• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.688-695
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• 2010

Burning mouth disorders (sometimes referred to as burning mouth syndrome) are characterized by a burning sensation in the tongue or other oral sites, usually in the absence of clinical and laboratory findings. Affected patients often present with multiple oral complaints, including burning, dryness and taste alterations. Burning mouth complaints are reported more often in women, especially after menopause. Typically, patients awaken without pain, but report increasing symptoms through the day and into the evening. Conditions that have been reported in association with burning mouth syndrome include chronic anxiety or depression, various nutritional deficiencies, diabetes and changes in salivary function. However, these conditions have not been consistently linked with the syndrome, and their treatment has had little impact on burning mouth symptoms. Recent studies have pointed to dysfunction of several cranial nerves associated with taste sensation as a possible cause of burning mouth disorders. The most common central mechanism that likely explains burning mouth disorders is a centrally mediated continuous neuropathic pain. Given in low dosages, benzodiazepine, tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants may be effective in patients with burning mouth disorders.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.593-600
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• 2014

Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease characterized by low bone mass which is caused by disturbance in the balance between the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is one of the most common disorders in women after menopause, which is linked to an estrogen deficiency and characterized by an excessive loss of trabecular bone. Rubus coreanus has been used for their various pharmacological properties in Asia as a traditional medicine. To investigate the effect of unripe fruits of R. coreanus 30% ethanol extract (RCE) on osteoblast-like cells (MG63) differentiation, we examined the effects of RCE on in vitro osteoblastic differentiation markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and receptor activator of nuclear factor ${\kappa}$-B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression. The high concentration (50 and $100{\mu}g/mL$) of RCE markedly increased ALP activity, whereas decreased the RANKL/OPG. We also investigated the effect of RCE on M-CSF plus RANKL-induced differentiation of pre-osteoclast cells (RAW 264.7). RCE treatment remarkably inhibited M-CSF/RANKL-induced formation of osteoclast-like multinuclear cells from RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of RCE was reduced by selective estrogen receptor-${\alpha}$ antagonist. Our research suggests that suggested that unripe fruits of R. coreanus may act beneficial effects on bone mass by regulating both osteoblast and osteoclast.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1281-1287
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• 2021

Clinical and preclinical studies have reported that Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17, a probiotic bacterial strain isolated from human breast milk, reduces body weight and white adipose tissue volume. In order to further explore the actions of L. gasseri BNR17, we investigated the anti-menopausal effects of L. gasseri BNR17 in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. The serum alanine aminotransferase levels of the rats in the OVX-BNR17 group were lower than those of the rats in the OVX-vehicle only (OVX-Veh) group. Upon administration of L. gasseri BNR17 after ovariectomy, calcitonin and Serotonin 2A levels increased significantly, whereas serum osteocalcin levels showed a decreasing tendency. Compared to the rats in the OVX-Veh group, those in the OVX-BNR17 group showed lower urine deoxypyridinoline levels, lower pain sensitivity, and improved vaginal cornification. Furthermore, L. gasseri BNR17 administration increased bone mineral density in the rats with OVX-induced femoral bone loss. These results suggest that L. gasseri BNR17 administration could alleviate menopausal symptoms, indicating that this bacterium could be a good functional probiotic for managing the health of older women.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.50-59
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• 2019

Anti-$M{\ddot{u}}llerian$ hormone (AMH), a peptide growth factor of the transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$ family, is a reliable marker of ovarian reserve. Regarding assisted reproductive technology, AMH has been efficiently used as a marker to predict ovarian response to stimulation. The clinical use of AMH has recently been extended and emphasized. The uses of AMH as a predictive marker of menopause onset, diagnostic tool for polycystic ovary syndrome, and assessment of ovarian function before and after gynecologic surgeries or gonadotoxic agents such as chemotherapy have been investigated. Serum AMH levels can also be affected by environmental and genetic factors; thus, the effects of factors that may alter AMH test results should be considered. This review summarizes the findings of recent studies focusing on the clinical application of AMH and factors that influence the AMH level and opinions on the use of the AMH level to assess the probability of conception before reproductive life planning as a "fertility test."

