1.Long-term outcomes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in girls with central precocious puberty
Jung HWANGBO ; Eungu KANG ; Hyo-Kyoung NAM ; Young-Jun RHIE ; Kee-Hyoung LEE
Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism 2025;30(1):31-37
Purpose:
This study aimed to examine the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment on final height outcomes in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) from the start of treatment to their postmenarche visit.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 200 girls with idiopathic CPP who received GnRHa therapy, focusing on auxological and clinical outcomes at treatment initiation, treatment completion, and the last, postmenarche visit.
Results:
The mean chronological age (CA) at GnRHa treatment initiation was 8.24±0.73 years. The mean duration of GnRHa treatment was 3.12±0.81 years. The average age at menarche was 12.73±0.56 years, occurring a mean of 17.15±5.52 months after completing GnRHa therapy. The predicted adult height (PAH) standard deviation score (SDS) after menarche (0.48±0.99) was significantly greater than before treatment (-1.33±1.46) (P<0.001). Factors including greater bone age advancement (P<0.001), lower height SDS for CA at treatment initiation (P<0.001), and higher midparental height SDS (P=0.001) were positively associated with an increase in PAH SDS at the last visit. However, near-final height and the increase in PAH SDS at the last visit were not significantly different between patients who received early treatment (<8 years) and those who received later treatment (8–9 years).
Conclusion
GnRHa treatment improved the final height outcomes in all girls with CPP, including those treated between 8 and 9 years of age.
2.Long-term outcomes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in girls with central precocious puberty
Jung HWANGBO ; Eungu KANG ; Hyo-Kyoung NAM ; Young-Jun RHIE ; Kee-Hyoung LEE
Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism 2025;30(1):31-37
Purpose:
This study aimed to examine the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment on final height outcomes in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) from the start of treatment to their postmenarche visit.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 200 girls with idiopathic CPP who received GnRHa therapy, focusing on auxological and clinical outcomes at treatment initiation, treatment completion, and the last, postmenarche visit.
Results:
The mean chronological age (CA) at GnRHa treatment initiation was 8.24±0.73 years. The mean duration of GnRHa treatment was 3.12±0.81 years. The average age at menarche was 12.73±0.56 years, occurring a mean of 17.15±5.52 months after completing GnRHa therapy. The predicted adult height (PAH) standard deviation score (SDS) after menarche (0.48±0.99) was significantly greater than before treatment (-1.33±1.46) (P<0.001). Factors including greater bone age advancement (P<0.001), lower height SDS for CA at treatment initiation (P<0.001), and higher midparental height SDS (P=0.001) were positively associated with an increase in PAH SDS at the last visit. However, near-final height and the increase in PAH SDS at the last visit were not significantly different between patients who received early treatment (<8 years) and those who received later treatment (8–9 years).
Conclusion
GnRHa treatment improved the final height outcomes in all girls with CPP, including those treated between 8 and 9 years of age.
3.Long-term outcomes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in girls with central precocious puberty
Jung HWANGBO ; Eungu KANG ; Hyo-Kyoung NAM ; Young-Jun RHIE ; Kee-Hyoung LEE
Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism 2025;30(1):31-37
Purpose:
This study aimed to examine the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment on final height outcomes in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) from the start of treatment to their postmenarche visit.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 200 girls with idiopathic CPP who received GnRHa therapy, focusing on auxological and clinical outcomes at treatment initiation, treatment completion, and the last, postmenarche visit.
Results:
The mean chronological age (CA) at GnRHa treatment initiation was 8.24±0.73 years. The mean duration of GnRHa treatment was 3.12±0.81 years. The average age at menarche was 12.73±0.56 years, occurring a mean of 17.15±5.52 months after completing GnRHa therapy. The predicted adult height (PAH) standard deviation score (SDS) after menarche (0.48±0.99) was significantly greater than before treatment (-1.33±1.46) (P<0.001). Factors including greater bone age advancement (P<0.001), lower height SDS for CA at treatment initiation (P<0.001), and higher midparental height SDS (P=0.001) were positively associated with an increase in PAH SDS at the last visit. However, near-final height and the increase in PAH SDS at the last visit were not significantly different between patients who received early treatment (<8 years) and those who received later treatment (8–9 years).
Conclusion
GnRHa treatment improved the final height outcomes in all girls with CPP, including those treated between 8 and 9 years of age.
