Menarche Status Research Articles

The status of spermarche, menarche and corresponding relationships with nutritional status among students of 13 ethnic minorities in Southwest China in 2014

Objective: To describe the current situation of spermarche/menarche of 13 ethnic minority groups in China in 2014, and analyze the association between spermarche/menarche and nutritional status among ethnic minority groups. Methods: The sample of 13 ethnic minorities (Bai, Hani, Dai, Lisu, Wa, Naxi, Miao, Shui, Buyi, Dong, Zhuang, Yao and Qiang) from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan province and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region were selected from Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Healthy of 2014. A total of 25 964 students with completed records of height, weight, spermarche and menarche were selected, including 11 276 boys aged 11-18 years old and 14 688 girls aged 9-18 years old. Probit analysis was used to calculate the median age at spermarche or menarche. All subjects were classification into four nutritional status groups (normal, malnutrition, overweight and obesity) according to the Screening standard for malnutrition of school-age children and adolescents (WS/T 456-2014) and the Screening for overweight and obesity among school-age children and adolescent (WS/T 586-2018) of China. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the association between spermarche, menarche and nutritional status. Results: The median age at spermarche (95%CI) of 13 ethnic minorities were ranged from 13.4 (13.1, 13.7) years old to 15.3 (15.1, 15.5) years old. In the 11 -year age group, all ethnic girls experienced menarche. The median age at menarche (95%CI) of 13 ethnic minorities were ranged from 12.1 (11.4, 12.7) years old to13.6 (13.4, 13.7) years old. Logistics regression analysis showed that students with malnutrition experienced spermarche or menarche later than normal weight students, the OR (95%CI) for boys about 0.49 (0.42, 0.56) and girls about 0.15 (0.12, 0.19), while overweight and obese students entered puberty at earlier age, the OR (95%CI) for boys about 1.37(1.10, 1.72) and girls about 3.21(2.51, 4.12). Conclusion: Boys from 13 ethnic minorities began to have spermatorrhea at the age of 13, and girls from 13 ethnic minorities began menstruating at the age of 9 in 2014. Nutrition status was closely related to spermarche and menarche.

Delay to Surgery Greater Than 6 Months Leads to Substantial Deformity Progression and Increased Intervention in Immature Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

DesignA retrospective, multi-institution series of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients whose date of surgery exceeded six months from date of surgical recommendation were identified. A case-matched comparison of surgical outcomes of skeletally immature patients who delayed surgery versus a cohort of nondelayed patients. ObjectivesWe sought to identify 1) whether patients at risk for significant curve progression when delaying surgery could be identified with available clinical and radiographic data and 2) whether patients who delay surgery have longer fusions/more complex procedures. BackgroundMultiple factors can lead to a delay in treatment of AIS once surgical treatment is recommended, and larger Cobb magnitudes have been associated with a more complex surgery. Methods143 AIS patients who delayed surgery had deformity progression (major Cobb angle change over time) analyzed by Risser grade, triradiate cartilage (TRC) status, and menarche status. Comparison of at-risk patients with regard to surgical outcomes to a cohort of matched patients who had not delayed surgery. ResultsRisser 0 patients (n = 34) had a greater major Cobb progression than Risser 1–5 patients (n = 109): mean 1.6°/mo versus 0.4°/mo, p < .001. Twenty-eight premenarchal patients had significantly greater increases in Cobb angle measures than their postmenarchal counterparts (n = 86) (13.2° vs. 4.3°, p < .001). An open TRC also conferred increasing rate of progression. Radiographic variables of stable vertebra and last vertebra touched by central sacral vertical line were more likely to change in immature patients, but we did not demonstrate longer fusions or higher estimated blood loss as a result when compared to nondelayed, age-matched peers. ConclusionAIS patients who are premenarchal, TRC open, or Risser 0 who delay surgery greater than 6 months risk clinically significant Cobb angle progression, which is statistically greater than their more mature peers. Clinical ramifications of this remain unclear. Skeletally mature patients do not progress rapidly, allowing elective timing of surgical intervention. Level of EvidenceLevel III.