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2023

Purpose: This study sought to identify factors affecting the health-related quality of life (HINT-8) of female seniors aged 65 years or older living alone after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Raw data from the eighth third year (2021) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used, and the total number of subjects was 379. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 program, employing complex sample frequency and percentages, t-tests, analyses of variance, and regression analyses, while a post-hoc test (Bonferroni correction) was performed to determine differences in health-related quality of life. Results: The results of the study showed that the study subjects' health-related quality of life differed significantly depending on activity restrictions, number of walking days, age at menopause, perceived stress, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and subjective health. Most of the influencing factors were emotional factors such as perceived stress level, generalized anxiety disorder, and subjective health status carrying an explanatory power of 46%. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used as basic data to establish intervention strategies based on factors that affect the health-related quality of life for female seniors living alone.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.57-61
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• 2020

Purpose: Purpose: This study was to study the effect of foot bathing on menopausal symptoms and sleep disorders in female subjects in their 50s with menopausal symptoms. Methods: After 12 weeks of foot bath therapy three times a week, pre- and post-menopausal signs were measured. Results: Subjects with hot flashes, heart discomfort, sleep problems, depression, irritability, anxiety, physical and mental fatigue, sexual problems, urination problems, vaginal dryness, and joint and muscle discomfort significantly improved after than before(p < .001). Subjective sleep quality, sleep incubation period, sleep duration, sleep disturbance score, sleep drug use, and sleep dysfunction significantly decreased after foot bath than before(p < .001). Habitual sleep efficiency increased considerably. Conclusions: The subjects showed overall improvement in menopausal symptoms and sleeping quality after a foot-bath. Therefore, foot bath therapy is evaluated as a natural healing therapy suitable for improving menopausal symptoms and sleep.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9543-9547
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate demographic features, dietary habits, and some possible risk factors for being susceptible to breast cancer in Iranian women. Materials and Methods: A study of dietary habits and breast cancer was conducted among 53 Iranian women with histological confirmed disease and 40 matched controls. A dietary habits questionnaire was used to evaluate the pattern of selected food intakes. The risk of cancer was analyzed after adjustment for confounding factors. Age, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, educational status, parity, lactation, marital status, menopause, history of estrogen therapy, and family history of breast disease or cancer were assessed among participants. Special attention was given to the relationship between consumption of high fat meat, milk, yogurt and cheese as well use of frying oils for frying foods, use of olive/liquid oils for cooking, removing fat from meat and poultry, removing chicken skin and not use of mayonnaise as salad dressing and the risk of breast cancer. Moreover, salad, vegetable and fruit consumption, and eating outdoors owere investigated. Results: Our results revealed significant lower education and higher BMI and waist circumference levels in patients with breast cancer. There was significantly increased breast cancer risk in overweight women in comparison with normal weight (OR=2.91, 95%CI 1.24 to 6.82). High intake of fat dairy products including milk and cheese was found to be a statistically significant factor for increasing breast cancer risk in models adjusting for age, BMI and education. Use of olive/liquid oils for cooking and avoidance of mayonnaise as salad dressing are related to lower risk of breast cancer. The frequency of vegetable and fruit consumption was significantly lower in patients with breast cancer compared to healthy women. Conclusions: Dietary habits might be risk factors for breast cancer among Iranian women. Adoption of a prudent diet could be an appropriate strategy for preventing breast cancer.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.25-35
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• 2021

