The influence of climacteric symptoms on women's lives and activities

Pilates Method and/or Photobiomodulation Therapy Combined to Static Magnetic Field in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

This clinical trial aims to provide evidence about the effectiveness of the Pilates method on stress urinary incontinence (SUI), as well as to elucidate the effects of photobiomodulation therapy associated with static magnetic field (PBMT/sMF) alone or associated with the Pilates Method on Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) in women affected by SUI. For that, a three-arm, parallel randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted (NCT05096936). We recruited thirty-three women diagnosed with SUI, randomly allocated to three groups: placebo PBMT/sMF plus method Pilates, PBMT/sMF active plus method Pilates and only PBMT/sMF active. The evaluation consisted of anamnesis and physical examination, muscle strength, completion of the ICIQ-SF questionnaire, and urinary loss. The evaluation of muscle strength and filling the ICIQ-SF were performed on the first and last days, while the Pad test was applied in baseline, one month, two months, and three months of intervention. We observed an increase in strength (p < 0.01), tone (p < 0.01), and quality of life (p < 0.01), in addition to a decrease in urinary lost (p < 0.01) for all groups comparing the pre and post-intervention. The PBMT/sMF alone, the Pilates, and the combination of the two therapies proved to be effective in improving the signs and symptoms of women with SUI.

The Multiple Pharmacologic Functions and Mechanisms of Action of Guizhi Fuling Formulation

Objectives

Guizhi Fuling Formulation (GZFL), a traditional Chinese medical formulation, consists of Cinnamomi Ramulus, Paeoniae Radix Alba (or Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Moutan Cortex, Persicae Semen, and Poria, with multiple therapeutic functions such as sedation, antitumor activity, anti-inflammation, and neuroprotection. However, its clinical applications remain relatively fragmented, and the underlying mechanisms of GZFL in different diseases are still not very certain. Further research and summary in both application and mechanisms remain to be needed for human health and the best use of GZFL. Therefore, we summarized the multiple pharmacologic effects and possible mechanisms of action of GZFL according to recent 17 years of research.

Methods

We retrieved four English and two Chinese databases using these keywords (the formulation name or its synonyms) and searched articles written in English from January 2006 up to February 2022. Key Findings. GZFL exhibits multiple pharmacologic advantages in gynecologic diseases and other expanding diseases such as cancer, blood, and vascular disease, renal failure, inflammation, and brain injury. Possibly due to its diverse bioactive components and pharmacologic activities, GZFL could target the multiple signaling pathways involved in regulating blood circulation, inflammatory and immune factors, proliferation, apoptosis, and so on.

Conclusion

This review suggests that GZFL displays promising therapeutic effects for many kinds of diseases, which have been beyond the scope of the original prescription for gynecologic diseases. In this way, we wish to provide a reference and recommendation for further preclinic and clinic studies.

Does temporomandibular disorder correlate with menopausal symptoms?

OBJECTIVE

To assess the correlation between menopausal symptoms and pain caused by temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and the impact of sociodemographic factors on the association.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 74 women with TMD symptoms were enrolled and divided into three groups according to the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10 (STRAW + 10) criteria: G1 (n = 25, late menopausal transition), G2 (n = 30, early postmenopause), and G3 (n = 19, late postmenopause). Sociodemo-graphic data were collected, along with data on menopausal symptoms (Blatt-Kupperman menopausal index) and TMD-induced pain (craniomandibular index). Statistical analysis was performed using a chi-squared test and linear correlation tests (Spearman and Pearson).

RESULTS

Analysis of the three groups showed that TMD-induced pain was more intense in G1 than in G3 (P = 0.0426, r  = 0.2364, r2 = 0.05589), and menopausal symptoms correlated with the intensity of TMD-induced pain (P = 0.0004, r  = 0.4020). This correlation was more significant during the late menopausal transition (G1: P  = 0.0267, r  = 0.4427, r2 = 0.1960). In G2, women with fewer than 4 years of schooling had a higher total Blatt-Kupperman menopausal index score (17.0 ± 85.0) and craniomandibular index (0.29 ± 0.23) than women with more than 4 years of schooling (P  = 0.02 for both indices).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that TMD-induced pain and menopausal symptoms are correlated, and more strongly so in the late menopausal transition. Additionally, sociodemographic factors, such as schooling, have a major influence on symptoms in early postmenopause. Performing the TMD evaluation during the climacteric period may be important.

