• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2005

Isoflavones are reported to playa role in menopausal women as a phytoestrogen, which can replace estradiols in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Recently; due to the risk of breast cancer by HRT, phytoestrogens (e.g. isoflavones) have been focused as an alternative therapy in menopause. In the study, we investigated whether isoflavones derived from Sophorae fructus (SISO) have more benefit than that of soybean isoflavones in estrogen deficient rats. We found that SISO effectively controled $H_2O_2$ comparing with the baseline (p<0.01 vs. post value of OVX-Cont), and the blood sugar and weight were also controlled with decreasing patterns. Additionally, in LDH assay for cytoprotective effect in Neuro-2a cell line, SISO protected cells from the damage by SNAP (p<0.05). In conclusion, SISO may have more beneficial effect in enhancing the menopausal signs than that of soybean isoflavones and the cytoprotective effect in neuron cells suggests that SISO can play a certain role in neuroprotection after menopause.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3763-3767
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• 2016

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among females across the world. It is a preventable cancer and early detection is very feasible. This study aimed to identify which women characteristics are potentially associated with and may have an important in uence on the uptake of cervical cancer screening in Kurdish women living in the west of Iran.. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in late 2014. A random sample of women aged 40 years and above without history of cervical cancer and identi ed as Kurdish background were selected and interviewed by two trained interviewers. Information about sociodemographic and reproductive factors, history of diseases, and cervical screening was collected using a questionnaire and women who had undergone a hysterectomy were excluded. Univariate analyses were used to describe the general characteristics of the study population. Multivariable logistic regression models with self-reported screening history were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% con dence intervals (CI). Signi cance was considered at the 5% level. Results: A total of 561 women were included in this study (mean age $43.6{\pm}5.17$ years) participation in cervical screening at least once was about 32%. Cervical screening uptake percentage was signi cantly lower among people over 60 years of age (adjusted OR= 0.26, 95% CI: 0.11-0.64), and those who were illiterate (OR= 0.41 95% CI: 0.23-0.73) and post-menopausal (OR= 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35-0.91). Women with ${\leq}1$ child were less likely to report a Pap test (adjusted OR=0.43 95%CI: 0.13-1.37) Cervical screening uptake was higher among women with health insurance (OR= 2.31, 95% CI: 1.50-3.56). Conclusions: Cervical screening participation in this study was low compared to other studies in developed countries. The screening uptake was different based on age, education, parity, insurance coverage and menopausal status. It is recommended to target these groups of women in cervical screening program.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2008

Purpose: Hypoestrogenism caused by ovariectomy, disease, or menopause is associated with increased obesity in women. Altered fat distribution and weight gain are consequences of menopausal hypoestrogenism, but the mechanisms responsible are not completely known. This study examined the effect of estrogen on obesity in ovariectomized rats. Method: The groups of female rats were 4 weeks post ovariectomy (OVX) or, 4 weeks post-sham operation (SHAM), and 2 weeks post ovariectomy followed by 2 weeks replacement with estradiol benzoate (ER-$16{\mu}g$/kg, subq, qd). Serum ghrelin level was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The expression of adrenergic receptors in adipose tissue was measured by Western blotting assay. Result: OVX significantly increased body weight, serum cholesterol. Two weeks estrogen replacement reduced body weight accompanied by the increment of serum ghrelin and the reduction of the receptor ratio of adrenergic ${\alpha}_{2A}/{\beta}_1$, and ${\alpha}_{2A}/{\beta}_3$. Conclusion: We provide evidence that estrogen reduces obesity through the altered receptor ratio of adrenergic ${\alpha}_{2A}/{\beta}_1$, and ${\alpha}_{2A}/{\beta}_3$ in adipose tissue in ovariectomized rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1929-1934
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• 2015

