OBJECTIVE This study aims to critically evaluate the effects of a walking intervention on bone mineral density (BMD) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women and to identify the optimal duration of this walking exercise intervention. METHODS Two independent reviewers assessed for eligibility randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of walking on BMD in perimenop...

BACKGROUND Depression is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses among perimenopausal women. Currently, drug treatments for the disorder tend to have higher risks than other forms of treatment. On the contrary, aerobic exercise can effectively relieve menopausal syndrome among perimenopausal women. Square dance, a kind of aerobic exercise favored by middle-aged women in China, could be a b...

THE PERIMENOPAUSAL YEARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A SHARP INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY OF SLEEP COMPLAINTS BY WOMEN.1,2 Although the exact prevalence of self-reported sleep problems varies widely across studies,3-5 perimenopausal women typically cite insomnia, disturbed sleep, and fatigue as some of their most frequent and pressing health concerns. The initiation of these sleep difficulties is usually ...

The Mr 52,000 cathepsin D is the precursor of a lysosomal protease secreted in excess by breast cancer cells. This protease can degrade extracellular matrices and proteoglycans and is induced by estrogens in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cell lines. In a 4- to 6-yr retrospective cohort study, the concentration of the total cathepsin D (precursor plus intermediate and mature chains) w...

BACKGROUND Perimenopausal insomnia is one of the core symptoms of the menopausal transition. Acupuncture is considered to exert a positive effect on restoring the normal sleep-wake cycle. However, there is little intuitive evidence besides evaluation using clinical effectiveness scales. We therefore designed this study, aiming to use more intuitive and reliable detection techniques such as func...

BACKGROUND Roots of cruciferous plant Lepidium peruvianum Chacon cultivated in high plateaus of Andes and known under its common name Maca, have been traditionally-used as an energizing vegetable with therapeutic properties for both men and women. Maca has been recognized by natives of Peru as herbal remedy helping to treat conditions affecting menopausal women. OBJECTIVE The effects of Pre-G...

wo of the articles in this issue's Focus on Women's Mental Health section provide data on phenomenology and risk of psychiatric disorders in women, while 2 articles report findings from treatment trial results. The perimenopause has been identified as a high-risk time for major depressive disorder in women, as reviewed by Steinberg et al. in the introduction section of their article. The author...

BACKGROUND Sleep is disrupted in depressed subjects, but it also deteriorates with age and possibly with the transition to menopause. The nature of interaction between mood, sleep, age and reproductive state is not well-defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between mood and sleep among healthy women in different reproductive states. METHODS We analyzed data from 11 y...