• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.123-131
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• 2007

Purpose: To find the correlation between ambient temperature change and the efficacy of acupuncture on the postmenopausal hot flash. Methods: 52 patients entered a randomized clinical trial which was to verify the efficacy of acupuncture on postmenopausal hot flash. Participants were treated with optimal/minimal acupuncture in the course of 13 weeks. 34 of 52 visited for the temperature-rising period(Group 1), while 18 of 52 for the temperature-falling period(Group 2), 100mm hot flash VAS and average temperature were taken 18 times from each person. Linear mixed effects model was used to find the correlation between temperature and hot flash VAS score(p-value<0.05). Group1/2, optimal/minimal acupuncture, age, age of menarche, height, weight, percent body fat, BMI, waist-hip ratio, past history of hysterectomy and HRT were also examined. Results: Period of treatment had influence on the hot flash VAS. As time went by, hot flash decreased(p<.0000). Participants who underwent minimal acupuncture showed higher hot flash VAS(p=0.0479) and as waist-hip ratio rose, hot flash increased(p<.0000). As the temperature rose, hot flash VAS score became lower(p=0.0143) and it was because 34 of 52 participants were treated for the temperature-rising period. Group 1/2 had no interrelation with hot flash(p=0.5741). Conclusion: Hot flash diminished as participants were treated with acupuncture, independently of whether the ambient temperature rises or falls.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.759-770
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• 1995

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of weight control by use of commercial formula diet and nutrition education on 36 obese women over a period of 6 months. During the study it motivated ways for women to control their weight and improve their health, thus analyzing variables that influence weight control. To help weight control, for the first 3 weeks, along with 1 regular mea, 2-3 liquid formula diets of 135㎉ per pack a day were provided within the 1,200-800㎉ range. For 6 months since then, all 3 meals were taken regularly and it was recommended that energy which is 500㎉ less than energy requirement be taken. To evaluate the effect of weight change by the weight control program, anthropometric measurements, biochemicl parameter, and food behavior are measured. The mean body mass index(BMI) was 30.1$\pm$3.8(25.0-43.6) and it was in the upper 5 percentile of the mean BMI of Korean women. The percent of body fat was significantly reduced from 29.1$\pm$2.4 to 26.4$\pm$2.3, showing that the weight control program induced not only a change in weight but also a change in body composition. The body circumference such as waist and hip circumference and skinfold thickness measurements of biceps, triceps, subscapular and surprailiac were reduced significantly, but the mean waist-to-hip ratio didn't change. Singnificantly improved food behavior score measured by the questionnaire indicated that the weight-contorl program induced the change of the food behavior, as well. Weight loss also induced biochemical parameters of the subject, thus total cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, and triglycerol which were in the high range of the normal values were reduced to 20.2%(p<0.01), 22.2%(p<0.01), 25.8%(p<0.01), repectively. HDL-cholesterol didn't change significantly, but the ratio of HDL to total cholesterol increased(p<0.01).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.453-463
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• 2009

This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the weight control program for female college students. The program was composed of diet and behavioral modifications for 8 weeks. A total of 78 participants enrolled the weight control program. Upon completion of the program, 53 participants experienced weight loss and 25 did not. The intakes of carbohydrate and fat were significantly decreased in both groups. However, the total diet quality index-international (DQII) scores as well as individual scores such as variety scores for protein source and adequacy scores for vegetable, fiber, calcium and vitamin C and moderation scores for empty calorie food were increased significantly in weight loss group only. In the weight loss group, weight, BMI, body fat, percent body fat and waist-hip ratio were decreased significantly. In addition, compared to the weight gain group, the weight loss group had higher changes in weight (weight loss group: -2.6% vs weight gain group: 1.5%, p < 0.001), body fat (-6.0% vs 0.0%, p < 0.001), percent body fat (-3.1% vs -0.3%, p < 0.001), waist-hip ratio (-1.0% vs 0.5%, p < 0.001) and BMI (-2.6% vs 1.3%, p < 0.01). There was no difference in blood profiles between the two groups. The changes in DQI-I scores were significantly correlated with the changes in body weight (r = -0.239, p < 0.05) and BMI (r = -0.224, p < 0.05), indicating that effective nutrition education could help improve diet quality leading to successful weight management among female college students.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.759-769
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• 2009

