OBJECTIVESThe investigation of the testicular volume, the penis length and the T, FSH, LH, PRL levels in serum were taken in 289 adolescent males to provide the valuable data for andrology.

METHODSThe adolescent males were grouped according to their age. The testicular volume was measured with testicular model and the T, FSH, LH, PRL levels in serum were determined by immunoenzymetric assay.

RESULTSThe male sexual development was rapid from age 11 to 16 and close to that of adult at age 18. Serum PRL of adolescent males was higher than that of adult males.

CONCLUSIONSThe age 11 to 16 is a period of rapid growth in sexual maturation. PRL may play an important role in sexual maturation.

Adolescent ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; physiology ; Testis ; physiology

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the development and the health of reproductive organs of male children and juvenile between the Meng and the Han nationality in the Meng nationality area.

METHODSMale juvenile(4-18 years old) of the Meng nationality (n = 2,315) and the Han nationality (n = 2,832) were divided into four age groups. Height, weight, length and perimeter of penis, volume of left and right testis and reproductive organs illness were examined.

RESULTSIn 13-18 years group, the developmental speed of reproductive organs was faster in Mongolia male juvenile than that in the Han nationality (P < 0.02). After 13 years old, the developmental speed of reproductive organs of male living in town is faster than that in the country (P < 0.05). Illness of male reproductive organs was common such as hernia, varicocle etc.

CONCLUSIONSThere was difference of developmental status and the prevalence rate of reproductive organs of male children and juvenile between the Meng and the Han nationality.

Adolescent ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; ethnology ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; physiology ; Testis ; physiology

BACKGROUND: The Shanghai growth standards are higher than World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards, which may influence the feeding practices of the caregivers and increase the risk of overweight in these infants. This study aimed to compare the effects of different growth standards on childhood obesity in Shanghai metropolitan area. METHODS: This was a cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted in 2 downtown areas with 19 community health service centers in Shanghai from November 2013 to December 2015. Randomization was done at the level of the community. Infants (health newborns) were assessed and monitored by the Shanghai growth standards (S-group) and the 2006 WHO growth standards (W-group), respectively. Measurements were taken at 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 9.0 and 12.0 months of age during follow-up period. Based on the values of length and weight measurements, according to the group's growth standards, doctors provided the caregivers with corresponding clinical consultation. Changes in weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), length-for-age z-score (LAZ), and weight-for length z-score (WLZ) between 2 groups were assessed using mixed regression models. Overweight was compared between 2 group at all follow-up measurements. RESULTS: A total of 6509 infants (52.1% were boys) were in the W-group, and 8510 infants (51.4% were boys) were in the S-group. The overweight ratios between two groups were distinct at 9 months of age (3.4% in W-group and 4.3% in S-group) and 12 months of age (2.2% in W-group and 3.8% in S-group), and the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.020 and P < 0.001, respectively). Compared to W-group, the increase in WAZ (coefficient = 0.04, P = 0.004) and WLZ (coefficient = 0.09, P < 0.001) were significantly greater, and the LAZ was lower (coefficient = -0.04, P = 0.047) in S-group (W-group values were used as reference in mixed regression models). CONCLUSION: Compared to the Shanghai growth standards, the adoption of WHO 2006 growth standards would reduce the risk of infant overweight in Shanghai metropolitan area up to 1 year of age. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ChiCTR1800015371, http://www.chictr.org.cn/ Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.
Body Height ; physiology ; Body Weight ; physiology ; China ; Feeding Behavior ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Overweight ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVESTo study the roles of leptin in the development during puberty in girls and the its relationship with insulin (INS), growth hormone (GH), estradiol (E(2)) and testosterone (T).

METHODSOne hundred and fifty girls with simple obese aged 7 to 17 years, and 150 normal healthy girls and 150 girls with malnutrition matched for age (+/- 3 months) and height (+/- 2 cm) were selected. Serum levels of leptin, INS, GH, E(2) and T were measured for them.

RESULTSTheir serum level of leptin positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and age. Serum level of leptin in girls increased steadily from Tanner stage B(1) to stage B(5). At Tanner stage B(2), serum level of leptin in the normal groups (7.72 microg/L) was not significantly different from that in those with malnutrition (7.36 microg/L), but significantly lower than that in the obese groups (12.85 microg/L). At other Tanner stages, there was significant difference in serum level of leptin among obese, normal and malnutrition groups. Serum level of leptin correlated negatively with serum GH and positively with serum INS, but not correlated with E(2) and T.

CONCLUSIONSLeptin may play a role in triggering development during puberty in girls. Serum level of leptin at Tanner stage B(2) may be the threshold dose to trigger the onset of puberty in girls. Quickly increasing level of leptin at Tanner stage B(5) may inhibit the increase of GH, which ushered the end of puberty in girls.

