• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.628-634
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of serum calcium and magnesium level to depression and anxiety symptoms in 66 perimenopausal women. Daily nutrient intakes and dietary sources of calcium were analyzed by convenient me쇙. General status was conducted by a questionnaire whereas the questionnaire of CED-S(the Center for Epidemiological studies-Depression Scale) was used for depression and Spielburger's STAI-S(state-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State) was used for anxiety. Fasting blood samples were collected, and serum calcium and magnesium concentrations were measured before and after calcium supplementation. The age distribution of the subjects was 49-55 years. Results indicated that serum calcium concentrations were significantly(P〈0.05) increased to normal ranges after calcium supplementation. Depression and anxiety scores of the subjects with calcium supplementation were significantly(p〈0.05) lower than those before calcium supplementation. There were significantly(P〈0.05) decreased between serum magnesium concentration and depression and anxiety scores, but calcium concentration was not significantly decreased. These results suggest that psychological conditions of perimenopausal women are possibly effected by serum calcium and magnesium levels. More studies are needed to measure the long-term effects of calcium supplementation on psychological conditions in perimenopausal women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.322-329
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• 2001

There is growing evidence that soy isoflavones play beneficial role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, current data are not sufficient to determine the effective dose of isoflavone on improving plasma lipid profiles and total antioxidant capacity in Korean menopausal women. In the present study, 24 perimenopausal and 23 postmenopausal women were divided into 3 groups and were given soy isoflavone supplements of 100, 150, 200mg/day for 12weeks. Blood samples were taken before and after 6, 12weeks of soy isoflavone supplementation for analysis of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride and total antioxidant status(TAS). In the perimenopausal women, serum total cholesterol level decreased significantly in all three groups after 12weeks of isoflavone supplementation(p< 0.05). However, serum LDL cholesterol level significantly lowered only in 150 and 200mg groups, and serum triglyceride level decreased significantly in 200mg group(p<0.05). In the postmenopausal women, the 150mg isoflavone supplementation group demonstrated significant effects on lowering serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol levels and raising HDL cholesterol level after 12weeks of isoflavone supplementation(p<0.05). Two hundred mg isoflavone supplementation group had a significantly higher TAS than other groups in both perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. (Korean J Nutrition 34(3) : 322∼329, 2001)

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.449-456
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of health perception, body image and sexual function on depression according to the menopausal stage in Korean middle aged women. Methods: Subjects were 182 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who had not received hormonal replacement therapy. A five-item General HealthShort Form (SF-36) Health Survey Questionnaire (Ware & Sherbourne, 1992) was used to measure health perception. Body image was measured Semantic Differential scale, CES-D was used to measure the level of depression, and sexual function was measured by FSFI. Results: The subjects rated their health as 'moderate', their body image as 'moderate, and level of depression as 'high'. However, there were no significant differences in health perception, body image, and depression between perimenopasual and postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women experienced lower levels of sexual function than perimenopausal women in sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. In stepwise regression analysis, 21.7% of variance in depression was shown to be perceived health and body image in postmenopausal women. However, in perimenopausal women, perceived health and sexual function explained 34.5% of variance in depression. Conclusion: These findings indicate that nurses must consider the menopasusal stage when counseling their patients.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was to examine the effects of Koryo Hand Therapy on menopausal symptoms and attitude in permenopausal women. Methods: The research design was a nonequivalent controlgroup pretest-posttes. The subjects consisted of 45 women between the ages of 40 and 60 years in the Gyeonggi-do, Korea. There were 23 women in the experimental group and 22 in the control group. In this study, the experimental group received KHT of three times a week, for a total of 8weeks. The instruments for this study were to measure the effects of KHT were the menopausal symptoms scale and attitudes to the menopause(Maoz, Downty, Antonovsky & Wijsenbeek, 1970). The data were analyzed by $X^2$-test and Fisher's Exact Test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test procedures, using SPSS/Win PC 13.0. Results: For menopausal symptoms, there were statistically significant differences between experimental group and control group. For menopausal attitudes, there were no statistically significant differences between groups. Conclusions: This result showed that KHT was effective in decreasing menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal women.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.65-74
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• 2017

Women's menopause is a natural process that every woman must eventually experience, but changes in hormones before and after menopause can serve to produce life-threatening crises in some situations, with individual differences. Data for the study was elicited from 22,610 Korean women ranging in age from 45 to 55 years in the 2013 Korean Community Health Survey. Statistical analyses was performed using descriptive, t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical regression analysis using SPSS IBM 20.0 version. Individual characteristics, lifestyle, history of chronic disease(s), psychological and environmental factors were included as independent and EQ5D weights of Koreans were used as dependent variables. The survey subjects consisted of a total 15,505(58.3%) in their 50s, 1,765 (66.5%) in middle and high school dropouts or graduates, 22,174 (83.3%) living in spouses and 10,534(39.6%) in wages. There was a significant difference in HRQOL among all independent variables except drinking and residential areas. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that age, smoking, obesity and other incidental disease factors (fall, angina, asthma, arthritis, osteoporosis, stroke) had a negative effect on HRQOL. The selected independent variables accounted for 22.7% of HRQOL. It is necessary to find a way to improve HRQOL of Korean perimenopausal women, focusing on the significant variables revealed by the study results.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.403-412
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• 2009

