In an attempt to determine the relationship between dietary fiber and estrogen levels in premenopausal adult women, seven subjects completed all of the requirements as volunteers for this study. The subjects consumed two experimental diets using a cross-over experimental design. One-half of the subjects were randomly assigned to a low-fiber treatment group and one-half were assigned to a high-fiber treatment group. Food records were utilized to determine fiber intake throughout the study. Nutrient intake during the experimental periods demonstrated significant differences indicating the affect of the varied dietary regimens. No significant difference was seen in mean estrogen levels between the low- and high-fiber experimental periods, however, a positive significant correlation (p<.05) was observed with the change in estrogen level and insoluble fiber intake. Further study with a larger subject sample would be beneficial in determining recommendations for amounts of insoluble fiber intake for the general population. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

The focus of this study is the exploration and interpretation of women's visual and textual experiences of menopause. It is a conversational mapping of embodied space and time as they re-imagine memories and actual experiences which have informed their changing sense of self during the transitional stages of menopause. The research examines the ways in which artwork, visual diaries, journals, creative writing and poetry make visible a fresh perception of their female sense of the lived body. The project examines the contemporary cultural meanings of femininity, sexuality and identity which have informed women's understanding of their bodies and gender during the transformative years of menopause, and it explores the ways in which these forms of knowledge have influenced their artistic modes of self-representation.In the first chapter I acquaint the reader with the context of the research, and outline my understandings of the human body and social theories. I direct the exploration of texts towards a range of feminist theoretical perspectives which suggest women's biological and reproductive bodies provide spaces for re-visioning personal and social change.The next two chapters explain how I develop theoretical and methodological arts-based approaches enabling an innovative and appropriate investigation of the phenomenon in question. I explain how I have blended various textual expressive genres with interpretive research methodologies and philosophical viewpoints. In these chapters I recount the imaginative strategies and techniques used to portray the ontological, phenomenological and epistemological perspectives of the lived experience of menopause.Following this, I present seven stories. Each story portrays how artistic genres grasp particular experiences and transform them into imaginative expressive inter-textual representations. / The stories also demonstrate how this type of research is done, and how the meaning-making processes of collaborative research draw out resonances towards real and imagined, and internal and external sites of personal and political significance.Accompanying the stories is a fourth chapter entitled Menopause Perspecta X 5. In writing this section, I adopt a different narrational approach and voice as I move from the realm of storyteller to that of art curator presenting a series of visual images and the poetic writings of five women. As well as portraying different voices speaking at different levels, each presentation continues the task of opening spaces for translation between word and image.The thesis concludes with a reflective overview of the menopausal body, image and text. In the coda, Notes Towards A Work In Progress, I express my thoughts on creating alternative spatial practices, and tell another story. Through its poetic and lyrical content, I attempt to offer possibilities for restoring a sense of menopausal self, love, hope, and a meaningful relationship with the world.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-164).

Thesis (Ph.D) -- University of Western Sydney, 2007. / A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney, College of Health and Science, Centre for Complementary Medicine, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Includes bibliographical references.

