• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2016

Purpose: This study identified the level of marital intimacy, menopausal symptom and sexual function, and examined factors affecting sexual function in postmenopausal married women. Methods: With cross-sectional survey, a sample of 245 subjects aged 45 to 60 years was recruited from January to March, 2014. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires which included marital intimacy questionnaire (MIQ), menopause rating scale (MRS), and female sexual function index (FSFI). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Marital intimacy, menopausal symptom and sexual function scores of subjects were $3.46{\pm}1.14$, $13.71{\pm}6.61$, and $12.55{\pm}8.33$, respectively. Marital intimacy and menopausal symptom were related to sexual function. Variables including marital intimacy, psychosocial and urogenital menopausal symptom, period since menopause and body mass index therapy explained 51.5% in sexual function of participants. Conclusion: When nurses plan sexual counseling and education for sexual function of postmenopausal married women, it is necessary to consider marital intimacy, menopausal symptoms, and menopause-related factors.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.95-104
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the degree of menopausal symptom and granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio, and heart rate varibility(HRV). Methods: From 11th April 2011 to 20th May 2011, a total 30 female subjects (age 41-60) was recruited. We evaluated the degree of menopausal symptoms by Kupperman' s index and measured subject's WBC differential count and HRV. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman correlation test using SPSS/PC ver 13.0 program. Results: 1. There was no statistically significant difference in granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio and HRV among 4 classified groups according to Kupperman's index.- Mild, Moderate, Severe and Urgent. 2. Granulocyte ratio and general symptom score(within Kupperman's index) significantly showed negative correlation coefficient(r=-0.499, p=0.005), and Lymphocyte ratio and general symptom score significantly showed positive correlation coefficient (r=0.374, p=0.042). 3. Granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio and HRV showed no significant correlation. Conclusions: There was no significant relation among the degree of menopausal symptoms and granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio, and HRV. But furthermore large scale study is required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.169-174
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was accomplished to find out clinical features of knee pain of female after menopausal and their recognition of moxibustion treatment. Methods : Before and after 8 times moxibustion treatment(mostly 2 times a weak), survey was done. Moxibustion treatment was done on painful location, 3 times per each point. Results & Conclusions : Other symptom with Knee pain was Click 30.8 %, stiffness 25.6 %, press pain 16.7 %, swelling 14.1 %, fever 5.1 %, none 7.7 %. VAS of moxibustion treatment is significantly increased after treatment. Expectation of moxibustion treatmen is not. "Bad smell" is the first cause of evasion of moxibustion therapy. It should have been considered to reduce bad smell in development of moxibustion.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.120-123
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• 1996

Regarding menopause as a turning point in woman's lift, the author reviewed the psychosocial aspects of menopause. Seeing menstruation as the symbolic meaning of female sexuality, psychoanalysts argue that menopause, the loss of symbolic meaning of female sexuality, may bring a mourning reaction to woman. It is reported that the high ratio of depression does not have a serious relationship with the menopause syndrome, and that depression cannot be viewed as a different symptoms. It is also proved that most women successfully recover themselves from temporary menopause symptom. Research data shows that some women have a negative thought on the meaning of menopause. Others, however, have a positive concept on the meaning of menopause because of the feeling of release and freedom. In sum, the author suggests that psychosocial consideration is very important as much as bilogical consideration in considering the meaning of menopausal syndrome.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.217-220
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• 2016

Phytoestrogens are one of quasi-estrogens which are not generated within the endocrine system, but consumed by intaking phytoestrogenic plants. Phytoestrogens, also called as "dietary estrogens", are various botanic chemical compound groups naturally occurring nonsteroidal plant compounds of spontaneous generation. Due to their structural similarities to estrogone, they may provide desirable health benefits for reducing the menopausal symptoms. In this paper, various phytoestrogens were extracted from sophora root, pomegranate and kudzu by ultrasonic extraction process. In this study, the amount of extracted phytoestrogens at various ultrasonic power strengths and extraction times were compared, which could be used as basic data in the study of biology and chemistry related to natural products.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2016