Common matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene variants and altered susceptibility to breast cancer and associated features in Tunisian women.

A role for matrix metalloproteinase polymorphisms in breast cancer development and progression was proposed, but with inconclusive results. We assessed the relation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 variants with breast cancer and related phenotypes in Tunisians. This case-control retrospective study involved 430 women with breast cancer and 498 healthy controls. Genotyping of matrix metalloproteinase-2 rs243866, rs243865, rs243864, and rs2285053 was analyzed by allelic exclusion. The minor allele frequency of rs2285053 was significantly lower in women with breast cancer cases as compared to control women; minor allele frequencies of the remaining single-nucleotide polymorphisms were similar between cases and control women. The distribution of rs243865 and rs2285053 genotypes was significantly different between breast cancer patients and control subjects. This persisted when key covariates were controlled for. None of the matrix metalloproteinase-2 variants were associated with estrogen receptor positivity, progesterone receptor positivity, or with double estrogen receptor-progesterone receptor positivity in breast cancer patients. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 rs243866, rs243865, and rs243864 were positively associated with menstrual irregularity and histological type, while rs243866 and rs2285053 were negatively associated with menarche and nodal status. In addition, rs2285053 was negatively associated with triple negativity, tumor size, distance metastasis, molecular type, and chemotherapy. Haploview analysis revealed high linkage disequilibrium between matrix metalloproteinase-2 variants. Four-locus Haploview analysis identified haplotypes GCTT and GTTC to be negatively associated with breast cancer, which remained statistically after controlling for key covariates. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 alleles and genotypes, along with four-locus haplotypes, are related to reduced susceptibility to breast cancer in Tunisian women, suggesting a protective effect.

Abstract P1-09-08: Hormonal factors associated with elevation of DNA methylation age in breast tissue of healthy women

Abstract Background: Healthy breast tissue appears older than matched peripheral blood, when using a biologic aging measurement based on DNA methylation markers. The underlying cause of this acceleration is not known. We hypothesize that cumulative estrogen exposure is associated with accelerated breast epigenetic aging. In this study, we examined factors associated with breast epigenetic age in a healthy population of women. Methods: We used breast tissue samples from 232 healthy women donors (119 pre-menopausal, 113 post-menopausal) to the Komen Tissue Bank, with data available on variables related to cumulative estrogen exposure, including age at menarche, gravidity, parity, and menopausal status. DNA methylation experiments were performed using the Illumina EPIC 850K array platform. DNA methylation age (DNAm age) was calculated using the epigenetic clock methods developed by Horvath (2013). Total years of estrogen exposure was calculated as the difference between age at menopause (or current age) - number of live births x 9 months – number of miscarriages x 3 months. Nonparametric group testing was used to compare mean levels of the difference between DNAm age and chronologic age for pre- and post-menopausal groups. We examined the outcome “age acceleration”, calculated using the residuals of the regression of DNAm age versus chronologic age, because it is age-adjusted and independent of cell distribution. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine for associations between age acceleration and each of our covariates. Results: Our sample included women aged 19-90 years (mean age 50.7, SD 11.8), with 114 nulliparous women. We confirmed that DNAm age in breast tissue is strongly correlated with chronologic age (ρ=0.89, p&amp;lt;0.0001). The difference between DNAm age and chronologic age is greater at earlier ages, and is significantly greater in premenopausal women (mean 8.9 years, SE 0.04), compared with postmenopausal women (mean 2.7 years, SE 0.05) (p&amp;lt;0.0001). Age acceleration was significantly associated with earlier age at menarche (β=-0.395 for each year, p=0.036). For women with limited total years of exposure to estrogen (&amp;lt;19 years), there was a significant association between age acceleration and total estrogen exposure and β=0.673 for each year, p=0.028). Conclusion: Acceleration of epigenetic age in breast tissues occurs in healthy women and is most pronounced in the pre-menopausal period. Earlier age at menarche and total years of estrogen exposure are associated with higher degree of acceleration, suggesting that cumulative estrogen exposure drives this process. Citation Format: Sehl ME, Henry JE, Storniolo AM, Horvath S, Ganz PA. Hormonal factors associated with elevation of DNA methylation age in breast tissue of healthy women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-09-08.