4.Obesity in Children and Adolescents: 2022 Update of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity
Eungu KANG ; Yong Hee HONG ; Jaehyun KIM ; Sochung CHUNG ; Kyoung-Kon KIM ; Ji-Hee HAAM ; Bom Taeck KIM ; Eun Mi KIM ; Jung Hwan PARK ; Sang Youl RHEE ; Jee-Hyun KANG ; Young-Jun RHIE
Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome 2024;33(1):11-19
The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has been gradually increasing in recent years and has become a major health problem. Childhood obesity can readily progress to adult obesity. It is associated with obesity-related comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and the risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is important to make an accurate assessment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with consideration of growth and development. Childhood obesity can then be prevented and treated using an appropriate treatment goal and safe and effective treatment strategies. This article summarizes the clinical practice guidelines for obesity in children and adolescents that are included in the 8th edition of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity.
5.Obesity in Children and Adolescents: 2022 Update of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity
Eungu KANG ; Yong Hee HONG ; Jaehyun KIM ; Sochung CHUNG ; Kyoung-Kon KIM ; Ji-Hee HAAM ; Bom Taeck KIM ; Eun Mi KIM ; Jung Hwan PARK ; Sang Youl RHEE ; Jee-Hyun KANG ; Young-Jun RHIE
Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome 2024;33(1):11-19
The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has been gradually increasing in recent years and has become a major health problem. Childhood obesity can readily progress to adult obesity. It is associated with obesity-related comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and the risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is important to make an accurate assessment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with consideration of growth and development. Childhood obesity can then be prevented and treated using an appropriate treatment goal and safe and effective treatment strategies. This article summarizes the clinical practice guidelines for obesity in children and adolescents that are included in the 8th edition of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity.
6.Obesity in Children and Adolescents: 2022 Update of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity
Eungu KANG ; Yong Hee HONG ; Jaehyun KIM ; Sochung CHUNG ; Kyoung-Kon KIM ; Ji-Hee HAAM ; Bom Taeck KIM ; Eun Mi KIM ; Jung Hwan PARK ; Sang Youl RHEE ; Jee-Hyun KANG ; Young-Jun RHIE
Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome 2024;33(1):11-19
The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has been gradually increasing in recent years and has become a major health problem. Childhood obesity can readily progress to adult obesity. It is associated with obesity-related comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and the risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is important to make an accurate assessment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with consideration of growth and development. Childhood obesity can then be prevented and treated using an appropriate treatment goal and safe and effective treatment strategies. This article summarizes the clinical practice guidelines for obesity in children and adolescents that are included in the 8th edition of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity.
7.Clinical validation of a deep-learning-based bone age software in healthy Korean children
Hyo-Kyoung NAM ; Winnah Wu-In LEA ; Zepa YANG ; Eunjin NOH ; Young-Jun RHIE ; Kee-Hyoung LEE ; Suk-Joo HONG
Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism 2024;29(2):102-108
Purpose:
Bone age (BA) is needed to assess developmental status and growth disorders. We evaluated the clinical performance of a deep-learning-based BA software to estimate the chronological age (CA) of healthy Korean children.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 371 healthy children (217 boys, 154 girls), aged between 4 and 17 years, who visited the Department of Pediatrics for health check-ups between January 2017 and December 2018. A total of 553 left-hand radiographs from 371 healthy Korean children were evaluated using a commercial deep-learning-based BA software (BoneAge, Vuno, Seoul, Korea). The clinical performance of the deep learning (DL) software was determined using the concordance rate and Bland-Altman analysis via comparison with the CA.
Results:
A 2-sample t-test (P<0.001) and Fisher exact test (P=0.011) showed a significant difference between the normal CA and the BA estimated by the DL software. There was good correlation between the 2 variables (r=0.96, P<0.001); however, the root mean square error was 15.4 months. With a 12-month cutoff, the concordance rate was 58.8%. The Bland-Altman plot showed that the DL software tended to underestimate the BA compared with the CA, especially in children under the age of 8.3 years.
Conclusion
The DL-based BA software showed a low concordance rate and a tendency to underestimate the BA in healthy Korean children.
