Sexual Maturity Rating Research Articles

Late Gender Re-Assignment in 46XY 17 Beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (Type 3) Deficiency: A Case Report Highlighting Challenges of Diagnosis and Management

A 12-year-old child, previously raised as a female, presented with phallic enlargement at puberty. The sexual maturity ratings were Stage 2 and 4 for breast and pubic hair, respectively, with a stretched phallic length of 3.2cm. The patient re-presented at 16 years with progressive masculinisation and regression of breast buds. A pelvic ultrasound scan, magnetic resonant imaging and laparoscopic examination showed intrabdominal left testis, intracanalicular right testis, vas deferens, and bilateral pampiniform plexus with no uterus or ovaries. Histology of gonadal biopsy showed germ cell aplasia, and the karyotype was 46XY. The surgeons fixed the gonads in the scrotal sacs after biopsy. The human chorionic gonadotrophin stimulation test showed low basal and stimulated testosterone/androstenedione ratios (0.22 and 0.17, respectively) which were strongly suggestive of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 (17β-HSD3) deficiency. The patient was evaluated by the mental health team and after sessions of therapy, the patient requested for gender reassignment, which necessitated orthoplasty and urethroplasty. It is to be noted that 17β-HSD3 deficiency is a frequent cause of gender change at puberty.

Pubertal Timing Across Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Subgroups

Earlier puberty is associated with adverse health outcomes, such as mental health issues in adolescence and cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood. Despite rapid growth of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations in the US, limited research exists on their pubertal timing, potentially masking health disparities. To examine pubertal timing among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander children and adolescents by disaggregating ethnic subgroups. This retrospective cohort study included Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander youths aged 5 to 18 years assessed for pubertal development at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large, integrated health care delivery system. Follow-up occurred from March 2005, through December 31, 2019. Data were analyzed in October 2023. Race and ethnicity, categorized into 11 ethnic subgroups: Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Other South Asian, Other Southeast Asian, Vietnamese, multiethnic, and multiracial. Pubertal timing was determined using physician-assessed sexual maturity ratings (SMRs). Outcomes included the median age at transition from SMR 1 (prepubertal) to SMR 2 or higher (pubertal) for onset of genital development (gonadarche) in boys, breast development (thelarche) in girls, and pubic hair development (pubarche) in both boys and girls. In this cohort of 107 325 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander children and adolescents (54.61% boys; 12.96% Asian Indian, 22.24% Chinese, 26.46% Filipino, 1.80% Japanese, 1.66% Korean, 1.96% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.86% Other South Asian, 3.26% Other Southeast Asian, 5.99% Vietnamese, 0.74% multiethnic, and 22.05% multiracial), the overall median ages for girls' pubarche and thelarche were 10.98 years (95% CI, 10.96-11.01 years) and 10.13 years (95% CI, 10.11-10.15 years), respectively. For boys' pubarche and gonadarche, median ages were 12.08 years (95% CI, 12.06-12.10 years) and 11.54 years (95% CI, 11.52-11.56 years), respectively. Differences between subgroups with earliest and latest median age at onset were 14 months for girls' pubarche, 8 months for thelarche, 8 months for boys' pubarche, and 4 months for gonadarche. In general, Asian Indian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and Other South Asian subgroups had the earliest ages at onset across pubertal markers, while East Asian youths exhibited the latest onset. Restricting to those with healthy body mass index did not substantially change the findings. In this cohort study of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander children and adolescents, pubertal timing varied considerably across ethnic subgroups. Further investigation is warranted to assess whether these differences contribute to observed health disparities in adulthood, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Prevalence of stunting and determinants of growth failure in children with Type 1 diabetes

Objectives: India is home to the highest number of prevalent cases of Type-1 diabetes (T1D) in children. There is scarcity of data on the growth failure of children with diabetes, especially those having complications and comorbidities, thus, we conducted this study with the objective to determine the prevalence and predictors of stunting in children with T1D. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 350 children and adolescents aged 1–18 years with T1D. Demographic data, anthropometry, diet, sexual maturity rating, and biochemical measurements were performed using standard protocols. Short stature was defined as height for age Z-score <−2. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We report a 15.7% prevalence of stunting in our cohort of children with T1D. Stunted children had higher cholesterol, lower hemoglobin, lower mid-parental height Z-scores, and higher urinary albumin creatinine ratio. Binary logistic regression revealed that pre-existing comorbidities, compromised renal function, longer disease duration, and short mid-parental height were significant predictors of stunting. Conclusion: A little under one-sixth of children with T1D had short stature. Monitoring growth in these patients, especially in subjects with short parents, prolonged duration of diabetes, existing comorbidities, and deteriorating renal function are critical.

