Menopause is a natural phase in a woman’s life marked by the cessation of menstruation, typically accompanied by hormonal fluctuations that have significant impacts on physical and mental health. While much attention has been given to the physical symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and osteoporosis, the neurocognitive consequences of hormonal fluctuations during the menopausal transition and the subsequent sustained estrogen loss after menopause have received less focus. Estrogen receptors (ERs), specifically ERα and ERβ, play a critical role in maintaining brain health, influencing mood, memory, and cognition. This review explores the connection between estrogen receptor signaling and mental health during menopause, focusing on mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as cognitive decline and dementia. We discuss the molecular mechanisms by which ERs modulate brain function, including their effects on neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter systems, and gene expression. The review also examines current clinical approaches to managing menopausal cognitive and mental health issues, including hormone replacement therapy and selective ER modulators, while emphasizing the need for further research into alternative therapies and individualized treatments. The importance of estrogen receptors in the menopausal brain and their potential as therapeutic targets is critically evaluated, aiming to shed light on this often-overlooked aspect of menopause and aging.

Nanostructured titanium oxides with various morphologies were prepared through the hydrothermal treatment of TiO₂ anatase, using LiOH, NaOH and KOH as a peptizing agent at 400 K for 30 hrs. The obtained samples were characterized using the scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, BET measurement and the electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The observed morphologies such as tubule, partially plugged nanorod and polycrystalline nanoparticles can be tailored depending on the types of alkali metal ion, Na⁺, K⁺, and Li⁺ used in the hydrothermal treatments. The result of the ESR studies suggested the existence of paramagnetic sites on the annealed nanostructured TiO₂ samples. The ESR signals came from the single electron trapped in oxygen vacancy (SETOV) and Ti³⁺.

Cho JM, et al. J Nutr Health. 2025 Jun;58(3):315-331. https://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2025.58.3.315

The credibility and wide usability of nutrition fact labels (NFLs) have increased due to the pandemic, which may lead to healthier nutritional choices. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between NFL use and meeting the estimated average requirements (EARs) for vitamins and minerals not listed on NFLs during the prepandemic (2019, n = 6606) and pandemic periods (2020 and 2021, n = 12085) using KNHANES data. Household surveys, health behavior interviews, and health checkup examinations were conducted for all participants. Subjects were included in the unAware+noUse, Aware+noUse, and Aware+Use groups according to NFL usage, and nutritional intake was analyzed by the 24-hour recall method. Complex-sample multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for meeting the EARs according to NFL usage in the crude and adjusted (including metabolic conditions) models. The primary finding was that awareness and NFL use were associated with adequate intake above the EARs for vitamin A, vitamin B₂, niacin, folate, Ca, Fe, and P; this association was more evident during the pandemic. After adjusting for covariates, during the pandemic, the ORs of meeting the EARs in the Aware+noUse group and Aware+Use group were 1.25 (CI 1.06–1.47) and 1.36 (CI 1.05–1.75) for vitamin A, 1.26 (CI 1.06–1.50) and 1.54 (CI 1.19–2.00) for vitamin B₂, 1.32 (CI 1.13–1.56) and 1.46 (CI 1.15–1.85) for folate, and 1.46 (CI 1.06–2.00) and 1.73 (1.09–2.75) for P, respectively. Additionally, the ORs for niacin (1.21, 1.02–1.43) and Fe (1.29, 1.08–1.54) were significant in the Aware+noUse group, and that for Ca (1.39, 1.08–1.78) was significant in the Aware+Use group (all p <0.05). In conclusion, NFL awareness and use are associated with meeting the EARs for vitamins and minerals not listed on NFLs. For future recurring health crises, effective NFL use is necessary for healthy dietary practices.

It is important to establish the relationship between appropriate nutritional intake and improvements in activities of daily living (ADLs) in elderly hospitalized patients. This prospective observational study aimed to investigate diet order compliance (DOC) during 8 weeks of hospitalization and calculate the odds of improved functional independence measure (FIM) scores for high- and low-DOC groups using covariate-adjusted models in geriatric convalescent hospitals. The study subjects were elderly inpatients (>65 years old) with degenerative disease who consumed prescribed oral meals (Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) = 6/7) and who did not receive physical/occupational therapy. The personalized diet order was prescript, and the DOC was calculated using dietitian-monitored daily intake data. The 73 patients were divided into a low-DOC group (< 84.0%, n = 35) and a high-DOC group (≥ 84.0%, n = 38) on the basis of the median DOC (84.0%, average for 8 weeks). Twenty (52.6%) high-DOC patients and nine (25.7%) low-DOC patients experienced motor-FIM improvements (P = 0.017). After 8 weeks, the change in motor-FIM in the high-DOC group (1.6±0.3) was greater than that in the low-DOC group (0.3±0.1; P = 0.001). According to the baseline and nutrition-intake-adjusted model of multiple logistic regression analysis, in the high-DOC group, the motor-FIM improvement OR was 5.102 (95% CI: 1.100–16.233, P = 0.036), and the total-FIM improvement OR was 5.273 (95% CI: 1.102–25.238, P = 0.037). High compliance with individualized nutritional prescriptions can increase FIM scores in clinical settings. Thus, comprehensive approaches to increase dietary compliance are needed for elderly long-term care patients.