Study of frequency and histopathological pattern of soft tissue tumours in tertiary care centre of Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Background: Ovaries are complex intra-pelvic organs of the female reproductive system. Ovarian cancer accounts for 3% of all cancers in females and is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women. Early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity and high socioeconomic status are associated with an increased risk for ovarian neoplasms. Histo-pathological diagnosis remains the mainstay to differentiate neoplastic lesions from non-neoplastic lesions. Aims and objectives: This study aims to analyze the view of ovarian tumors with respect to clinical presentation, gross and microscopic characteristics and also to study the frequency and histopathological patterns of ovarian tumours. Materials and Methods: This study comprised of 100 cases of ovarian tumours received in the Department of Pathology, GMERS Medical College, Gandhinagar were analysed. Their gross features, microscopic findings were analysed in detail. Ovarian tumours were divided into benign and malignant categories and their further sub typing were done according to WHO Classification. Results: Out of total 100 cases, 76 were benign and 24 were malignant. Out of 100 cases, 62% were between 21-40 years of age followed by 28% were between 41-60 years of age. Most common presenting symptom was pain in abdomen followed by lump in abdomen and heavy menstruation. Out of total 100 cases, 70% were surface epithelial tumours, 24% were germ cell tumours and 6% were sex cord stromal tumours. Conclusion: To conclude we recommend microscopic histopathological examination of every ovarian mass in order to assess the importance of pathological grading and staging and they must be classified correctly so that the patient can be provided with appropriate treatment and prognosis.

Puberty timing associated with obesity and central obesity in Chinese Han girls

BackgroundThere is growing scientific evidence supports a link between increased childhood adiposity and early onset of puberty in girls worldwide in recent decades. However, the data from Chinese girls remain ambiguous. The aims of this study were to estimate the puberty milestones and examine attainment of puberty associated with obesity and central obesity in Chinese Han schoolgirls.MethodsThe cross-sectional school-based study examined 2996 Han schoolgirls aged 9 to 19 years from 6 provinces in China. Trained clinicians assessed the girls for height, weight, waist circumference, Tanner stages of breast and pubic hair development, and menarcheal status. We classified girls as normal weight, overweight, or obese based on BMI, and as normal weight or central obese based on the waist-height ratio, then estimated and compared median age at a given Tanner stage or greater by weight class using Probit models.ResultsThe median age at menarche was 12.36 years. The median ages at breast stages(B) 2 through 5 were 10.03, 11.38, 13.39, and 15.79 years, respectively, and at pubic hair stages(PH) 2 through 5 were 11.62, 12.70, 14.38, and 16.92 years, respectively. Girls from urban areas experienced menarche, B3 and B4 stages, and PH3 through PH5 stages earlier. Girls with central obesity and overweight/obesity reached puberty earlier at almost every Tanner stage of breast and pubic hair than normal girls. Girls with obesity developed PH2 and PH3 earlier than their overweight peers. However, we did not find any significant differences between girls with overweight and obesity at all stages of breast development.ConclusionsChildhood obesity, including both overweight/obesity and central obesity, is associated with earlier attainment of puberty in Chinese Han schoolgirls.

Correlation between Candidate Single Nucleotide Variants and Several Clinicopathological Risk Factors Related to Breast Cancer in Jordanian Women: A Genotype-Phenotype Study.

