Early Puberty (early + puberty)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Psychological assessments before and after treatment of early puberty in adopted children

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 9 2001
D Mul
Early puberty is frequently observed in adopted children. This randomized trial treated 30 adopted children with early puberty and short stature with either gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) alone or in combination with growth hormone (GH) for 3 y. Before the start of treatment (T1) in the trial and at discontinuation (T2) the children and their parents underwent a psychological evaluation. At the start of treatment the children did not have increased levels of behavioural or emotional problems as assessed by the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). During treatment the CBCL scores did not increase. Self-perception of the children appeared to be normal, and after 3 y a significantly higher score for acceptance by peers was observed. At T1, an overestimation of future height was present in 80% of the children and 17% of the parents. Lower family stress was observed at T1 and T2 compared with reference values. Intelligence quotient levels decreased significantly during treatment. The findings are discussed with reference to the reported levels of behavioural and emotional problems in adopted children and the psychosocial effects of precocious puberty. Conclusion: This psychological evaluation did not reveal any consistent abnormalities in adopted children with early puberty. Treatment with GnRHa with or without GH did not increase emotional and behavioural problems in adopted children, nor was their self-perception decreased. [source]


THE CAUSES OF GIRLS' DELINQUENCY AND THEIR PROGRAM IMPLICATIONS

FAMILY COURT REVIEW, Issue 3 2007
Margaret A. Zahn
This article summarizes some of the literature reviewed by the Girls Study Group, which is a federally funded project aimed at assessing the causes of girls' delinquency as well as evaluating programs to address it. The literature reveals that a number of factors such as family dysfunction, involvement with antisocial peers, and living in disadvantaged neighborhoods are correlated with delinquency for both boys and girls. Some factors, however, are gender sensitive, meaning that either girls are more exposed to a given risk factor than boys or react somewhat differently to a given risk factor. Girls have higher rates of exposure to sexual assault, which is associated with delinquency and, although more research is needed, they are more affected by the impacts of early puberty, when it is coupled with harsh parenting and disadvantaged neighborhoods. This article discusses some implications of the research on correlates of delinquency for programming for girls and makes recommendations for program selection. [source]


Sexual dimorphism in cortical bone size and strength but not density is determined by independent and time-specific actions of sex steroids and IGF-1: Evidence from pubertal mouse models

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010
Filip Callewaert
Abstract Although it is well established that males acquire more bone mass than females, the underlying mechanism and timing of this sex difference remain controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the relative contribution of sex steroid versus growth hormone,insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH,IGF-1) action to pubertal bone mass acquisition longitudinally in pubertal mice. Radial bone expansion peaked during early puberty (3 to 5 weeks of age) in male and female mice, with significantly more expansion in males than in females (+40%). Concomitantly, in 5,week old male versus female mice, periosteal and endocortical bone formation was higher (+70%) and lower (,47%), respectively, along with higher serum IGF-1 levels during early puberty in male mice. In female mice, ovariectomy increased radial bone expansion during early puberty as well as the endocortical perimeter. In male mice, orchidectomy reduced radial bone expansion only during late puberty (5 to 8 weeks of age), whereas combined androgen and estrogen deficiency modestly decreased radial bone expansion during early puberty, accompanied by lower IGF-1 levels. GHRKO mice with very low IGF-1 levels, on the other hand, showed limited radial bone expansion and no skeletal dimorphism. From these data we conclude that skeletal sexual dimorphism is established during early puberty and depends primarily on GH,IGF-1 action. In males, androgens and estrogens have stimulatory effects on bone size during late and early puberty, respectively. In females, estrogens limit bone size during early puberty. These longitudinal findings in mice provide strong evidence that skeletal dimorphism is determined by independent and time-specific effects of sex steroids and IGF-1. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research [source]


Childhood Fractures Are Associated With Decreased Bone Mass Gain During Puberty: An Early Marker of Persistent Bone Fragility?,

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006
Serge L Ferrari MD
Abstract Whether peak bone mass is low among children with fractures remains uncertain. In a cohort of 125 girls followed over 8.5 years, 42 subjects reported 58 fractures. Among those, BMC gain at multiple sites and vertebral bone size at pubertal maturity were significantly decreased. Hence, childhood fractures may be markers of low peak bone mass acquisition and persistent skeletal fragility. Introduction: Fractures in childhood may result from a deficit in bone mass accrual during rapid longitudinal growth. Whether low bone mass persists beyond this period however remains unknown. Materials and Methods: BMC at the spine, radius, hip, and femur diaphysis was prospectively measured over 8.5 years in 125 girls using DXA. Differences in bone mass and size between girls with and without fractures were analyzed using nonparametric tests. The contribution of genetic factors was evaluated by mother-daughter correlations and that of calcium intake by Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Fifty-eight fractures occurred in 42 among 125 girls (cumulative incidence, 46.4%), one-half of all fractures affecting the forearm and wrist. Girls with and without fractures had similar age, height, weight. and calcium intake at all time-points. Before and during early puberty, BMC and width of the radius diaphysis was lower in the fracture compared with no-fracture group (p < 0.05), whereas aBMD and BMAD were similar in the two groups. At pubertal maturity (Tanner's stage 5, mean age ± SD, 16.4 ± 0.5 years), BMC at the ultradistal radius (UD Rad.), femur trochanter, and lumbar spine (LS), and LS projected bone area were all significantly lower in girls with fractures. Throughout puberty, BMC gain at these sites was also decreased in the fracture group (LS, ,8.0%, p = 0.015; UD Rad., ,12.0%, p = 0.004; trochanter, ,8.4%, p = 0.05 versus no fractures). BMC was highly correlated between prepuberty and pubertal maturity (R = 0.54,0.81) and between mature daughters and their mothers (R = 0.32,0.46). Calcium intake was not related to fracture risk. Conclusions: Girls with fractures have decreased bone mass gain in the axial and appendicular skeleton and reduced vertebral bone size when reaching pubertal maturity. Taken together with the evidence of tracking and heritability for BMC, these observations indicate that childhood fractures may be markers for low peak bone mass and persistent bone fragility. [source]


Association Between Exercise and Pubertal BMD Is Modulated by Estrogen Receptor , Genotype,

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 11 2004
Miia Suuriniemi MSc
Abstract Genetic and environmental factors contribute to bone mass, but the ways they interact remain poorly understood. This study of 245 pre- and early pubertal girls found that the PvuII polymorphism in the ER -, gene modulates the effect of exercise on BMD at loaded bone sites. Introduction: Impaired achievement of bone mass at puberty is an important risk factor for the development of osteoporosis in later life. Genetic, as well as environmental, factors contribute to bone mass, but the ways they interact with each other remain poorly understood. Materials and Methods: We investigated the interaction between a PvuII polymorphism at the ER -, gene and physical activity (PA) on the modulation of bone mass and geometry in 245 10- to 13-year-old pre- and early pubertal Finnish girls. Level of PA was assessed using a questionnaire. Bone properties were measured using DXA and pQCT. The analyses were controlled for the effects of Tanner stage and body size index. Results: Girls with heterozygote ER-, genotype (Pp) and high PA had significantly higher bone mass and BMD, as well as thicker cortex, at loaded bone sites than their low-PA counterparts. No differences were found in bone properties of the distal radius, which is not a weight-bearing bone. Bone properties did not differ in either homozygote groups (PP and pp) regardless of the PA level. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the PvuII polymorphism in the ER -, gene may modulate the effect of exercise on BMD at loaded bone sites. The heterozygotes may benefit most from the effect of exercise, whereas neither of the homozygote groups received any significant improvement from high PA. Furthermore, high PA may hide the genetic influence on bone. Indeed, it seems that one may compensate one's less favorable Pp genotype by increasing leisure PA at early puberty. [source]


Glucocorticoids and the Development of Agonistic Behaviour during Puberty in Male Golden Hamsters

JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 12 2005
J. C. Wommack
Abstract During puberty, the agonistic behaviour of male golden hamsters undergoes a transition from play fighting to adult aggression. Repeated exposure to social stress early in puberty accelerates this transition. The present study investigated the possible role of glucocorticoids on the maturation of agonistic behaviour. First, we compared serum cortisol levels following a 20-min restraint stress during early puberty, mid-puberty or adulthood. Across puberty, animals exhibited a two-fold increase in post-restraint cortisol levels. We also compared corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) immunoreactive fibres projecting to the median eminence between animals in early puberty and adulthood. The CRH fibre density was two-fold greater in adults compared to juveniles. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of stress hormones on the maturation of agonistic behaviour. Male hamsters were injected daily with dexamethasone, a corticosteroid receptor type II agonist (0, 10 or 40 µg/100 g), early in puberty from postnatal day 31 (P-31) to P-36. When paired with a smaller and younger intruder on P-37, attack frequency did not differ between groups. However, dexamethasone-treated animals showed a dose-dependent decrease in the percentage of play-fighting attacks and an increase in the percentage of adult attacks. In summary, puberty can be described as a period of increasing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity in male golden hamsters. Moreover, increasing glucocorticoid levels influence the maturation of agonistic behaviour. These data shed new light on the neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate the maturation of social behaviours during puberty. [source]


Chronic immobilization-induced stress increases plasma testosterone and delays testicular maturation in pubertal rats

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2000
S. A. Almeida
Summary. We investigated whether chronic stress, applied from prepuberty to early puberty, interferes with the spermatogenic and androgenic testicular functions. Male pubertal rats (40 days old) were immobilized 6 h per day for 15 days. Plasma concentrations of corticosterone, prolactin and testosterone were significantly augmented following immobilization, whereas plasma luteinizing hormone decreased and follicle-stimulating hormone was not altered. Acute immobilization (5 min) increased prolactin and testosterone levels in control rats but caused a significantly higher increase in these hormones when superimposed on chronic stress. A lower extent of testicular maturation was observed in pubertal rats immobilized from prepuberty. [source]


Parent,Daughter Transmission of the Androgen Receptor Gene as an Explanation of the Effect of Father Absence on Age of Menarche

CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2002
David E. Comings
Based on an evolutionary theory of socialization, Belsky and colleagues proposed that girls exposed to a stressful environment, especially when due to father absence in the first 7 years of life, showed an early onset of puberty, precocious sexuality, and unstable relationships as adults. The authors of this article examined an alternative explanation that a variant X,linked androgen receptor (AR) gene, predisposing the father to behaviors that include family abandonment, may be passed to their daughters causing early puberty, precocious sexuality, and behavior problems. The results of a study of 121 White males and 164 White females showed a significant association of the short alleles of the GGC repeat polymorphism of the AR gene with a range of measures of aggression and impulsivity, increased number of sexual partners, sexual compulsivity, and lifetime number of sex partners in males; and paternal divorce, father absence, and early age of menarche in females. These findings support a genetic explanation of the Belsky psychosocial evolutionary hypothesis regarding the association of fathers' absence and parental stress with early age of onset of menarche and early sexual activity in their daughters. A genetic explanation of the father absence effect is proposed in which fathers carrying the AR alleles are more likely to abandon a marriage (father absence) and pass those alleles to their daughters in whom they produce an earlier age of menarche and behavioral problems. [source]


Bone metabolism markers and ghrelin in boys at different stages of sexual maturity

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 5 2009
Jaak Jürimäe
Abstract Aim: To examine the relationship of the markers of bone formation (procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide [PINP]) and bone resorption (type I carboxyterminal telopeptide [ICTP]) with bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), ghrelin and testosterone in boys during puberty. Methods: Sixty boys were divided in three groups (20 boys in each) based on the pubertal stage (G1, I; G2,G3, II; G4,G5, III). Fasting PINP, ICTP, ghrelin and testosterone were measured. Total body BMD, lumbar BMD, lumbar apparent volumetric BMD (BMAD) and BMC were measured by DXA. Results: PINP and ICTP values peaked at the beginning of puberty (Group II). Ghrelin was lower in Groups II and III compared to less mature boys. PINP and ICTP correlated with each other and were associated with lumbar BMAD in total group of boys. Relationships of PINP and ICTP with total BMD, total BMC and lumbar spine BMD in Group I were observed. PINP and ICTP were also correlated with testosterone in Group II and with lumbar spine BMAD in Group III. Conclusion: These data suggest that testosterone stimulates PINP and ICTP in early puberty, while ghrelin has no direct influence on bone turnover markers in boys at different stages of puberty. [source]


Suppression of puberty with long-acting goserelin (Zoladex-LA): effect on gonadotrophin response to GnRH in the first treatment cycle

CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
Julie A. Trueman
Summary background and objectives Depot GnRH analogues are widely used in the treatment of precocious puberty, or suppression of relatively early puberty where growth or psychosocial well-being may be compromised. One example is Zoladex (Z goserelin 3·6 mg), which can be given every 4 weeks. This injection frequency may not always achieve adequate suppression of pubertal signs. A long-acting form, Zoladex-LA 10·8 mg, has now been introduced with a potential duration of action of 12 weeks. In order to assess the efficacy of Zoladex-LA in gonadotrophin suppression we have measured LH and FSH responses to GnRH at diagnosis and 8 and 12 weeks after injection in a group of children treated with Zoladex-LA for central precocious or early puberty. methods Forty-nine children (40 girls) with clinical evidence of central precocious puberty (CPP) or early puberty (EP) were started on Zoladex-LA, either de novo (n = 29) or on changing from Zoladex. Ages at diagnosis ranged from 1·7 to 10·6 years (median 7·8 years). Twenty-three had a structural cause with abnormality on magnetic resonance/computerized tomography (MR/CT) head scan, nine had a syndrome or nonspecific brain injury, and in 17 the cause was idiopathic. results At diagnosis, in the de novo group, median peak LH was 13·6 IU/l and median peak FSH was 12·0 IU/l. By 12 weeks gonadotrophins were suppressed to 0·9 and 0·8 IU/l, respectively. In the previously treated group, median peak LH at diagnosis was 12·8 IU/l and median peak FSH was 15·0 IU/l with suppression to 0·8 and 1·1 IU/l, respectively, at 12 weeks. In the latter group peak FSH was higher than peak LH at both 8 and 12 weeks (P < 0·05) and there was a significant rise in peak LH (P < 0·05) and FSH (P = 0·01) between 8 and 12 weeks. There was no correlation between age at diagnosis and peak LH or FSH at 8 or 12 weeks. Nevertheless, individual patients in both groups showed evidence of incomplete gonadotrophin suppression at 12 weeks. conclusion Zoladex-LA induces a significant reduction in gonadotrophins over 12 weeks. However, there are individuals, particularly those previously on Zoladex, in whom gonadotrophin suppression is waning by 12 weeks. As found with Zoladex, some children with precocious puberty treated with Zoladex-LA may require increased injection frequency, although correlation with clinical evidence of suppression needs to be studied further. [source]


Final height after combined growth hormone and GnRH analogue treatment in adopted girls with early puberty

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 11 2004
T Tuvemo
Background: Girls adopted from developing countries often have early or precocious puberty, requiring treatment with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues. During such treatment, decreased growth velocity is frequent. Aim: To study whether the addition of growth hormone (GH) to GnRH analogue treatment improves final height in girls with early or precocious puberty. Methods: Forty-six girls with early or precocious puberty (age ± 9.5y) adopted from developing countries were randomized for treatment for 2,4 y with GnRH analogue, or with a combination of GH and GnRH analogue. Results: During treatment, the mean growth velocity in the GH/GnRH analogue group was significantly higher compared to the control group. Combined GH/GnRH analogue treatment resulted in a higher final height: 158.9 cm compared to 155.8 cm in the GnRH analogue-treated group. Three out of 24 girls (13%) in the combined group and nine of the 22 girls (41%) treated with GnRH analogue alone attained a final height below ,2 standard deviation scores (SDS). Conclusion: The difference between the two groups is statistically significant, and possibly of clinical importance. A future challenge is to identify a subgroup with clinically significant advantage of GH addition to GnRH analogue treatment. Being very short on arrival in Sweden and being short and young at start of treatment are possible indicators. [source]


Psychological assessments before and after treatment of early puberty in adopted children

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 9 2001
D Mul
Early puberty is frequently observed in adopted children. This randomized trial treated 30 adopted children with early puberty and short stature with either gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) alone or in combination with growth hormone (GH) for 3 y. Before the start of treatment (T1) in the trial and at discontinuation (T2) the children and their parents underwent a psychological evaluation. At the start of treatment the children did not have increased levels of behavioural or emotional problems as assessed by the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). During treatment the CBCL scores did not increase. Self-perception of the children appeared to be normal, and after 3 y a significantly higher score for acceptance by peers was observed. At T1, an overestimation of future height was present in 80% of the children and 17% of the parents. Lower family stress was observed at T1 and T2 compared with reference values. Intelligence quotient levels decreased significantly during treatment. The findings are discussed with reference to the reported levels of behavioural and emotional problems in adopted children and the psychosocial effects of precocious puberty. Conclusion: This psychological evaluation did not reveal any consistent abnormalities in adopted children with early puberty. Treatment with GnRHa with or without GH did not increase emotional and behavioural problems in adopted children, nor was their self-perception decreased. [source]