Orientador: Eliana Aguiar Petri Nahas / Coorientador: Heloísa M. Luca Véspoli / Banca: Gilberto Uemura / Banca: César Cabello dos Santos / Resumo: Avaliar o risco de síndrome metabólica (SM) em mulheres na pós-menopausa tratadas de câncer de mama, comparadas às mulheres na pós-menopausa sem câncer de mama. Realizou-se estudo clínico, analítico e transversal, com 104 mulheres tratadas de câncer de mama comparadas a 208 mulheres na pós-menopausa (controle), atendidas em Hospital Universitário. Foram incluídas no grupo de estudo mulheres com amenorréia >12 meses e idade ≥45 anos, tratadas de câncer de mama e livre de doença há pelo menos cinco anos. O grupo controle foi constituído de mulheres com amenorréia >12 meses e idade ≥45 anos sem câncer de mama, pareadas pela idade, na proporção 1:2. Por meio de entrevista foram coletados dados clínicos e antropométricos. Na análise bioquímica foram solicitadas dosagens de colesterol total (CT), HDL, LDL, triglicerídeos (TG), glicemia e proteína C-reativa (PCR). Foram consideradas com SM as mulheres que apresentaram três ou mais critérios diagnósticos: circunferência da cintura (CC) > 88 cm; TG ≥ 150 mg/dL; HDL colesterol < 50 mg/dL; pressão arterial ≥ 130/85 mmHg; glicemia de jejum ≥ 100 mg/dL. Para análise estatística foram empregados o teste t-student, o teste do Qui-Quadrado e a regressão logística (odds ratio-OR). A média de idade da pacientes tratadas de câncer de mama foi de 60,6 ± 8,6 anos com tempo médio de seguimento de 9,4 ± 4,4 anos. Maior porcentagem de pacientes tratadas de câncer de mama (46,2%) era obesa quando comparadas ao controle (32,7%) (p<0,05). E menor porcentagem de mulheres tratadas de câncer apresentou valores considerados ótimos de LDL, glicemia e PCR quando comparadas ao controle (p<0,05). A SM foi diagnosticada em 50% das mulheres tratadas de câncer de mama e 37,5% no grupo controle (p<0,05). Entre os critérios... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: To assess the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in postmenopausal women breast cancer survivors compared to postmenopausal women without breast cancer. In this cross-sectional study, 104 women breast cancer survivors were compared with 208 postmenopausal women (control), seeking healthcare at a University Hospital. Eligibility criteria included women with amenorrhea > 12 months and age ≥ 45 years, treated for breast cancer and no recorrences for at least five years. The control group consisted of women with amenorrhea >12 months and age ≥ 45 years without breast cancer matched by age, in proportion 1:2. Dates on clinical antecedents and anthropometric indicators were collected. The biochemical parameters, including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP), were measured. MetS was diagnosed as the presence of at least three components among: waist circumference (WC) >88cm, blood pressure ≥130/85mmHg, triglycerides ≥150mg/dl, HDL <50mg/dl and glucose ≥100mg/dl. For statistical analysis were used: Student t-test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression method (odds ratio-OR). The mean age of women breast cancer survivors was 60.6 ± 8.6 years with a mean follow-up of 9.4 ± 4.4 years. A higher percentage of women breast cancer survivors (46.2%) were obese compared to control (32.7%) (p <0.05). And a smaller percentage of women breast cancer survivors had optimal values of LDL, glucose and CRP compared to controls (p <0.05). MetS was diagnosed in 50% of women breast cancer survivors and 37.5% in the control group (p <0.05). The most prevalent diagnostic criteria of MetS was abdominal obesity (WC> 88 cm) affecting 62.5% of women breast cancer survivors and 67.8% of control group. Women breast cancer survivors had a higher risk for metabolic syndrome... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Objetivos: Avaliar o efeito da menopausa sobre a composição corporal, a distribuição de gordura abdominal, o índice de massa corporal, a circunferência cintura, os percentuais de gordura androide, ginoide e a relação androide/ginoide, o consumo calórico total da alimentação diária e o nível de atividade física de mulheres climatéricas. Modelo: Estudo transversal com mulheres climatéricas recrutadas através de divulgação nas mídias eletrônica e impressa e realizado de março de 2014 a outubro de 2015. Local: Centro de Pesquisa Clínica do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (CPC/HCPA), RS/Brasil. Amostra: A amostra foi constituída por mulheres na pré e pós-menopausa com idade entre 44 e 52 