• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2017

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and complicated vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) are frequently occurring vaginal infections in postmenopausal women, caused by an imbalance in vaginal microflora. Postmenopausal women suffer from decreased ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone. A normal, healthy vaginal microflora mainly comprises Lactobacillus species (spp.), which act beneficially as a bacterial barrier in the vagina, interfering with uropathogens. During premenopausal period, estrogen promotes vaginal colonization by lactobacilli that metabolizing glycogen and producing lactic acid, and maintains intravaginal health by lowering the intravaginal pH level. A lower vaginal pH inhibits uropathogen growth, preventing vaginal infections. Decreased estrogen secretion in postmenopausal women depletes lactobacilli and increases intravaginal pH, resulting in increased vaginal colonization by harmful microorganisms (e.g., Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Candida, and Gardnerella). Probiotics positively effects on vaginal microflora composition by promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms, alters the intravaginal microbiota composition, prevents vaginal infections in postmenopausal. Probiotics also reduce the symptoms of vaginal infections (e.g., vaginal discharge, odor, etc.), and are thus helpful for the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC. In this review article, we provide information on the intravaginal mechanism of postmenopausal vaginal infections, and describes the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2023

Early evaluation of obesity is important. Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of fat that causes harm to health. Among patients who visit a hospital for weight-related issues, diseases other than body fat gain may be present; however, people often cannot distinguish between these issues and concerns. Therefore, among patients who visit the hospital with weight gain concerns, it is necessary to determine whether the weight gain is actually the result of excessive fat accumulation. After being diagnosed with obesity, the cause and degree of obesity, the amount and distribution of body fat, and the degree of risk should be evaluated. Additionally, obesity-related complications should be identified and, even if there are no complications, all related risk factors should be evaluated and managed. In all these processes, diagnostic methods such as history taking, physical examination, body fat measurement, blood tests, and imaging tests are necessary, but history taking and physical examination, which can provide a lot of information from the beginning, should not be overlooked.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.100-113
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• 2017

Objectives: Bee Venom has been used to relieve pain and to treat various diseases, such as arthritis, cancer and skin disease. Although Bee Venom has used extensively in gynecological fields, we don't have enough evidence with it. This study is to investigate efficacy and safety of Bee Venom on women by investigating papers, then we are going to suggest the direction of research. Methods: We searched for papers which had Bee Venom from Pubmed, OASIS, Journal of Korean Obstetrics & Gynecology, Journal of Korean Medicine up to August 2017, then classified according to the type of studies. Results: Eleven papers have been finally selected. One paper was a case report about atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. Four papers were in vivo studies about 1 endometriosis and 1 polycystic ovarian syndrome and 2 human cervical cancer. Among eight papers that were in vitro studies, four papers were reported about ovarian cancer and four papers reported about human cervical cancer. Among ten papers that were experimental studies, two papers have been studied both in vivo and in vitro. Most of studies have shown that Bee Venom is useful for gynecological disorders. Conclusions: It has been identified that Bee Venom could be a good treatment for female disorder. However, more clinical reports and well-designed studies will be needed.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble secosteroid responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, and other materials. Vitamin D3 deficiency, therefore, can cause health problems such as metabolic diseases, and bone disorder. Female sex hormones including estrogen and progesterone are biosynthesized mainly in the granulosa cells of ovary. In this study, we isolated granulosa cells from porcine ovary and cultured for the experiments. In order to examine the effect of vitamin D3 on the ovarian granulosa cells, the mRNA and protein levels of genes were analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blot assay. The production of estrogen from the granulosa cells was also measured by the ELISA assay. Genes associated with follicle growth were not significantly altered by vitamin D3. However, it increases expression of genes involved in the estrogen-biosynthesis. Further, estrogen concentrations in porcine granulosa cell-cultured media increased in response to vitamin D3. These results showed that vitamin D3 is a powerful regulator of sex steroid hormone production in porcine granulosa cells, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency may result in inappropriate sexual development of industrial animals and eventually economic loss.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2007

