenelixier, Echinacea) and three (30%) homeopathic products (Belladonna, Hepar sulphuris, Mercurius solubilis) had been studied in a clinical trial and one AM treatment (Echinacea) in a SR for this indication. Conclusions CAM treatments for RTI related cough and sore throat were identified (medicinal products, syrup, external applications, tea and acupuncture). These treatments have hardly been studied in clinical trials (26%) and SRs (5%) and require further evaluation.

Background: unnecessary antibiotic prescribing and use are most common for uncomplicated acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Some Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatments have evidence of effectiveness for symptom relief and could be used instead of antibiotics. Aim: to understand views of the general public and health professionals regarding use of CAM for uncomplicated ARIs.Design and Setting: systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.Method: we systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, COREHOM, CINAHL, Dissertation and theses global and Web of Science Core Collection. We included studies which reported qualitative data on the use of CAM for uncomplicated ARIs where participants were either patients or parents of patients, health professionals or the general public. Analysis followed thematic synthesis. Results: twenty-two studies were included from four high-income and ten low-and-middle income countries; almost all focussed on non-White populations. Nineteen concerned parents’ treatment of ARIs in their children. In all settings, treatment decisions were influenced by beliefs about the illness (cause, severity), beliefs about treatments (efficacy, safety), availability of treatments and of trustworthy advice. Participants mostly thought CAM is an acceptable option for treatment of mild ARIs but felt that they need trustworthy advice on which treatments to use and when. Conclusion: treatment decisions depend on beliefs about the illness and treatments, availability of treatments and advice. CAM treatments appear to be acceptable to people from many different settings as a possible alternative to antibiotics for mild ARIs. There is a need for reliable, evidence-based advice on which treatments to use.

Introduction Evidence has suggested that shoulder abduction dysfunction after stroke can be treated with acupuncture, but it remains unclear which acupuncture approach may be more effective. This trial compared two different acupuncture interventions (Motor Entry Point acupuncture (MEPA) and Standard acupuncture (SA) for patients experiencing post-stroke shoulder abduction dysfunction. Methods Hospital in-patients with post-stroke shoulder abduction dysfunction of two weeks duration and who agreed to participate in the trial were randomized into two groups. The SA group received acupuncture treatment at LI15, LI14, LI11, LI10 and LI4 (n = 20); the MEPA group received acupuncture at the mid-third of deltoid (n = 20). Each group received acupuncture for 40 min, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcomes were the range of motion (ROM) and the manual muscle test (MMT). Results Forty in-patients (19 women, 21 men; age range: 35–75 years) were enrolled in this trial. There was significant improvement in shoulder abduction dysfunction in both groups after 4 weeks of treatment (P＜0.05). The MEPA group reported larger ROM and improved MMT compared to the SA group (P＜0.05) and the recovery of muscle strength in MEPA group was superior to the SA group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Compared to SA therapy, MEPA therapy may be more effective for treating physical functional disability in post-stroke patients.

TCEA3 is a member of the transcription elongation factor family that not only promotes transcription but may also participate in other cytoplasmic processes. However, its mechanisms of action remain unclear. Our previous study indicated that TCEA3 may affect muscle differentiation. In this study, we investigated the expression and localization of TCEA3 in C2C12 cells and examined the role of TCEA3 in differentiation, its interaction with other cell proteins, and mechanisms of action. We found that the expression of TCEA3 increased gradually with an increase in the number of differentiation days and that it is mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of C2C12 cells, of which it promotes differentiation. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments and western blot analysis revealed that TCEA3 interacts with Annexin A1 (ANXA1), which is located in the cytoplasm and also promotes cell differentiation. Collectively, our results indicate that TCEA3 promotes cell differentiation by interacting with ANXA1 and affecting transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways.

Introduction Although Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced for centuries, its acceptance within an integrative framework is hindered by conventional scientific research methodology. How can we optimize research to support the integration of TCM into mainstream medicine? The aim of this paper was to propose priority areas for future TCM research by characterizing the literature contributing to published articles resulting from the three year project “Good Practice in TCM Research (FP7 GP-TCM) in the Post-genomic Era”. Methods All references were extracted from the 20 papers published as a direct result of the GP-TCM project. The main themes of the papers were categorized and the distribution of articles referring to each research topic calculated. Results The nine main themes that were identified included: Chinese materia medica (CMM) quality, CMM toxicity/safety, in silico, in vivo, in vitro, clinical trials (CMM), clinical trials (acupuncture), regulation and future direction. In addition, three extra research topics (authorization, research methodology and others) were identified. Of these, the most frequently reported themes were CMM toxicity/safety, quality and in vivo research. Conclusion Within this framework, the quality control of CMM products, network pharmacology, biomedical studies using systems biology and the adaptation of Western clinical research methods were supported by advances in research and technology. Combined with international collaboration, these provide vital directions for research and development in TCM to validate integrative approaches for mainstream medicine and health care models for the future. This article belongs to the Special Issue: Traditional and Integrative Approaches for Global Health.

