PURPOSE: The effect and safety of new intravaginal pelvic floor electrical stimulation, with a distal microchip (PIC16C74), for precision and comfort, in the treatment of female stress, urge and mixed incontinence, were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight incontinent women were divided into three groups: stress incontinence (13), urge incontinence (12) and mixed incontinence (13). Evaluations, both before and after treatment, including history taking, a physical examination, a stress provocation test, a 1-hour pad test, voiding diaries, female lower urinary tract symptom and quality of life questionnaires, were conducted. All patients were treated by pelvic floor electrical stimulation, twice a week, for 6 weeks. The success rate, complications, satisfaction and quality of life were evaluated 1 month later. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 60.5%. 53.8 (7/13), 66.7 (8/12) and 61.5% (8/13) success rates were found in patients with stress, urge, and mixed type incontinence, respectively. Success rates of 58.8 (10/17) and 55.6% (5/9) were also found in grades I and II, respectively. There were no significant differences in the success rates between the types and grades of incontinence. 73.7% (28/38) of the patients were satisfied with the treatment, and their quality of life improved from 2.4 to 7.2, on the visual analog scales. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the new intravaginal electrical stimulation, with the microchip (PIC16C74), is an effective and safe treatment for female urinary incontinence, although a longer follow-up period will be required to determine the long term effects.
Electric Stimulation* ; Female* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pelvic Floor* ; Physical Examination ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urinary Tract ; Visual Analog Scale

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of intravaginal pelvic floor electrical stimulation (FES) therapy on bladder irritability symptoms in stress urinary incontinent women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evaluation before and after treatment included the Blaivas's female Bladder Questionnaire, the quality of life questionnaires and the overall satisfaction with present voiding state using visual analogue test (VAT). All patient were treated for 20 minutes, twice a week for 6 weeks, using a new intravaginal electrical stimulator with microchip (PIC16C74). RESULTS: After the FES therapy, the overall success rate of the SUI was 50.4.% at 9 months. The bladder irritability symptoms such as frequency, nocturia, urgency, residual urine sensation and lower abdominal discomfort were improved. In particular, the symptoms of frequency, urge incontinence, dysuria were significantly improved after the FES therapy at 9 months. The VAT score of the overall satisfaction with the present voiding state was significantly lower after the FES therapy. 73.7% of patients were satisfied with the FES therapy and complications such as hemorrhage, vaginitis, urinary tract infection and pain were not encountered. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FES therapy with microchip improves some bladder irritability in SUI women. Therefore, electrical stimulation therapy should be considered as a first line therapy in SUI women with bladder irritability symptoms.
Dysuria ; Electric Stimulation Therapy* ; Electric Stimulation* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Nocturia ; Pelvic Floor ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sensation ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vaginitis

BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are ubiquitous in modern society including medical field. As the technology of medical instruments and telecommunications has developed rapidly, it has influenced on our lives in many ways. Modern medical practice requires high quality medical equipments, which have a great deal of electromagnetic interference and susceptibility. The purpose of this study were to evaluate electromagnetic condition under usual clinical condition and to suggest a practical guideline in general hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The actual state of the electromagnetic interference in the medical field was studied under usual clinical conditions including operating rooms, intensive care units, magnetic resonance imaging unit, and hyperthermia unit. RESULTS: There was considerable noise as a result of electromagnetic fields from medical equipments including electrosurgical units and hyperthermia unit, and cellular phones, which could induce serious functional derangements of functioning medical devices. CONCLUSION: It will be necessary to evaluate the individual electromagnetic situations under various medical conditions and to define a limited zone for cellular phone as well as reposition medical equipments to secure a safer medical practice and to minimize electromagnetic interference.
Cellular Phone ; Electromagnetic Fields* ; Fever ; Hospitals, General* ; Intensive Care Units ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnets* ; Noise ; Operating Rooms ; Telecommunications