This study aim to investigate the association of breast cancer risk and prognostic factors with single nucleotide variants of the BRCA1, BRCA2, DAPK1, MMP9, TOX3, and TP53 genes in Jordanian women. Blood samples were collected from 230 Jordanian breast cancer patients for use in DNA extraction followed by genotyping and subsequent statistical analysis. We found that two single nucleotide variants (SNVs) of the BRCA2 gene, namely rs1799944 and rs766173, were significantly associated with breastfeeding status. Likewise, the rs11141901 and rs1041326 SNVs of the DAPK1 gene were linked with co-morbidity (p-value = 0.002) and family history of BC (p-value = 0.015), while the rs1045042 SNV of the same gene was associated with both allergy (p-value = 0.001) and family history of BC (p-value = 0.02). Tumor differentiation was correlated with the DAPK1 SNVs rs11141901 (p-value = 0.041) and rs1041326 (p-value = 0.005). Additionally, the rs2250889 SNV of the MMP9 gene was significantly associated with HER2 status, whereas the TP53 SNVs rs12951053 and rs1042522 were associated with age at menarche (p-value = 0.043) and breastfeeding status (p-value = 0.013), respectively. In contrast, the TP53 SNV rs2287497 was significantly linked to age at first pregnancy (p-value = 0.001), smoking (p-value = 0.041), and axillary lymph node status (p-value = 6e-4). No such association was found for the BRCA1 and TOX3 SNVs. The current findings suggest significant associations between certain SNVs and breast cancer risk and prognosis in Jordanian women.

Interaction of hormonal and social environments in understanding body image concerns in adolescent girls

During adolescence, peer approval becomes increasingly important and may be perceived as contingent upon appearance in girls. Concurrently, girls experience hormonal changes, including an increase in progesterone. Progesterone has been implicated in affiliative behavior but inconsistently associated with body image concerns. The current study sought to examine whether progesterone may moderate the association between perceived social pressures to conform to the thin ideal and body image concerns. Secondary analyses were conducted in cross-sectional data from 813 girls in early puberty and beyond (ages 8–16) who completed assessments of the peer environment, body image concerns, and progesterone. Models for mediation and moderation were examined with BMI, age, and menarcheal status as covariates. Belief that popularity was linked to appearance and the experience of weight-related teasing were both positively associated with greater body image concerns, but neither was associated with progesterone once adjusting for covariates. Progesterone significantly interacted with perceived social pressures in predicting body image concerns. At higher progesterone levels, appearance-popularity beliefs and weight-related teasing were more strongly related to body image concerns than they were at lower progesterone levels. Findings support a moderating role for progesterone in the link between social pressures and body image concerns in girls. This study adds to a growing literature examining how girls’ hormonal environments may modulate responses to their social environments. Longitudinal and experimental work is needed to understand temporal relations and mechanisms behind these associations.

Fat-free mass in adolescent athletes: Accuracy of bioimpedance equations and identification of new predictive equations

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of biological maturity on body composition in Brazilian adolescent athletes, to verify the accuracy of previous bioimpedance predictive equations for estimating fat-free mass (FFM), and to develop new predictive equations, considering sexual and skeletal maturity. There were 318 Brazilian adolescent athletes (52% male) involved in this study. FFM was determined using single-frequency (50 kHz) bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which was used as the reference method. The adolescents were classified into skeletally mature using bone age (both sexes), and sexually mature using menarche occurrence (female). The effect of maturity on bioelectrical values was tested using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis. Three predictive BIA equations to estimate FFM were selected from the reviewed literature. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman test were used to test the concordance and accuracy of BIA equations. Stepwise multiple regression was used to develop new predictive equations, considering BIA vectors, age, skeletal, and sexual maturity. DXA and BIA results showed wide limits of disagreement for FFM for all the three equations. Two new equation models were developed, including age and skeletal maturity for both sexes and menarche status for females. Both models showed high R2 (males = 0.92 and females = 0.84). The assessment of body composition in adolescent athletes should consider sexual (female) or skeletal (male) maturity. The newly proposed equations showed promising results in Brazilian adolescent athletes. A test in different groups and populations is necessary to evaluate the general suitability of the equations in adolescents.

