• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate postmenopausal women's risk factors and subjective symptoms of coronary artery disease, their knowledge about the risk factors and their performance of health behaviors. Method: The subjects were 285 women aged between 50~60 who had naturally reached menopause. We interviewed them using a questionnaire on the subjects' risk factors of coronary artery disease, their knowledge about the risk factors and their performance of preventive health behaviors. Collected data was analyzed through t-test, ANOVA & Duncan test. Results: Risk factors of coronary artery disease observed in the subjects were diabetes (10.9%), hypertension (22.8%) and hyperlipidemia (14.7%). Symptoms of coronary artery disease were experienced more by those who had diabetes, smoked, had a history of coronary artery disease, and thought that they might have coronary artery disease. With regard to the subjects' knowledge about the risk factors of coronary artery disease, the average score was 13.88 out of 20 points. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that postmenopausal women have several risk factors of coronary arterial disease but they did not have sufficient knowledge about the risk factors and did not manage the factors appropriately.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.146-155
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• 2017

Postmenopausal women aged 50s generally experience gradual changes in body such as decline in antioxidant and estrogen levels as the body ages. To overcome these aging-associated changes, the needs for health functional foods are increasing. Dendropanax morbifera (DM) have antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory against cancer cells, antidiabetic, and antiatherogenic effect which are associated with postmenopausal symptoms. We analyzed clinical effects of DM on aging-related symptoms by reporting their antioxidant, anticancer and inflammatory activity, etc. and their bioactivity. Data sources EMBASE, SCOPUS, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched up to August 2016 for studies investigating medicinal plants in prevention and treatment of diabetes. The search terms were "Dendropanax morbifera". The reference lists of articles were also reviewed for additional relevant studies. Extracts of DM have various efficacy such as antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory activity and anti-thrombotic effect.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2018

This study was conducted to identify convergence factors affecting depressive symptoms of postmenopausal women through the theory unpleasant symptom. This study was secondary data analysis form Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015. Study sample of 1,298 menopausal women to evaluate the factors that would influence depressive symptoms, physiological factors, situational factors, and psychological factors. The results showed that significant variables influencing the depressive symptom were income quartile(${\beta}=-.14$, p<.001), health status(${\beta}=.24$, p<.001), and stress(${\beta}=-.20$, p<.001). The explanation power of this regression model was 14. 1% and it was statistically significant. As a result, to improve their depressive symptoms, the nursing interventions are required for postmenopausal women who have the income, health status, and stress.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.120-129
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• 2000

Very little is known about the relation between isoflavone intake and menopausal symptoms in Korean woman To find the effects and correlations between these factors, questionnaires(maternal factors, menopausal symptoms) anthropometric measurement, 24hr dietary recalls, and urinary isoflavones analysis were conducted in 100 postmenopausal women residing in the Kyunggi-do rural area. The average age hight and weight of the subject were 61.5 years, 153.6 cm and 56.2kg. The average age at menarche, menopause, and menstrual cycle were 16.7 years, 47.2 years, 29.8 years, respectively. Most of the postmenopausal women experienced mildly menopausal symptoms. The mean calorie, protein and calcium intake were 1417.6 kcal(74.7% of the Korean RDA) 53.2 g(88.6% of the Korean RDA) and 454.0mg(65.6% of the Korean RDA) respectively. The ration of energy from carbohydrate, protein, and fat was 68: 15: 17 The average isoflavone intake from soy foods was 27.27 mg. The major food source of the isoflavone were soybeans and soybean curd. The average urinary isoflavone excretion was 2. 78nmol/mg Cr and showed significant positive correlation with isoflavone intake. Isoflavone intake from soy foods had a negative correlation with the severity of menopausal symptoms. Therefore, soy foods which contain isoflavone may have a protective effect on menopausal symptoms of women in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 1995

A on-off study was designed to evaluate the effects of addition of transdermal esrtradiol to tricyclic antidepressants on depression level, vasomotor symptom(hot flush), sexual functions and hormonal status, plasma 5-hydroxyindoleascetic acid(5-HIAA) level in postmenopausal women with depression. Plasma level of estradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH, prolactin and 5-HIAA was measured by Time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay and HPLC(High Performance Liquid Chromatography). To asses their symptoms, the BDI(Beck Depression Inventory) and modified symptom scale, extracted from women's health questionnaire were used. Depression score, sexual function score were decreased by the last 4-weeks of addition of transdermal estradiol to antidepressant treatment, not Significant, but vasomotor symptom (hot flushes) score was decreased significantly(p<0.05) by the last 4-weeks of the given treatment. Thus, during addition of transdermal estradiol to antidepressants treatment, only vasomotor symptom(hot flushes) was improved significantly, but depression level was not changed in postmenopausal women with depression. Plasma FSH, estradiol and prolactin level was not changed in postmenopausal women with depression. Plasma FSH, estradiol and prolactin levels were increased by the last 4-weeks of the treatment. There were not significant correlations between clinical symptoms and plasma hormonal status and 5-HIAA level in baseline. After the last 4-weeks of transdermal estradiol treatment, the change of depression score was correlated significantly with change of serum prolactin and 5-HIAA level and the change of vasomotor symptom score was correlated significantly with the change of plasma prolactin level.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.148-159
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• 2007