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Korean translation of Gambling Symptom Rating Scale (KG-SAS). METHODS: Using self-report sampling, we eventually included 231 subjects and analysed 70 subjects. These subjects were tested for KG-SAS and the Korean version of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). RESULTS: In the reliability test, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .913 which provided the evidence for the internal consistency. Content validity was assessed with factor analysis and two factors were extracted. Compared with the original scale, both scales embody the same theoretical conceptualization. To assess the validity of the KG-SAS, correlation coefficient was calculated between the KG-SAS and the Korean version of BIS. We got the result that there was a correlation between the KG-SAS and the Korean version of BIS (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study support that the KG-SAS is a reliable and valid scale for evaluating pathological gambling symptom assessment. Based on the results, this study suggests that KG-SAS would be a promising measurement to treat and study pathological gambling.
Gambling* ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Symptom Assessment* ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The present study was undertaken to compare the function of the urinary bladder, reflex changes of the urinary bladder, and bladder outlet, during micturition between mature male and female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mature male(n=6) and female(n=6) Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 300gm were used. After each rat was anesthetized with urethane(1g/kga simultaneous recording of the intravesical pressure and voided urinary volume during micturition were recorded. And then, the urethra was ligated placing 4-0 silk tie just distal to the bladder neck. Isovolumetric bladder contractions and urethral pressure were recorded independently. RESULTS: The voided volume and intravesical pressure during micturltion showed no significant differences between mature fema1e and male rats. During reflex bladder contraction, isovolumetric bladder contractions and urethral pressure also showed no significant differences between mature female and male rats. Administration of N-nitro-L-arginine(L-NOARG, 15mg/kg), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, intravenously in female rats, reversibly decreased the magnitude(42.5%, p<0.05) and duration(35.4%, p<0.05) of reflex urethral relaxation. There was no effect on reflex urethral relaxation in male rats. Administration of L-NOARG 20mg/kgintravenously in male rats reversibly decreased the magnitude(49.8%, p<0.05) and duration(38.7%, p<0.05) of reflex urethral relaxation. CONCLUSIONS: From the results, it appears that the function of the urinary bladder and the reflex change of the urinary bladder and bladder outlet during micturition showed no significant difference between male and female rats of similar weight. Howerever, the dosage of L-NOARG showed difference of the decreasing level of the magnitude and duration of the urethral relaxation.
Animals ; Female* ; Humans ; Male* ; Neck ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex ; Relaxation ; Silk ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urination

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the effects of a 2.45 GHz electromagnetic field(EMF) radiation on germ cell spermatogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats(4 weeks of age) were exposed to a 2.45 GHz EMF for 1 hour or 2 hours a day. A sham-exposed group served as the control. The whole body average specific absorption rate(SAR) was 1.41 W/kg and the electric field intensity was 60.1mV/m. The rats were confined in cages specially designed for this study, and power was generated by a magnetron. After 8 weeks of exposure, the rats were sacrificed. The testicular germ cell status was assessed by histopathological examination and this was correlated with the hormonal level of the blood serum. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis of the Leydig cells showed a significantly higher count in the 2 hours exposed rats than in the sham controls(p<0.05), while the difference between the two exposed groups was insignificant. Moreover, a concomitant increase in the serum testosterone level was observed. A significantly decreased number of spermatocytes appeared at the seminiferous tubules in rats exposed for 1 and 2 hours, while this was not seen in the control. CONCLUSIONS: These changes suggest that long-term exposure to EMF has adverse effects on the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia and this may be important in understanding the pathogenesis of EMF- induced male infertility. However, further studies are needed to investigate the effects of a longer exposure time and higher dose.
Absorption ; Animals ; Electromagnetic Fields* ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Leydig Cells ; Magnets* ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Serum ; Spermatocytes ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatogonia ; Testosterone

