• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4815-4818
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• 2013

Background: Atrophic epithelium of cervix sampled from postmenopausal women may mimic high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in Papanicolaou-stained (Pap) smears. Ki-67 (MIB-1) protein presents on proliferating cells, and percentage of cells with positive nuclei provides a reliable tool for rapid evaluation of the growth fraction. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of protein Ki67 staining in atypical pap smears of postmenopausal women. Methods: In a case-control setting, pap smears of 75 women with an atypical pap smear (case group) and 75 with normal pap smears (controls) were obtained before and after estrogen treatment. Afterward, samples were exposed to the monoclonal antibody Ki-67 (MIB-1) and the immunohistochemically demonstrated Ki-67+ cells were compared. Results: Mean ages of cases and controls were $60.4{\pm}4.5$ and $59.9{\pm}4.3$ years respectively (P=0.50). There was one (2.7%) positive Ki-67 specimen in the case group, without any positive Ki-67 specimen in the control group (P=0.50). Conclusions: Measurement of proliferative activity index in Pap smears restrained with MIB1 is a simple, reliable, and cost-effective method for excluding negatives. This would imply that it might allow a substantial reduction of diagnostic estrogen courses and subsequent Pap smears in postmenopausal women with atypical findings.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.831-843
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• 2010

Purpose: In this study cardiovascular health status and health behavior of Korean women based on their household income were explored. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 91 women residing in the community were recruited to complete survey questionnaires and biophysical tests including blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), body fat rate, waist circumference (WC), and blood chemistry tests. Results: Compared to non-low income women (NLIW), low income women (LIW) were more likely to be older, less educated, and jobless, and further more LIW were postmenopause and reported having been diagnosed with hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. Significant differences were found in systolic BP, triglyceride level, BMI, body fat rate, and WC between the groups. Two fifths of the LIW had indications for metabolic syndrome. Their 10-yr risk estimate of myocardioal infarction or coronary death demonstrated a higher probability than that of NLIW. Although these significant differences were due to age gap between the groups, advanced age is known to be one of the key characteristics of LIW as well as a non-modifiable risk factor. Conclusion: Effective community programs for vulnerable women at risk of cardiovascular disease should be based on strategies targeting unhealthy behaviors and modifiable risk factors.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.253-262
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• 2003

Purpose: This study was carried out to identify factors influencing osteoporosis in women at pre- and post-menopausal state. Methods: The subjects of this study were 52 pre-menopausal and 125 post-menopausal women who were assessed of bone density in one general hospital. The data were collected through review of clinical records and telephone interviews using a questionnaire. Results: In the pre-menopausal women, the factors influencing osteoporosis were regular exercise (protective factor) and age (risk factor). Regression analysis showed that the factors attributable to osteoporosis included educational level, weight, age and number of pregnancy, accounted for 41.89% of the total variance. In the post-menopausal women. the factors influencing osteoporosis were age (risk factor), low educational level (risk factor), low economical state (risk factor), high parity (risk factor), and intake of coffee (protective factor). Regression analysis also showed that factors attributable to their osteoporosis included age, educational level, number of delivery, intake of the coffee, regular exercise, number of pregnancy and duration of oral pill intake, accounted for 37.41 % of the total variance. Conclusion: In pre-menopausal women, regular exercise was one of the most powerful determinant of their bone mass. Therefore, it is necessary to participate in a regular exercise program to maintain peak bone mass density prior to the onset of menopause. In post-menopausal women, increased age was the most influencing factor of their bone mass. Therefore, it is essential to establish early diagnosis and management of osteoporosis after menopause.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2005

Purpose: To identify Osteoporosis and the related risk factors in middle-aged women, the descriptive survey was done. Method: The subjects were measured in 465 residents who were 40-60 aged healthy women. They underwent ultrasound measurement and health examination in G city's Health Center in Gyeonggi-do, Korea from July 2000 to March 2001. The self-reported questionnaire consisted of total 17 items about risk factors related to osteoporosis. The evaluation of bone density was based on ultrasound measurements of right heel. All data were analyzed by SAS-PC Program. Result: Mean age of the subjects was 46.7. Mean T score related to bone density was -1.30, ranged from -3.52 to 3.06. In diagnosis classification according to T score, 74.8% of subjects was normal, 12.9% was osteopenia, 12.3% was osteoporosis. Among risk factors, there were significant differences by age (t=15.35. p=0.000), parity (F=12.81, p=0.000), menopause status (t=22.05, p=0.000), period after menopause (F=5.20, p=0.006). The higher frequency of delivery, postmenopausal and longer period after postmenopause of subjects had the lower the bone density. Conclusion: It would be necessary to develop and apply the community-based health promotion program for middle-aged women to prevent osteoporosis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.412-422
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• 2002

The use of biochemical markers of bone turnover may be particular interest in the investigation of bone disorders with osteoporosis. Serum osteocalcin(OC), total alkaline phosphatase and procollagen C, reflecting bone formation, and urinary pyridinium cross-links excretion, reflecting bone reabsorption have been measured in hyperthyroidism, postmenopause women, after testosterone supplementation, androgen, testosterone and estrogen deficiency, bone mineral density degree, age duration. Bone marks which is reflect to metabolic bone disorders are biochemical indices method to measure enzyme activity about bone formation, bone absorption and bone components in blood or urine. Bone metabolism biochemical marks are correlated with osteophorotic agents and also represent significantly different between bone mineral density and bone biochemical marks. Therefore if we develope and use bone metabolism marks which have higher sensitivity and specificity in bone formation and bone absorption, I think that these bone biochemical marks can have utility in the clinical application to predict osteoporosis risk group, bone loss, bone fracture and response degree to treatment of osteoporosis risk groups.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2008

Objective This study was designed to collect latest papers and to find more effective approach for Postmenopausal Women Methods We searched 85 papers in English from Pubmed(www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) and selected 40 in favor of our study. In addition to that, we searched 24 papers in Korean from Kiss(www.kiss.kstudy.com) and Medric(www.medric.or.kr). Results are as follows. Results and conclusion Many studies showed that postmenopausal obesity causes cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer and decrease in immunity. To prevent and treat obesity, many studies suggested that dietary and exercise are most effective methods. If needed, medicine and hormone therapy may be recommended as next steps. But, Herb medication and acupuncture are not used yet as postmenopausal obesity treatment around the world. Postmenopausal obesity is significant, resulting in many medical problems. We hope more effective treatment based on these studies and combined with Korean traditional medicine could be developed after.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.62-81
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review clinical studies and evaluate effectiveness of intravaginal administration of oriental medicine on vaginal atrophy in menopausal women. Methods: 'postmenopause', 'menopause', 'vaginal atrophy', 'atrophic vaginitis', 'vaginal cream', 'vaginal gel', 'pessary', 'suppository' were searched on 3 online databases (Pubmed, Cochrane Library, OASIS). The risk of bias was assessed by using Cochrane risk of bias (RoB) 2.0 tool. Results: 9 randominized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected among 489 articles. The types of intervention were intravaginal administration of oriental medicine. 6 studies showed that treatment group was better than placebo control group or both treatment group and western medicine control group improved similarly. 2 studies were not significant effective in some results and 1 study was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Intravaginal administration of oriental medicine can be an effective option in treating menopausal women with vaginal atrophy. but considering the small number and low quality of studies, further well-designed studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment.

• 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.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.

• 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.