Middle-aged women experience diverse psychological and physical stresses and tensions through the menopause, aging, and taking up too many social roles, which often leads to sleep disorder. But there are not many scientific researches on the issue. Therefore, the research of efficacy of singing bowl that helps relax middle-aged women who have sleep disorder is needed to improve their health. This study was conducted with Giorgi's phenomenological method with 4 middle-aged women with sleep disorder, whose Pittsburgh sleeping quality scale marked over 5 points, who took part in singing bowl experience for 40 minutes and did the interview. The study resulted in following conclusions that through participants' singing bowl experience, 518 constructive meanings, 15 meaning units, 7 sub components, and 2 group subjects were drawn up. Firstly, when participants took part in the singing bowl experience, they underwent physical, mental, imagery experiences which are physical pain and muscle relaxation, mental relaxation, and positive mindset and imaginary images and colors. Secondly, physical changes that the participants felt after singing bowl experience was increased physical relaxation, improved physical symptoms and more physical activities, and psychologically participants also felt reduced anxiety, increased happiness and positive mentality. And behavioral changes are relaxed movements, increased activities, and improved sleep is huge benefit through changes of sleep pattern. In this study, singing bowl is confirmed to be effective both physically and psychologically on relaxing the middle-aged women's tensions that are caused by sleep disorders and singing bowl experience is meaningful in that the middle-aged women as well as modern people with the sleep disorders can be helped to have better lives.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.75-88
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the current use of Korean medicine for obesity and its effect for women in climacteric period. Methods: We studied women aged 45-55 who visited Daejeon Korean medicine Hospital of Daejeon University to lose body weight from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022 via an analysis of the medical records. The treatment duration was continuous for more than 2 weeks, and a body composition was measured by Inbody 770 at 2 to 4 weeks after the first visit. Results: 28 patients were finally selected and their average age was 49.32±3.38 years. Based on the body mass index (BMI) classification, 19 were in the 1st obesity group, 5 in the 2nd obesity group, 3 in the overweight group and 1 in the normal group. Patients usually complained comcomitant symptoms, and the symptoms of menopausal disorder was the most frequent. The average treatment duration was 3.68±0.67 weeks and the average treatment frequency was 3.93±0.98 times. All patients took herbal medicines Gambi-tang and 23 took modified fasting therapy including Gamro-su. 14 were treated by whole body far-infrared therapy and 6 were gotten partial obesity treatment. Among patients treated for accompanying symptoms, menopausal disorders were the most common (35.71%), and herbal medicine such as Gamisoyou-san, Hominis Placenta Pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and cupping were used. After treatment, on average, body composition changed significantly; body weight 3.28±1.82 kg, BMI 1.36±1.04 kg/m², body fat 1.70±1.67 kg, skeletal muscle mass 0.81±0.91 kg, abdominal circumference 2.04±2.6 cm, and visceral fat area 8.91±12.83 cm². Conclusions: We analyzed general characteristics, BMI distribution, types of Korean medicine treatment and change of body composition. This study could be used as reference to provide practical data of treatment for obese women in climacteric period.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.267-278
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• 2005

Postmenopausal women or ovariectomized rats are associated with increased cholesterol levels, which are risk factors of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome after menopause might be associated with estradiol deficiency. Harmful effect of estradiol hampers the casual usage of hormone to prevent the metabolic syndrome. Soy protein has been reported to show several beneficial effects on health, however it is unclear which components of soy protein is responsible for anti-obesity and hypocholesterolemic effects. Soy isoflavones, gem-stein and daizein, are suggested to have anti-obesity and hypocholesterolemic effects but with inconsistency. The present study investigated the effect of supplementation of genistein (experiment I) and soy protein containing isoflavones (experiment II) to high fat diet on body weight gain, food intake, liver and fat tissue weight and the lipid levels in ovariectomized rats. Plasma and hepatic lipid contents and the mRNA levels of genes encoding lipid metabolism related proteins, such as CPT1 and HMGR were measured. Ovariectomy increased body weight, fat tissue weight and plasma and hepatic lipid levels which increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Soy protein could improve plasma and hepatic lipids levels. Soy protein also increased hepatic CPT1 and HMGR mRNA levels. Plasma and hepatic lipids levels could not be decreased by dietary genistein alone. In contrast, lipids levels could be decreased by isoflavone-fortified soy protein, suggesting that the ingestion of soy protein enriched with isoflavone gives more benefit for protecting postmenopausal women from metabolic syndrome.