In Utero Dioxin Exposure and Age at Menarche in the Seveso Second Generation

Introduction: In utero exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a widespread environmental contaminant and potent endocrine disrupting compound, is associated with delayed pubertal development in animal studies. On July 10, 1976, an explosion at a chemical plant near Seveso, Italy exposed nearby residents to high levels of TCDD. The Seveso Women&amp;#8217;s Health Study (SWHS), initiated in 1996, is the only study to date of TCDD&amp;#8217;s health effects in a female population with the unique benefit of individual TCDD measured in blood collected near the time of the explosion. In 2014, we enrolled SWHS offspring (those exposed in utero to TCDD) in the Seveso Second Generation study. We examined the relationship of in utero TCDD exposure with reported age at onset of menarche among SWHS daughters.Methods: Age at onset of menarche (in years) was collected by maternal or self-report at interview in 341 SWHS daughters. We defined in utero TCDD exposure as initial (1976) maternal serum TCDD level and TCDD extrapolated to pregnancy. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.Results: At interview, 287 daughters were postmenarche, averaging 25.6 (&amp;#177;8.0) years of age. The mean reported age at menarche was 12.1 (&amp;#177;1.3) years. Overall, we found no change in risk of menarche onset with a 10-fold increase in initial maternal TCDD (Hazard Ratio (HR) &amp;#61; 0.91, 95% CI 0.79, 1.06) or TCDD estimated at pregnancy (HR &amp;#61; 0.86, 95% CI 0.72, 1.03). When we considered maternal menarche status at explosion as a potentially sensitive developmental exposure window, TCDD estimated at pregnancy (log10) was associated with later age at menarche among daughters whose mothers were premenarche at explosion (HR &amp;#61; 0.71, 95% CI 0.50, 1.00) but not postmenarche at explosion (HR &amp;#61; 0.87, 95% CI 0.71, 1.07).Conclusions: These results suggest in utero exposure to TCDD may alter pubertal timing among daughters of women who were prepubescent at the time of the Seveso accident.

HUBUNGAN STATUS GIZI DENGAN USIA MENARCHE PADA SISWI SMP NEGERI 1 KUNTO DARUSSALAM TAHUN 2016

Menarche is the first period experienced (menstruation) by every adolescent who will enter puberty. The age when a girl began menstruating are very varied. Several recent studies indicate that the age of menarche in adolescence has decreased in recent years. The decline in the age of menarhe caused by several factors, one of them is nutritional status. This type of research is used observational analytic to determine the relationship of nutritional status and the age of menarche in junior high school 1 Kunto Darussalam 2016 with cross sectional approach. The population in this research were all students of Junior high school 1 Kunto Darussalam totaling 210 people. Consecutive sampling method is used to take a sample with a sample of 68 people overall. The collected data include consist of primary data and secondary data. Primary data was collected by direct measurement and questionnaires, secondary data obtained from the Administration School. Analysis techniques data used are analysis techniques data univariate and bivariate. Hypothesis testing was doing at the level of significance of 0.05 or 95%.The results of this research shown the average age of menarche in junior high school 1 Kunto Darussalam 2016 is 11.66 years. From the results showed that there are differences in the average age of menarche between the nutritional status Underweight, Normalweight, Pre-Obesity and Obesity. It was found that the average age of menarche earlier occurred in student years Obesity is 10.25. Based on the analysis using Chi-Square(p-value = 0.013), it can be concluded that there is relationship between nutritional status and age of menarche. From results of this research suggested to the adolescent to live a life style and a healthy life style, so that it can achieve normal reproductive health.Key words : menarche, nutritional status

The association between menarche, intensity of training and passive joint ROM in young pre-professional female dancers: A longitudinal follow-up study