The oxidative stress causes many diseases like cancer, aging, cardiovascular disease, degenerative neurological disorders (Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer's disease) by damage of cell membrane, protein deformation, and damage of DNA due to the oxidation of lipid of cell membrane, protein of tissue or enzyme, carbohydrate, and DNA. It is caused by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that is produced in the metabolic process of oxygen in cell. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in cell systemize the antioxidative enzymes to control the oxidative stress. In this research, it is measured that the survival rate of cell by the typical isoflavonoid of daidzein or genistein, activity of antioxidative enzyme, and ROS level, in order to study the effect of isoflavonoid over the ROS production in cell and antioxidative system. As the similar action of the isoflavonoid with the estrogen is examined, women are encouraged to get bean. In view of this trend, it is very important to find out a combination medicine that lowers the oxidative stress caused by the daidzein in the ovarian cell. In the combined treatment of the typical antioxidant of vitamin C to oxidative stress which induced by daidzein recover the control level particularly lowering the ROS in cell by 30%. However, it made no effect in the combined treatment with genistein. Therefore, the research took the combination effect of daidzein with vitamin C in order to check it effect over the antioxidative system. In conclusion, it was disclosed that the oxidative stress caused by daidzein is related to the lowering activity of SOD, and the specific combination effect of daidzein with vitamin C is related to the recovery of SOD activity.

• 대한근관절건강학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.110-121
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• 1996

It is well defined that osteoporosis is an age related disorder and associated with decreased bone mass. It is one of the most important disease lacing the aging population because of its association with fracture of the hip, vertebrae and distal radius. The disease provoke a significant economic burden and major public health problem of an elderly. The life-time risk of hip fracture in white women is approximately 15% which is equal to the combined risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer. Despite its deleterious effect on women's health, knowledge of the epidemiology of osteoporosis in Korea is only beginning. 1970 in Korea has non as the crossover period between the chronic and an Infectious diseases. As the result, the infant mortality declined and an elderly population in Korea increased significantly in the past decade, The average life expectancy of women in Korea is now about 75 years. Thus, the majority of Korean women will spend approximately one-third of their life in the postmenopause state. Therefore, better understanding of bone metabolism and fracture incidence in Korean population is a great interest for the medical community as well as for public health. Currently, no population based epidemiologic data are available to support the incidence of osteoporotic fractures in Korea. However, available data suggest that significant declining of bone mineral density (BMD [g/$cm^2$]) has been occurring in Korean women after menopause. In same population, peak BMD was observed around 33-39 years of age and continue to decline thereafter. An accelerated bone losses occur after the menopause and the average loss is approximately 13% within 15 years from the menopause. The incidence of fracture was highly correlated with an age and bone mineral density. The mean age of menopause in Korean women was 47 years and this age appears to getting younger when analyzed by the birth cohort. An earlier menopausal age and increase life expectancy place Korean women at increase risk for osteoporosis and bone fracture. Korean or Asian women are no longer protected from the risk of bone fracture. Therefore, an early prevention or intervention schemes are essential before the outbreak of osteoporosis and/or fracture occurs in Korean or Asian women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.713-717
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• 2016

Background: To evaluate the prevalence and features of other gynecologic or surgical lesions in endometrial cancer (EMC) patients. Materials and Methods: Clinico-pathological data of EMC patients who were treated in the institution from 1995 to 2012 were collected. Data collected were age, stage of disease according to the FIGO 2009 criteria (FIGO), histopathology, tumor grade, adjuvant therapy, other gynecologic or surgical lesions, follow-up period, and living status. Results: The mean age of 396 patients was $56.7{\pm}10.64years$. Abnormal uterine bleeding was the most common presenting symptom (90.1%). Bleeding was accompanied with pelvic mass in 7.7% and 5.4% had only a pelvic mass. Abnormal cervical cytology was found in 3.8%. Approximately 75% had early stage diseases and 86% had endometrioid histology. We found 55.8% of EMC patients had other gynecologic lesions: 89.6% benign and 9.5% malignant. Some 4.5% had pre-invasive cervical/vulva/vagina lesions. The two most common gynecologic lesions were myoma uteri and ovarian tumors. Focusing on the latter, approximately 14% were benign while 8% were malignant. Among 364 patients with available data, surgical lesions were found in 11.8%, 5.7% benign and 9.2% malignant. The most common benign surgical condition was chronic appendicitis while breast and colon cancers were the two most common malignant lesions found. Conclusions: More than half of EMC patients had other gynecologic lesions including benign and malignant tumors. Surgical lesions were also found in more than one-tenth of patients. Careful pre-operative evaluation and intra-operative inspection are advised for proper management and better prognosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2002

