• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.365-371
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• 2007

Recent studies suggest a possible pathogenic linkage between the osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. We investigated the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors, including high sensitivity C-reactive (hs-CRP), hs-CRP and bone metabolism in females. Anthropometric measurements were performed on 300 women, and cardiovascular risk factors, including fasting blood glucose, lipid profiles and hs-CRP. An atherogenic index was calculated using the serum total cholesterol level divided by the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. The lumbar spine bone mineral density was measured using dual X-ray abosorptiometry. By bivariate analysis, the lumbar spine BMD showed negative correlations with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The Age, BMI and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed significant correlations with the lumbar spine BMD. From linear regression analyses of all the study subjects, age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found to be determinants of the lumbar spine BMD($R^2=0.272$).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.3 s.54
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• pp.555-563
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• 1996

Nationwide incidence survey was conducted to estimate the annual incidence rates of colorectal cancer among Koreans between Jan 1, 1988 and Dec 31, 1989. The population of the incidence survey was the beneficiaries of Korea Medical Insurance Corporation (KMIC), which were about 4,500,000 persons. The medical records of patients with diagnosis of either ICD-9 153(colon cancer), 154(rectal caner), 197(secondary malignant neoplasm of digestive and respiratory system), or 211(benign neoplasm of digestive system) were abstracted for the period with the standard format. The diagnosis was confirmed by one oncologist through the review of these abstracts. The numerator of the rate was finally defined as the incident colorectal cancer cases diagnosed between July 1, 1988 and June 30, 1989. The crude annual incidence of colorectal cancer for men was 13.1 per 100,000 and 10.6 for women, which was still low when compared with those of Japan and China during the same period. Age-adjusted sex ratio was 1.2 for right-sided colon cancer and 1.9 for left-sided colon cancer. The excess of right colon cancer among postmenopausal women was remarkable, so further analytical approach would be needed to investigate which factors are related with this phenomenon.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.1028-1033
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• 2005

Estrogen deficiency in peri-and postmenopausal women results in variety of neurovegetative, psychic and somatic symptoms, and may contribute to severe diseases within the aged female population. Capsosiphon fulvecense (CF), green algae, loaded with large amount of proteins, calcium and ion. This seaweed is distributed in the Southern coast in Korea and widely throughout the world. Our objective was to investigate the effects of Capsosiphon fulvecense (CF) extract on serum lipid concentration and platelet aggregation in ovariectomized rats. Three groups were surgically ovariectomized (OVX). The fourth group was sham operated. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to the following groups : sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-Control), ovariectomized rats supplemented with CF at 50mg/kg bw/d (OVX-CF5O) and ovariectomized rats supplemented with CF at 200mg/kg bw/d (OVX-CF200). The serum triglyceride level was significantly decreased after supplemented with the CF extracts. The serum HDL-cholesterol level in the OVX-CF group was significantly higher than the level in the OVX-control group. The ability of platelet aggregation treated with CF extract (CF group) was $7\%$ less than OVX-control group. Taken these together, CF extract may be used to improve the quality of life in menopausal women.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2016

Obesity is characterized as an accumulation of adipose tissue mass represented by chronic, low-grade inflammation. Obesity-derived inflammation involves chemokines as important regulators contributing to the pathophysiology of obesity-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers. The obesity-driven chemokine network is poorly understood. Here, we identified the profiles of chemokine signature between human preadipocytes and adipocytes, using PCR arrays and qRT-PCR. Both preadipocytes and adipocytes showed absent or low levels in chemokine receptors in spite of some changes. On the other hand, the chemokine levels of CCL2, CCL7-8, CCL11, CXCL1-3, CXCL6 and CXCL10-11 were dominantly expressed in preadipocytes compared to adipocytes. Interestingly, CXCL14 was the most dominant chemokine expressed in adipocytes compared to preadipocytes. Moreover, there is significantly higher protein level of CXCL14 in conditioned media from adipocytes. In addition, we analyzed the data of the chemokine signatures in adipocytes obtained from healthy lean and obese postmenopausal women based on Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. Adipocytes from obese individuals had significantly higher levels in chemokine signature as follows: CCL2, CCL13, CCL18-19, CCL23, CCL26, CXCL1, CXCL3 and CXCL14, as compared to those from lean ones. Also, among the chemokine networks, CXCL14 appeared to be the highest levels in adipocytes from both lean and obese women. Taken together, these results identify CXCL14 as an important chemokine induced during adipogenesis, requiring further research elucidating its potential therapeutic benefits in obesity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.50.1-50.11
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• 2020

