We aimed to evaluate the association between daily dietary calcium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). This cross-sectional study included 12,348 women aged 45–70 years who had reached natural menopause. They were classified into three groups according to daily dietary calcium intake: 800 mg. The risks of CVD, stroke, angina, and myocardial infarction were assessed in each group. Further, we performed subgroup analysis according to the post-menopause duration (≤10 vs. >10 postmenopausal years). We performed logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, menopausal age, income, urban area, education, insulin use, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, high alcohol intake, smoking, exercise, oral contraceptive use, and hormonal therapy use. Calcium intake level was not significantly associated with the risk of CVD in the total population and the ≤10 postmenopausal years subgroup. However, in the >10 postmenopausal years subgroup, daily calcium intake >800 mg was associated with significantly decreased risks of all CVD (odds ratio [OR], 0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11–0.64), stroke (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01–0.42), and myocardial infarction (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11–0.64). Our findings suggest that a dietary calcium intake of >800 mg/day decreases the risk of CVD events in women who have been menopausal for >10 years.

Kim S, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2023 Nov;39(1):e9. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e9

During pregnancy, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), particularly diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), elevates the risk of placental dysfunction-related pregnancy complications; however, the underlying cellular mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of PM_2.5 exposure on trophoblast functions and their interaction with endometrial stromal cells. We utilized a three-dimensional (3D) model in which human first-trimester trophoblasts (Sw71) formed blastocyst-like spheroids and were cultured with human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). Trophoblast proliferation, migration, invasion, and 3D network formation following DEP exposure (0.5–20 μg/mL) were assessed using methyl thiazolyl diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), wound healing, migration, and invasion assays. The expression levels of genes related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were quantified by real-time reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). DEP exposure significantly inhibited trophoblast proliferation, migration, and invasion. DEP treatment dysregulated the EMT program by significantly decreasing the expression of key mesenchymal markers (SNAI1, SNAI2, SOX2, and KLF4) while upregulating epithelial markers. These changes may be related to inhibited trophoblast migration toward HESC monolayers and 3D invasive network formation. DEP directly impairs critical trophoblast functions that are essential for successful pregnancy. Disruption of the EMT program represents a molecular mechanism by which traffic-related air pollution contributes to placental dysfunction and pregnancy complications, highlighting the significant reproductive risks posed by ambient air pollution.

Chung YS, et al. Yonsei Med J. 2025 Aug;66:e74. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2024.0518

Background/Objectives: As the population of women with endometriosis increases, approximately 10% of those of reproductive age experience symptoms such as pelvic pain, painful menstruation, and infertility. Individuals with endometriosis usually undergo multiple surgeries due to the high recurrence rate of the condition. However, ovarian surgery tends to reduce the ovarian reserve, presenting a dilemma when deciding whether to recommend surgery or medical treatment for women of reproductive age. The impact of endometriomas on the residual volume of ovarian tissue remains controversial, and it is unclear whether endometriosis itself or endometriomas are the primary problem. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether women with endometriosis have lower levels of anti-Müllerian hormone than women with healthy ovaries before treatment initiation. Methods: A total of 298 participants enrolled in the endometriosis cohort at Severance Hospital, Korea, from 1 October 2020 to 1 July 2024 were included in this study. Of these, 63 participants were from a retrospective study, and 235 were from a prospective study. Due to the use of different assay methods between the reference values and anti-Müllerian hormone measurements from Severance Hospital, a correction was applied using the regression equation. The mean anti-Müllerian hormone levels for individuals with endometriosis were corrected with the regression equation and compared to those of the reference group for each age group using a one-sample t-test. Results: Anti-Müllerian hormone levels decreased with age in the endometriosis group. When comparing mean anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations between the endometriosis group and reference values, among 168 participants aged 20–31 years, the corrected mean anti-Müllerian hormone concentration was 5.96 ± 3.22 ng/mL, higher than the reference value of 4.94 ± 0.17 ng/mL (p < 0.01). Among 31 participants aged 35–37 years, the corrected average anti-Müllerian hormone value was 4.33 ± 3.06 ng/mL, compared to the reference anti-Müllerian hormone level of 3.22 ± 0.15 ng/mL (p = 0.05). There were no significant differences in corrected anti-Müllerian hormone levels between the 32–34-, 38–40-, 41–43-, and ≥44 years age groups. Conclusions: Patients with endometriosis, especially those aged 20–31 years, tended to have higher anti-Müllerian hormone levels than did individuals with healthy ovaries. In other age groups, there were no differences. Given that these levels do not differ significantly across age groups, it is difficult to conclude that patients with endometriosis have a reduced ovarian reserve.