This study investigated the effects of the nutrition education and exercise program on body composition, dietary intakes and physical fitness in obese women. The subjects were 44 obese women (BMI${\geq}$ 25 kg/$m^2$) who had been participating in nutrition education (1 time/week) and exercise program (3 time/week) for 12 weeks. Nutrition education was focused on low energy, high protein and low carbohydrate diet to reduce the body weight and improve the diet quality. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, daily nutrient intakes were assessed by 24-hour recall method. Body composition, blood lipid profiles and physical fitness test were assessed before and after the intervention. After the intervention, body weight, BMI, percent body fat, soft lean mass and waist/hip ratio were significantly decreased (p < 0.001). Fasting blood sucrose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index (AI) were significantly decreased (p < 0.001), while HDLcholesterol was significantly increased (p < 0.001). Energy adjusted protein, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin $B_6$, vitamin C, vitamin E, niacin and folate were significantly increased. After the intervention, the muscle endurance, muscle strength, agility, balance were significantly increased. The changes in obesity indices (body weight, BMI, percent body fat, waist-hip ratio) were correlated with the changes of the nutrient intakes, serum lipid profiles, physical fitness. These results show that nutrition education and exercise program was effective not only for weight reduction but also for the improvement of physical strength and cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese women.

• CELLMED
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.6
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• 2016

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) has now become more common in occurrence in women of reproductive age, particularly in urban and semi-urban population in India. So there is a need to investigate this phenomenon taking into consideration various aspects including possible treatment method to ameliorate/eradicate this syndrome, which has far reaching socio-economic impact and consequences, in view of infertility and irregular menstrual cycles frequently associated with this syndrome. Homeopathy is a branch of traditional alternative medicine which is gaining popularity in India and some other developing countries, as also in some of the developed countries in Europe. With this background scenario, we have made an attempt to treat cases of confirmed PCOS and tried to compare the relative efficacy of two potentized homeopathic drugs, namely, Lycopodium clavatum (Lyco) and Calcarea carbonica (Calc), most frequently used by homeopathic practitioners, selecting different potencies of the drugs, depending on condition/guiding symptom(s) of the patients. While the main focus was pointed on total/partial removal of cysts, data pertaining to different PCOS associated symptoms were also compared for the sake of learning if the two drugs had differential effects on these symptoms also. The study parameters in this investigation included: regularity/irregularity of menstrual cycle, presence/absence of acne, hirsutism, male type alopecia, acanthosis nigricans, body/mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio. Overall results provided clear evidences that both these homeopathic drugs had great ameliorating effects on PCOS, although each drug had a little different effect in respect of the individual parameters of this study.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.232-237
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• 2012

