PURPOSE: We evaluated the effect of potent aromatase inhibitor (Letrozole) on the rate of bone maturation and an increase in predicted adult height (PAH) in boys with early puberty. METHODS: Nine boys, aged 10.9-12.9 years, with early puberty were studied. The boys were treated with the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, 2.5 mg/day for 1 year. The main outcome parameters were the change in bone age and predicted adult height. Also, serum LH, FSH, testosterone and estradiol concentrations were measured and sexual maturation before and after 12 months of treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: PAH significantly increased by 3.3 cm (P<0.05) and PAH standard deviation score significantly increased by 0.6 (P<0.05). Bone age before therapy advanced by 0.72+/-0.93 year, but bone age after therapy decreased by 0.07+/-0.90 year compared to chronological age (P<0.01). Whereas, sexual maturation of the subjects progressed normally. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that treatment with the potent aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, delays bone maturation and improves PAH in boys with early puberty.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Aromatase* ; Estradiol ; Humans ; Puberty* ; Sexual Maturation ; Testosterone

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that influence maturity fears in elementary school girls. METHODS: The participants were 118 3rd and 4th grade students from 3 elementary schools in 3 cities in Korea. Data were collected using questionnaires which included measurement scales for the relative variables and demographic data. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchial regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 21.0. RESULTS: The significant predictors of maturity fears were weight, father-child communication, frequency of maturity communication with father, and close relation with mother. CONCLUSION: For effective management of maturity fears in elementary school girls, programs including weight control, functional communication with father and supportive nurturance of mother should be developed.
Fathers ; Female* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mothers ; Sexual Maturation* ; Weights and Measures

The age of puberty represents a very critical time in the life history of every young woman. The menarche stands as primary indicator of the onset of sexual maturation in females. According to several studies, menarcheal age in Korean girls has dropped from about 15 years of age in 1960s to 13.5 years of age in 1980s. This findings show a pronounced secular trend to earlier maturation. The purpose of this study is to determine (1) the average age at menarche in Korea in present time, (2) the secular trend of menarcheal age, and (3) the geographic regional influence on menarche. The data sampling was obtained from the physical examination cards of women students in Yonsei University who entered from 1983 to 1991. The data which was obtained from the number of 7761 was analysed by dBase III plus and SAS program. The results are as follows: 1) The mean menarcheal age of the subjects was 13.7+/-1.2 years. 2) Age at menarche has been getting earlier by some 7.4 months during the period of recent II years. 3) Comparing to the decreasing secular trend of menarcheal age, the height and weight showed increasing trend. 4) There were significant differences in menarcheal age, height, weight among geographic regions. We conclude that the results indicate an accelerating secular trend in age of menarche in Korea.
Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Menarche ; Physical Examination ; Puberty ; Sexual Maturation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate sexual maturation, attitudes toward sexual maturity, and body esteem in the sexual development of Korean elementary-school boys and girls. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 399 fifth and sixth graders (192 boys and 207 girls). The data were analysed with a χ2 test, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Among the 207 girls, 70.5% had pubic hair growth, 68.1% had breast development, and 56.0% had a menstrual period. In boys, 59.4% of the 192 subjects experienced the development of external genitalia and 52.6% had pubic hair growth. Sexual maturation was related to grade (boys, t=7.07, p=.008; girls, t=12.76, p < .001), age (t=−2.20, p=.030; t=−4.11, p < .001), height (t=−5.16, p < .001; t=−7.52, p < .001), and weight (t=−2.89, p=.004; t=−5.19, p < .001) in both boys and girls. Girls were more likely to have sexual maturity than boys (χ2=22.29, p < .001). Boys showed more positive attitudes toward sexual maturity (t=2.10, p=.036) and higher body esteem (t=2.12, p=.035) than girls. CONCLUSION: This study shows that sexual maturation, attitude toward sexual maturity, and body esteem in sexual development differ between boys and girls. The findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a tailored sex-education program according to the sex of elementary-school children.
Breast ; Child* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Genitalia ; Hair ; Humans ; Sexual Development ; Sexual Maturation*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of experimentally created occlusal disorders (ECOD) on the expression of estrogen in rat condylar cartilage.