Background GV26 is well known as an emergency and a revival acupoint. It has been most commonly used for acute neurological conditions and acute low back strain (ALBS). This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness and occurrence of adverse effects of using GV26 for a variety conditions; and to determine the appropriate parameters to inform its use in practice. Methods Randomized controlled trials evaluating stimulation of GV26 as a sole or as an adjunct to treatment for any condition were included. Quality of reporting and methodology were assessed using STRICTA and the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Meta-analysis was pooled with RevMan 5.2 software (Protocol ID: CRD42013006528). Results Fifteen trials investigated conditions which included shock, epilepsy, vascular dementia, febrile seizures in children, post general anesthesia, acute low back strain, functional enuresis, and intractable hiccups. The reporting quality and methodological quality of all included trials was limited. Data from eleven trials were pooled. Significant favorable improvements were shown for GV26 used in addition to other common acupoints as measured by efficacy rate; GV26 in addition to usual care as measured by blood pressure. No study reported any adverse effects. Conclusions There appears to be evidence on the use of GV26 for improving efficacy rate in ALBS, functional enuresis and intractable hiccups, and it appears to be effective in increasing blood pressure and reducing heart rate during revival. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited methodological quality of included trials.

The side-channel attack includes signal acquisition, signal statistical analysis of the two parts. At home and abroad the current research on attacks mainly focuses on the side-channel statistical analysis method. However, the acquisition method of the leakage signal for the side-channel is lack of attention. Side-channel leakage signal acquisition is the premise to side-channel cryptanalysis. The acquisition of side-channel signal directly affects the quality of the results access of side-channel analysis. This paper talks the analysis of the research status of side-channel: "Attach importance to analysis, lose sight of collection," and summarizes the different existing methods of leak signal`s acquisition of side-channel, introduces traditional signal acquisition method of side-channel, the method of side-channel power signal acquisition, the method of electromagnetic signal acquisition and the method of how to collect side-channel time signal. Finally, this paper summarizes the introductive methods and prospects the acquisition method of side-channel signal.

Introduction Phantom limb pain and phantom limb sensation are extremely prevalent, affecting up to 85% of amputees, but with limited positive solutions available. Previous systematic reviews of complementary therapies suggested the use of acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. However, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials and inadequate information to guide clinical practice and future definitive research. This narrative review aims to provide guidance for using acupuncture or TENS and to identify potential outcome measures and optimum treatment protocols for clinical practice and future research. Methods Case studies identified in a previous systematic review were included, with clinical characteristics extracted to provide narrative description. Results Thirty-six case studies (257 individuals) were included. Acupuncture usually involved body needling and was most frequently reported on the contralateral limb. Chinese papers tended to use body and scalp acupuncture together; studies reported in English language journals tended to use one style. Acupoints along Yang Ming meridians, Liv 3, and LI 4 were commonly used. Needle retention time varied but was usually 30–40 min. Most Chinese studies reported daily treatment for 10–30 sessions, English studies tended to treat less frequently (weekly) and provide a smaller number of treatments (4–7 treatments). Contralateral stimulation in the upper fifth and middle 2/5 of sensory area were frequently used to activate lower limbs and body with scalp acupuncture. TENS treatment tended to be administered at the stump, the contralateral side and in relation to dermatomal pain patterns and innervating peripheral nerves. High frequency TENS was the most frequently used treatment, usually administered more than once daily. Both acupuncture and TENS recorded positive outcomes. Visual analogue scales, numerical pain rating scales, pain rating indices and present pain intensity were common outcome measures. Conclusion Treatment protocols can be drawn from the case studies for clinical practice but information is variable. Differences in clinical practice between studies published in Chinese and English may be due to different educational background, qualifications, cultural expectations, and differences in healthcare systems and policy. Further studies are recommended to develop standard treatment protocols for further randomized controlled trials.