Menopause and Sustainable Career Outcomes: A Science Mapping Approach

This paper provides a systematic review of the phenomenon of menopause at the workplace from a sustainable career perspective, by highlighting its major themes along with the evolution and tendencies observed in this field. A conceptual science mapping analysis based on co-word bibliographic networks was developed, using the SciMAT tool. From 1992 to 2020, 185 documents were retrieved from the Web of Science. In the first analyzed time span (1992-2002), postmenopausal women, health, and risk factors appeared to be the motor themes (well-developed and important for the structure of the discipline under focus), and disorder was an emerging or disappearing theme in the phenomenon under research. In the second studied period (2003-2013), risk and health were motor themes, menopausal symptoms was a basic or transversal theme (important for the discipline but not well-developed), coronary heart disease was a specialized theme (well-developed but less important for the structure of the research field), and postmenopausal women was an emerging or disappearing theme (both weakly developed and marginal to the field). In the third studied period (2014-2020), menopause, breast cancer, and menopausal symptoms were motor themes, Anxiety was a specialized theme and risk and body mass index were emerging or disappearing themes. Sustainability of women's careers in the second half of life is of increasing importance given the increasing equal representation of men and women in working organizations, and the impact of the changing nature of work in the 21st century on older workers.

Relationship Between Frequency and Intensity of Menopausal Symptoms and Quality of Life Among Polish Nurses

PURPOSE

The study aims to compare the quality of life of nurses in the somatic, mental, social and environmental dimensions in the full reproductive and perimenopausal period and to determine the relationship between the frequency and intensity of menopausal symptoms and the quality of life of nurses aged 45-55.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study involved 334 nurses, of which: 158 (47.31%) were aged 25-35 and 176 (52.69%) aged 45-55, included in the perimenopausal group. A diagnostic survey was used as the research method and the WHOQoL-Bref Questionnaire and the Menopause Symptom List were used to collect data.

RESULTS

Nurses aged 25-35 achieved a significantly (p < 0.02) higher level of satisfaction with overall health quality (M = 3.9; SD = ±0.7) than nurses in the 45-55 age group (M = 3.7; SD = ±0.7). A variation in the frequency (F = 62.64; p < 0.0001) and intensity (F = 130.18; p < 0.0001) of menopausal symptoms was identified. It was found that the frequency and intensity of psychological symptoms were significantly higher than vasomotor (p < 0.0001) and somatic (p < 0.0001) symptoms. Additionally, negative relations between the frequency and intensity of menopausal symptoms and the quality of life of nurses in the 45-55 age group in the somatic, mental, social and environmental domains were demonstrated, with their value ranging from r = -0.19 to r = -0.48.

CONCLUSION

The quality of life of the examined nurses varies. In the perimenopausal period, the frequency and intensity of psychological, vasomotor and somatic symptoms have a significant negative impact on the quality of life of nurses.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Levothyroxine-Treated Hypothyroid Women and Women without Hypothyroidism: A Case-Control Study

The use of levothyroxine is not always related to the elimination of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. The aim of this study is to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of a group of hypothyroid women under levothyroxine treatment with that of a group of non-hypothyroid women. Methodology: A case–control study was performed. We used convenience sampling. The case group consisted of 152 levothyroxine-treated hypothyroid women; the control group consisted of 238 women without hypothyroidism disorders. All of the participants were euthyroid according to the clinical practice guidelines. We used as instruments the Short Form-12 questionnaire (SF-12v1) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: Hypothyroid women scored significantly lower in HRQOL in SF-12v1 mental and physical components than the control group (mental component summary: 41.23 ± 12.12 vs. 46.45 ± 10.22, p < 0.001; physical component summary: 49.64 ± 10.16 vs. 54.75 ± 5.76, p < 0.001). body mass index (BMI) and age showed an influence on the physical component (p < 0.001 in both variables). Adjusted for age and BMI, hypothyroidism was still related to worse scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Despite being euthyroid, women with hypothyroidism showed a poorer quality of life than women without hypothyroidism. Health professionals need to assess the HRQOL of women with hypothyroidism. Further research on HRQOL and hypothyroidism is needed.

Climacteric symptoms and their relation to feminine self-concept

OBJECTIVES

To investigate women's subjective experiences in the climacteric transition, especially the impact of self-concept, quality of life and depression on the severity of climacteric symptoms.

METHOD

Non-experimental, cross-sectional study, purpose sampling. To analyze the results, we proposed a three-way interaction, in which the direct effect of depression on the severity of climacteric symptoms would be buffered by perceived sexual quality of life, and mediated by self-concept.

RESULTS

As hypothesized, depression significantly predicted self-concept, which in turn mediated the severity of climacteric symptoms. In a second stage of the model, sexual quality of life moderated the direct effect of depression on climacteric symptoms, such that women with a better sexual quality of life would perceive less severity of climacteric symptoms than those with a less favorable sexual quality of life. Physical quality of life did not significantly buffer the direct effect of depression on climacteric symptoms, nor did vasomotor or psychosocial quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirmed the impact of subjective factors such as satisfaction, self-concept, and quality of life on climacteric symptoms; specifically, we observed the moderating effect of the sexual quality of life on the previously established correlation between depression and aggravation of climacteric symptoms.