METHODSThe model of ECOD was created by moving right upper and left lower first molars anteriorly. The animals in ECOD were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks later. In removed occlusal disorders group, the moved first molars were extracted at 6 weeks later, and the animals were sacrificed 2 weeks later. The expression of estrogen was detected by SABC technique of immunocytochemistry, and then was analyzed by the density of estrogen-positive chondrocytes.

RESULTS1) Estrogen was abundant in mature layer and hypertrophic layer of rat mandibular condylar cartilage. 2) In control group, the expression of estrogen decreased gradually from 6-week-old to 16-week-old. 3) In both childhood and puberty rats, the expression of estrogen in experiment group was significantly higher at 2 weeks after treatment, while no difference was found at 4, 6, 8 weeks after treatment. However, the expression in removed occlusal disorder group was higher than that in control group and 8 weeks of ECOD group.

CONCLUSIONIn rat condylar cartilage, the expression of estrogen de-creases with age. Induced by ECOD, the expression of estrogen increases in early stage of remodelling activity.

Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes ; Estrogens ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mandibular Condyle ; Molar ; Rats ; Sexual Maturation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the craniofacial morphology ofdeepbite from childhood to adulthood using cross-sectional methods. To analyze the maxillofacial characteristics of adult deepbite.

METHODSThe sample included 159 children (with average age of 12.47 years old) and 81 adults (with average age of21.76 years old) with class III deepbite. The control group consisted of51 normal individuals (with average age of 18.41 years old). Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken and recorded in a computer through a scanner. Cephalometric measurements were conducted by using Winceph 7.0 software, and results were analyzed with SPSS 12.0 software.

RESULTSSignificant differences between child and adult deepbite were observed in the following: N-ANS, ANS-Me, A-Ms, A-Ptm, Wits, Mo-Ms, Ii-Ii, A-B plane angle to the mandibular plane angle, Gonial angle, L1 to NB length, overjet, mandibular body to anterior cranial base, Mo-Mi, posterior facial height, U1 to NA length, Pog-Go, Cd-Go, occlusion plane angle to SN, and U1 to SN. In addition, significant differences between adult deepbite and normal occlusion were observed in SNB, ANB, convexity, APDI, ODI, Wits, A-B plane to mandibular plane, Gonial angle, overjet, mandibular body to anterior cranial base, S-Ptm, Mo-Mi U1 to SN; Pog-Go, Cd-Go, posterior cranial base, and occlusion plane to SN and posterior facial height.

CONCLUSIONDeepbite patients have certain growth potential after puberty, but the sagittal relationship of their jaws exhibits no improvement. Adult deepbite patients exhibit significant problems in the vertical and sagittal jaw positions.

Adult ; Bone and Bones ; Cephalometry ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dental Occlusion ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Sexual Maturation

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the sexual maturation, parenting attitude, maturity fear and emotional and behavioral problems of girls in elementary school, and to examine the relation between these variables and factors that influence emotional and behavioral problems. METHODS: Participants were 128 second, third and fourth year students from 3 elementary schools. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 21.0. RESULTS: Emotional and behavioral problems were related to eating rate, eating breakfast, frequency of late-night snacks and main communicator on pubertal development. Emotional and behavioral problems showed a positive correlation with maturity fear and father's parenting attitude (strictness) and a negative correlation with parenting attitude and father's parenting attitude (intimacy). Maturity fear, father's parenting attitude, eating breakfast, and main communicator on pubertal development had significant influence on emotional and behavioral problems of girls in elementary school. CONCLUSION: Findings show that for effective management of emotional and behavioral problems in elementary school girls, programs including coping with maturity fear, supportive parenting of father, diet education, and functional communication with mother on pubertal development should be developed.
Breakfast ; Diet ; Eating ; Education ; Fathers ; Female* ; Humans ; Mothers ; Parenting* ; Parents* ; Problem Behavior* ; Sexual Maturation* ; Snacks