Introduction Phantom limb pain (PLP)/phantom limb sensation (PLS) is common in amputees and difficult to treat but either acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may provide relief. A systematic review of controlled studies was carried out to explore clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and adverse effects of these treatments on PLP/PLS. Method Literature searches were carried out using 18 databases (inception – February 2013). Reporting quality and risk of bias of controlled studies were assessed by independent reviewers. Results In two controlled studies, acupuncture significantly improved pain compared with usual care (visual analogue scale 0.17 ± 0.804 vs. 1.82 ± 1.919, p p : not reported); two studies using TENS showed significant improvement in pain compared with sham TENS (pain rating index total F (1.31) = 7.48, p Conclusion There is some evidence for the use of acupuncture and TENS for the treatment of PLP/PLS but insufficient high quality evidence is available. No studies evaluated cost effectiveness or adverse effects.

Introduction Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Self-management for epileptic patients is a complex and targeted process requiring taking medication, tracking seizures, ensuring medication adherence, managing negative events, adapting to the environment, keeping healthy lifestyle and maintaining good relationship with family and friends. An increasing number of studies have reported that self-management has become an important adjuvant for controlling epilepsy. However there have been no systematic reviews carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of self-management to improve the quality of life in adult epileptics. Methods Randomized controlled trials on self-management for adult epilepsy were included. Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang databases were searched. Reporting quality of trials was assessed by two reviewers independently using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The study was registered on PROSPERO registration number CRD42017078356. Results Eleven trials involving 1217 participants were identified. Meta-analysis showed that self-management interventions could improve quality of life (SMD 0.69, 95% CI [0.26, 1.11]; I2 = 90%), reduce depression (SMD −0.31, 95% CI [−0.60, −0.01]; I2 = 78%), increase self-efficacy (SMD 0.52, 95% CI [0.34, 0.69]; I2 = 44%) and self-management (MD 3.35, 95% CI [0.33, 6.37]; I2 = 87%), and improve medical adherence (MD 0.21, 95% CI [0.06, 0.36]; I2 = 0%) for adult epileptics, but had no effect on seizure frequency (MD −0.73, 95% CI [−5.63, 4.16]; I2 = 54%) and negative health events (MD −2.30, 95% CI [−8.31, 3.27]; I2 = 71%). Reporting and methodological quality was limited for all included trials. Conclusion Self-management may be effective in improving for quality of life in adult epileptics. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the methodological quality of included trials. Furthermore, strict trials with precise methodological design and rigorous reporting on clinical efficacy and adverse events controlling self-management for epilepsy may be promising.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) comprise a wide range of conditions, associated with an enormous pain and impaired mobility, and are affecting people's lives and work. Management of musculoskeletal disorders typically involves a multidisciplinary team approach. Positive findings have been found in previous studies evaluating the effectiveness of complementary therapies, though little attention has been paid to evaluating of the effectiveness of integrated packages of care combining conventional and complementary approaches for musculoskeletal conditions in a National Health Service (NHS) setting.To determine the feasibility of all aspects of a pragmatic observational study designed: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of integrated treatments for MSDs in an integrated NHS hospital in the UK; (2) to determine the acceptability of the study design and research process to patients; (3) to explore patients' expectation and experience of receiving integrated treatments.This is an observational feasibility study, with 1-year recruitment and 1-year follow-up, conducted in Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, University College London Hospital Trust, UK. All eligible patients with MSDs newly referred to the hospital were included in the study. Interventions are integrated packages of care (conventional and complementary) as currently provided in the hospital. SF-36™ Health Survey, short form Brief Pain Inventory, Visual Analogue Scale, and modified Client Service Receipt Inventory will be assessed at 4/5 time points. Semi-structured interview/focus group will be carried out before treatment, and 1 year after commence of treatment.We intend to conduct a pragmatic observational study of integrated medical treatment of MSDs at a public sector hospital. It will inform the design of a future trial including recruitment, retention, suitability of the outcome measures and patients experiences.