This study was done to explore the effect of Korean women's salt usage behavior on their sodium intake and excretion according to aging. Dietary sodium intake and salt usage behavior were analyzed to compare the difference between young and middle-aged women. One hundred fifty six young women and 77 middle-aged women without hypertension or any current medication were recruited. Body mass index, waist hip ratio, blood pressure were measured from each subject. Salt usage behaviors were surveyed with questionnaire, sodium intake with 24-hr recall method, and sodium excretion with spot urine. Middle-aged women were more obese than young women according to body mass index and waist hip ratio. Blood pressure was significantly higher for the middle-aged. Young women consumed more fats and middle-aged women more carbohydrates. Middle-aged women consumed more sodium and potassium, and excreted more sodium. Among questionnaire items, kimchi, soup or pot stew, or salted vegetables were found to be related with high sodium diet. Salted vegetables and salted nuts and potato chips were significantly correlated with young women's high sodium diet, while soy sauce on fried food, kimchi, salted vegetables accounted for middle-aged women's high sodium diet. With these results, we concluded that middle-aged women consumed more carbohydrates, less fat, and more sodium and potassium than young women. Middle-aged women frequently choose kimchi, soup or pot stew, or salted vegetables, and they contribute to high sodium intake. We recommend to choose low-salt kimchi, less soup or pot stew, and more fresh vegetables for lower sodium diet.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.37-42
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of physical performance on bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly women. Methods: Twenty-one elderly women participated in this study. After testing functional ambulation category (FAC), they were classified into two groups: dependent walking group, those who could not walk independently (FAC 0~2, n=11) and independent walking group those who could walk independently (FAC 3~5, n=10). Outcome measures were: general characteristics, physical performance and BMD. General characteristics included age, body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio. Physical performance included the chair rise test (CRT) and the modified fall efficacy scale (MFES). BMD was represented in the osteoporosis index (OI), T-score and Z-score. BMD was evaluated in calcaneal bone, using OsteoPro. The data was analyzed using SPSS 12.0 software and the Mann-Whitney U test and the Spearman correlation. Results: Age, BMI and waist hip ratio, which all affect BMD, showed no significant differences between groups (p>0.05). But the FAC 3~5 group showed a significantly higher score for CRT, MFES and T-score, compared with the FAC 0~2 group (p<0.05). The T-score was correlated with CRT and MFES scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: There is a positive relationship between physical performance and BMD. Therefore, improved physical performance can have a beneficial effect by reducing osteoporosis in elderly women, considering a positive relationship between physical performance and BMD.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.33-43
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of modified fasting therapy using fermented herbal medicine on the changes of body compositions. Methods : This study was carried out on 11 patients who carried out modified fasting therapy using fermented herbal medicine. They went through reducing food intakes period(7 days), fasting period(10~14 days) and refeeding period(10~14 days). Body compositions(weight, BMI(body mass index), skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, percent body fat, basal metabolic rate, waist-hip ratio, visceral fat area) were measured at each state. And then the data was analyzed. Results : 1. The weight and BMI decreased during the reducing food intakes period and the fasting period, and increased during the refeeding period. But the weight and BMI decreased during the fasting therapy period, as a whole. 2. The skeletal muscle mass decreased during the fasting period and increased during the refeeding period. As the final outcome, for the whole fasting therapy period, decrease of skeletal muscle mass didn't show significance. The body fat mass and percent body fat decreased during the reducing food intakes period, the fasting period and the refeeding period. 3. The basal metabolic rate decreased during the fasting period and increased during the refeeding period. As the final outcome, for the whole fasting therapy period, decrease of basal metabolic rate didn't show significance. 4. The waist-hip ratio decreased during the fasting period and the refeeding period. The visceral fat area decreased during the fasting period and refeeding period. Conclusions : Results from this investigation showed that modified fasting therapy using fermented herbal medicine have positive effects on changes of body compositions. This results are expected to compensate the defects of existing fasting therapy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.342-353
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• 2017

Purpose: This study evaluated the changes in nutritional status based on quality of life (QoL) item-level analysis to determine whether individual QoL responses might facilitate personal clinical impact. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated QoL data obtained by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Stomach (QLQ-STO22) as well as metabolic-nutritional data obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis and blood tests. Patients were assessed preoperatively and at the 5-year follow-up. QoL was analyzed at the level of the constituent items. The patients were categorized into vulnerable and non-vulnerable QoL groups for each scale based on their responses to the QoL items and changes in the metabolic-nutritional indices were compared. Results: Multiple shortcomings in the metabolic-nutritional indices were observed in the vulnerable groups for nausea/vomiting (waist-hip ratio, degree of obesity), dyspnea (hemoglobin, iron), constipation (body fat mass, percent body fat), dysphagia (body fat mass, percent body fat), reflux (body weight, hemoglobin), dry mouth (percent body fat, waist-hip ratio), and taste (body weight, total body water, soft lean mass, body fat mass). The shortcomings in a single index were observed in the vulnerable groups for emotional functioning and pain (EORTC QLQ-C30) and for eating restrictions (EORTC QLQ-STO22). Conclusions: Long-term postoperative QoL deterioration in emotional functioning, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, constipation, dysphagia, reflux, eating restrictions, dry mouth, and taste were associated with nutritional shortcomings. QoL item-level analysis, instead of scale-level analysis, may help to facilitate personalized treatment for individual QoL respondents.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2015

Objectives: Postmenopausal symptoms are subject to many factors. Recently, obesity has been suggested as a factor of hot flush. So this study aims to report the relationship between body composition and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), The Menopause-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) of postmenopausal women. Methods: We studied 42 climacteric women who had visited Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong from April 2011 to July 2014. 42 women had filled out MRS, MENQOL, and they had taken body composition tests. Pearson correlation tests were conducted. (Correlation was statistically significant at the 0.05 level) Results: Correlation between psychological subscale of MENQOL and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) was statistically significant (pearson correlation coefficient=0.385; p-value=0.012). But other subscales of MRS and MENQOL were not statistically related with body composition. Conclusions: WHR could be an important factor of psychological health of menopausal women. So, abdominal fat reduction must be considered when curing menopausal symptoms. In connection with climacteric depression, well-designed studies would be necessary.