Objectives Although forgetfulness is a common complaint among menopausal depressed women, there is still a debate about the relationship between memory impairment and menopause. The aim of this study is to examine whether menopause is related to cognitive decline among women with depressive disorders. We hypothesized that postmenopausal depressed women show generally poorer performance than premenopausal depressed women on various cognitive function tests. Methods With a retrospective chart review, we identified a total of 87 female patients (45 premenopausal patients and 42 postmenopausal patients) who were hospitalized with depressive disorders from 2000 to 2016. Demographic and clinical variables and cognitive test results were compared between two groups. Results Education year is longer in premenopausal group than postmenopausal group whereas clinical characteristics (illness duration, recurrence, and symptom severity) and mean Intelligence Quotient (IQ) were similar between two groups. The postmenopausal group took longer time for Bender-Gestalt Test (BGT) recall, Trail Making Test (TMT)-A, and TMT-B than the premenopausal group. After controlling for age and education, significant difference was remained for BGT recall (p = 0.029). Conclusions Postmenopausal state may be related with decline of visuospatial memory function, in particular, among depressed female patients. Other areas of cognitive function including complex attention, verbal memory, auditory memory, and working memory might be interpreted while considering age and education level.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7467-7472
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is known to be one of the most prevalent cancers among women in both developing and developed countries. The incidence of breast cancer in Pakistan has increased dramatically within the last few years and is the second country after Israel in Asia to have highest proportional cases of breast cancer. However, there are limited data for breast cancer available in the literature from Pakistan. Objectives: The study was conducted to bring to light the common clinical presentation of breast cancer and to evaluate the frequency of established risk factors in breast carcinoma patients and furthermore to compare the findings between premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Pakistan. Materials and Methods: A 6 months (from July 2012 to Dec 2012) cross sectional survey was conducted in Surgical and Oncology Units of Civil Hospital, Karachi. Data were collected though a well developed questionnaire from 105 female patients diagnosed with carcinoma of breast and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Institutional ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection. Results: Out of 105 patients, 43 were premenopausal and 62 were postmenopausal, 99 being married. Mean age at diagnosis was $47.8{\pm}12.4years$. A painless lump was the most frequent symptom, notived by 77.1%(n=81). Some 55.2% (n=58) patients had a lump in the right breast and 44.8%(n=47) in the left breast. In the majority of cases, the lump was present in upper outer quadrant 41.9% (n=44). Mean period of delay from appearance of symptoms to consulting a doctor was $5.13{\pm}4.8months$, from the shortest 1 month to the longest 36 months. Long delay (> 3 months) was the most frequent figure 41.9%. Considering overall risk factors most frequent were first pregnancy after 20 years of age (41%), physical breast trauma (28.6%), lack of breast feeding(21.9%), and early menarche <11 years (19%), followed by null parity (16.2%), consumption of high fat diet (15.2%), family history of breast cancer or any other cancer in first degree relatives (9.5% and 13.3%, respectively). Some of the less common factors were late menopause >54 years (8.6%), use of oral contraceptive pills (10.5%), use of hormone replacement therapy (4.7%),smoking (4.7%) and radiation (0.96%). Significant differences (p<0.005) were observed between pre and post menopausal women regarding history of physical breast trauma, practice of breast feeding and parity. Conclusions: A painless lump was the most frequent clinical presentation noted. Overall age at first child > 20 years, physical breast trauma, lack of breast feeding, early menarche <11 were the most frequent risk factors. Physical breast trauma, lower parity, a trend for less breast feeding had more significant associations with pre-menopausal than post-menopausal onset. Increase opportunity of disease prevention can be obtained through better understanding of clinical presentation and risk factors important in the etiology of breast cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.506-515
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• 2015

In this study, the effect of Goheung pomegranate extract on postmenopausal syndrome was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo in ovariectomized Sprague-Dawly (SD) rats. Sixty female SD rats were divided into six groups: sham, sham operation and distilled water; OVX, ovariectomized and distilled water; PE1, ovariectomized and pomegranate concentrate (0.75 mL/twice/d); PE2, ovariectomized and pomegranate concentrate (1.5 mL/twice/d); PE3, ovariectomized and pomegranate concentrate (2.2 mL/twice/d); and CE, ovariectomized and commercial pomegranate concentrate (2.2 mL/twice/d). Percent bone volume (bone volume/tissue volume) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) improved in a dose-independent manner in PE1, 2, and 3. Especially, bone mineral density was significantly improved in PE3 (P<0.05) compared to OVX. Pomegranate extract reduced body weight and visceral fat mass. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level slightly increased in a dose-independent manner in the experimental group. In addition, HDL-C/total cholesterol level of PE3 significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with OVX. These results show that pomegranate concentrate improved blood lipid levels and bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Therefore, Goheung pomegranate concentrates are expected to improve cardiovascular and bone-related diseases in menopausal women.