Effect of low versus normal birthweight on menarche in 14-year-old Polish girls

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between intrauterine growth retardation and sexual maturation has not been completely established. The aim of the present study was to compare menarche in 14-year-old Polish girls of low and normal birthweight, along with an evaluation of the impact of socio-economic status and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: We studied 1060 girls (177 pre- and 883 post-menarche) aged 13.5-14.5 years. These girls attended the 7th grade of randomly selected primary schools in Wroclaw, Poland. The BMI was used as a measurement of general adiposity. The cut-off value of the 10th percentile of birthweight for gestational age was used to differentiate between girls born small for gestational age (SGA) and girls with a birthweight appropriate to gestational age (AGA). Parental education level and other measures were used to assess socio-economic status (SES). RESULTS: Birthweight (OR = 2.54; 95% CI 1.22-5.28) and BMI at the age of 14 years (OR = 7.93; 95%CI 4.67-13.48) were factors affecting the onset of menarche among the 14-year-old girls. CONCLUSION: Polish girls born small for gestational age are more likely to have experienced menarche by the age of 14 years, compared with their peers of normal weight at birth. These findings seem to be consistent with the hypothesis that the age of menarche is, to some extent, set by patterns of gonadotropin release, established prior to birth. Additionally, the age of menarche varies depending on levels of fat accumulation during childhood and adolescence.     

Effect of training on peak oxygen uptake and blood lipids in 13 to 14-year-old girls

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on the peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and blood lipid profile of 13 to 14-y-old postmenarcheal girls. Treadmill determined peak VO2, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density cholesterol, and triglycerides were the outcome measures assessed at baseline and following exercise training. Twenty girls completed a 20-wk programme of exercise training which involved maintaining the heart rate at 75-85% maximum for 20 min, three times per week. Heart rate was rigorously monitored using telemetry throughout each training session. Eighteen girls acted as the control group. There were no significant (p > 0.05) changes in the outcome measures following the training programme. Conclusions: These findings suggest that exercise training of this frequency, intensity and duration for a period of 20 wk has no significant effect on either the peak VO2 or blood lipid and lipoprotein profile of normolipidaemic, postmenarcheal girls.     

Prolactin adenoma in a 14-year-old boy

Prolactin dosage in delayed growth and puberty leads to the diagnosis of pituitary prolactinoma in a 14 years old boy. Adenoma's size, visual disturbance leads us to elect surgical treatment but persistent hyperprolactinemia after surgery requires medical treatment with bromocriptine.     

Genital tuberculosis in a 14-year-old girl

The authors report the case of a 14 year-old girl presenting with pulmonary, adrenal and genital tuberculosis. Pelvic pain was the presenting symptom. Association of familial contamination, phlyctenular Mantoux test, apex infiltrate with a calcified nodule on chest x-ray film and numerous pelvic calcifications on plain films of the abdomen led to diagnosis. The authors emphasize the importance of the supervision of Mantoux test and the necessity of treatment of any latent primary tuberculosis.     

Adenocarcinoma of the rectum in a 14-year-old

Colorectal cancer is rare in children and adolescents. It is usually associated with predisposing genetic factors, aggressive histology, and poor prognosis. Two familial syndromes are best characterized, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer and familial adenomatous polyposis. They are autosomal dominant inherited disorders. We report the case of a 14-year-old girl having a Dukes D adenocarcinoma of the rectum with peritoneal extension and bone metastases.     

Toxic shock syndrome in a 14-year-old girl

The toxic shock syndrome in a 14-year old girl is described. This syndrome occurs most frequently - but not exclusively - in the teens and young women during the first days of menstruation, if tampons are used. The patients are acutely ill with high fever, diarrhea and/or vomiting, with a rash, with loss of consciousness, and signs of shock (occasionally shock lung syndrome and renal insufficiency). During convalescence desquamation of hands and feet shows up. Patients with much less severe symptoms have been seen. The primary lesion is a local infection (e.g. vaginitis) with staphylococcus aureus, the symptoms being caused by staphylococcal toxins. Early recognition and immediate therapy are important for a better prognosis. The therapy consists of removal of the tampon, i.v. fluids including albumin, and the administration of a beta-lactamase-resistant antibiotic.     

Uterine leiomyoma in a 14-year-old girl.

Uterine leiomyomas are common benign tumors of the uterus in adult females but are rare in adolescents. This is a review of the literature and a case report of a 14-year-old female who presented with increasing, intermittent back pain and abdominal distention due to a large uterine leiomyoma treated by myomectomy. This is the 9th reported case of a uterine leiomyoma in an adolescent female under the age of 18 years in the English literature.     

Primary perireticulin amyloidosis in a 14-year-old girl

A primary perireticulin amyloidosis is reported in a 14-year-old girl, which showed the symptoms of a steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. The diagnosis was established by biopsies of kidney and rectum. Occurrence of amyloidosis in childhood and the clinical picture are discussed and references to clinical trials carried out are given.     

An unusually mild variant of Hunter's syndrome in a 14-year-old boy. Normal growth and development

An unusually mild variant of Hunter's syndrome was described in a 14-year-old Japanese boy. He has maintained normal growth (25th percentile on the growth curve), and development (IQ 120-130) until 14 years and 4 months of age.     

Effect of retinopathy of prematurity on resolution acuity development in 1- to 3-year-old children

PURPOSE: To assess the pattern of visual development in children aged 1-3 years with stage 1-3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: One hundred forty-four infants weighing <1500 g were divided into three groups according to ROP stage. Randomly chosen preterm infants were the controls. Ophthalmic examinations started 4-7 weeks after birth and were performed until the retina was fully vascularized or until any ROP that had developed resolved. Preferential looking acuity measurements were carried out at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months of age. RESULTS: Infants with stage 1-2 or no ROP showed evidence of improving acuity development after 12 months. Infants with stage 3 ROP had significantly lower acuity scores compared to infants with stage 1-2 or no ROP at the 18- and 24-month follow-up examinations (P<.001). At 36 months, the visual acuity of infants with stage 3 ROP showed evidence of improving development but still lagged behind infants with stage 1-2 or no ROP. CONCLUSION: Although mild ROP does not seem to have a considerable effect on the development of resolution acuity until age 3, severe forms of ROP may be associated with impaired visual development, which strongly suggests the necessity of periodic monitoring of early visual acuity in infants with ROP.     

Tuberculous abdominal aortic aneurysm in a 14-year-old child

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are rare in childhood. We present a case of aneurysm of the abdominal aorta in a child with tuberculous para-aortic lymphadenitis. Received: 3 August 1998 Accepted: 21 January 1999