Correlation of increased oxidative stress to body weight in disease-free post menopausal women

ObjectivesOxidative stress increases postmenopausally, an effect attributed to aging. Increase in body weight generally accompanies menopause. Obesity per se also seems to increase oxidative stress. The question is whether postmenopausal increase in oxidative stress is related to body weight, or is only a function of age.Design and methodsAge, body weight, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) in erythrocytes of a cross-section of 90 disease-free women aged 25–65 years, divided into three groups of n = 30 each of normally menstruating Controls (C), perimenopausal (periM) and postmenopausal women (postM) were recorded.ResultsPostM had the highest oxidative stress and body weight. SOD, CAT and MDA correlated significantly with body weight (? 0.74, 0.64 and 0.69 respectively). The odds of having a lower SOD (OR9.5, 95% CI:2.9–30.8) and higher CAT (OR6.2, 95% CI:1.6–23.0) and MDA (OR6.8, 95% CI:2.7–16.8) for weight > 60 kg was highly significant.ConclusionsOxidative stress is enhanced as body weight increases.     

Evidence nursing of menopausal women: telephone intervention services

With rapid innovation in medical techniques and continuous improvements in public sanitation, people now live much longer than they used to. According to the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, the average life expectancy of women increased from 60.26 years in 1952 to 78.48 years in 2002. As the average life expectancy of women increases, the population of menopausal women also tends to increase year by year. For that reason, the government sees the health care of menopausal women as an important aspect of healthcare policy. With the health care environment constantly changing, it appears that simply relying on traditional experiences and subjective beliefs to do such nursing work cannot satisfy the needs of patients. Consequently, effective methods to apply research results to clinical practice has become a crucial goal of current evidence nursing. Rosswurn and Larrabee (1999) proposed six steps of change in the clinical nursing model. In this paper, we used this model to evaluate the effects of telephone intervention services for menopausal women.     

An educational intervention as decision support for menopausal women

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a decision support intervention (DSI) to assist women to make and act on informed decisions that are consistent with their values in the area of menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Mode and intensity of intervention were tested in midlife women (N 5 248), randomly assigned to one of three intervention formats: written information only, guided discussion, or personalized decision exercise. Data were collected over 12 months. Knowledge, decisional conflict, satisfaction with health care provider, and self-efficacy improved following intervention and were maintained for 12 months for all groups. Women's adherence to their own plans over 12 months was 59% (exercise), 76% (calcium intake), and 89% (HRT). Carefully written information is effective in promoting knowledge, adherence, and satisfaction among well-educated, interested women. It was concluded that women can understand complex information, including tradeoffs regarding treatment options. Women will adhere to their own plans, suggesting that consumer rather than provider plans may be the more appropriate gold standard for measuring adherence. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 20: 377–387, 1997     

女性更年期抑郁症状的心理干预

近10年来,由于社会竞争日益激烈,生活压力不断增加,部分女性提早进入更年期,使更年期女性人数不断增加,由此形成一个值得医学界关注的社会问题.女性进入更年期后,随着卵巢功能逐渐衰退,雌性激素水平也会相继下降,导致生理和心理功能的失调,75.1‰的绝经期女性出现更年期症状[1],而在一系列症状中,心理状况的异常变化显得十分突出.     

A feminist critique of research on menopausal experience of Korean women.

Despite the increasing number of studies on the menopausal experience of Asian women, the focus of the studies has been on simple comparisons of their symptoms with Western women's and other disease-oriented research topics. To propose directions for future research on menopause, we analyzed and critiqued 158 studies on the menopausal experience of a group of Asian women-Korean women. The studies were retrieved through a search of computerized databases in the United States and South Korea, and they were reviewed, analyzed, and critiqued with a feminist perspective. Many of the studies have problems with (a) conceptualization, including ethnocentric and androcentric views of menopause, biomedical perspectives, and language difficulties; (b) research methods, such as inadequate instruments, passive relationships between researchers and research participants, culturally inappropriate communication styles, inadequate study designs, and homogeneous research participants; and (c) interpretation and communication of study findings. These issues undermine the conclusions drawn about the nature of the menopausal experience of Korean women.     

Evaluation of a multicomponent restraint reduction intervention in care homes

ProblemPhysical restraints have been widely applied as a means to prevent accidents among care home residents with cognitive impairment.BackgroundEvidence has shown the risks and harms of physical restraints to the physical and psychosocial health of care home residents. Research on reducing restraint use has been sporadic with inconclusive results.QuestionCan a multicomponent program reduce inappropriate use of physical restraints in care home settings?MethodsA pretest–post-test study was conducted in two care homes in Hong Kong. The multicomponent program comprised staff education, case conferences, and consultation. Data were triangulated using self-administered questionnaires, observations of restraint use practice, and documentary reviews. The following study outcomes were evaluated at baseline and 12-month follow-up: care home staff's use of restraints, knowledge of physical restraints, and perceived competence in dementia care.FindingsRestraint use was reduced by 30.9% in 12 months (p < .001), but no significant difference in the mean scores of knowledge of physical restraints and perceived competence in dementia care was noted among care home staff between baseline and the 12-month follow-up (p = .387 and p = .287, respectively).DiscussionThe findings suggest that our multicomponent program, underpinned by organisational support, was instrumental in reducing the use of physical restraints in care home settings, but its effects on care home staff and residents remain unclear.ConclusionThis study suggests the feasibility and preliminary effects of using a multicomponent program to reduce restraint use in care homes. A more robust study design is needed to evaluate the sustained effects of our multicomponent program and also its effects on the outcomes of care home staff and residents.     