ObjectivesTo determine the association between the status of menarche (yes/no), the intensity of training and the potential to improve passive joint range of motion (ROM) over a 12-month period of dance training. DesignProspective cohort study. SettingDance studio. ParticipantsFifty-nine female dancers aged 12.8 ± 0.5. Main outcome measuresThe dancers were asked about their dance intensity and screened for anthropometric parameters and passive joint ROM in Grades 7 and 8. ResultsAlong the 12 months of dance training, we found significantly increased ankle-foot en-pointe, hip abduction, and hip external rotation (ER); significantly decreased hip internal rotation (IR); and significant increased hip ER:IR ratio. In Grade 7, 26 dancers (44.1%) reached menarche (Yes menarche); in Grade 8 an additional 23 dancers (39.0%) reached menarche (No/Yes menarche); and 10 dancers (16.9%) had not reached menarche (No menarche). MANOVA (mixed models) with repeated measures to compare joint ROM between the three menarche groups (Yes; No/Yes; No), with h/week dance practice as a co-variant, showed that hip ER, ankle-foot en-pointe, and ER:IR were significantly correlated with h/week in all three menarche groups. ConclusionsMost passive joint ROM can be improved over 12 months of dancing around the age onset of menarche. H/week of dance practice is a main factor contributing to improved hip ER, ankle-foot en-pointe and ER/IR ratio.

Association of primary dysmenorrhea with anthropometrical and socio-economic factors in Polish university students.

To examine the prevalence and factors correlated with primary dysmenorrhea in young female subjects. Cross-sectional research was conducted among 1305 female university students aged 19-25 years. The following measurements were taken: height, body mass, waist circumference, hip circumference, the length of index and ring finger. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on menstrual pains, the characteristics of the menstrual cycles (regularity, duration), the number of the days of menstrual bleeding, age at menarche, overall health and socio-economic status of the subjects. The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in the group was 64.85%, of which 69.60% reported mild pain, and 30.40% moderate and severe pain. PD occurs more frequently both in women with excess and insufficient level of abdominal adiposity. PD occurred more frequently in women who experience first menstruation at earlier age than in women with average and late age at menarche. The prevalence of PD grew along with mother's education and fell along with father's education. Painful menstruations occurred most commonly in women from large families. The impact of the age at menarche and the presence of abnormal body mass and abnormal level of abdominal adiposity on the prevalence of painful menstruation was also confirmed by the results of logistic regression analysis. The risk of PD is the highest in women whose finger 4 is longer than finger 2. The results suggest that healthy body mass and lack of abdominal obesity may reduce the risk of PD.

The relation of age at menarche with age at natural menopause: a population study of 336 788 women in Norway.

STUDY QUESTIONIs age at menarche associated with age at menopause or with duration of the reproductive period (interval between menarche and menopause)?SUMMARY ANSWERThe association of age at menarche with age at menopause was weak and non-linear, and the duration of the reproductive period decreased by increasing age at menarche.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYIt remains uncertain whether age at menarche is associated with age at menopause. Some studies report that women with early menarche also have early menopause. Other studies report that women with early menarche have late menopause, or they report no association. The duration of the reproductive period may be an indicator of the cumulative endogenous exposure to estrogens and progestogens during life course and is associated with risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONA retrospective cohort study of 336 788 women, aged 48–71 years, in the BreastScreen Norway during the years 2006–2014 was performed.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSInformation about age at menarche and menopausal status was obtained by self-administered questionnaires. We used time to event approaches to estimate the associations.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEMedian age at menopause was 51 years in most menarche groups. Women with menarche at age 16 years or age ≥ 17 years had menopause 1 year later [median: 52 years, interquartile range (IQR): 49–54 years] than women with menarche at age 13 years (median: 51 years, IQR: 49–54 years, reference) (crude hazard ratio (HR) = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93–0.97 and 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92–0.99, Pnon-linearity < 0.001). The reproductive period decreased with increasing age at menarche (Pnon-linearity < 0.001), and women with menarche at age ≤ 9 years had 9 years longer median reproductive period than women with menarche at age ≥ 17 years (median: 43 versus 34 years). Adjustment for year of birth did not change the HR estimates notably.LARGE SCALE DATANot applicable.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONInformation about age at menarche and age at menopause was based on self-reports. Particularly for age at menarche, the long time interval between the event and data collection may have caused imprecise reporting.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSOur study suggests that age at menarche is a strong indicator for the duration of women’s reproductive period. Our findings should encourage studies of the independent role of duration of the reproductive period on the risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer, since these cancers have been associated with exposure to estrogens and progestogens.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)The present study was funded by the Norwegian Cancer Society [Grant number 6863294-2015]. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Maturity Indicators and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Evaluation of the Sanders Maturity Scale.