We intended to study the mechanism of the inhibitory action of curcumin on human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cell. The cell growth was determined by CCK-8 assay, and the results indicated that curcumin inhibited the cell proliferation in a concentration dependent manner. And to further confirm the relative anti-cancer mechanism of curcumin, RT-PCR was carried out to analysis the expression of relative apoptotic proteins Bax, Bcl-2. We found that curcumin could up-regulate the expression of Bax but down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 in A549 cells. In addition, curcumin affect the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. These results suggested that curcumin inhibited cancer cell growth through the regulation of Bcl-2/Bax and affect the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Meditative movement, such as tai chi, yoga, and qi gong, may benefit people with cystic fibrosis (CF), as a form of gentle exercise incorporating meditation, breathing, and relaxation. Respiratory function is the most common issue in CF. In this systematic review we synthesized the evidence on the effect of meditative movement on respiratory function in patients with CF.We searched Chinese and English language databases with terms relating to tai chi/yoga/qi gong, and respiratory function/cough/dyspnea. Articles were screened and selected by 2 researchers. We included controlled studies published in English or Chinese after 1980, and extracted data using a specially designed spreadsheet. Two researchers independently evaluated study quality and reporting, using 3 standardized checklists. Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneous methods.We found 1,649 papers, included 43 (30 in English, 13 in Chinese), 23 of which were randomized controlled trials, and 20 were non-randomized trials. No studies were concerned with CF. Eleven studies included patients with respiratory disorders, and 27 included healthy people. Very few studies were high quality. The main problems with the randomized controlled trials was the randomization and non-random and/or poorly reported sampling. The main problems with the non-randomized studies were poor reporting of samples and non-equivalent groups. Although no clinically important changes were found, meditative movement may improve FEV1 in healthy people, compared to no treatment/exercise (the intervention groups showed effect-size changes from 0.07 to 0.83), but meditative movement did not appear to affect FEV1/FVC in subjects with COPD. Key study limitations were: poor reporting of sampling or methods; inadequate sample size; non-randomized design; inadequate description of randomization; randomization by center; no blinding; lack of reporting of important aspects of meditative movement; and short-term follow-up.The available evidence does not support meditative movement for patients with CF, and there is very limited evidence for respiratory function in healthy populations. The available studies had heterogeneous populations and provided inadequate sampling information, so clinically relevant conclusions cannot be drawn. Well powered, randomized studies of meditative movement are needed.

Usually sense airdrop by parachute is technology for delivery to the specified point, above the target point, to a certain initial velocity dropped supplies will be released, due to put things in a fall influenced by many factors (such as wind disturbance, topography and other factors ),the launch point and target placement will have a certain bias. United States and some European countries started in 2005 to examine the controlled parachute drop, and achieved certain results, this paper will analyze umbrella dropped supplies for the complex topography of the control process

The underwater hydraulic discharge chamber is basic tools and method of research for many ocean issues. In this paper analyzed physical process and mechanical state of hydraulic discharge chamber, into account plasma, streamer and cavitation. The results of simulation and calculation compared with empirical data. On based the results analyzed the factors of effect of the underwater state and put forward improvement conditions of structural design for discharge chamber.

Purpose: To explore musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) patients’ expectations of receiving treatment at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine. Methods: Semi-structured face to face interviews were conducted with 30 newly referred musculoskeletal disorders patients, immediately prior to their initial appointment. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis (NVivo10). To ensure transparency and rigour, inter-rater reliability coding was carried out independently by three researchers. Results: Five codes with fourteen themes emerged related to the MSD patients’ expectations of receiving complementary/ integrative treatment. MSD patients reported their concerns regarding their forthcoming treatment. Although MSD patients reported that their expectations were pragmatic and realistic, their expectations may tend to change over time. They had great hope from the treatment, which included symptom relief/functional ability/better quality of life, getting the right and suitable treatment, natural and non-invasive treatment, receiving an integrative and holistic approach, potentially longterm and regular treatment, and complementary treatment as an ‘in between’ conventional treatment. Despite this, they also had great hopes about the practitioners – they wished to have skillful professional expertise, more interaction with practitioners, updates from practitioners, provision of understanding and mental support from practitioners. Patients also reported what kind of treatment they wished to have and identified their preferred sessions. Conclusion: Patients’ expectation is an important but changeable component that is based on previous treatment experiences. Their hopes regarding further develop on complementary/integrative treatment should be considered. Demonstrating patient expectations may help to improve future clinical practice andpolicy, to bettermeetMSDpatients’ expectation. Contact:Xiao-YangHu, hux2@lsbu.ac.uk / Nicola Robinson, nicky.robinson@lsbu.ac.uk