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic yield of primary circulating tumor cells in women with suspicion of breast cancer, detected as a result of an abnormal mammography. Materials and Methods: Consecutive women presenting for breast biopsy as a result of a mammogram BiRADs of 3 or more, had an 8ml blood sample taken for primary circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection. Mononuclear cells were obtained using differential gel centrifugation and CTCs identified using standard immunocytochemistry using anti-mammoglobin. A test was determined to be positive if 1 CTC was detected. Results: A total of 144 women with a mean age of $54.7{\pm}15.6$ years participated, 78/144 (53.0%) had breast cancer on biopsy, 65/140 (46.3%) benign pathologies and 1(0.7%) non-Hogkins lymphoma. Increasing BiRADs scores were associated with increased cancer detection (p=0.004, RR 1.00, 4.24, 8.50). CTC mammoglobin positive had a sensitivity of 81.1% and specificity of 90.9%, with positive and negative predictive values of 90.9% and 81.1% respectively. Mammoglobin positive CTCs detected 87% of invasive cancers, while poorly differentiated cancers were negative for mammoglobin. Only 50% of in situ cancers and none of the intraductal cancers had CTCs detected. Menopausal status did not affect the diagnostic yield of the CTC test, which was higher in women with BiRADS 4 mammograms. There was a significant trend (p<0.0001 Chi squared for trends) in CTC detection frequency from intraductal, in situ and invasive (OR 1.00, 8.00, 472.00). Conclusions: The use of primary CTC detection in women suspected of breast cancer has potential uses, especially with invasive cancer, but it failed to detect intra-ductal cancer and 50% of in situ cancer. There was no difference in the diagnostic yield between pre and post menopausal women. To confirm its use in reducing biopsies in women with BIRADs 4a mammagrams and in the detection of interval invasive breast cancer, larger studies are needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2005

Objectives : The weight reduction program with very low calorie diet(VLCD) for women generally reduce bone mineral density(BMD). So many treatments were done to prevent side effect of the weight reduction program and herbal diet meditation were often used in oriental medicine. This research were done in order to study the effect of VLCD and herbal diet meditation, Chegamuiyiin­tang on BMD. Methods : This clinical research carried out 22 cases of pre-menopausal outpatients with obesity during 1 month. To evaluate the effect Chegamuiyiin-tang with VLCD on BMD, the weight, BMI, percent body fat, WHR, BMD(T-score) were estimated in pre-treatment and post-treatment. Results : The mean weight reduction after 1 month was $6.87{\pm}1.54\;Kg$(10.28 % of initial weight), BMI reduction was $2.35{\pm}0.65\;Kg/m^2$, percent body fat reduction was $3.40{\pm}1.01%$, WHR reduction was $0.04{\pm}0.01$. But BMD(in T-score) had significant increase. Conclusions : Generally VLCD were estimated to reduces BMD, but VLCD with herbal diet meditation, Chegamuiyiin-tang has positive effect on BMD in pre-menopausal women during short term(1 month).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4567-4570
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• 2012

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to determine the prevalence and predictive value to detect significant neoplasia and invasive lesions, and to evaluate the correlation between clinical and histopathology of women with squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) on Siriraj liquid-based cervical cytology (Siriraj-LBC). Methods: The computerized database of women who underwent Siriraj-LBC at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University from January 2007 to December 2010 were retrieved. The hospital records of women with SCCA cytology were reviewed. Results: The prevalence of SCCA cytology was 0.07%. A total of 86 women, mean age was 58.1 years. Sixty-one women (70.9%) were post-menopausal. Overall significant pathology and invasive gynecologic cancer were detected in 84 women (97.7%) and 71 women (82.5%), respectively. The positive predictive values for detection of significant neoplasia and invasive lesion were 97.7% and 82.6%, respectively. The cervical cancer was diagnosed in 69 women and among these 58 women were SCCA. Thirteen women (15.1%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3 and two women (2.3%) had cervicitis. The sensitivity and specificity of colposcopy for cervical cancer detection in SCCA cytology were 83.3% and 75%, respectively. Median follow up period was 17.6 months and 64 patients were alive without cytologic abnormality. Conclusions: The final histopathology of SCCA cytology in our populations demonstrated a wide variety, from cervicitis to invasive cancer and the most common diagnosis was invasive cervical cancer. Colposcopy with biopsy and/or endocervical curettage and loop electrosurgical excision procedure should be undertaken to achieve histologic diagnosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.449-453
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• 2024

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has long been used not only as a food supplement but also as a treatment for various diseases. Ginseng originated in South Korea, which later spread to China and Japan, has a wide range of pharmacological activities including immune, endocrine, cardiovascular, and central nervous system effects. KRG is produced by repetitions of steaming and drying of ginseng to extend preservation. During this steaming process, the components of ginseng undergo physio-chemical changes forming a variety of potential active constituents including ginsenoside-Rg3, a unique compound in KRG. Pandemic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has affected both men and women differentially. In particular, women were more vulnerable to COVID-related distress which in turn could aggravate menopause-related disturbances. Complementary and alternative medicinal plants could have aided middle-aged women for several menopause-related symptoms during and post COVID-19 pandemic. This review aimed to explore the beneficial effects of KRG on menopausal symptoms and gynecological cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.159-167
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• 2001