8.Effectiveness of the triptorelin stimulation test compared with the classic gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test in diagnosing central precocious puberty in girls
Yu Jin KIM ; Jung HWANGBO ; Kyu Hyun PARK ; Eungu KANG ; Hyo-Kyoung NAM ; Young-Jun RHIE ; Kee-Hyoung LEE
Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism 2024;29(2):90-94
Purpose:
The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is the gold standard for diagnosing central precocious puberty (CPP). Gonadorelin (Relefact) is used for the test but is not always readily available; triptorelin is used as an alternative. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic validity of the triptorelin test compared with the GnRH test in the diagnosis of CPP in girls.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 100 girls with premature thelarche (PT) who underwent a hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis evaluation. In the overall group, 50 girls were tested with intravenous gonadorelin (Relefact) and 50 girls were tested with subcutaneous triptorelin acetate (Decapeptyl). Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were measured at baseline and 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes after gonadorelin injection or 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after triptorelin injection.
Results:
Clinical characteristics of age, height, weight, body mass index, and bone age were similar between the 2 groups. The highest LH level was reached 60 minutes after stimulation in both groups. Approximately 20% of the gonadorelin group and 24% of the triptorelin group were diagnosed with CPP (P=0.52). Among those diagnosed with CPP, the mean peak LH concentrations were 8.15 mIU/mL and 9.73 mIU/mL in the gonadorelin and triptorelin groups, respectively.
Conclusion
The triptorelin test showed similar trends of LH elevation and diagnostic rate compared with the traditional GnRH test for diagnosing CPP. This suggests that the triptorelin test may be a valid alternative to the GnRH test for differentiating CPP from self-limiting PT. Our study also demonstrated that a triptorelin stimulation test for up to 120 minutes was sufficient to diagnose CPP.
9.Long-term efficacy of a triptorelin 3-month depot in girls with central precocious puberty
Kyu Hyun PARK ; Si-Hwa GWAG ; Yu Jin KIM ; Lindsey Yoojin CHUNG ; Eungu KANG ; Hyo-Kyoung NAM ; Young-Jun RHIE ; Kee-Hyoung LEE
Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism 2024;29(3):161-166
Purpose:
Three-month gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHas) are expected to achieve better compliance in patients with central precocious puberty (CPP) compared to the monthly formulation. However, 1-month depot remains the dominant choice for conventional treatment worldwide. Our study aimed to investigate the long-term efficacy of a 3-month GnRHa for CPP treatment.
Methods:
In this retrospective study, 69 Korean girls with CPP were prescribed either triptorelin pamoate (TP) 3-month depot (n=29) or triptorelin acetate (TA) 1-month depot (n=40) and were followed for 1 year after the end of treatment. Auxological, radiological, and biochemical data were collected every 6 months.
Results:
Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. In the TP 3-month depot group, 27 of 29 patients (93.1%) exhibited suppressed luteinizing hormone level (below 2.5 IU/L) after 6 months of treatment, and this suppression level was reserved until the final injection. The degree of bone age advancement in the TP 3-month depot group decreased from 1.8±0.4 years at the start of treatment to 0.6±0.5 years at 1-year posttreatment. The gain in predicted adult height (PAH) 1 year after the end of treatment was similar between the TP 3-month and TA 1-month depot groups (5.2±3.1 and 5.3±2.4 cm, respectively; p=0.875).
Conclusion
A 3-month depot of triptorelin effectively inhibited gonadal and sex hormones, suppressed bone maturation, and increased PAH. For patient convenience, we suggest a 3-month GnRHa regimen as a promising CPP treatment option.
10.Characteristics and management of juvenile type 2 diabetes mellitus
Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2024;67(5):342-347
Over the past two decades, there have been numerous reports on the increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents. This trend, which parallels the increase in the prevalence and degree of pediatric obesity, is causing significant concern. This review focuses on the characteristics andcurrent management strategies for juvenile patients with T2DM. Current Concepts: Juvenile T2DM differs from type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children and T2DM in adults as it is an aggressive disease with rapidly progressive β-cell decline, high treatment failure rate, and accelerated development of complications. Current management approaches include lifestyle changes such as improved diet and increased physical activity, and pharmacological interventions such as metformin, insulin, and liraglutide.Discussion and Conclusion: Early diagnosis and prevention of T2DM in children and adolescents are essential. Furthermore, compared to adults, there is still a lack of available treatment drugs or research in children and adolescents. Therefore, long-term research on the efficacy and safety of various drug treatments for T2DM in children and adolescents is required. Additionally, as it is often asymptomatic in its early stages, significant efforts by physicians are required for the early diagnosis and prevention of T2DM.

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