Purpose: Vasomotor symptoms including hot flash are very common to postmenopausal women. Estrogen therapy was regarded as the best option for relieving menopausal symptoms until 2002, when the Women#s Health Initiative(WHI) reported the side effect of the therapy. Consequently, studies on the complementary and alternative medical herbs and therapy for the management of menopausal symptoms have followed. And so we have reviewed some international clinical studies about the management of postmenopausal symptoms with acupuncture therapy. Methods: "Menopause and acupuncture" was designated as a key word in the search site. Pub Med, and nine papers dealing with hot flash among the relevant RCTs were selected, and then, the effect of acupuncture on hot flash and the way the researches had been done was examined. Results : The intensity of hot flash reduced significantly and the frequency of hot flash was inclined to reduce, but not significantly, compared to the controlled group. Conclusion: Each clinical test has its limitations in point of the number of the required samples. However, it still shows the possibility that acupuncture itself will be effective enough to reduce the intensity of hot flash to a certain degree. It is believed that extensive clinical tests on the effect of acupuncture on hot flash will need to be done hereafter. And when the tests are carried out, it is required to exclude placebo effect, do blind test, and carefully select and control the methods.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavones are expected to improve menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis in women. However, their efficacy is still inconclusive, and there was limited data for postmenopausal women in South Korea. We examined the effects of soy isoflavones on climacteric symptoms, bone biomarkers, and quality of life in Korean postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, double-blind study design was used. Eighty-seven participants who had undergone natural menopause were randomly administered either 70 mg/day isoflavones (n = 43) or placebo (n = 41) for 12 weeks. We assessed the Kupperman index for climacteric symptoms and the menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaire for quality of the life. Biomarkers of bone metabolism were also measured in serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), N- and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptides of type Ι collagen (NTx, CTx), and urine-deoxypyridinolin (u-DPD). RESULTS: Scores of the Kupperman index were decreased in both the isoflavones group ($-7.0{\pm}15.8$, P = 0.0074) and placebo group ($-6.3{\pm}14.6$, P = 0.0064) during the intervention, but no significant difference was noted between the groups. Regarding the bone formation markers, the level of serum BALP increased by $6.3{\pm}4.1%$ (P = 0.004) and OC increased by $9.3{\pm}6.2%$ (P < 0.001), meanwhile those of the placebo were not changed. For the bone resorption markers, NTx, CTx, and u-DPD were not significantly different in either group. MENQOL was significant decreased in the isoflavone group ($-0.6{\pm}0.5$) and placebo group ($-0.6{\pm}0.4$), with a significant difference between groups (P = 0.0228). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that 70 mg isoflavones supplement has beneficial effects on bone formation markers; however, it showed no benefit compared to the placebo on climacteric symptoms or quality of life.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.sup1
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• pp.147-159
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Complementary and alternative medicines can be used to alleviate climacteric symptoms that significantly affect the quality of life of postmenopausal women. Isoflavones are the most common plant-based therapies for postmenopausal changes, but the results of previous studies have been controversial. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate whether isoflavones would affect menopausal symptoms as well as ovarian hormones, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were used to perform the systematic search. Included studies were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the impact of isoflavone supplementation on menopausal symptoms. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included for the final quantitative assessment. Isoflavone intervention was varied between 49.3 and 135 mg of isoflavones per day for 12 wk-2 yrs. The meta-analysis showed that supplementation of isoflavones significantly increased the estradiol levels (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.615, P = 0.035) and Kupperman index (SMD = 3.121, P = 0.003) but had no significant effect on hot flashes, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. However, both estradiol and the Kupperman index showed significant heterogeneity among studies (I² = 94.7%, P < 0.001 and I² = 98.1%, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although the results showed a significant SMD in estradiol and the Kupperman index, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the high heterogeneity. Further validation with a larger RCT will be necessary. Overall, isoflavone supplementation has distinct effects on the climacteric symptoms and hormonal changes in postmenopausal women.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.114-124
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• 2013

Objectives: Postmenopausal hot flush and sweating is troublesome symptom to most of climacteric women. It is well known that Korean medicine is safe and effective on climacteric symptoms. So this study aims to report the clinical effect of Korean medicine on postmenopausal hot flush and sweating. Methods: The patient received herbal medication, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, Gong-jin therapy, and Korean medicine music therapy during hospitalization (about 8 days). Results: Hot flush and sweating was effectively reduced after the treatment. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for hot flush and sweating decreased from 9 to 2. Hot flush score decreased from 20 to 8. Area of hot flush and sweating also markedly decreased. Conclusions: This case shows that Korean medicine is effective on climacteric symptoms.