anos. Medidas de avaliação: Os instrumentos utilizados foram: Executive summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10 (STRAW +10, para a classificação de mulheres em relação ao estadiamento menopausal); Recordatório alimentar de 24 horas (para medir o consumo alimentar); um questionário semiestruturado sobre aspectos de saúde, hábitos de vida, familiares e parâmetros socioeconômicos; o Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (IPAQ – versão curta, para a mensuração de atividade física da última semana); o Questionário de Avaliação da Menopausa (MRS, para quantificar a severidade dos sintomas da menopausa); avaliações antropométricas (estatura, peso, índice de massa corporal – IMC, circunferência abdominal e circunferência do quadril); absorciometria de raios-x de dupla energia (DEXA, para avaliação da composição corporal, estimativas de massa magra e gorda); e a Escala Visual Analógica de Apetite (para quantificação do nível de fome). Amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas para a análise de níveis de hormônios (estradiol e folículo estimulante – FSH) e parâmetros bioquímicos de metabolismo (colesterol total e frações – triglicerídeos, HDL, LDL – e glicemia de jejum). O banco de dados foi digitado e analisado no programa SPSS versão 18.0. Testes univariados (Teste t de Student e de Mann-Whitney) foram aplicados para comparações de médias/medianas entre os grupos, conforme normalidade da variável contínua pelo teste de Shapiro-Wilk. Análises de distribuições (Qui-quadrado com análises de valores residuais ajustados) foram aplicadas para comparações de frequências de variáveis categóricas entre os grupos. Correlações de Spearman foram aplicadas entre todas as variáveis analisadas. O nível de significância adotado para todas as análises foi fixado em 5%. Resultados: Avaliaram-se 114 mulheres, categorizadas em pré-menopausa (n=60), mediana de idade [Intervalo de Confiança – IC95%] de 47,5 [47,01–48,35 anos] e na pós-menopausa (n=54) com mediana de idade de 49 anos [48,29–49,56]. O tempo de pós-menopausa foi (mediana [95%IC] de 1,50[1,63–2,41] anos) e as mulheres na pré-menopausa classificadas como -3b segundo os critérios de STRAW+10. A maioria das participantes apresentava ensino médio ou superior (35,96% e 39,47%, respectivamente), era solteira ou sem parceiro (57,02%), não tabagista (97,37%) e não consumia álcool (57,89%). Quanto ao IMC, foram categorizadas como eutróficas (31,86%) ou obesas (40,71%), sem doença hipertensiva (98,25%), tireoidiana (97,37%) ou cardiovascular (100%). Em relação à atividade física, a maioria das mulheres apresentava nível ativo (51,75%). Na avaliação do apetite, as mulheres na pós-menopausa apresentaram escores maiores do que as prémenopáusicas (p=0,013). Níveis de colesterol total e de HDL foram maiores nas mulheres na pós-menopausa (p=0,040 e p≤0,0001, respectivamente). Não houve diferenças estatísticas entre os grupos quanto à massa corporal total, gordura androide e ginoide, conteúdo mineral ósseo, massa magra, consumo calórico, triglicerídeos e glicemia de jejum (p>0,05). Quanto aos sintomas climatéricos, as mulheres na pósmenopausa apresentaram mais queixas de fogachos e ressecamento vaginal (de moderado a extremamente severo) (p=0,056 e p=0,007, respectivamente) e significância marginal em relação aos problemas sexuais (p=0,086). O IMC, os triglicerídeos séricos e a glicemia de jejum foram positivamente correlacionados à circunferência da cintura, massa corporal, massa adiposa, massa magra e gorduras androides e ginoide. Colesterol HDL foi negativamente relacionado à circunferência da cintura, massa corporal, massa adiposa, massa magra e gordura androide. A escala visual analógica de apetite foi positivamente relacionada a humor deprimido, problemas sexuais e fogachos. Conclusões: Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas quanto à massa corporal total, gordura androide e ginoide, conteúdo mineral ósseo, massa magra, consumo calórico, triglicerídeos e glicemia de jejum, possivelmente, porque no início da pós-menopausa as possíveis modificações na composição corporal não sejam impactantes, o que permite considerar esse período como uma janela de oportunidade para intervenções precoces direcionadas ao estilo de vida, prevenindo-se agravos como perfil aterogênico e aumento do risco cardiovascular. / Objetives: To evaluate the effect of menopausal transition on body composition, abdominal fat distribution, body mass index, waist-hip circumference, percentages of android, gynoid and