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the sexual maturation, body image, and self-esteem of Korean elementary school girls with symptoms of precocious puberty compared to those with no symptoms of precocious puberty. METHODS: The subjects were 309 girls of lower grades in elementary school. Tanner's Sexual Maturation Rating (SMR), Self Image Scale, and Self-esteem Scale were utilized to determine the presence of symptoms of precocious puberty, body image, and self esteem. Collected data were analyzed by Chi-square test, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: The percentage of the girls with breast development was 14.9%. Breast development usually began in the third grade (56.5%). Of the subjects, 0.3% were experiencing menstruation. Breast development was related to grade, age, height, weight, and a cause of worry. There was a significant difference of body image between girls with breast development in the first grade and in the second grade. CONCLUSION: An effective intervention that can improve the self-image of children with symptoms of precocious puberty should be developed to prevent and treat physical and mental problems related to sexual maturation.
Body Image ; Breast ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Menstruation ; Puberty, Precocious ; Self Concept ; Sexual Maturation

Peak bone mass is established predominately during childhood and adolescence. It is an important determinant of future resistance to osteoporosis and fractures to gain bone mass during growth. The issue of low bone density in children and adolescents has recently attracted much attention and the use of pediatric dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is increasing. The process of interpretation of pediatric DXA results is different from that of adults because normal bone mineral density (BMD) of children varies by age, body size, pubertal stage, skeletal maturation, sex, and ethnicity. Thus, an appropriate normal BMD Z-score reference value with Z-score should be used to detect and manage low BMD. Z-scores below -2.0 are generally considered a low BMD to pediatrician even though diagnoses of osteoporosis in children and adolescents are usually only made in the presence of at least one fragility fracture.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Size ; Bone Density ; Child ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Reference Values ; Sexual Maturation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the timing of sexual maturation and secular trends of menarchial age in Korean adolescents. METHODS: Nine hundred eighty two school students and 119 university female students were included. Tanner's pubertal assessment method was applied using a self-assessment sheet with pictures for their developmental stages. A medical checkup database from 1,156,022 women was also used to analyze the age of menarche from the year 1900 to 1980. RESULTS: Onset of puberty was at 11.3+/-1.3 years(y) in girls and 12.1+/-1.5 y in boys and total pubertal duration was 3.6 y in girls and 3.3 y in boys. Height at the onset of puberty was 146.1+/-7.9 cm in girls and 152.7+/-9.8 cm in boys. Weight at the onset of puberty was 39.3+/-6.9 kg in girls and 47.7+/-14.4 kg in boys. The mean age of menarche was 12.0+/-1.0 y and mean age at nocturnal emission was 12.3+/-1.8 y. By age ten, 3.0 percent of girls experienced menarche, which increased to 41.1 percent by age 12, and 98.0 percent by age over 15. By SMR 2 breast stage, 18.2 percent of girls experienced menarche, which increased to 66.1 percent and 91.7 percent by SMR stages 3 and 4, respectively. By SMR 2 pubic hair stage, 52.0 percent and by SMR 3, 93.8 percent of girls experienced menarche. While the menarchial age of women born around 1980 was 12.4+/-1.1 y, the menarchial age of women born around 1990 was 12.0+/-1.1 y. Age at menarche has been advanced approximately by 2 years between 1900 and 1980 birth cohorts. CONCLUSION: There was a downward secular trend in pubertal timing. Age at menarche has been advanced by 2 years during the last 80 years. Further large scale, prospective studies, including inspection by specialists, are needed to provide reference data for pubertal timing in Korean adolescents.
Adolescent* ; Breast ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Menarche ; Parturition ; Puberty ; Self-Assessment ; Sexual Maturation* ; Specialization