Association between vasomotor symptoms and sarcopenia assessed by L3 skeletal muscle index among Korean menopausal women

Objective@#To evaluate the association between vasomotor symptoms, skeletal muscle index, and sarcopenia in menopausal women. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study included 295 Korean menopausal women aged 40–65 years who underwent abdominal computed tomography during routine health checkups between January 2014 and May 2016. The cross-sectional areas of adipose and skeletal muscles were measured at the L3 level using computed tomography. The skeletal muscle index is defined as the sum of the skeletal muscle area (cm2 )/height 2 (m2). Sarcopenia was identified by a skeletal muscle index of ＜ 34.9 cm2 /m2 . Vasomotor symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale. @*Results@#The mean age of the participants was 54.93 ± 6.20 years. Vasomotor symptoms were reported in 160 women (54.2%). Sarcopenia was more prevalent in women without vasomotor symptoms (18.5%) than in those with (6.9%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the prevalence of sarcopenia was inversely associated with the prevalence of vasomotor symptoms (odds ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.67). Moreover, the paraspinal muscle index was positively associated with the prevalence of vasomotor symptoms (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.11) after adjusting for age, body mass index, waist circumference, adipose tissue area, history of hormone therapy, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, total cholesterol, insulin resistance, alcohol intake, and exercise. @*Conclusions@#Vasomotor symptoms are less common in women with sarcopenia than in those without, and are positively associated with paraspinal muscle mass in Korean menopausal women. Further longitudinal studies are required to investigate the causal relationships and underlying mechanisms.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Tibolone and Transdermal Estrogen in Treating Menopausal Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of tibolone and transdermal estrogen in treating menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women with an intact uterus.METHODS: Overall, 26 women consumed tibolone orally and 31 women received transdermal estrogen gel mixed with progestogen. The menopause rating scale (MRS) was used to assess their menopausal symptoms at their first outpatient visit and 6 months later.RESULTS: The transdermal estrogen group showed significant improvements in more items of the MRS questionnaire. There was a favorable change in body weight in the transdermal estrogen group compared with that in the tibolone group. Depressive mood, irritability, physical and mental exhaustion, sexual and bladder problems, and joint and muscular discomfort improved only in the transdermal estrogen group, whereas heart discomfort and vaginal dryness improved only in the tibolone group. Nevertheless, the intergroup differences in each item were insignificant after adjusting for body mass index and hypertension, which differed before treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Both the therapeutic options improved menopausal symptoms within 6 months of use. However, transdermal estrogen appeared to be more effective in preventing weight gain in menopausal women than tibolone.

Post-marketing Surveillance Study of an Inactivated Split-Virion Influenza Vaccine in Korea / 소아감염

PURPOSE: This post-marketing surveillance study (NCT00750360) assessed the safety and reactogenicity of an inactivated, trivalent split-virion influenza vaccine licensed for use in the Korea since 2002. METHODS: Eight hundred and eighty three subjects aged > or =6 months received a single dose of the vaccine; an additional dose was administered to those aged or =6 years: 34.7%), fever ( or =6 years: 13.9%) were the most frequently recorded solicited local and general adverse events. Grade 3 solicited adverse events were reported by < or =4.0% subjects. No vaccine-related SAEs were recorded (KFDA criteria). CONCLUSION: Considering the vaccine's well-established immunogenicity and its favourable safety and reactogenicity profile across all age groups and its high coverage rate in Korea, it may be recommended as a candidate to facilitate annual seasonal influenza vaccination for all ages as part of the Korean National Immunization Program.