OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of metformin and rosiglitazone in overweight or obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. METHODS: Twenty Six overweight or obese patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome were randomly treated with either metformin (500 mg three times daily, n=13) or rosiglitazone (4 mg once daily, n=13) for 6 months. Hormonal studies were performed before and after treatment. Insulin resistances were calculated by computerized HOMA 2 Calculator v2.2. RESULTS: Testosterone decreased while SHBG increased after 6 months treatment in both metformin and rosiglitazone treatment groups. Fasting glucose decreased after metformin or rosiglitazone treatment. HOMA insulin resistance improved after treatment with either drug. There was no differences in hormonal changes and insulin resistance between 2 treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that metformin and rosiglitazone are effective in improving insulin sensitivity and ameliorating hyperandrogenism in overweight/obese polycystic ovarian syndrome women.
Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Metformin* ; Overweight* ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Testosterone

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate qualification and determine the usefulness of human papillomavirus(HPV) DNA testing in women with cytologic smears read as atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (ASCUS). METHOD: The study was based on 88 women with cytologic smears reported of ASCUS favoring either a reactive process or squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) from July 1999 to June 2000. Cytologic examination by Papanicolaou smear was based on the Bethesda System and cervical biopsy was done via coloscopy. the presence of high risk HPV DNA was determined with Hybrid capture assay. RESULTS: The overall incidence of cervical intraepithelial lesion (CIN) was higher in the group with ASCUS favoring SIL than in the group with ASCUS favoring reactive process(42.2 % vs 18.6 %; p<0.05). Women with ASCUS favoring SIL were 9.1 times more likely to have high grade SIL(CIN II/III) develop than were women group with ASCUS favoring reactive process(95% confidence interval, 1.08-76.0). High-risk HPV DNA was demonstrated in 39.8%(35 cases) and was associated a 8.8 times increased likelihood of histologic conformation of CIN(95% confidence interval, 3.09-24.7). The sensitivity of HPV assay for any CIN was 74% and specificity was 75%, whereas the corresponding values for the repeat Pap smear was 67% and 33%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Women with ASCUS favoring SIL was associated with a relatively high risk that the women was harboring SIL. The addiction of a high-risk HPV DNA assay to cytologic examination appears to provide for early detection of high grade CIN in women with ASCUS.
Biopsy ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Diagnosis* ; DNA* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Papanicolaou Test ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the difference between estrogen only therapy and estrogen-androgen combination therapy in surgical menopause patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Surgical menopause patients received 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogens or 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogens plus 1.25 mg methyltestosterone for 2 years. Bone mineral density, menopausal symptoms, lipoprotein profiles were measured. RESULTS: Both groups showed increased bone mineral density. In the combination group, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides decreased. In the estrogen only group, low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased but high density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly. In both groups, menopausal symptoms were much improved. Side effects were easily tolerated in both groups. CONSLUSIONS: Estrogen-androgen combination therapy had comparable benefits compared with estrogen only therapy.
Bone Density ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Estrogens* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Menopause* ; Methyltestosterone ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the difference between estrogen only therapy and estrogen-androgen combination therapy in surgical menopause patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Surgical menopause patients received 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogens or 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogens plus 1.25 mg methyltestosterone for 2 years. Bone mineral density, menopausal symptoms, lipoprotein profiles were measured. RESULTS: Both groups showed increased bone mineral density. In the combination group, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides decreased. In the estrogen only group, low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased but high density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly. In both groups, menopausal symptoms were much improved. Side effects were easily tolerated in both groups. CONSLUSIONS: Estrogen-androgen combination therapy had comparable benefits compared with estrogen only therapy.
Bone Density ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Estrogens* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Menopause* ; Methyltestosterone ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effectiveness of bone turnover indexes for bone loss or gain in early postmenopausal women. METHOD: This study was performed in 240 menopausal women(mean age, 50 yr), who were randomized to hormone replacement therapy(HRT) or calcium supplementation(CS, 500mg/day) for 1yr. Urinary N-telopeptide(NTx) and osteocalcin(OC), as well as spine and femoral neck bone mineral density(BMD) were measured at baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: Women receiving HRT(n=110) showed a significant increase in spine BMD(+2.6%; P<0.0001) and hip BMD(+1.1%; P<0.05) compared to women receiving CS, who showed a decline at both sites (-1.0%; P<0.01). Both markers showed time dependent decreases in women receiving HRT(P<0.001) and no change in women receiving calcium alone. When baseline indexes of turnover were divided by quartile, there was a significantly greater increase in BMD among those with the highest NTx, OC levels compared to that in those with the lowest NTx, OC levles(P<0.05). When subjects receiving HRT were compared by their positive or negative skeletal response at 1yr and their baseline turnover marker, initial NTx values were significantly higher in those that gained bone than in those that lost bone (P<0.001). Calcium supplementation women in the highest quartile for NTx at baseline had significantly greater decreases in spine BMD than subjects with the lowest NTx values(P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: For early postmenopausal women there are differential responses of biochemical markers to HRT and calcium supplementation. Baseline urinary NTx and serum osteocalcin were good predictors of change in spine BMD after 1yr of either HRT or calcium supplementation. It is concluded that markers of bone formation and resorption can be used clinically to predict future BMD in early postmenopausal women.
Biomarkers* ; Bone Density* ; Calcium* ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Hip ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Spine