Retrospective review. To determine the correlation between the Sanders Maturity Scale (SMS) and Risser stages, between both systems and menarche, and whether Risser can be used to predict SMS. Predicting curve progression is critical to understanding adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and making treatment recommendations. The SMS is a better predictor of the curve acceleration phase of growth than the Risser stage. However, Scoliosis Research Society bracing criteria utilize the Risser stage and menarche. Consecutive female patients, 8 to 16 years old, evaluated for idiopathic scoliosis or spinal asymmetry over a 31-month period were included. Main curve size, Risser stage, menarchal status, and SMS stage were recorded for each encounter, and analyzed using Spearman rank correlation and regression models. Six hundred fifty-six encounters (452 patients) were included with SMS staging, including 402 encounters that included menarchal data. The correlation between the Risser stage and the SMS stage was 0.9031 (P < 0.0001). However, ranges for the SMS at each Risser stage were large. Correlation between Risser stage and menarche was 0.7327 (P < 0.0001), and between SMS and menarche was 0.8355 (P < 0.0001). Eighty-five percent of SMS 3 patients were Risser 0, with or without open triradiate cartilages. Eighty-one percent of Risser 1 patients were SMS 4 or greater. When assessing maturity in idiopathic scoliosis, SMS correlates strongly with Risser stages, and both SMS and Risser correlate with menarche. However, Risser stage is a poor predictor of the exact SMS stage for individual patients due to the large ranges. The majority of patients who are ≥Risser 1 have passed the curve acceleration phase of growth. Developing brace criteria based upon the SMS stage may allow more accurate predictions regarding which patients will benefit from bracing. 2.

Sun-Protection Behavior, Pubertal Development and Menarche: Factors Influencing the Melanocytic Nevi Development-The Results of an Observational Study of 1,512 Children.

Observational studies consistently show that melanocytic nevus prevalence increases with age and that phenotypic traits are significantly associated with nevus count in children. An observational study of 1,512 children and adolescents from 2010 to 2013 was conducted. Study dermatologists counted the full body, arm, and facial nevi of each participant. Children and their parents were asked to complete a survey to gather data on personal characteristics, pubertal development, and early-life sun exposure. The main aim of the study was to establish pediatric nevus prevalence and its relationship with age, phenotype, sex, menarche, early-life sun exposure, and sun-protection behaviors. Females had a significantly lower nevus count compared with males, but this sex-related difference was significantly modified by menarche. Sun exposure and sun-protection habits were all significantly associated with nevus count; in particular, children who used sunscreen with a sun-protection factor > 30 had a lower nevus count compared with sun-protection factor ≤ 30 sunscreen users. This study shows that sex, menarche status, and sun-protection practices significantly influence nevus count in this pediatric population.

Parity associated with telomere length among US reproductive age women.

Is telomere length related to parity among a nationally representative sample of US reproductive age women? History of live birth was associated with shorter telomere length. Shorter telomeres have been linked with a range of chronic health conditions and mortality and parity has been associated with health indicators. However, there is a lack of research on how parity relates to telomere length. This nationally representative, cross-sectional study included 1954 women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002, the only survey period which includes measurement of telomere length. Women aged 20-44 were included. Parity, defined as number of previous live births, was ascertained by questionnaire. Leukocyte telomere length was measured by polymerase chain reaction and reported as a ratio in relation to standard reference DNA (T/S ratio). The relationship between leukocyte T/S ratio and parity was examined using survey weighted linear regression. Models were adjusted for race/ethnicity, age, BMI, income-to-poverty ratio, education, early age at menarche and smoking status. Among reproductive age women in the US, the adjusted mean leukocyte T/S ratio was 4.2% (95% CI: 0.9, 7.3) shorter in parous compared with nulliparous women. Parity was associated with 116 fewer base pairs (95% CI: 26, 204) on average, using estimated coefficients from the adjusted linear regression models and mean covariate values. This study was cross-sectional and therefore was unable to establish temporality. The dataset lacked information on social factors, stress and fertility status, which may help explain these findings. Only two previous studies have examined this question and our findings should be interpreted with caution. These findings in a nationally representative sample of US reproductive age women suggest that history of live birth may be associated with accelerated cellular aging. The magnitude of the observed association was greater than that of the impact of smoking or obesity on telomere length, suggesting that parity may have an independent influence on cellular aging and warrant further study. The study was funded in part by the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program at George Mason University. The authors have no conflicts of interest. NA.