The objective of this study is to examine the factors affecting bone mineral density in pre- and postmenopausal women. The subject were 30 Korean premenopausal women with mean ages of 33.6 years, and 30 Korean post menopausal women with mean ages of 63.3 years without diagnosed diseases. Data for food and nutrient intake were obtained by the24-hour recall method. BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Anthropometric measurement were made, and a blood sample was taken for assay osteocalcin. The results are summarized as follows: 16.67% of the subjects in the premenopausal women and 87.33% of the subjects in the postmenopausal women was less than the korean RDA level exceping phosphorus and vitamin C. In the premenopausal women, BMD of lumbar spine is correlated significantly with anthropometric measurement such as weight, waist circumference, BMI, and body fat mass BMD of femoral neck for the premenopausal women is correlated significantly with weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fat mass, hip circumference, and BMDs of both site are negatively correlated with lean body mass, total body water, but they are not related with intake of nutrients in this study. In the postmenopausal women group, BMDs of both site are not significantly correlated with anthropometric measurement, but BMD of lumbar spine showed positive relation with intake of energy, protein, and carbohydrate. In conclusion, adequate nutrient intake, especially energy, protein have been suggested to prevent the loss of bone mineral density in the postmenopausal women. Also, adequate body weight and BMI have been suggested in the premenopausal women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2597-2603
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• 2016

Ovarian cancer is a highly malignant neoplasm with high mortality rates. Research to identify markers facilitating early detection has been pursued for many years. Currently, diagnosis is based on the CA 125 and HE4 markers, as well as the ROMA algorithm. The search continues for new proteins that meet the criteria of good markers A total of 90 patients were included in the present study, allocated into: group 1, ovarian cancer, with 29 patients; group 2, endometrial cysts, with 30s; and group 3, simple ovarian cysts, with 31. Following histopathological verification, the CA 125, HE4, and metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) levels were determined and the ROMA algorithm was calculated for all patients. The mean concentrations of all determined proteins, CA 125, HE4, and MMP3, as well as the ROMA values, were significantly higher in group 1 (ovarian cancer) compared to group 3 (simple ovarian cysts). The highest significant differences for the CA 125 levels (p<0.000001) and ROMA (p<0.000001) values were observed in postmenopausal women. For HE4, statistical significance was at the level of p=0.00001 compared to p=0.002 for MMP3. For the differentiation between ovarian cancer and endometrial cysts, the respective AUC ratios were obtained for CA 125, HE4, and MMP3 levels, as well as the ROMA values ( 0,93 / 0,96 / 0,75 / 0,98). After removing the post-menopausal patients, the MMP3 AUC value for ovarian cancer vs. benign ovarian cysts increased to 0.814. For post-menopausal women, the MMP3 AUC value for ovarian cancer vs. endometrial cysts was 0.843. As suggested by the results above, both the CA 125 and HE4 markers, as well as the ROMA algorithm, meet the criteria of a good diagnostic test for ovarian cancer. MMP3 seems to meet the criteria of a good diagnostic test, particularly in postmenopausal women; however, it is not superior to the tests used to date.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2018

Background: In South Korea, 22.3% of women ${\geq}50years$ of age and 37% of women ${\geq}70years$ of age visit the doctor to obtain treatment for osteoporosis. According to the analysis of the National Health Insurance Services claim data between 2008 and 2012, the number and incidence of hip and vertebral fractures increased during the same period. Denosumab, a newly marketed medicine in Korea, is the first RANK inhibitor. Methods: A cost-utility analysis was conducted from a societal perspective to prove the superiority of denosumab to alendronate. A Markov cohort model was used to investigate the cost-effectiveness of denosumab. A 6-month cycle length was used in the model, and all patients were individually followed up through the model, from their age at treatment initiation to their time of death or until 100 years of age. The model consisted of eight health states: well; hip fracture; vertebral fracture; wrist fracture; other osteoporotic fracture; post-hip fracture; post-vertebral fracture; and dead. All patients began in the well-health state. In this model, 5% discounted rate, two-year maximum offset time, and persistence were adopted. Results: The total lifetime costs for alendronate and denosumab were USD 5,587 and USD 6,534, respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for denosumab versus alendronate was USD 20,600/QALY. Given the ICER threshold in Korea, the results indicated that denosumab was remarkably superior to alendronate. Conclusion: Denosumab is a cost-effective alternative to the oral anti-osteoporotic treatment, alendronate, in South Korea.