• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.378-385
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the association between sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity and cardiovascular disease risk in Korean postmenopausal women. Methods: We analyzed data of 2,019 postmenopausal women aged 50-64 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2008-2011 and were free of cardiovascular disease history. Blood pressure, height, and weight were measured. We analyzed the serum concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Waist circumference was used to measure obesity. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Sarcopenia was defined as the appendicular skeletal muscle mass/body weight<1 standard deviation below the gender-specific means for healthy young adults. The estimated 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease risk was calculated by Pooled Cohort Equation. Subjects were classified as non-sarcopenia, sarcopenia, or sarcopenic obesity based on status of waist circumference and appendicular skeletal muscle mass. Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity was 16.3% (n=317) and 18.3% (n=369), respectively. The 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease risk in the sarcopenic obesity group was higher ($3.82{\pm}0.22%$) than the normal group ($2.73{\pm}0.09%$) and sarcopenia group ($3.17{\pm}0.22%$) (p < 0.000). The odd ratios (ORs) for the ${\geq}7.5%$ 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease risk were significantly higher in the sarcopenic obesity group (OR 3.609, 95% CI: 2.030-6.417) compared to the sarcopenia group (OR 2.799, 95% CI: 1.463-5.352) (p for trend < 0.000) after adjusting for independent variables (i.e., exercise, period of menopausal, alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) score, income, education level, calorie intake, %fat intake and hormonal replacement therapy). Conclusions: Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity appear to be associated with higher risk factors predicting the 10-year risks of cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women. These findings imply that maintaining normal weight and muscle mass may be important for cardiovascular disease risk prevention in postmenopausal women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.152-162
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the food, nutrient intake, and diet quality of postmenopausal women at high risk of osteoporosis (OP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with those of control subjects. Methods: A total of 1,131 post-menopausal women aged over 45 years, who took the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), were included for analysis. These participants were classified into the following groups: the OP group, with a risk of OP (n=135); the CVD group, with a risk of CVD (n=373); the OP+CVD group, with a risk of OP and CVD concurrently (n=218); and the control group (n=405) according to bone mineral density (BMD) and CVD risk. Anthropometric measurements, blood profiles, dietary intake, and dietary quality indices were measured and compared among the four groups. Results: Waist circumference, total body fat percentage, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol were higher, and HDL-cholesterol and BMD were lower in the OP+CVD group than in the control group. In the food frequency questionnaire, the OP+CVD group had significantly higher frequencies of grain (except for multi-grain) and lower frequencies of fruit and dairy product. The frequency of consumption of red meat, processed meat, and carbonated beverages was higher in OP+CVD group. In nutrient density analysis, proteins and vitamin $B_2$ levels were significantly lower in the OP+CVD group than in the control group. The nutritional quality index (INQ) values of calcium were in the order of 0.63, 0.58, 0.56, and 0.55 in each group, and it was urgent to improve the dietary intake for calcium in postmenopausal women. In addition, vitamin $B_2$ was inadequately consumed by all groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that it is necessary to increase the intake of vitamin $B_2$ and calcium and decrease the frequency of intake of red meat, processed meat, and carbonated beverages in postmenopausal women with the risk of OP and CVD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1142-1148
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• 2021

As the average human lifespan has been extended, there has been a lot of interest in the quality of life of women after menopause. It is known that the average age of menopause among Korean women is 49.7 years, and the post-menopausal life of a woman takes up more than one third of her life. L-ascorbic acid (AsA) is known to be involved in the synthesis and maturation of collagen, a bone constituent protein. The aim of this review is to discuss the potential of AsA in bone health in postmenopausal women. AsA plays an important role in collagen biosynthesis, and collagen is a protein constituting bone and is a necessary material for calcification of the bone matrix. Collagen crosslinking is necessary for the stabilization and elasticity of collagen fibers during growth and matruation of animals, but an excessive increase is likely to lead to further aging because the movement of intercellular nutrients or waste is suppressed. AsA acts as a reducing agent to stabilize the immature collagen crosslinking and suppress pyridinoline production, a mature crosslinking. Therefore, AsA participates in collagen biosynthesis and helps bone tissue health, while regulating the excessive maturation of collagen crosslinking, it is expected to play an important role in bone-related problems that may occur in postmenopausal women.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 1992

The sucess of intrauterine inseminations with washed human spermatozoa was evaluated in 92 patients. In according to indication of insemination, intrauterine inseminations of women with hostile cervical mucus yield a 35.3% and 12.8% with male factors and 27.3% with unexplained infertility. In ovulation induction group with variable agents including clomiphen, human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and GnRH analog, the pregnancy rate was 27.8% (22/79) and in natural cycle group, 15.4% (2/13). The fetal loss rate in insemination group was 12.5% (3/24). Multiple pregnancies were 7 cases and ovulation induction were performed in 6 cases among them. Intrauterine insemination with washed human spermatozoa therefore represents an effective and safe procedure selected infertile couples.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lycii fructus (LF) on serum lipid and the collagen content of the connective tissues in ovariectomized rats. From day 2 until day 37 after the ovariectomy, Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to the following groups : sham-operated rat (Sham), ovariectomized control rat (OVX-control), and ovariectomized rats supplemented with the LF 50mg/kg bw/day (OVX-LF). The LF ethanol extract were orally administrated 1ml per day. Body weight gain was not significantly different in groups. Although total-cholesterol and triglyceride were increased in the ovariectomized control, supplementation with the LF extract decreased the levels. Moreover, the serum HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly increased after supplementation with the LF extract(p<0.05). Supplementation with the LF extract prevented a decrease in the collagen level in bone and cartilage tissues. These results are consistent with the conclusions based on the estrogenic activities of LF. Therefore, it may be used to possibly improve the quality of life in menopausal women.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2003