Early-menarche as Determinant Factor for Metabolic-risks: An Epidemiology Perspectives among Adolescent Girls aged 13-15 years old in Jakarta-Indonesia

Background and Objectives:Early menarche predicts higher body mass index (BMI) and adiposity in adult life, and it has been associated with risk factors of cardiometabolic diseases such as elevated triglycerides and waist circumferences also higher risk of adult diabetes. This study aims to explore early-menarche as determinant factor for metabolic-risks among adolescent girls aged 13-15 years old.Methods and Study Design:This cross-sectional study was undertaken in adolescent girls aged 13-15 years in all five municipalities in Jakarta-Indonesia, from January 2014 to Mei 2016. Data collected by using standardized measures for dietary intake, nutritional status indicators, physical activity level, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid profile, and statistically analyzed by independent-t or Mann-Whitney test, and Pearson or Spearman correlation test.Results and Conclusions:A total of 194 adolescent girls were participated in this study. Early menarche was found in 22.68% of all subjects. There was no association between menarche status and daily macronutrients intake pattern and physical activity level score. Early menarche subjects had significantly higher BMI (p&lt;0.001), CDC-percentile (p&lt;0.001), WHO Z-score (p&lt;0.001), and waist circumference values (p=0.02). Furthermore, early menarche subjects also had higher systolic blood pressure (p=0.035), total cholesterol level (p=0.028), LDL-cholesterol level (p=0.013), and triglyceride level (p=0.026). There was no association between menarche status and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, HDL-C level, lipid profile ratio. In conclusion, early menarche is an important determinant factor of metabolic risks, and balance between dietary intake and physical activity level should be prioritized among them.

A Comparative Study of age of Menarche between two Generations and Correlation of age at Menarche of present Generation with Nutritional status and Socio Economic Factors

Objective: The present study was undertaken to compare the age of menarche between two generations and to observe the correlation of age at menarche of present generation with nutritional status and socio economic factors. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted at department of Physiology, Saveetha Medical College, Chennai. A total of the 400 apparently healthy and willing daughter–mother pairs were included in the study. All the parameters were recorded by standard methods mentioned in the literature. Results: The mean menarcheal age of the daughter was found to be 12.72±1.599. The mean menarcheal age of the mother was calculated to be 13.97±1.265. The difference was found to be 1.25±0.334 which is statistically significant i.e. p<0.001. The association between the menarcheal age and nutritional status i.e. Body Mass Index (BMI) has been established to be a strong statistically significant one at the level of 0.05. There is a association between the menarcheal age and socio economic status which is weak i.e. it is not statistically that significant. Conclusion: The mean age at menarche of the daughters was slightly lower than their mothers in Urban Chennai. Although the small difference in age at menarche could be an artifact of different study sites and sample characteristics, it may also reflect the downward trend of onset of menarche taking place in Urban Chennai. The study has also established that there is an association between the menarcheal age of the present generation with the nutritional status and socio economic factors.

Validity of self-reported age at menarche in computer-assisted interview among Chinese schoolgirls: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThe attitudes of girls regarding menarche vary according to their cultural backgrounds. Asian girls may hesitate to discuss menarche. Computer-assisted self-administered interviewing (CASI) is considered a valid and effective tool...