Purpose: We analyzed climacteric symptoms, bone mineral density (BMD), serum estradiol ($E_2$) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to identify the health benefits of meridian massage in perimenopausal women. Methods: There were 16 women in the experimental group and 17 people in the control group. Meridian massage was performed for 4 weeks, 3 times a week for 20 minutes each session. The data were collected pre-treatment, posttreatment and 4 weeks after treatment. SPSS/WIN 11.5 was used for data analysis. Results: After meridian massage, there were significant differences in climacteric symptoms (U = 65.50, p = .011) and BMD (U = 65.50, p = .011) between the two groups. The E2 level showed a significant difference between the two groups pre- and posttreatment (U = 75.00, p = .028). FSH showed a significant increase when measured at 4 weeks after the treatment as compared with the amount when measured post-treatment within the control group (z = -2.249, p = .025), experimental group showed a stable change in FSH. but there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: In this study, we confirmed the effects of Meridian massage in decreasing climacteric symptoms, inhibiting the decrease of BMD and stabilizing serum hormone in perimenopausal women. Therefore, it can be considered for use as a nursing intervention for health management in perimenopausal women.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.219-235
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• 2006

Purpose : To investigate the medical information related to HRT online and the medical treatment of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women in the Dept. of Ob&Gy Korean Medicine Hospital, after the discontinuance of the WHI trial in U.S, July 2002. Methods : With the key-words "HRT", "Hormone Replacement therapy", "호르몬 대체요법(HRT)", 갱년기 증후군(perimenopausal syndrome)", “폐경기후증후군(postmenopausal syndrome)", I searched for the information from July 2002 to 2005 on DAUM, the representative portal site in Korea, and I've got a grasp of the tendency of the informational propagation on HRT. Moreover, I investigated chief complaints and tendency of give up HRT of the perimenopausal and postmenopausal women(aged between 47 and 60) who visited Dept. of Ob&Gy Korean Medicine Hospital for 2 years and 6 months since July 2002. Results : 1) Searching for the news on DAUM, I found; 2 articles on the methods of HRT: 4 on the positive effects of HRT: 4 on the general items including the positive effects of HRT: 19 on the side effects of HRT: 1 on the insignificant effect of HRT :4 on the apprehensions about HRT: 3 on the strengthening of the criteria on medical fees review: 3 on the discontinuance of HRT: 8 on the alternative materials and medicines to HRT: 4 on the guidance for the phyto-estrogen. 2) I analyzed chief complaints of 120 women. The majority of chief complaints were vasomotor symptoms like hot flush and sweating. There were only 4 patients who wanted to give up HRT. Conclusion : The side effects of HRT were objectively dealt with online but there was not enough effective and continuous guidance. In the case that a woman not on HRT wishes to overcome perimenopausal period through KM therapy, this information may have affected her decision. However, not many women who were already on HRT terminated the therapy for fear of side effects and switched to KM therapy. Promotion of KM therapy in improving health during perimenopausal and postmenopausal period is desperately needed.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to address the difference menopausal symptoms according to sasang constitution and menopausal status among perimenopausal women. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study was collected by administering questionnaires that elicited general information. The menopause rating scale (MRS) and Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification II (QSCC II) was given to 284 perimenopausal women who met the eligibility criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Results: The study subjects were composed of 27.5% so-yangin, 24.6% so-eumin, 18.7% tae-eumin, and 29.6% undefined category. The total MRS and all subscales were significantly higher for postmenopausal women in comparison to premenopausal women. Especially, so-eumin and tae-eumin displayed significantly higher scores in urogenital symptoms. The MRS score in postmenopausal women who belonged to the group of tae-eumin and so-eumin was significantly higher than those for premenopausal women. However, so-yangin displayed higher scores in psychological and urogenital symptoms than tae-eumin for premenopausal women. So-eumin presented significantly higher scores in urogenital symptoms in comparison to the undefined category for postmenopausal women. Conclusion: These findings suggest that sasang constitution could be an important factor in understanding the woman's menopausal symptoms and identify the best treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.193-206
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• 2008

Purpose: In spite of many arguments on the result of WHI (Women's Health Initiative) study, no one can deny the necessity for researches on the alternative treatment to HRT (hormone replacement therapy). In this study, the author wanted to investigate the method of precedent acupuncture RCTs (randomized controlled trials) to make out the appropriate acupuncture study design on postmenopausal and perimenopausal hot flashes in Korea. Methods: Precedent studies were investigated using Pubmed search and key-words "acupuncture and hot flash", "acupuncture and menopause", "acupuncture and vasomotor", limited to RCT, from 2000 to 2008 April. Results: As a result. 10 studies were searched. In the hereafter studies, multi-center clinical trials which consist of population group of postmenopausal and perimenopausal women that would be pre-stratified and more than 50 patients per treatment arm seem adequate. Sham control study can make out the proper consequence because many people are get used to acupuncture in Korea. Flexible choice of acupoints addressed an individual's symptoms using standardized algorithm is recommended. Treatment consist of 4 weeks' observation, 11 acupuncture sessions during 7 weeks, follow-up of 3 months or more after treatment and hot flash score as a primary outcome measure seem appropriate. After all, higher level of description according to global standard must be obtained in the study report and publishing. Conclusion: The researchers should develope the methodology of acupuncture clinical trial on the postmenopausal and perimenopausal hot flashes.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.199-206
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• 2017

As the population ages, the life of women after menopause becomes much longer than the past, and the quality of life of old age becomes increasingly principal issue. There is a period that women experience the physical symptoms of menopause, although there are differences in degree, and the management of this period is a suitable time for women to improve their quality of life. According to the menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and Timing Hypothesis, which has been proven in the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS) and the Early vs Late Intervention Trial with Estradiol (ELITE) study, a relatively young woman before and after menopause can benefit from long-term beneficial effects such as prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease by early initiation of hormone therapy to alleviate menopausal symptoms. MHT should be considered for all women in healthy (without other important diseases) menopausal years, expecting to improve their quality of life through symptom relief in menopausal women and, in the long term, to prevent cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. When applying hormone therapy to individuals, it is necessary to establish various treatment strategies according to the menopausal symptoms of individual patients (individualization of treatment) and judge the suitability of clinical application.