Adolescent ; Body Height ; physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; physiology ; Child ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; physiology ; Puberty ; physiology ; Testosterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo study the role of leptin in the development boys during their puberty and its relationship with insulin (INS), growth hormone (GH), estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T).

METHODSOne hundred and fifty boys with simple obese aged 7 to 17 years, 150 normal healthy boys and 150 boys with malnutrition matched for age (+/- 3 months) and height (+/- 2 cm) were selected. Serum levels of leptin, INS, GH, E2 and T were measured for them.

RESULTSSerum level of leptin in obese group was significantly higher than that in normal group, and that in normal group was significantly higher than that in malnourished group. In the all three groups, serum level of leptin increased with age first until peak value, then began to decrease, with peak value of 6.96 microg/L at ages of 10-11 y in obese group, 10.25 microg/L at ages of 11-12 y in normal group and 5.08 microg/L at ages of 11-12 y in malnourished group. Serum level of leptin increased steadily from Tanner stages G1 to G2, then began to decrease steadily in G2 to G4. Serum level of leptin increased again in stage G5. Serum level of INS in boys increased steadily with age from 7 to 17 years old. Serum levels of GH, T and E2 in boys began to increase since 10-11 years old. Serum level of leptin positively correlated with serum level of INS and negatively correlated with serum levels of GH and T, but not correlated with serum level of E2.

CONCLUSIONSLeptin may promote pubertal development of boys, but not the determinant factor in triggering and maintaining their pubertal development. Re-increase in level of leptin during stage G5 could inhibit secretion of GH, and signalize the end of puberty in boys.

Adolescent ; Body Height ; physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; physiology ; Child ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Growth Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Puberty ; physiology ; Testosterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEUsing accelerometer and physical activity logs to evaluate daily energy expenditure, as to providing a simple and convenient method to survey the total energy expenditure (TEE).

METHODSThe different activity intensities recorded by accelerometer were distinguished into a certain different energy expenditure value by gas metabolism method. Forty-one participants wore the accelerometer for 7 days continuously and completed physical activity logs everyday at the same time. The total energy expenditure was evaluated by these methods.

RESULTSTotal energy expenditure evaluated by accelerometer was (9761 +/- 866) kJ/d [(2332 +/- 207) kcal/d, PAL 1.46 +/- 0.11] for male and (7526 +/- 879) kJ/d [ (1798 +/- 210) kcal/d,P AL 1.43 +/- 0.09 for female; whereas combining accelerometer and physical activity logs data showed that the total energy expenditure was (10 573 +/- 804) kJ/d [(2526 +/- 192) kcal d, PAL 1.58 +/- 0.10] for male, and 8191 +/- 737 kJ/d [(1957 +/- 176) kcal/d, PAL 1.56 +/- 0.08] for female.

CONCLUSIONSUsing accelerometer and physical activity logs to evaluate the total energy expenditure might be consistent with the existing data, so this method might be used to survey the individual energy expenditure and physical activity levels.

Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Energy Metabolism ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; instrumentation ; Motor Activity ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the rules of changes in body constitution of Zhuang students in Guangxi and factors influencing it.

METHODData on body constitution of Zhuang students aged seven to 22 in the year of 2000 were compared with those in 1985.

RESULTSThe average height of Zhuang students increased by 3.80 cm and 2.45 cm for boys and girls in urban areas, respectively from 1985 to 2000 in Guangxi, and by 1.40 cm and 1.32 cm in rural areas, respectively. The average weight increased by 3.58 and 1.90 kg for boys and girls in urban areas, respectively, and by 0.65 kg and 0.02 kg in rural areas, respectively. The average chest circumference increased by 2.09 and 1.28 cm for boys and girls in urban areas, respectively, but in the rural areas, that for boys increased by 0.08 cm and for girls decreased by 0.01 cm. The average systolic blood pressure (BP) decreased by 4.33 mm Hg and 5.06 mm Hg (0.58 kPa and 0.67 kPa) for boys and girls in urban areas, respectively, and by 5.04 mm Hg and 7.03 mm Hg (0.67 kPa and 0.94 kPa) in rural areas, respectively. The average diastolic BP increased by 12.04 mm Hg and 10.84 mm Hg (1.60 kPa and 1.44 kPa) for boys and girls in urban areas, respectively, and by 8.72 mm Hg and 6.54 mm Hg (1.16 kPa and 0.87 kPa) in rural areas, respectively. The average vital capacity increased by 195.15 ml and 109.75 ml, and 23.54 ml and 13.44 ml for urban boys and girls, and rural boys and girls, respectively. The average record of 50 m x 8 run to and for decreased by 5.00 s and 8.79 s for urban boys and girls, respectively, and by 5.27 s and 7.21 s for rural boys and girls, respectively. The average record of 1 000 m run decreased by 19.85 s and 23.88 s for urban and rural boys, respectively, and that of 800 m run decreased by 23.19 s and 6.25 s for urban and rural girls, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe results mentioned above suggested that provision of reasonable nutrition and active physical training for the Zhuang students are basic measures to improve their body constitution and promote their levels of growth and development.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Constitution ; physiology ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Child ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Minority Groups

OBJECTIVEResearch evidence shows a secular trend in Chinese physical growth in recent years. The aim of this study was to analyze and assess changes in stature of children and adolescents during the 25 years from 1985-2010, using national data.

