Objective: Menopause symptoms can vary in type, duration, and severity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the key factors predicting severe symptoms among Korean perimenopausal women with various demographic data, obstetric and psychiatric histories, and menopausal symptoms screening scale scores. Methods: Data were collected from 1,060 women, and 4 latent classes were identified using latent profile analysis, with 6 major categories of menopausal complaints. Among the 4 classes, we selectively used data from the “all unimpaired” and “all impaired” groups. Menopause rating scale (MRS), sociodemographic, obstetric, and psychiatric factors were assessed, and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted with the “all impaired” group as a dependent variable. Results: Marital status and scores on the psychological and somatic subscales of the MRS were statistically related to being in the “all impaired” group. Otherwise, family history of menopausal symptoms, menarche age, and history of other psychiatric disorders were not statistically significant predictors of being in the “all impaired” group. Conclusion The psychological and somatic subscales of the MRS predict the severity of perimenopausal syndrome better than obstetric and psychiatric history do among Korean perimenopausal women. Psychological and somatic symptoms as well as genitourinary symptoms in menopausal patients should be closely evaluated.

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide. Mtb and its culture filtrates or sonic extracts induce apoptosis in macrophages. However, there is a little known about Mtb components that modulate apoptosis and their regulating mechanism. We identified Rv0753c protein with apoptotic potential through searching the biologic active proteins from the multidimensional fractions of Mtb culture filtrate. Here, we investigated the apoptotic effects of Rv0753c on RAW264.7 cells. The recombinant Rv0753c induced RAW264.7 cells apoptosis in a caspase-9-dependent manner. Dissipation of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨ m ), mitochondrial translocation of Bax, and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria were observed in macrophages treated with Rv0753c. Enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was required for Rv0753c-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, ROS-mediated JNK activation was major signaling pathway for Rv0753c-induced apoptosis. Moreover, Rv0753c-mediated apoptosis is dependent on TLR4. Altogether, these results suggest that Rv0753c induce apoptosis through ROS-JNK signaling pathway in RAW264.7 cells.