android/gynoid fats ratio, total daily caloric intake and the level of physical activity of climacteric women. Model: A cross-sectional study with climacteric women recruited by electronic and printed media and carried out from March 2014 to October 2015. Place: Clinical Research Center of Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre (CPC/HCPA), RS/Brazil. Sample: The sample consisted of pre and postmenopausal women aged between 44 and 52 years. Measures of evaluation: The instruments used were: the Executive Summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10 (STRAW +10, for the classification of women in relation to menopausal staging); 24- hour food recall (to measure food consumption); a semi-structured questionnaire on aspects of health, life habits, family and socioeconomic parameters; the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ – short version, for the measurement of physical activity of the last week); the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS, to quantify the severity of menopausal symptoms), anthropometric assessments (height, weight, body mass index – BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference); Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA, to evaluate body composition, estimates of leand and fat mass); and the Visual Analogue Appetite Scale (to quantify the level of hunger). Blood samples were collected for the analysis of female hormone levels (estradiol and follicle-stimulating – FSH) and biochemical parameters of metabolism (total cholesterol and triglyceride fractions – HDL, LDL – and fasting glycemia). The database was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 18.0. Univariate tests (Student’s t test and Mann-Whitney test) were applied for comparisons of means/medians between groups, according to the normality of the continuous variable by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Distribution analyzes (Chi-Square with adjusted residual values) were applied for comparisons of frequencies of categorical variables between the groups. Spearman’s correlations were applied among all analyzed variables. The level of significance adopted for all analyzes was set at 5%. Results: A total of 114 women, pre-menopausal women (n=60) with median age [95% Confidence Interval – CI] of 47.5[47.01–48.35] years and postmenopausal women (n=54) with median age [95%CI] of 49.0[48.29–49.56]. Postmenopausal time median [95%CI] time was of 1.50[1.63–2.41] years and premenopausal women were classified as -3b, according to the STRAW + 10 criteria. The majority of participants had high school education (35.96% and 39.47%, respectively), was single or without partner (57.02%), non-smoker (97.37%) and did not consume alcohol (57.89%). Regarding BMI, they were categorized as either eutrophic (31.86%) or obese (40.71%), without hypertensive (98.25%), thyroid (97.37%) or cardiovascular (100.0%) diseases. In relation to physical activity, the majority of women had an active level (51.75%). In the evalution of appetite, postmenopausal women had higher scores than premenopausal women (p=0.013). Total cholesterol and HDL levels were higher in postmenopausal women (p=0.040 and p≤0.0001, respectively). There were no statistical differences between the groups regarding total body mass, android and gynoid fats, bone mineral content, lean mass, caloric intake, triglycerides and fasting glycemia (p>0.05). Considering the climacteric symptoms, postmenopausal women presented more complaints of hot flashes and vaginal dryness (moderate to extremely severe, p=0.056 and p=0.007, respectively) and marginal significance in relation to sexual problems (p=0.086). BMI, serum triglycerides, and fasting glycemia were positively correlated with waist circumference, body mass, adipose mass, lean mass, android and gynoid fats. HDL cholesterol was negatively related to waist circumference, body mass, adipose mass, lean mass and android fat. The visual analogue scale of appetite was positively related to depressive mood, sexual problems and hot flashes. Conclusions: There were no statistically significant differences in total body mass, android and gynoid fats, bone mineral content, lean mass, caloric intake, triglycerides and fasting glycemia, possible because at the the beginning of postmenopausal period the possible changes in body composition are not impacting, which allows us to consider this period as a time window of opportunity for early interventions directed to lifestyle, preventing ailments such as atherogenic profile.