PURPOSE: To obtain basic information for studies of female sexual dysfunction, we investigated the sexual activities and attitudes of young Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey via the Internet. From July 2004 to August 2004, we sent e-mail to 43,000 women who registered with an internet research company. The recipients of the e-mail were asked to join our study if they had stable sexual activities more than once a month for the most recent 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 508 subjects completed the questionnaire, a response rate of 24.7%. Among 423 questionnaires analyzed, 176 women were single and 247 were married. The mean frequency of coitus per month was 5.5 3.9. About 40% of the women had experienced masturbation, and 112 women (26.5%) had masturbated regularly, even though they had stable sexual activities with their partner(s). Among the 423 subjects, 349 had no plan to have a baby; however, only 287 subjects (67.8%) had used a contraceptive method(s). Among those who used contraceptive methods, 183 subjects (63.8%) used methods with low success rates, such as menstrual timing or extra-vaginal ejaculation. Most of the women answered that they have a positive attitude toward sex (3.4 0.8 point on a 5 point scale) and their sex life has great importance in their life. CONCLUSIONS: Via an Internet survey, we investigated the sexual life and attitudes of young Korean women. An Internet survey requires less manpower, a shorter study period, and less research funds than classical survey methods such as mail or interview surveys. The study results obtained will be useful as basic data for studies of female sexual function in Korean women.
Coitus ; Contraception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ejaculation ; Electronic Mail ; Female ; Financial Management ; Humans ; Internet* ; Male ; Masturbation ; Postal Service ; Sexual Behavior

Early pregnancy factor(EPF) is believed to be a pregnancy-associated immunosuppressivepolypeptide which might inhibit the function of maternal lymphocyte during pregnancy. Thephysiological role of EPF in human pregnancy has remained controversal. The purposes of thisstudy are to investigate whether EPF determinations have prognostic value in women withthreatened abortion, and to evaluate usefulness in diagnosing early pregnancy and in predictingthe outcome of embryo transferred in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET) program.EPF activity was measured by a recently developed, micro rosette inhibition test in sera from76 normal pregnant women, 25 normal healthy women with tubal ligation, 58 women withtherapeutic surgical abortion(n=18) or threatened abortion(n=40) and 29 IVF-ET patients. Rosetteinhibition titer>or=3 was defined as an index for the presence of EPF activity. EPF activity wasundetectable in sera of normal healthy women with tubal ligation and in sera taken before ET.In normal pregnancy EPF was detected in 88~92% of sera during the first and second trimesterand almost disappeared in the third trimester. Surgical therapeutic abortion in the firsttrimester lead to disappearance of EPF activity in 92.3% of cases second day after procedure.The sensitivity of the EPF assay in predicting the outcome in pregnant women with threatenedabortion was 88.0% and the specificity was found to be 86.7%. In patients who became pregnantafter IVF-ET procedure EPF activity was detected in 85.7% of sera on the 5th day andin all sera on the 12th day. In 80.0%(9/13) sera of patients who failed to become pregnant afterET, EPT activity was detected on the 5th day but 17(94.4%) of 18 sera was proved to benegative for EPF activity on the 12th day. These data suggest that EPF assay by micro rosetteinhibition test may be useful in monitoring the embryo after ET, in dignosing early pregnancyand in predicting the outcome in women with threatened abortion.
Abortion, Therapeutic ; Abortion, Threatened* ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sterilization, Tubal

OBJECTIVES: The study is to test reliability and validity of the Korean version of spiritual well being scale which is devised by Paloutzian and Ellison. METHODS: The spiritual well being scale was translated into Korean by two psychiatrist and 131 Christians rated the Korean version of spiritual well being scale. For test-retest reliability, 80 telephone counsellor trainee rated it again after one week interval and statistical analysis was done with the collected data. RESULT: Correlation coefficients were regarded to have good test-retest reliability. Cronbach alpha value of total score, and religious well being subscale and existential well being subscale were significantly high. Among demographic factors, health(healthier) factors, is related with significantly high score of spiritual well-being scale(SWS). Period(over 30year) of christianity showed significant discriminative score of SWS. Factor analysis for validity showed 5 subgroups which were correlated with religious well-being scale(RWS) and existential well-being scale(EWS). 1st subgroup of RWS is related with educational factor, 2nd subgroup of RWS is related with health foactor, 3rd subgroup of RWS is related with personal relationship with God especially, 4th subgroup of EWS is related with health factor and 5th subgroup of EWS is related with reality oriented view. CONCLULSION: The Korean version of SWS which is consisted of RWS and EWS was proved to be a reliable and valid instrument of assessment of spirituality.
Christianity ; Demography ; Humans ; Psychiatry ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Spirituality ; Telephone

Existence of Y derived chromosome in Turner patients is significant due to the risk of gonadoblastoma development, but cytogenetic analysis may fail to detect low levels of Y chromosomal materials. Recent studies using PCR based methods showed higher sensitivity to detect Y-specific sequences, in patients who were Y chromosome-negative cytogenetically. In this study PCR was performed on 44 Turner patients with no Y chromosome by cytogenetic analysis to detect the SRY, AMELY, ZFY, and DYZ1 sequences. Of seven patients whose karyotypes were 45,X/46,X,+mar, three patients were positive for SRY, ZFY, and AMELY. DYZ1 sequences was negative in them. And any of SRY, ZFY, AMELY, and DYZ1 sequences was detected in the remaining 37 patients. This result shows that PCR analysis for Y-specific sequences in Turner patients, especially in patients who have marker chromosome is a significant effort.
Cytogenetic Analysis ; Genes, sry ; Gonadoblastoma ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Turner Syndrome* ; Y Chromosome