Introduction The use of the term integrative medicine (IM) is evolving over time but its exact definition remains imprecise. In this paper we use IM to mean complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) provided holistically and in conjunction with conventional medicine. Drawing from the experience of experts in different geographical areas (USA, UK, Australia, and China), this review aimed to identify key elements which could be used to define IM in order to develop a potential guide for reporting IM in clinical research. Method A total of 54 sources were searched (including websites of governments, key authorities, representative clinical sites, academic journals, relevant textbooks) to identify definitions of IM from the four countries from 1990 to 2014. Key elements characterizing IM were extracted and categorized using a thematic approach in order to identify the key items to consider when reporting IM in research studies. Results Seventeen definitions were identified and extracted from 17 sources. The remaining 37 sources did not provide a definition of IM. The most common key elements which defined IM were: using aspects of both CAM and conventional medicine; goals of health and healing; holistic approach; optimum treatment; and the body's innate healing response. Integration was also defined at three levels: theoretical, diagnostic and therapeutic. A potential checklist of items is proposed for reporting IM in clinical studies. Conclusion This paper identifies the key elements which define IM and provides a potential reporting guide for IM clinical trials and which could be used in narrative/systematic reviews. Further debate, discussion and input is now needed from the research and clinical IM communities to further advance this agenda. This article belongs to the Special Issue: Traditional and Integrative Approaches for Global Health .

Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal condition often treated using integrative medicine (IM). Most reviews have focused on a single complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy for LBP rather than evaluating wider integrative approaches. This exploratory systematic review aimed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and provide evidence on the effectiveness, cost effectiveness and adverse effects of integrative treatment for LBP.A literature search was conducted in 12 English and Chinese databases. RCTs evaluating an integrative treatment for musculoskeletal related LBP were included. Reporting, methodological quality and relevant clinical characteristics were assessed and appraised. Metaanalyses were performed for outcomes where trials were sufficiently homogenous.Fifty-six RCTs were identified evaluating integrative treatment for LBP. Although reporting and methodological qualities were poor, meta-analysis showed a favourable effect for integrative treatment over conventional and CAM treatment for back pain and function at 3 months or less follow-up. Two trials investigated costs, reporting £ 5332 per quality adjusted life years with 6 Alexander technique lessons plus exercise at 12 months follow-up; and an increased total costs of $244 when giving an additional up to 15 sessions of CAM package of care at 12 weeks. Sixteen trials mentioned safety; no severe adverse effects were reported.Integrative treatment that combines CAM with conventional therapies appeared to have beneficial effects on pain and function. However, evidence is limited due to heterogeneity, the relatively small numbers available for subgroup analyses and the low methodological quality of the included trials. Identification of studies of true IM was not possible due to lack of reporting of the intervention details (registration No. CRD42013003916).

To collect and analyze the Three-dimensional (3D) facial profile variation of edentulous patients restored by complete denture.The 3D facial images of 20 Atwood Class II edentulous patients were taken by DSC-2 3D facial imaging system before and after restoration of complete denture. Then, the two 3D facial images of each patient before and after restoration were registered in the same coordinate system by partial structure overlap. The differences between these two 3D facial images were statistically analyzed.The major facial profile variation of Atwood Class II edentulous patients restored by complete denture focused in the area around the upper lip and the corner of the mouth. The change of lower lip and chin area was not obvious. The shift in the sagittal direction was significantly more evident than that in the vertical direction, while the shift in the horizontal direction was the least one.The pattern of facial profile variation of edentulous patients restored by complete denture based on 3D imaging may provide reliable data support for prediction and communication in clinical practice.

We investigate the effect of coarsening in the Clarke–Vvedensky model of thin film growth, primarily as a model of statistical physics far from equilibrium. We deposit adatoms on the substrate until a fixed coverage is reached. We then stop the deposition and measure the subsequent change in the distribution of the island sizes. We find that for large flux, coarsening in this model is consistent with the Lifshitz–Slyozov law ξ∼t1/3, where ξ is the characteristic linear dimension and t is the time in the coarsening process. We have also calculated the stationary states of the island size distributions at long times and find that these distribution functions are independent of initial conditions. They obey scaling with the universal scaling function agreeing with that obtained by Kandel using the Smolochowsky equation in a cluster coalescence model.

Wavefront sampling is important for beam parameters measurement. A new method to perform the large aperture beam sampling with array-lens was put forward. A 25×25 array-lens of wavefront distortion measurement was designed, and an experimental system was settled up. The perfect parallel beam is used to demarcate the large aperture array-lens beam sampler. And a large aperture wavefront of distortion was measured by the set. That the experiment result is in accordance with the theoretical calculation.