Cultural competence of measurement scales of menopausal symptoms: use in research among Korean women

Even though there are advancements in research related to culturally competent care, there is an increasing realization that coherent theories and a research base to guide health care that is culturally competent is yet to be fully developed. In this paper, cultural competence of the scales measuring menopausal symptoms are critically analyzed in light of their limitations for Korean women — a population other than for whom it was developed. The analyses indicate that there are issues of contextuality, relevance, communication style, authenticity, power relationships and time constraints.     

Redergin treatment of hypertensive menopausal women

AIM: To assess a hypotensive effect of redergin (dihydroergotoxin)--agonist of dopaminergic receptors--in monotherapy (4.5-6 mg/day) and in combination with enalapril and amlodipin (10 mg/day). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Redergin in monotherapy or combined therapy was given to 106 hypertensive women in pre- or postmenopause and 24 hypertensive women of reproductive age. Antihypertensive effect was assessed by changes in arterial pressure, frequency and severity of hypertensive crises, diuresis, clinical symptoms of menopausal syndrome. RESULTS: A significant fall in arterial pressure, intensive diuresis, less frequent or absent hypertensive crises, relief of menopausal symptoms were observed on day 10-14 of redergin monotherapy of menopausal patients with mild hypertension and in combined treatment of menopausal women with moderate and severe hypertension. CONCLUSION: Antihypertensive and diuretic effect of redergin confirm a pathogenetic role of deficient dopaminergic activity in development of menopausal hypertension.     

妇女更年期综合征的心理康复

目的:观察心理康复治疗对妇女更年期综合征的疗效.方法:将100例确诊为更年期综合征的妇女随机分成两组,研究组50例,给予谷维素、舒乐安定片等治疗,同时每周心理治疗2次,对照组50例仅给予药物治疗,疗程4周.采用SCL-90症状自评量表观察两组治疗前后临床症状的变化.结果:两组SCL-90各因子及总均分均有下降.两组治疗后比较差异显著(P＜0.1),研究组治疗后各临床症状较有明显差异(P>0.05).结论:心理治疗能有效地缓解妇女更年期综合征的症状,提高更年期妇女健康水平.     

更年期妇女的社区保健

更年期是女性卵巢功能从旺盛状态逐渐衰退到完全消失的一个过度时期,包括绝经和绝经前后的一段时间。更年期妇女可出现一系列的生理和心理方面的变化,多数妇女能够平稳地度过更年期,但也有少数妇女由于更年期生理与心理变化较大,被一系列症状所困挠,影响身心健康。因此更年期的妇女都要注意加强自我保健,保证顺利地渡过人生转折的这一时期。本文结合社区保健工作,对如何做好更年期妇女的社区保健作一浅析。     

Migraine headache in perimenopausal and menopausal women

Perimenopause marks a time of change in a woman’s hormonal environment, which is apparent from the resultant irregular periods and vasomotor symptoms. These symptoms can start in the early 40s and continue through to the early 50s. Migraine is also affected by hormonal fluctuations, particularly the natural decline in estrogen in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. This effect of estrogen “withdrawal” on migraine appears to become more predominant during perimenopause. Despite the increased prevalence of headache and migraine in women in their 40s, migraine is underdiagnosed in this population. In women attending with symptoms suggestive of perimenopause, it is important to ask about headache symptoms. Once diagnosed, a number of strategies can be used to manage both perimenopausal migraine and menopausal symptoms effectively, with the potential to reduce the associated morbidity.     

疼痛护理干预应用于带状疱疹后神经痛的效果评价

目的探讨疼痛护理干预对带状疱疹后神经痛的应用效果。方法选取我院疼痛科收治的带状疱疹后神经痛患者90例,按随机数字表法随机分为对照组及观察组各45例,对照组采用常规护理,观察组采用疼痛护理干预模式进行护理,对两组患者的疼痛程度、睡眠受干扰程度,疼痛控制满意度进行比较。结果治疗5 d、10 d后观察组疼痛程度评分明显低于对照组(P0.05);治疗5 d、10 d后观察组睡眠受干扰程度明显低于对照组(P0.05);观察组治疗5 d、10 d后的疼痛控制的满意度明显高于对照组(P0.05)。结论应用疼痛护理干预对带状疱疹后神经痛患者进行疼痛管理,能显著减轻患者的疼痛程度,改善患者睡眠,提高患者对疼痛控制的满意度。     

绝经综合征非药物干预的研究进展

通过文献回顾对绝经综合征临床表现、相关影响因素及目前非药物干预措施进行了综述,为临床护理提供参考.     

Protocol for estrogen replacement therapy in menopausal women

The hormonal changes of menopause may produce a variety of symptoms, including hot flushes, atrophic vaginal changes and osteoporosis. For some women these symptoms may be so pronounced that estrogen replacement with opposing progesterone becomes a suitable therapy. Before instituting this therapy, the nurse practitioner must carefully assess the woman and obtain necessary information on the risks and benefits of this regimen. Clinical guidelines for initiating oral estrogen replacement therapy in menopausal women are presented and patient education topics, including additional measures the woman can employ to relieve her menopausal symptoms, are reviewed. The value of diet, calcium and fluoride supplements and exercise in decreasing the risk of osteoporosis is also discussed.