The relationship between level of milk composition and conditions of ovary and uterus were analyzed in Holstein cows at seven farms participating in a reproductive herd health management program. Milk data were taken from 503 early lactating cows between 30 and 60 days in milk with reproductive examination with ultrasonography from september 1999 to August 2000. Milk fat, protein and solid-not-fat concentration in the herds were $3.70{\pm}1.08%$, $2.97{\pm}0.35$, and $8.41{\pm}0.61%$, respectively. The reproductive disorder relative to normal cows had higher risk in the cows that the level of protein was lower than 2.70%. Also, the higher milk fat than 4.50% were associated with a higher risks in the uterine disease and follicular cysts. Therefore, the cows with the fat to protein ratio of > 1.30 had higher risks for reproductive disorder such as cystic ovarian diseases, inactive ovaries and endometritis. These results indicated that cows diagnosed with reproductive disorder were energy deficient prior to reproductive disorder diagnosis. Consequently, milk fat and protein analyses may be used serve as a monitoring tool for condition of ovary and uterus in early lactating cows

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3191-3196
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• 2013

Leaf extracts of Cassia alata L (akapulko), traditionally used for treatment of a variety of diseases, were evaluated for their potential antitumor properties in vitro. MTT assays were used to examine the cytotoxic effects of crude extracts on five human cancer cell lines, namely MCF-7, derived from a breast carcinoma, SK-BR-3, another breast carcinoma, T24 a bladder carcinoma, Col 2, a colorectal carcinoma, and A549, a nonsmall cell lung adenocarcinoma. Hexane extracts showed remarkable cytotoxicity against MCF-7, T24, and Col 2 in a dose-dependent manner. This observation was confirmed by morphological investigation using light microscopy. Further bioassay-directed fractionation of the cytotoxic extract led to the isolation of a TLC-pure isolate labeled as f6l. Isolate f6l was further evaluated using MTT assay and morphological and biochemical investigations, which likewise showed selectivity to MCF-7, T24, and Col 2 cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 16, 17, and 17 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Isolate f6l, however, showed no cytotoxicity towards the non-cancer Chinese hamster ovarian cell line (CHO-AA8). Cytochemical investigation using DAPI staining and biochemical investigation using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-a method used to detect DNA fragmentation-together with caspase assay, demonstrated apoptotic cell death. Spectral characterization of isolate f6l revealed that it contained polyunsaturated fatty acid esters. Considering the cytotoxicity profile and its mode of action, f6l might represent a new promising compound with potential for development as an anticancer drug with low or no toxicity to non-cancer cells used in this study.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.265-272
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• 2010

Follicular cystic ovary (FCO) is one of the most frequently diagnosed ovarian diseases and is a major cause of reproductive failure in mammalian species. However, the mechanism by which FCO is induced remains unclear. Genetic alterations which affect the functioning of many kinds of cells and/or tissues could be present in cystic ovaries. In this study, we performed a comparison analysis of gene expression in order to identify new molecules useful in discrimination of bovine FCO with follicular cystic follicles (FCFs). Normal follicles and FCFs were classified based on their sizes (5 to 10 mm and $\geq25mm$). These follicles had granulosa cell layer and theca interna and the hormone $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$)/ progesterone ($P_4$) ratio in follicles was greater than one. Perifollicular regions including follicles were used for the preparation of RNA or protein. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) that showed greater than a 2-fold change in expression were screened by the annealing control primer (ACP)-based PCR method using $GeneFishing^{TM}$ DEG kits in bovine normal follicles and FCFs. We identified two DEGs in the FCFs: ribosomal protein L15 (RPL15) and microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) based on BLAST searches of the NCBI GenBank. Consistent with the ACP analysis, semi-quantitative PCR data and Western blot analyses revealed an up-regulation of RPL15 and a down-regulation of MAP1B in FCFs. These results suggest that RPL15 and MAP1B may be involved in the regulation of pathological processes in bovine FCOs and may help to establish a bovine gene data-base for the discrimination of FCOs from normal ovaries.