목 적: 본 연구의 목적은 내인성 성호르몬이 자궁근종의 성장에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 연구를 시행하였다. 연구대상 및 방법: 폐경전 자궁근종 환자 27명과 같은 연령대의 정상여성 25명을 대상으로 하였다. 모든 대상군의 여성에서 24시간 소변을 모아서 소변내 estrogen, androgen의 대사체들을 GC-MS를 이용하여 측정하였으며 두 군에서의 차이를 비교분석 하였다. 결 과: 소변내 $17{\beta}$-estradiol, 5-androstene-$3{\beta}$, $16{\beta}$, $17{\beta}$-triol, 11-keto-ethiocholanolone, $11{\beta}$-hydroxy-androsterone, THS, THA, THE, a-cortolone, a-cortol 및 $\beta$-cortol가 환자군에서 의의있게 증가하였으며 $17{\beta}$estradiol/estrone 및 $11{\beta}$-hydroxy-ethiocholanolone/$11{\beta}$-hydroxy-androsterone도 환자군에서 의의있게 증가하였다. 결 론: 자궁근종의 성장은 요중 estrogen과 androgen의 농도와 밀접한 관련이 있으며 이는 환자의 스테로이드 호르몬 대사 감소에 기인한 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.4 s.147
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• pp.324-330
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Artemisia Princeps Var. Orientalis (AP) on serum lipids and the collagen content of the connective tissues in ovariectomized rats. From day 2 until day 37 after the ovariectomy, Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-control), and ovariectomized rats supplemented with the AP 50 mg/kg bw/day (OVX-AP). The AP ethanol extracts were orally administrated 1 mL per day. The OVX rats were significantly heavier than the sham-operated rats at all time points, but supplementation with the AP extracts tended to gain weight less than OVX-control. Although total-cholesterol was increased at OVX-control, supplementation with the AP extracts tended to result in less than OVX-control. Triglyceride was significantly decreased after supplemented with the AP extracts (p<0.05). HDL-cholesterol is appeared higher AP extracts group than OVX-control. According to the results, we could know the fact that AP extracts were effective on serum lipids content throughout decreasing total-cholesterol, triglyceride and increasing HDL-cholesterol in ovariectomized rats. Supplementation with the AP extracts prevented a decrease in the collagen level in bone and cartilage tissues. These results are consistent with the conclusions based on the estrogenic activities of AP. Therefore, it may be used to possibly improve the quality of life in menopausal women.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 1995

Transdermal patch formulations of estradiol to treat post-menopausal symptoms and prevent osteoporosis in women were developed and evaluated for the permeation characteristics through the excised hairless mouse abdorminal skin and the uterotropic effect on the ovariectomized rabbits. The design of patch formulations was optimized by varying several formulation parameters, such as type of enhancers, amount of enhancers, amount of drug loading and coating thickness. Compared to a commercially available transdermal product, several patch formulations showed the similar skin permeation profiles (following zero-order kinetics), but their skin permeation rates were lasted for the longer period (a week). In one-week uterotropic efficacy test in the ovariectimized rabbits, the selected patch formulations showed the positive effect in atrophy of the urogenital epithelium. The mean values of uterus weight in rabbits after application of patches containing estradiol were much higher than those in control group (containing no drug).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2013

The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of ginseng as a treatment option for managing menopause symptoms. We searched the literature using ll databases from their inception to 26 September 2012 and included all randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that compared any type of ginseng to a placebo controls in postmenopausal women. The methodological quality of all studies was assessed using a Cochrane risk of bias tool. Four RCTs met our inclusion criteria. Most RCTs had high risk of bias. One RCT showed that Korean red ginseng (KRG) significantly improved sexual arousal and global health compared with placebo. Another RCT reported the superiority of KRG over placebo for treating menopause symptoms on Kupperman's index and menopausal rating score. The third RCT failed to show a significant effect of KRG on hot flash frequency compared to placebo. The fourth RCT found beneficial effects of ginseng compared to placebo on depression and well-being. In conclusion, the evidence on ginseng as an effective treatment for managing menopause symptoms is limited. Most of the RCTs are burdened with a high risk of bias. Thus firm conclusions cannot be drawn. Rigorous studies seem warranted.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3363-3367
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a major health issue worldwide as well as in Pakistan. All women belonging to any race, ethnicity or lineage are in danger of developing breast cancer. Significant factors influencing the development of breast malignancies are the genetic background, environmental conditions, reproductive parameters, the consequences of female hormones both intrinsic and extrinsic, alteration of immune status, and biologic determinants. Materials and Methods: Overall 150 biopsy proven patients were included in the study. Samples were submitted for histopathology and determination of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression and HER-2/neu status. Associations with other characteristics like age, tumor stage, node involvement, histological grade were also studied. Results: Mean age at presentation was 46.7 years. The majority had invasive ductal carcinoma, 100 (84.7%), and were in stage pT3, 54 (45.7%). Important relationships (P<0.05) were found among ER, PR positivity, and Her 2 neu overexpression. However, no noteworthy link was identified amongst ER, PR, Her 2 neu and tumor grade, stage, age, lymph node involvement except for the menopausal status. Conclusions: In summary, breast cancer patients featured an advanced stage of disease, more lymph node involvement, and moderately high grade tumors and with more estrogen, progesterone receptor and HER-2 positive tumors.