• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.111-128
• /
• 2023

Trigger finger is a common cause of hand disability that results in finger catching, clicking, or locking. Conventional treatment options such as medication, injection, and surgery have limitations. Studies have indicated that acupuncture and acupotomy can be effective in treating trigger finger. However, no review regarding these treatment modalities has been published yet. This review included randomized controlled trials published until January 2023, investigating acupuncture-related interventions. The primary outcomes of interest included the effectiveness rate (ER) and pain intensity, measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and secondary outcomes were the Quinnell grade (QG) and recurrence rate (RR). Adverse events (AEs) have also been reported wherever available. Overall, 19 studies were included, and results demonstrated that arcedge acupuncture improved the ER and QG and reduced NRS, and acupuncture was effective in reducing VAS. Compared with conventional surgery, acupotomy alone improved the ER and QG and lowered VAS and RR, with relatively fewer AEs. Acupotomy add-on treatment was more effective than conventional treatment; however, careful interpretation is needed for VAS. Acupotomy add-on treatment was more effective than acupotomy alone. However, the overall results must be interpreted with caution because of study quality, small sample size, and heterogeneity of the results.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1982

The objective of this study was to find out the technical feasibility of ethanol-diesel fuel blends as a diesel engine fuel. Fuel properties essential to the proper operation of a diesel engine were determined for blends containing several concentrations of ethanol in No. 2 diesel fuel. A single-cylinder diesel engine for a power tiller was used for the engine tests, in which load, speed and fuel consumption rate were measured. The fuels used in tests were No. 2 diesel fuel and a blend containing 10-percent ethanol and 90-percent No. 2 diesel fuel. The results of the study are summarized as follows. 1. It was not possible to blend ethanol and No. 2 diesel fuel as a homogeneous solution even though anhydrous ethanol was used. The problem of blending ethanol in No. 2 diesel fuel could be solved by adding butanol about 5% of the amount of ethanol in the blends. 2. Because ethanol had a much lower boiling point ($78.3^{\circ}C$ under atmospheric pressure) than a diesel fuel, it was necessary to store ethanol-diesel fuel blends airtight in order to prevent them from evaporation losses of ethanol. 3. The addition of ethanol to No. 2 diesel fuel lowered the fuel viscosity and the cetane rating, but a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% diesel fuel had a viscosity and a cetane rating well above the KS minimum values for No. 2 diesel fuel. 4. At the rated speed, the specific fuel consumption of No.2 diesel fuel was lower than that of the 10% ethanol blend for the almost entire range of load. However, under the overload condition the specific fuel consumption was lower for the 10% ethanol blend. 5. Under the variable-speed full-load tests, both fuels produced approximately the same torque and power. At the speeds of 1600rpm or below, the specific fuel consumption of No. 2 diesel fuel was lower than that of the 10% ethanol blend. At the speeds of 1600rpm or above, however, the specific fuel consumption was lower for the 10% ethanol blend. 6. At the ambient temperature above $15^{\circ}C$, the use of the 10% ethanol blend in the engine created a vapor lock in the fuel injection pump and stalled the engine. The vapor locking problem was overcome by chilling the surroundings of the fuel injection pump and the cylinder head with water.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea TC
• /
• v.43 no.5 s.347
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2006

We demonstrate bidirectional long-reach 35-channel dense wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network(DWDM-PON) based on wavelength-locked Fabry-Perot laser diodes (F-P LDs). The mode control of F-P LD enhances output power at decreased the required injection power. We show packet-loss-free transmission in all 70 channels at 125 Mb/s per channel line rate through 70 km of single mode fiber without optical amplifier The DWDM-PON can consolidate a metro network into an access network by bypassing the central offices within its reach. The proposed DWDM-PON can accommodate about 80 subscribers with an EDFA-based broadband light source. Further expansion up to 100 subscribers is possible with a semiconductor-based BLS.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.208-221
• /
• 2000

The objective of this research was to compare the flushing effects using 1:1,000 diluted heparin or 0.9% normal saline in relation to needle gauge and frequency of IV medications. The comparative categories were clotting, duration of patency, and incidence of phlebitis. The design of research was a Nonequivalent Control group, Post test, Nonsynchrorized Design. The independent variable was 0.9% normal saline flushing the IV locks and the dependent variables were clotting, duration of patency, and incidence of phlebitis. Subjects were medical-surgical inpatients over 15 years old and with peripherally placed IVs who were hospitalized in a university medical center. Exclusion criteria included foreigners and those who were rejected for this research. The final sample for data analysis included 295 IV sites in 194 patients; 154 were in the saline group and 141 were in the heparin group. Subjects were assigned to have IV locks is flushed with 0.9% normal saline in the experimental group and to have IV lock flushed with 1:1,000 diluted heparin(100 units) in the control group. In order to increase reliability, the nurses who were assigned to the units involved in the study received an explanation on the standard method for locking an IV, recording method for observational data and criteria for the detection of phlebitis. Data were collected for a period of 2 weeks, from March 16, 2000 to March 29, 2000. Total duration of IV was defined the time of IV insertion to the time of discontinuation. Phlebitis was defined as the presence of the following : pain, swelling. erythema at the insertion site. Chi-square was used to determine the association between the degree of clotting, duration of patency, and incidence of phlebitis for the diluted heparin or the normal saline and needle gauge and frequency of IV medications. The results are summarized as follows : (a) There was difference in the degree of clotting between two groups($X^2=5.882$, p=.015). (b) There was no difference in the degree of duration of patency between two groups($X^2=2.439$, p=.295). (c) There was no difference in the incidence of phlebitis between two groups($X^2=0.190$, p=.663). (d) There was difference in the degree of clotting($X^2=6.209$, p=.013) and in the degree of duration of patency($X^2=6.978$, p=.031) according the needle guage between the two groups. (e) There was difference in the incidence of phlebitis($X^2=5.008$, p=.025) according to the frequencies of IV injection between two groups.