Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1980.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

Menopause is the period during which the level of estrogen secreted by the ovaries gradually declines and patients of menopausal syndrome may experience osteoporosis, cognitive decline, hot flush, mood disorder, night sweat, depression, nervous tension and insomnia. The report published by the World Health Organization in 1990 stated that the total population of postmenopausal women in the world was 476 million. By 2030, the predicted population will reach 1200 million. The current way to relieve menopausal syndrome is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which restores the endogenous estrogen level by administration of supplementary exogenous estrogen or estrogen plus progestin. However, various studies showed that HRT might increase the incidence of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. There is a potential risk of using HRT for menopausal syndrome. The novel protein DO isolated in this study could be a potential alternative of HRT for the treatment of menopausal syndrome. DO isolated from Chinese yam Dioscorea opposite Thunb. had adistinctive N-terminal sequence Gly-Ile-Gly-Lys-Ile-Thr-Thr- Tyr-Trp-Gly-Gln-Tyr-Ser-Asp-Glu-Pro-Ser-Leu-Thr-Glu-Ala, indicating that DO might be a novel protein.DO was an acid stable and thermal stable protein. As determined by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) detection, DO could stimulate estradiol biosynthesis in rat granulosa cells in vitro as well as inducing both estradiol and progesterone secretion in female aging Sprague Darley (SD)-rat model in vivo. From the results of real-time PCR and Western blot, the possible mechanism might be through up-regulating the expression of ovarian follicle stimulating hormone receptor(FSHR)and aromatase. DO also exerted a beneficial effect on the cognitive function through elevating the translational level of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)and TrkB gp 145 receptor in the prefrontal cortex of female aging SD-rat model. Though further pharmacological studies are required, the results in this study suggested that DO could be a safer potential alternative for HRT in the treatment of menopausal syndrome with beneficial effects on hormone levels and cognitive function. / published_or_final_version / Chinese Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

The study investigated whether dietary flavonoid intake and dietary patterns were associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover in postmenopausal Scottish women. The subjects were recruited in 1990-3, and the majority of them returned 6.3 ± 0.6 y later (mean age (SD) at baseline 54.7 (2.2) y). At the both visits they had bone density scans of the lumbar spine (LS) and hip (FN) and at the second visit they provided urine samples for analysis of bone resorption markers. Flavonoid intakes were calculated using food frequency questionnaires, “validated” for flavonoid intakes using 4-day food diaries. (R=0.76, p≤0.001 for energy adjusted total flavonoids). FN BMD was associated with flavonoid intakes at baseline and follow up (p=0.012, p=0.001 respectively after adjusting for confounders) and LS BMD at follow up only (p=0.038). Dietary flavanones had a negative correlation with bone resorption markers; catechins and procyanidins were associated with annual change in FN and LS BMD. Principal components analysis was used to identify five important patterns in the diets. The “healthy” diet, rich in fruit and vegetables, was negatively associated with bone resorption markers and the nutrient diets were both negatively associated with FN and LS BMD. Partial least squares analysis identified that tinned fruit and root vegetables were associated with greater bone resorption, and berries, tomatoes and juice with decreasing bone resorption. Tomato intakes were the most important when predicting bone resorption marker excretion. Tomatoes, salad, berries, and green vegetables were associated with increased BMD. Berries, applies, root vegetables and salad were the most important fruit and vegetables for predicting BMD. Results from this work confirm that fruit and vegetables are important in bone health.

