OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect and safety of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) in primary chronic insomnia. METHODS: A one-month, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial was performed. A total of 7 patients with primary chronic insomnia received tDCS using anodal (n=3), cathodal (n=2), or sham stimulation (n=2). They were followed up at 1 week and 1 month after treatment. The primary outcome measures included improvement in total sleep time (TST), sleep latency (SL), and sleep efficiency (SE) at 1 month follow-up. RESULTS: TST and SE were improved with tDCS at 1 month follow-up in all patients (100%) of the anodal group, one (50%) of the cathodal group, and one (50%) of the sham group. tDCS improved SL at 1 month follow-up in two patients (67%) of the anodal group, one (50%) of the cathodal group, and none (0%) of the sham group. With respect to adverse events, transient itching sensation occurred in one patient of the anodal group. None of the other groups reported adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that tDCS may be effective and safe for treatment of primary chronic insomnia. A larger controlled study needs to be further investigated.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) type 1A (CMT1A) is the demyelinating form of CMT that is significantly associated with PMP22 duplication. Some studies have found that the disease-related disabilities of these patients are correlated with their compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), while others have suggested that they are related to the nerve conduction velocities. In the present study, we investigated the correlations between the disease-related disabilities and the electrophysiological values in a large cohort of Korean CMT1A patients. METHODS: We analyzed 167 CMT1A patients of Korean origin with PMP22 duplication using clinical and electrophysiological assessments, including the CMT neuropathy score and the functional disability scale. RESULTS: Clinical motor disabilities were significantly correlated with the CMAPs but not the motor nerve conduction velocities (MNCVs). Moreover, the observed sensory impairments matched the corresponding reductions in the sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) but not with slowing of the sensory nerve conduction velocities (SNCVs). In addition, CMAPs were strongly correlated with the disease duration but not with the age at onset. The terminal latency index did not differ between CMT1A patients and healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: In CMT1A patients, disease-related disabilities such as muscle wasting and sensory impairment were strongly correlated with CMAPs and SNAPs but not with the MNCVs or SNCVs. Therefore, we suggest that the clinical disabilities of CMT patients are determined by the extent of axonal dysfunction.
Action Potentials ; Axons ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Muscles ; Neural Conduction

The publisher wishes to apologize for incorrectly displaying the author (Seok Beom Gwon) name. We correct his name from Seok Beom Gwon to Seok Beom Kwon.

Placental abruption is defined as the early separation a normal placenta from the wall of the uterus before delivery of the fetus. The incidence of it is known 1% of all pregnancies and perinatal mortality rates from abruption range from 20% to 40% in recent studies. The most common symptom is vaginal bleeding. The causes are associated with preeclampsia, other hypertensive disorders, and premature rupture of membranes. It is diagnosed by clinical symptom, sign, and ultrasonography. Recently we have experienced a case of placental abruption diagnosed at 31 weeks by ultrasonography in bicornuate uterus with a brief review of the literature.
Abruptio Placentae ; Female ; Fetus ; Incidence ; Membranes ; Perinatal Mortality ; Placenta ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus

Collision tumor means the coexistence of two adjacent, but histologically distinct tumors without histologic admixture in the same tissue and is rare incidence involving ovary. Because of their incidence of occurrence, benign cystic teratomas often occur coincidentally with other abnormalities of the ovary. Most common histologic combination of collision tumor in the ovary is coexistence of teratoma with mucinous tumors. But its association with serous tumor has been noted rare and incidence is unknown. We have experienced a case laparoscopic treatment of a huge serous cystadenoma combined with ovarian benign cystic teratoma in right ovary, and report it with a brief review of literature.
Cystadenoma, Serous ; Dermoid Cyst ; Female ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Mucins ; Ovary ; Teratoma

Uterine leiomyoma is common benign tumor in reproductive age woman. And secondary degeneration of uterine leiomyoma can be occurred usually during midpregnancy and the puerperium. But, spontaneous perforation of uterine leiomyoma with cystic degeneration is very rare. We have experienced a case of spontaneous perforation of a huge cystic degenerative uterine leiomyoma associated with massive hemoperitoneum in a menopausal woman, and report it with a brief review of literature.
Female ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Postpartum Period