Osteoporosis is prevalent in elderly women and it may cause dental implant failure. In particular, estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women leads to higher rates of osteoporosis prevalence. Immune cell-mediated effects involving the development of osteoporosis have been studied previously; however, the role of IL-10-producing regulatory B (B10) cells in osteoporosis is largely unclear. Here, we examined the role of B10 cells in osteoporosis. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to ovariectomy (OVX). Fifteen weeks after OVX surgery, the first molar of the right maxillary was extracted, and twenty-four weeks after OVX surgery, serous progression of osteoporosis was observed in the alveolar bone. Moreover, the proportion of CD19⁺CD5⁺CD1d^high regulatory B cells, B10, and CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells from the spleen of OVX mice decreased during the progression of osteoporosis, compared to controls. In contrast to regulatory cells, IL-17-producing Th (Th17) cell levels were increased in OVX mice. Adoptive transfer of B10 cells to OVX mice led to a decrease in Th17 cell abundance and inhibited the development of osteoporosis in the alveolar bone from OVX mice. Thus, our results suggest that B10 cells may help suppress osteoporosis development.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.850-855
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to develop a exercise program adapted from pelvic muscle exercise, and to analyze the effect of the exercise program on the physical fitness and the physiological parameters including bone density total estrogen and progesterone. The exercise program was composed of warming-up(10 min), main exercise(40 min) and warming-down(10 min). The 20 middle-aged women between 40 and 60 years old were divided into four group; the control group(6 women), the exercise group (7 women), and exercise group with soybean milk supplement(7 women). The exercise group with soybean milk group was applied three times a week and two packs of the soybean milk per day were given. The result of this study were as follows. In the percent fat change of within group, the exercise group showed significant decreased before than after the exercise. In the change of between group, the control group showed significant decreased than the exercise group with soybean milk group. In the body composition change of between group, the exercise group with soybean milk group showed significant decreased in body mass index than the control group. In the total estrogen change of within group, the pelvic muscle exercise with soybean milk group showed the decreased before than after the exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.74-85
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• 2007

Objective : In this study we wanted to confirm if proper stimulation and de-Qi of traditional Korean medical acupuncture could increase hot flash relief efficacy. Design : A randomized controlled, single blind study. We used two modalities of acupuncture, one with optimal stimulation [Study group; Korean medical acupuncture (TKMA)] and one with minimal stimulation [Control group; Minimal acupuncture (MA)]. Same acupoints [PC6(內關), HT8(少府), HT7(神門), LI4(合谷), ST36(足三里), SP6(三陰交), Ren4(關元)] were used in both groups. Fifty-two patients were treated twice a week for 8 weeks, and follow up was done after 4 weeks from the last treatment. Patients were checked hot flash VAS (visual analog scale), frequency and duration every time they visited. Results : Hot flash relief efficacy by 100mm hot flash VAS was obvious in both groups. Hot flash VAS scores of study group were smaller than the scores of control group at the early stage (3rd, $4^{th}$ and $8^{th}$ visit), but there wasn't a remarkable difference between study and control group at the end of the trial. Besides, diminution of hot flash VAS was faster and more even in the study group than control group by visualization using 'Box plot'. We compared frequency and duration of hot flash, 100mm sweating, palpitation, sleep disturbance VAS, and Kupperman Index, MENQOL, Patient's global assessment score. Both groups showed definite decrease from the baseline, but the difference was not statistically significant. There wasn't any adverse event. Hot flash relief efficacy was kept in most patients after 4 weeks' follow-up. Conclusion : Acupoint combination by Traditional Korean medical theory is effective on hot flashes and hot flash relief efficacy was faster and more even in optimal stimulation than minimal stimulation.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.512-520
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• 2006