Menopausal symptoms are a concern for peri- and postmenopausal women, and for women who have been treated for breast cancer. Changes in memory are a commonly reported menopausal symptom which can interfere with daily activities, occurring in women who experience natural menopause as well as in women who have an abrupt onset of menopause following treatment for breast cancer. Menopause hormone therapy may be contraindicated or unacceptable for many women, reinforcing the need for well-tolerated, non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of acupuncture to improve the menopausal symptom of memory changes in breast cancer survivors, and was a secondary analysis of a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. The Framework for Interactions between the Individual and the Environment was the conceptual framework that guided the study.<br>Subjects in the parent study were randomized to either the experimental group (symptom-specific acupuncture), control group (non-symptom-specific acupuncture), or enhanced usual care group (instruction on health-related topics). Each group received twelve intervention sessions over an 8-week period. Sixty subjects indicating a positive response to memory items on instruments at baseline were selected for this secondary analysis. The Daily Symptom Diary, Kupperman Index, and Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) measured frequency or severity of perceived memory changes at baseline, midpoint, and end of treatment.<br>Frequency distributions were used to summarize the data. There were no statistically significant results from the Daily Symptom Diary. Improvement in the enhanced usual care group compared to the acupuncture groups was seen on the Kupperman Index, and validity concerns for this instrument were reviewed. Analysis of the MENQOL data revealed more positive change in the acupuncture groups in improvement of memory than in the enhanced usual care group. These findings support the need for further exploration of targeted interventions such as acupuncture to improve memory difficulties for menopausal women and breast cancer survivors, particularly as advances are made in the understanding of the mechanisms of cognitive change. Acupuncture remains promising as a non-hormonal treatment for menopausal symptoms and merits further investigation. / School of Nursing; / Nursing / PhD; / Dissertation;

In the United States, there are currently more than 40 million postmenopausal women. These women are faced with a variety of physiological changes including ovarian steroid withdrawal and alterations in hypothalamic neurons. Within the hypothalamic infundibular nucleus of postmenopausal women, there is neuronal hypertrophy and an increase in neurokinin B gene expression. Recent studies identified the kisspeptins and dynorphins as major regulators of reproduction. In our first experiment, we examined the location and alterations of KiSS-1 mRNA-expressing neurons in the hypothalami of pre and postmenopausal women. KiSS-1 neurons were largely confined to the infundibular nucleus, and in postmenopausal women, exhibited neuronal hypertrophy and increased gene expression. To determine if these changes could result from alterations in ovarian steroids, we investigated KiSS-1 gene expression in the hypothalamic infundibular nucleus of non-human primates. Similar to the findings in postmenopausal women, ovariectomy of monkeys resulted in neuronal hypertrophy and increased KiSS-1 gene expression within the infundibular nucleus. Further, estrogen treatment of ovariectomized monkeys yielded a dramatic decrease in KiSS-1 gene expression. Together, these findings suggest that the postmenopausal alterations in KiSS-1 neurons are secondary to ovarian failure.In a second study, we examined alterations in dynorphin gene expression in the hypothalami of pre and postmenopausal women. Dynorphin mRNA-expressing neurons were identified in multiple nuclei. Numbers of dynorphin neurons were decreased within the mPOA and infundibular nucleus of postmenopausal women. In the infundibular nucleus of postmenopausal women, dynorphin neurons were hypertrophied. To determine the contribution of ovarian steroids on dynorphin gene expression, we examined dynorphin mRNA in a monkey model of menopause. Young ovariectomized monkeys exhibited hypertrophy of dynorphin neurons, with no changes in dynorphin gene expression. Estrogen replacement yielded a decrease in neuronal size and an increase in dynorphin neuron number.In future studies, we will use Quantum Dot FISH to determine if NKB, KiSS-1, and dynorphin are colocalized in the hypertrophied neurons. These neuropeptides are involved in the regulation of GnRH and changes in their gene expression likely contribute to postmenopausal alterations in reproductive hormones. Our findings provide greater understanding of the postmenopausal condition and offer opportunities for pharmaceutical investigation and treatment.

No description available.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)-Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 xiii, 73 leaves / This double blind, randomised, placebo controlled study investigated the efficacy of ProgestoNat® cream in the treatment of menopausal syndrome in terms of subjective and objective data. Menopause is defined as that point in time when permanent cessation of menstruation occurs following the loss of ovarian follicular activity. The perimenopause is the period just prior to the final menstrual period and is associated with the development of typical oestrogen deficiency symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and loss of libido, to mention a few. The most widely used treatment for these symptoms is hormone replacement therapy. This form of treatment is effective for many women, but there are many risks and side effects associated with its use and there is a growing demand for natural alternatives, like natural progesterone creams. It is for this reason that the efficacy of ProgestoNat® cream was investigated as a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy.