Rapid maturation in adolescence results in greater obesity in adulthood: the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study

In this study, the effect of rapid and slow biological maturation on the development of obesity was investigated in boys (n = 79) and girls (n = 98), initially aged a mean of 13 y, and measured six times between 1977 and 1991. Obesity was determined by measuring body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) and by summing four skinfold thicknesses. Biological maturation was operationalized by skeletal age, the age of peak height velocity (PHVage) for boys, and the age of menarche for girls. Multiple analyses of variance for repeated measurements showed that based on either skeletal age or PHVage, BMI for rapidly maturing boys was significantly higher than for slowly maturing boys between 13 and 27 y of age. Based on skeletal age, rapid maturers also showed higher mean sums of skinfold thicknesses over this period. For girls, BMI and sums of skinfold thicknesses for the rapidly maturing girls, based on either skeletal age or age at menarche, were also higher than for the slowly maturing girls over the entire period of study. In conclusion, individuals who matured rapidly in adolescence were, in general, more obese than slowly maturing adolescents between 13 and 27 y of age. Rapid maturation seems to have long-term consequences for obesity and should therefore be considered a risk indicator for the development of obesity.     

It's about timing and change: Pubertal transition effects on symptoms of major depression among African American youths.

Effects of early physical maturation and accelerated pubertal changes on symptoms of major depression were examined in 639 African American children. Three rival hypotheses, early timing, off-time, and stressful change, were tested using 2 waves of data (mean ages = 11 and 13 years). The pubertal effect operates differently according to children's gender and age. For girls, early maturation was consistently associated with elevated levels of depressive symptoms. For boys, early maturers manifested elevated levels of depression only at age 11, but these symptoms subsided by age 13. Boys who experienced accelerated pubertal growth over time displayed elevated symptom levels. Results support the early timing hypothesis for girls and the stressful change hypothesis for boys. Time at assessment is critical when examining boys' pubertal transition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in haemoglobin and haematocrit values in children aged 6 to 13 1/2 years in Mexico City

Levels of haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Ht) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined in 523 boys and 350 girls, clinically healthy, ages 6-0 to 13-5 years, middle socio-economic class living in Mexico City. In girls no significant differences according to age were observed in Hb or MCHC; however, Ht was significantly greater at 10-5 than at 10-0 years, without subsequent modifications. In boys, Hb and Ht had a first increase between 10-5 and 11-0 years and a second rise from 12-5 years on: MCHC remained unchanged. Boys were six to twelve months behind girls in regard to Ht increase; however, Ht increased when boys and girls reached similar mean weights (34 kg), heights (138 cm) and surface areas (1-15 m2); concomitantly, they had progressed to stage 2 of sexual development. Clear sex differences began to appear at age 11-5 when boys had higher Hb and Ht values than girls. These data suggest that Hb and Ht changes in these children are not related to chronological age but can be better interpreted if compared to weight, height, surface area or stage of sexual development.     

Molar polymorphisms and the timing of dentition mineralization

The chronological age, skeletal age, and morphological age at the time of mineralization of 14 stages of the permanent teeth of 121 boys and 111 girls of the serial experimental sample of the Burlington Growth Centre were contrasted according to whether or not the children had 4- or 5-cusped mandibular permanent first molars, and whether or not they had agenesis of one or more third molars. In the boys with 4-cusped mandibular first molars, the mineralization of the teeth occurred at significantly earlier chronological and skeletal ages when they were significantly shorter in stature. Tooth mineralization was not consistently earlier in the girls with 4-cusped molars, but these girls tended to be taller and heavier than those with 5-cusped molars. In contrast, in both sexes with agenesis of third molars, the mineralization of the teeth was significantly delayed according to chronological, skeletal and morphological evaluation. The change in timing of mineralization was greatest for the second premolars and second molars, and least for the first molars.     

Skeletal maturity of the hand and wrist in Oaxaca school children

Skeletal maturity of the hand and wrist (Tanner-Whitehouse II system) was assessed in a sample of 394 school children 5 to 18 years of age, in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. The socio-economic background of the sample was relatively poor and the group appeared to have a poor nutritional history (via height and weight measurements). At most ages, the mean skeletal ages of Oaxaca school children are below the British means, and about 60 per cent of the children have skeletal ages below their chronological ages.     

Accuracy of leg length prediction in children younger than 10 years of age

In this study, the authors attempted to predict the ultimate leg length in normal children with normally growing legs, using Green-Anderson and Moseley techniques with chronologic and skeletal age. The predictions were based on serial growth studies of children between 5 and 10 years of age. Using skeletal age for prediction, the absolute mean error in predicting the ultimate leg length was 2.4 cm using the Green-Anderson method and 2.58 cm using the Moseley method. Using the Moseley method for length prediction in boys, the mean error was 3.8 cm using skeletal age and 1.5 cm using chronologic age. For girls, using the Moseley method of leg length prediction, the mean error was 1.55 cm with skeletal age and 2.46 cm with chronologic age. The significance of this study is that skeletal age, as determined by the Gruelich and Pyle Atlas, does not improve the accuracy of prediction of ultimate leg length in children younger than 10 years of age, except in girls with advanced bone age.     

Gender differences in cognitive development.

The potential effect of gender on intellectual abilities remains controversial. The purpose of this research was to analyze gender differences in cognitive test performance among children from continuous age groups. For this purpose, the normative data from 7 domains of the newly developed neuropsychological test battery, the Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil [Child Neuropsychological Assessment] (Matute, Rosselli, Ardila, & Ostrosky-Solis, 2007), were analyzed. The sample included 788 monolingual children (350 boys, 438 girls) ages 5 to 16 years from Mexico and Colombia. Gender differences were observed in oral language (language expression and language comprehension), spatial abilities (recognition of pictures seen from different angles), and visual (Object Integration Test) and tactile perceptual tasks, with boys outperforming girls in most cases, except for the tactile tasks. Gender accounted for only a very small percentage of the variance (1%–3%). Gender × Age interactions were observed for the tactile tasks only. It was concluded that gender differences during cognitive development are minimal, appear in only a small number of tests, and account for only a low percentage of the score variance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The interrelationships between facial areas and other body dimensions

The data from 35 premenarchial Gujarati, Hindu girls, selected at random, in the age range of 120 months to 144 months were collected to find out statistically the nature and the values of correlation coefficients among various facial areas and other body dimensions such as body weight, stature, chronological and skeletal ages. The correlation coefficients between skeletal, chronological, height and weight ages ranged from 0.413 to 0.8105 showing moderately high association. Height and weight ages turned out to be the most reliable indicators of growth and development of facial areas in this age group and the chronological age as in ineffectual indicator of the same. Maxillary and mandibular areas showed a high value of correlation coefficients (0.67) while the orbitoethmoidal area did not show any correlation with any age variables or with other facial areas. The mandibular areas showed the highest correlation with weight age (0.63) and lowest with chronological age (0.431). The maxillary area showed highest correlation with chronological age (0.62) and lowest with skeletal age (0.42). Fifteen empirical formulae have been developed by which average value of facial areas could be predicted from the other variables.     

Height, weight and menarche in Swedish urban school children in relation to socio-economic and regional factors

During the period 1964-1973, a defined sample of 740 Swedish urban school children (360 girls and 380 boys) from 40 different urban areas all over the country were followed longitudinally. Height and weight were measured twice a year and age at menarche was recorded. Mean ages at peak height velocity (PHV) and peak weight velocity (PWV) were 11-91 years (SD 0-95) and 12-50 years (SD 1-08) for girls with average values of 8-30 cm/year (SD 1-32) and 7-37 kg/year (SD 1-94). Mean age at menarche was 13-05 years (SD 1-03). PHV and PWV in boys occurred on average at 14-09 years (SD 1-11) and 14-30 years (SD 1-11) with magnitudes of 9-84 cm/year (SD 1-40) and 9-07 kg/year (SD 2-04). No significant differences between socio-economic strata defined by father's occupation and family income were found either for height and weight or for ages at PHV, PWV and menarche. Girls but not boys in the lowest social group (III) had more weight for height during puberty than had girls in social groups I and II. Between the three main geographical regions of Sweden some differences were found. Boys in the South were at the ages of 17 and 18 on average heavier than boys from the rest of the country. Boys and girls in the South had PHV, PWV and menarche half a year later than children in Middle Sweden. In analysis of variance for age at PHV significant interaction terms were found for regions times urbanization. In the South and North age at PHV was earlier the higher the urbanization level, but in Middle Sweden the reverse occurred.     

Response patterns of pre-school-age children to the Northwestern Syntax Screening Test

This study was undertaken to describe the response patterns of 216 boys and girls between the ages of five-and-one-half and six-and-one-half years of age on grammatically matched receptive and expressive items of the NSST. The results showed no significant differences among the mean scores for three age levels or between the two sexes. However, the obtained means were substantially below those obtained on the NSST standardization sample. Item analysis suggested several inconsistencies between the ages of five-and-one-half and six-and-one-half years of age on gram-correct expressively but incorrect receptively.     

Peak expiratory flow rate in Nigerian school children

Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured using the Wright's peak flow meter in 263 school boys and 275 school girls living in Lagos, Nigeria. Their ages ranged from 6.0 years to 19.0 years (mean 11.9 +/- 3.8 yrs. for boys and 11.8 +/- 3.9 yrs. for girls). Mean PEFR was 359.2 +/- 102.0 L/min (range 160.0-610.0 L/min) in boys and 327.7 +/- 81.3 L/min (range 160.0-500.0 L/min) in girls. Apart from ages 17, 18 and 19, peak expiratory flow rates were similar in both boys and girls. In both sexes, PEFR correlated positively and significantly with age, height, weight and body surface area. Also in both sexes and in all age groups studied, PEFR was significantly higher than predicted values obtained from previous Nigerian and caucasian prediction equations. When compared with values obtained from a second caucasian prediction equation, observed values were significantly higher in the 6-10 years and 16-19 years age groups in boys and 11-15 years and 16-19 years age groups in girls. New prediction equations for calculating PEFR in Nigerian boys and girls are presented. Observed PEFR may be due to enhanced stature in Nigerian children resulting from improved environment and genetic factors.     

Intradermal transgenic expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces neutrophilia, epidermal hyperplasia, Langerhans'' cell/macrophage accumulation, and dermal fibrosis

Bone age maturation and growth velocity were analyzed longitudinally by the TW2 RUS method standardized for Japanese children in 45 GH-treated boys with idiopathic GH deficiency (GHD). The patients were divided into three groups: Group I consisted of four isolated GHD patients who underwent spontaneous puberty without gonadotropin suppression treatment (GST) and had a mean final height of 151.9 cm; Group II consisted of 24 GHD patients with associated gonadotropin deficiency who received sex hormone replacement treatment (GRT) and had a mean final height of 165.3 cm; Group III consisted of 17 isolated GHD patients who underwent spontaneous puberty and had a mean final height of 158.3 cm after being treated with combined GH and GST. Bone age matured along with chronological age in Group I, whereas bone age in Group II decelerated significantly after a bone age of 12 years and did not reach a bone age of 14 years. Bone age maturation in Group III showed an intermediate pattern between Groups I and II; bone age decelerated significantly after a bone age of 12 years but mean bone age advanced beyond a bone age of 14 years. Height velocity in Group I during GH treatment decelerated rapidly after the pubertal growth spurt, as usually seen in normal puberty. A definite pubertal growth spurt was not observed in the height velocity of Group II during GH treatment before receiving GRT; the mean height velocity gradually declined, remaining at 3.5-4.5 cm/year even after 18 years. Mean height velocity in Group III during GH treatment and GST showed a similar tendency as Group II, but it declined more rapidly. Since a growth velocity of around 3 cm/year was preserved with GH treatment despite the decline in growth velocity, the slower the advance of bone age, the longer the treatment period and, therefore, the taller the final height achieved by GST compared to Group I. It is recommended to start GST at a bone age between 11.5 years and 13 years. The timing, namely when to start GRT in GHD with gonadotropin deficiency or when to stop GST in isolated GHD, can be estimated according to the patient's desired final height and bone age-growth potential.     

Short-term effect of testosterone treatment on reduced bone density in boys with constitutional delay of puberty

We studied bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), cortical thickness/total width (CT/TW) ratio and cortical area/total area (CA/TA) ratio in boys with constitutional delay of puberty and the effect of short-term testosterone treatment on bone mass. Seventeen boys (age 13.1-15.8 years) who met the family history and the clinical criteria of constitutional delay of puberty were selected and enrolled in the study. All subjects were eating a diet assuring an adequate intake of calories and calcium. A subset of 8 boys (group A) was treated with testosterone depot (100 mg/month x 6 months) while 9 boys (group B) were not. At inclusion, BMC and BMD were reduced in the patients according to their chronological age (BMC -4.04 +/- 1.34 standard deviation scores [SDS]; BMD -2.95 +/- 0.56 SDS), statural age (BMC -1.75 +/- 0.79 SDS; BMD -1.69 +/- 0.78 SDS), and bone age (BMC -1.80 +/- 0.65 SDS; BMD -1.86 +/- 0.68 SDS). No significant differences between the groups were found (group A: BMC 0.480 +/- 0.57 g/cm, BMD 0.488 +/- 0.037 g/cm2, CT/TW ratio 0.43 +/- 0.4, CA/TA ratio 0.68 +/- 0.04; group B: BMC 0.476 +/- 0.060, p = NS vs. group A; BMD 0.491 +/- 0.036 g/cm2, p = NS vs. group A). At 12 months of follow-up, BMC, BMD, CT/TW ratio, and CA/TA ratio significantly increased in group A (BMC 0.70 +/- 0.13 g/cm, delta +41.1 +/- 28.8%, p < 0.003 vs. 0 month; BMD 0.617 +/- 0.082 g/cm2, delta +26.2 +/- 13.6%, p < 0.005 vs. 0 month; CT/TW ratio 0.52 +/- 0.05, delta +20.59 +/- 10.65%, p < 0.001 vs. 0 month; CA/TA ratio 0.77 +/- 0.05 vs. 0 month; CT/TW ratio 13.60 +/- 6.65%, p < 0.004 vs 0 month), but not in group B (BMC: 0.48 +/- 0.05 g/cm; delta +5.1 7.8%, p = NS vs. 00 month; BMD: 0.492 +/- 0.037 g/cm2; delta +0.54 +/- 8.7%, p = NS vs. 0 month; CT/TW ratio 0.44 +/- 0.04, delta +4.04 +/- 6.75%, p = NS vs. 0 month; CA/TA ratio 0.68 +/- 0.05, delta +2.39 +/- 5.90%, p = NS vs. 0 month). We conclude that boys with constitutional delay of puberty have reduced BMC and BMD. The delay in statural and bone ages did not totally account for the decreased bone mass. Testosterone treatment for 6 months significantly increased BMC, BMD, CT/TW ratio, and CA/TA ratio in these patients, but definitive conclusions on the efficacy of the treatment in improving adult bone mass can be drawn only when our patients reach early childhood.     

Effect of growth and development on cephalometric shapes in orthodontic patients: a Fourier analysis

The age- and gender-related shape variations of the craniofacial skeleton in skeletal Class I children were quantified using a Fourier analysis on the pre-treatment lateral head films of 122 orthodontic patients (age range 7-15 years), who were subdivided into six groups for sex and age (2-year intervals). Seven landmarks representative of the maxillo-mandibular sagittal and vertical relationship were identified and digitized. The contiguous landmarks were connected by segments, the form was normalized with respect to its orientation and size, and a Fourier analysis of the contour was performed. Mean values of the cosine and sine coefficients of the first six harmonics in the sex and age classes were computed. The size-standardized outlines of the oldest boys were narrower and longer than the outlines of the youngest boys (differences at gonion, menton, sella and nasion). Shape differences between mean plots in girls were negligible. In the youngest patients, girls had a larger size-independent shape in the mandibular region; their shape was narrower (anterior-posterior direction) and longer (vertical direction) than male shape. In the oldest patients, boys had a larger size-independent shape at gonion, and a narrower shape at articulare and pogonion than girls. Size increased from the youngest to the oldest boys; size differences were not conspicuous in girls. Within an age class, male size was always larger than female. Fourier analysis allowed a global evaluation of the cephalometric forms, with separate quantifications of the age- and gender-related differences in size and shape.     

Wide-area network connecting a hospital drug informatics center with a university

Bone age maturation in 116 untreated patients with Turner's syndrome was evaluated in a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. A total of 265 radiographs were rated using the TW2-RUS method on the computer-assisted skeletal age score (CASAS) system. Bone age was found to be retarded from the chronological age of 3 to 6y. Between the ages of 7 and 12 y bone age almost equalled chronological age and progressed normally at a rate of 1 y y(-1). Bone maturation slowed down thereafter and epiphyseal closure was not reached before the age of 17 y. Reference data are presented on bone age and a bone age maturation curve for untreated patients with Turner's syndrome to be used in clinical practice. In the assessment of bone age and bone age velocity in Turner's syndrome the CASAS system produced reliable and valid results. The absolute difference between repeated bone age ratings was 0.26 "y" (median) with a range of 0.00-0.56 "y". Future studies evaluating the effect of growth-promoting treatment in Turner's syndrome should use a computerized method for the determination of bone age.     

Children's personal space as a function of age and sex.

Gathered measures of personal space from 74 children (ages 3, 5, and 7) when they approached boys or girls of their own age. A significant difference was found between the 3-yr-olds (who kept less distance from their age peers) and the 5- or 7-yr-olds. No other differences attributable to age were found. For all Ss, the sex of the interacting child was relevant in that less distance was kept from girls than from boys. Results are discussed in the light of learning and developmental processes. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dynamics of morphometric parameters of skeletal bone in inhabitants of Saint-Petersburg

2102 roentgenograms of the left manus bones from both sexes subjects with normal health status aged up to 18 were studied to detect peculiarities of skeleton maturity of St. Petersburg inhabitants. TW-2 modified Tanner-Whitehouse method was used. It was demonstrated that children living in St. Petersburg are characterized with the excess of skeletal age over chronological one almost in all age groups, which is maximum typically during first years and minimum by the end of puberty. The process of bone maturity is not successive. Highest growth rate of skeletal maturity were found in prepubescent and puberty. Sex differences established are also noted. Girls were above boys in skeletal age at 7, 8, 9 and 10 years.     

Estimates of food and macronutrient intake in a random sample of Northern Ireland adolescents

Estimates of food consumption and macronutrient intake were obtained from a randomly selected population sample (2%) of 1015 adolescents aged 12 and 15 years in Northern Ireland during the 1990/1991 school year. Dietary intake was assessed by diet history with photographic album to estimate portion size. Reported median energy intakes were 11.0 and 13.1 MJ/d for boys aged 12 and 15 years respectively and 9.2 and 9.1 MJ/d for girls of these ages. Protein, carbohydrate and total sugars intakes as a percentage of total energy varied little between the age and sex groups and were approximately 11, 49 and 20% respectively of daily total energy intakes. Median dietary fibre intakes were approximately 20 and 24 g/d for boys aged 12 and 15 years respectively and 18 and 19 g/d for girls of these ages. Major food sources of energy (as a percentage of total energy intakes) were bread and cereals (15-18%), cakes and biscuits (12-14%), chips and crisps (13-14%), dairy products (9-11%), meat and meat products (9-11%) and confectionery (9%). Fruit and vegetable intakes were low at about 2.5% and 1.5% respectively of total energy intakes. Median fat intakes were high at 39% of total daily energy intakes. Major food sources of fat as a percentage of total fat intakes were from the food groupings: chips and crisps (16-19%), meat and meat products (14-17%), fats and oils (14-16%), cakes and biscuits (13-16%) and dairy products (12-15%). Median intakes of saturated fatty acids were also high at approximately 15% of daily total energy intake while intakes of monounsaturated fatty acids averaged 12% of daily total energy intake. Median polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intakes were low, comprising 5.2 and 5.5% of daily total energy intake for boys aged 12 and 15 years respectively and were lower than the PUFA intakes (5.9 and 6.3% of daily total energy intake) for girls of these ages. About 1.3% for boys and 1.4% for girls of daily total energy intake was in the form of n-3 PUFA. Ca and Mg intakes were adequate for both sexes. Based on these results, some concern about the dietary habits and related health consequences in Northern Ireland adolescents appears justified.     

In vitro activity of 9 antibiotics and 3 beta-lactamase inhibitors against 107 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumanii

Twenty eight of 227 patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy for inflammatory bowel disease, familial adenomatous polyposis or functional disease were over the age of 50 years: ages 50 to 60 (n = 13), 60 to 70 (n = 10), and over 70 (n = 5). Major complications occurred in 5 patients over the age of 50 (18%) compared with 43 patients under the age of 50 (23%). Three patients above the age of 50 had their pouch excised (11%) compared with 23 under the age of 50 (12%). Functional outcome was assessed with a 12 point symptom score. This was similar in all age bands: under 50 years (mean = 2.2; sd +/- 2.2; n = 109), 50 to 60 years (mean = 2.5; sd +/- 2.5; n = 12), 60 to 70 years (mean = 2.8; sd +/- 2.3; n = 7) and over 70 years (mean = 4.0; sd +/- 3.7; n = 5): P > 0.05). When analysed for ulcerative colitis alone, no significant differences were seen between the two age groups. Restorative proctocolectomy in the elderly gives results which are comparable to the younger population.     

The fight question: A mirror of differential socialization and instance of discrimination against little boys?

Asked 51 3 yr olds, 125 4 yr olds, and 70 5 yr olds in a day care center what they would do if a much smaller child started a fight with them. For boys and girls combined, the hit-back response was given by over half of the Ss, and this proportion did not decrease with age. Boys gave this response more often than girls. Sex differences in the response at different ages, however, showed opposite trends: the hit-back response decreased with age in boys but increased with girls. This increase in generally disapproved behavior (striking back at a smaller adversary) and in sex-specific disapproved behavior (physical aggressiveness in girls) is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)