Poor control of bowel movement in some bed-ridden patients with various causes such as stroke or spinal cord injury which causes fecal leakage and diarrhea, increases the risk of perianal excoriation, bed sores and is a burden on caregivers. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of fecal evacuation, prevention and treatment of skin complications in intractable diarrhea patients employing a new device. METHODS: A continent anal plug (CAP: US Patent No. 5,569,216: Join Ent. Seoul, Korea) comprises an inner balloon surrounded by an external balloon both of which are mounted on a silicone tube containing a pair of air passages and an enema fluid inlet. The tube is secured in place in the rectum by the inflatable external balloon and is designed to drain fecal matter through a thin collapsible hose situated in the anal canal. Thirty two patients (21 male, median age 61 years, range; 28~76) were evaluated after fully informed consent. Median duration (range) was 12 (3~37) days. RESULTS: CAP evacuated efficiently in those with loose or watery stools who only required once daily irrigation or not. Skin excoriations improved in 3~7 days. Minimal leakage was seen around the anus. There was no anorectal mucosal injury noted over 37 days. Conclusions: The CAP was an efficient method of treating patients with loss of bowel control and incontinence because it enabled controlled fecal evacuation and helped reduction of skin complications without causing anorectal mucosal injury.
Anal Canal ; Bays ; Caregivers ; Diarrhea* ; Enema ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Male ; Pressure Ulcer ; Rectum ; Seoul ; Silicones ; Skin ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stroke

In order to inquire the most-effective management of increased intracranial pressure(ICP), mannitol, steroid and hyperventilation were used in rabbits after ligation or non-ligation of the carotid artery. Mannitol was more effective than steroid and hyperventilation in the degree of the reduction of ICP. The intracranial pressure was decreased 43~45% for 25~30 minutes after injection of mannitol. Steroid was less effective than mannitol in the degree of the reduction of ICP. But the time of reduction of ICP was longer, that is, the degree of reduction was 24~60 minutes after injection of steroid. Hyperventilation is effective in the initial time only, for 10 minutes after hyperventilation. The degree of ICP reduction was 13.5~16.7 % for 10 minutes after hyperventilation. The combined group, that is three kinds of mangenent were used, is the most effective treatment to reduce ICP of ICP. The degree of the reduction of ICP was 42.1~49.3% for 20 minutes, 47.7~52.5% for 30minnutes. There was no significant difference between and non-ligation group.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Hyperventilation ; Intracranial Pressure* ; Ligation ; Mannitol ; Rabbits*

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to see ultrastructural changes of pineal gland in rats exposed to microwaves. METHODS: We conducted an experiment by exposing rats at the electromagnetic wave frequency of 2.45GHz, using with an EMR(electromagnetic radiation) emitting apparatus to study the effect of electromagnetic wave on the pineal gland. Paying especial attention to measure damages to pineal gland cells in the brain, we set the levels of EMR according to the duration of electromagnetic wave exposure at 1.2 joules(20min exposure), 2.4 joules(40min exposure), 3.6 joules(60 min exposure), and 4.8 joules(80min exposure) per 1cm2. RESULTS: Compared with normal cells, main histologic changes were observed with an electron microscope included swelling of the pineal gland cells, a decrease in the electron density of interstitial tissue, an increase in the distances between pineal gland cells, an increase in number of lipid-droplets, and swelling of mitochondria. Especially in those pineal cells exposed to EMR for 80 min, severe swelling of mitochondria and a slight increase in lysosome were observed. CONCLUSION: The authors could identify the harmful effect of microwave by observing abnormal ultrastructural changes of pineal cell in rat according to the increasement of electromagnetic radiation.
Animals ; Brain ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Lysosomes ; Microwaves* ; Mitochondria ; Pineal Gland* ; Rats*

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread pain accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive dysfunction, and mood disorder. The pathophysiology of FM has been unclear, leading to inconsistent diagnosis and ineffective management. Several diagnostic criteria for FM have been proposed in recent years, including the revised 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, the criteria of the ACTTION-American Pain Society Pain Taxonomy (AAPT) group, and the modified 2019 Fibromyalgia Assessment Status (FAS) criteria. Despite the appearance of newer criteria for FM diagnosis, the 2016 ACR criteria demonstrate the best performance. Many randomized controlled studies and systematic reviews have shown the therapeutic efficacies of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments of FM. Nevertheless, further research is needed to develop better treatment options.