METHODSData came from successive cycles of the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health (CNSSCH). Subjects were 7- to 18-year-old children and adolescents.

RESULTSAn overall positive secular trend occurred in urban China during 1985-2010. The overall average rates of increment were 2.4 and 1.7 cm/decade for boys and girls, respectively. Total increases in adult stature for boys and girls were 2.6 and 1.7 cm, yielding rates of 1.0 and 0.7 cm/decade, respectively. Cities with different socioeconomic levels had different characteristic trends. Mean stature increases in big cities were larger than those in moderate and small cities, and boys and girls in moderate and small cities showed greater potential for growth in stature.

CONCLUSIONAn overall positive secular growth trend was associated with socioeconomic progress and differed with area socioeconomic levels. School policies and strategies should be developed based on increased stature, and should continue narrowing the inequity between different socioeconomic populations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Height ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Time Factors ; Urban Population

PURPOSE: It has been reported that varicocele is found less frequently in obese men. Accordingly, we evaluated varicocele patients and statistically analyzed the correlation between varicocele and somatometric parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 211 patients underwent surgery for varicoceles. All patients underwent history taking, physical examination, and scrotal ultrasound to determine the presence and severity of varicocele. An age-matched control group consisted of 102 patients who were found not to have varicocele according to physical examinations and scrotal ultrasound. The age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) of the two groups were compared. The statistical analyses were performed by use of PASW Statistics ver. 18.0. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used for statistical significance. RESULTS: In the varicocele group, the mean age, height, weight, and BMI were 29.42+/-14.01 years, 168.53+/-9.97 cm, 62.14+/-13.17 kg, and 21.66+/-3.21 kg/m2, respectively. The distribution of varicocele grade was as follows: 103 (48.8%) grade III, 72 (34.1%) grade II, and 36 (17.1%) grade I. In the control group, the mean age, height, weight, and BMI were 30.83+/-17.31 years, 161.93+/-19.83 cm, 64.69+/-17.86 kg, and 24.04+/-3.64 kg/m2, respectively. Analyzing these data specifically in adolescents, they showed significant differences in age, height, and BMI (p=0.000, p=0.000, and p=0.004, respectively) between two groups. There were no significant differences in somatometric parameters between patients with different grades of varicocele. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that patients with varicoceles were significantly taller and had a lower BMI than did patients without varicoceles, especially among adolescents. Carefully designed future studies may be needed.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anthropometry/methods ; Body Height/physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight/physiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Scrotum/ultrasonography ; Varicocele/*etiology/physiopathology/ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the secular changes of physical growth in 7-17 year old students of Zang-tribe in Tibet during 1965-2004, and to make suggestions for further improvement.

METHODSThe data collected by local government in 1965 and Chinese national survey on students' physical fitness and health in 1985, 1995 and 2004 were used to analyze and find out the differences from the students' stature, body weight, chest girth, and BMI in different years, and to compare the increasing rate per 10 years in different periods of time.

RESULTSLevels on stature, body weight and chest girth were increased significantly among 7-17 year-old students of Zang-tribe in Tibet during 1965-2004. From 1965 to 1985, the levels of stature and body weight were increased 11.4 cm and 5.0 kg respectively among male Zang-tribe students, 9.1 cm and 3.9 kg among the female. During 1985-2004, stature levels of Zang-tribe students was kept rising in much less extent, while average levels of body weight were reaching up remarkably, especially in 1995-2004, in which the average increasing rate per 10 years had achieved 14.8% and 13.4% among the male and female students aged 7-17 years old respectively. Levels of chest girth were increased rapidly in 1965-1985, showing a higher increasing rate in male students (2.7%) than in female students (1.9%). In 1985-2004, the increasing rates fell obviously both in male and female students, but there existed a higher rate in 1995-2004 than in 1995-1985, especially for females (4.0%). Upon the secular changes of stature and body weight, the levels of BMI were decreased in 1985 as comparing to those in 1965, then increased rapidly in 1985-2004, especially in 1995-2004, having an increasing rate up to 12.6% and 12.4% respectively in male and female students.

CONCLUSIONSecular changes on physical growth among 7-17 year-old students of Zang-tribe in Tibet were paralleled with the economic progress in 1965-2004, giving active effects by economic progress and nutrition improvements to the physical growth of children and adolescents.

Adolescent ; Body Height ; physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; physiology ; Child ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Students ; statistics & numerical data ; Tibet