Aims Review controlled clinical trials of isoflavones and amino acid preparation effects on hot flashes and at least one other symptom including mood, sleep, pain, and cognitive function that women report during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause. Methods An experienced reference librarian searched PubMed/Medline, CINAHL Plus, PsycInfo, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, EMBASE, AMED, and Alt-Health Watch for English-language randomized controlled trials between 2004 to July 2011. Seventeen trials of isoflavones and amino acid effects on hot flashes and one additional symptom were identified. Results In five trials of soy isoflavone preparations, two (6g soy germ extract and 25g soy protein in soy nuts) significantly decreased hot flashes, but no other symptoms. In the seven trials of other isoflavones, six significantly reduced hot flashes; in addition, Red Clover (80 mg) significantly reduced mood symptoms; Rexflavone (350 mg) for women with Kupperman Index > 20 significantly reduced sleep symptoms; two trials had significant reductions for pain: Isoflavone powder (90 mg) and Red Clover (80 mg). The only trial in this systematic review that significantly reduced cognitive symptoms was Red Clover (80 mg). In one trial, Red Clover isoflavone (80 mg/d) significantly relieved hot flashes, mood, pain, and cognitive symptoms. Amino acids yielded no significant results. Equol supplements of 30 mg/d for non-Equol producing women significantly reduced mood symptoms in one trial. The Magnolia Bark Extract combination significantly reduced hot flashes, mood, and sleep symptoms. Conclusions Isoflavone trials yielded significant reductions on hot flashes and co-occurring symptoms during the menopausal transition and postmenopause, but studies require replication with larger sample sizes and attention to measurement of outcomes.

The C-SCAT-M demonstrated initial feasibility, including usability and utility, for collecting data about symptom clusters experienced by midlife women.

Few international studies document the concerns of women living with HIV (WLWH) who were infected by their intravenous drug-using husbands. Our content analysis described the concerns of this population by analyzing 12 interviews with WLWH. Three main concerns were discussed by the women: dealing with anger and being a dedicated wife, going home to one's parents as the only place to go, and being strong and staying alive for the children. Dealing with their own emotional responses to the HIV diagnosis, lacking financial resources after the husband's death, and remaining focused on staying healthy were major issues in their stories. Indonesia needs large-scale public HIV education campaigns about the risks women encounter as wives to husbands who use intravenous drugs as well as campaigns to educate husbands about their risks. Nurses need to encourage women to get tested during prenatal care to prevent infecting their children.