Asymptomatic unilateral absence of a portion of a fallopian tube with or without adjacent ovarian agenesis is a very rare condition. The true incidence is unknown. Two etiologic causes are possible. Asymptomatic segmental torsion of the uterine tube and ovarian pedicle may occur for certain reasons during adulthood, in childhood, or even during the fetal stages. Consequently, torsion may give rise to necrosis and autoamputation. Alternatively, the absence of these organs may be congenital. Ovarian pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy occurring in 0.5~1% of all ectopic pregnancies. Moreover, ovarian pregnancy in patient with congenital unilateral tubal and ovarian agenesis has not been reported. But, the presenting symptom is very similar and difficult to distinguish with other forms of ectopic pregnancy. Early detection is important role in preserving fertility to avoid the ablation of functional ovarian tissue. We report a case of congenital unilateral tubal and ovarian agenesis diagnosed during laparoscopic treatment of ovarian pregnancy.
Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Fertility ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Necrosis ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic

PURPOSE:The objective of this study was to evaluate the indications, effectiveness and complications associated with uterine arterial embolization as an alternative treatment of obstetrical hemorrhage. METHODS:From January 2006 to December 2008, 25 patients who underwent angiographic embolization for the obstetrical hemorrhage that was not responsive to conventional treatments, like obstetric maneuvers and uterotonic drugs, were included in our study. All medical records were reviewed and detailed clinical data such as clinical status, underlying conditions, amount of transfusion, embolized arteries, hospital stay, the success rate and the complications were collected. RESULTS:We have experienced clinically successful embolization in 22 (88%) of 25 patients with obstetrical hemorrhage resulting from various causes. After embolization, the patients' vital signs were stabilized. The causes of hemorrhage were atony of uterus (n=10), myomectomy during cesarean section (n=6), abnormal placentation (n=5), arterio-venous malformation (n=3), and cervical pregnancy (n=1). The average amount of blood transfusion was 7.2 units (range; 0~39 units). The average length of the time for the procedure was 55 minutes (range: 25~96 minutes). The average duration of hospitalization was 5.5 days (range: 2~14 days). In 22 patients, menses resumed spontaneously after procedures. The main complications after embolization were numbness and pain on lower extremities (n=1), and hypomenorrhea (n=1). CONCLUSION:The atrerial embolization is one of the safe and effective procedures that offers patients an alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of intractable postpartum hemorrhage.
Arteries ; Blood Transfusion ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Hysterectomy ; Length of Stay ; Lower Extremity ; Medical Records ; Menstruation Disturbances ; Placentation ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Uterus ; Vital Signs

Cystic adenomyosis is a rare form of adenomyosis of the uterine myometrium that has been described in older adults. This condition has not frequently been reported in the adolescent girl. The adenomyotic cyst was located within the myometrium of a 15-year-old adolescent girl suffering from acute lower abdominal pain, not dysmenorrhea. After laparoscopic operation, patients's symptoms improved. On pathology finding, the cyst diagnosed adenomyotic cyst. We report a case of adenomyotic cyst of the uterus in adolescent girl with a brief review of literatures.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenomyosis ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Myometrium ; Pelvic Pain ; Stress, Psychological ; Uterus

A cornual pregnancy occurs when the conceptus implants at the cornus of the uterus which is the junction between the fallopian tube and uterine cavity. Cornual pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy and its diagnosis is difficult. It accounts for 2 to 4% of tubal pregnancy and rupture usually occurs between 8 weeks and 16 weeks of gestation. The rich vascularity in this location makes the rupture particularly dangerous, resulting in higher maternal mortality. We have experienced a case of unruptured cornual pregnancy at 9 weeks of atypical ultrasonographic findings, which was hourglass appearance. We present this case with a brief review of the literature.
Cornus ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Maternal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Rupture ; Uterus