Purpose: To investigate the risk factors of arthritis, this study was carried out with 1,829 Korean women aged between 40-64 who responded to a health behavior survey. Methods: Data were extracted from the results of the 2001 National Survey on Health and Nutrition conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Results: 1 Financial difficulty and continuous anxiety about health were directly associated with arthritis. The odd ratios of these two factors of arthritis were 1.43 and 1.82 respectively. 2. With regard to the presence or absence of arthritis according to demographic characteristic, the incidence of arthritis was higher in the age between 50-64, in the group whose education level was middle school or lower, and in those who experienced the death of spouse, divorce or separation. Nevertheless, it was not significantly different according to financial status and employment status. 3. Concerning the presence or absence of arthritis according to psychological characteristic, the incidence of arthritis was found to be higher in those who were not healthy by subjective health assessment, in those who were always anxious about their health, in those who were always depressed and sad, and in those who felt heavy stress. 4. With regard to the presence or absence of arthritis according to the health behavior, the incidence of arthritis was higher in postmenopausal cases and cases who were having hormone therapy, and the incidence of arthritis was higher in those who did not drink alcohol, those with BMI higher than 25, and those who slept shorter than 7 hours a day. Conclusion: Based on the above results, it is required to provide a means applicable to communities by developing preventive education that can prevent the incidence of arthritis in middle-aged women as well as intervention programs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.401-410
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of childbirth, breastfeeding, and their interaction with breast cancer (BC) risk reduction, and to evaluate the heterogeneity in the BC risk reduction effects of these factors by menopause, hormone receptor (HR) status, and pathological subtype. Methods: BC patients aged 40+ from the Korean Breast Cancer Registry in 2004-2012 and controls from the Health Examinee cohort participants were included in this study after 1:1 matching (12 889 pairs) by age and enrollment year. BC risk according to childbirth, breast-feeding, and their interaction was calculated in logistic regression models using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: BC risk decreased with childbirth (3+ childbirths relative to 1 childbirth: OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.78 and OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.95 in postmenopausal and premenopausal women, respectively); and the degree of risk reduction by the number of children was heterogeneous according to menopausal status (p-heterogeneity=0.04), HR status (p-heterogeneity<0.001), and pathological subtype (p-heterogeneity<0.001); whereas breastfeeding for 1-12 months showed a heterogeneous association with BC risk according to menopausal status, with risk reduction only in premenopausal women (p-heterogeneity<0.05). The combination of 2 more childbirths and breastfeeding for ${\geq}13$ months had a much stronger BC risk reduction of 49% (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.58). Conclusions: This study suggests that the combination of longer breastfeeding and more childbirths reduces BC risk more strongly, and that women who experience both 2 or more childbirths and breastfeed for ${\geq}13$ months can reduce their BC risk by about 50%.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.752-758
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• 2013

Estrogen like activities were evaluated using ethanol and hot water extracts of herbal medicines by using an in vitro detection system. Bokryung (Poria cocos), Sanyak (root of Dioscorea batatas) and Mokdanpi (root skin of Paeonia suffruticosa) represented statistically significant estrogen-like activities (p<0.001), while Omija (fruit of Schizandra chinensis), Taeksa (root of Alisma canaliculatum A. BR.), Jihwang (root of Rhemannia glutinosa), and Sansuyu (fruit of Cornus officinalis) did not. Estrogen-like activities of Bokryung hot water extract (500 ${\mu}g/ml$) and ethanol extract (50 ${\mu}g/ml$) were almost same as that of a C M $17{\beta}$-estradiol. Furthermore, estrogen-like activities of ethanol extracts (500 ${\mu}g/ml$) of Bokryung and Mokdanpi were stronger than that of $10^{-7}$ M $17{\beta}$-estradiol. These results suggest that Bokryung, Sanyak and Mokdanpi show estrogen-like activities. Especially, Sanyak and Mokdanpi represented promotive effect on the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Bokryung, Sanyak and Mokdanpi also exhibited superior inhibitory effect on the viability of RAW 264.7 cells. In conclusion, these three herbal medicines might be interpreted as candidates for the further study or development of functional foods or medicine to prevent or avoid postmenopausal symptoms of women.