Prevalence and Predictors of Diabetic Retinopathy, Its Progression and Regression in Indian Children and Youth With Type-1 Diabetes

Objective: There are very few reports on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in children and youth with type-1 diabetes (T1D). Studies have also found very low rates of referral for DR screening in children and youth with T1D. We conducted this study to determine the prevalence of DR, to study the reliability of ISPAD screening recommendations and to identify predictors of DR, its progression and regression in Indian children and youth with T1D. Methods: This study included 882 children and youth with T1D. Demographic data, anthropometry, blood pressure, sexual maturity rating, ophthalmological examination (slit lamp for cataract) and biochemical measurements were performed using standard protocols. Fundus images were captured using the Forus Health 3netra classic digital non-mydriatic fundus camera by the same experienced operator. De-identified images were assessed by a senior grader and ophthalmologist (Belfast Ophthalmic Reading Center). Severity of DR was graded as per the UK National Health Service (NHS) DR classification scale. Result: We report 6.4% and 0.2% prevalence of DR and cataract in Indian children and youth with T1D, respectively. All the subjects with DR had early non-proliferative DR. We report that amongst subjects with DR, only 2 subjects were aged less than 11 years and had duration of illness less than 2 years. Presence of hypertension and older age were significant predictors of DR ( P < .05). Subjects with DR had significantly higher triglyceride concentrations ( P < .05), of these, 6.9% had progression and 2.9% had regression at 1 year follow up; the change in glycaemic control was a significant positive predictor of progression of DR ( P < .05). None of the participants included in the study progressed to develop sight-threatening DR. Conclusion: DR is not uncommon in Indian children and youth with T1D, thus screening for DR needs to be initiated early, particularly in older individuals with higher disease duration. Controlling blood pressure and triglyceride concentrations may prevent occurrence of DR. Improving glycaemic control may prevent progression of DR in Indian children and youth with T1D.

Pubertal Development in Girls with Beta Thalassaemia and Assessment of the Adequacy of Chelation Therapy: A Quasi-experimental Study

Introduction: Beta thalassaemia is the most prevalent hereditary autosomal disorder, significantly impacting endocrine function during pubertal development. The pathology is rooted in the excessive deposition of iron in vital organs. If left untreated, this condition leads to serious morbidity and mortality. Hypogonadism stands as the most common endocrine complication. Aim: To observe pubertal development in girls with thalassaemia and evaluate the adequacy of chelation therapy in such patients by measuring levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinising Hormone (LH), oestrogen, and serum ferritin. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Thalassaemia Clinic at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Burdwan Medical College, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, India involving 300 diagnosed Beta Thalassaemia Major (BTM) (case) patients aged 13 to 17 years over a period of one and a half years (January 2020 to June 2021). The girls in the study groups were sequentially enrolled from the Outpatient Department of the Thalassaemia Clinic after meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, and Sexual Maturity Rating (SMR) were recorded. Hormonal assays of serum FSH, LH, oestrogen, and serum ferritin levels were conducted. Thalassaemic girls with serum ferritin levels exceeding 500 ng/mL received chelation therapy. Serum ferritin levels were measured at two-month intervals for up to six months, with reassessment of serum FSH, LH, oestrogen, and ferritin levels at the end of the six-month period. Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0, Microsoft excel spreadsheet, and Epi Info 7. Results: A total of 190 (63.3%) of the thalassaemic girls were aged 13 to 15 years, with a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 22.5000±2.6100 kg/m2 , and 74 of them (38.94%) experienced menarche in this age group. Out of 300 cases, 269 thalassaemic girls (89.6%) received chelation therapy, and 89 cases (33.09%) reached menarche after chelation therapy. A significant (p<0.0001) increase in mean LH and FSH levels was observed after chelation therapy. The mean ferritin level decreased from 3168.85 ng/mL to 2227.24 ng/mL following chelation therapy. Conclusion: Pubertal development failure is common in beta thalassaemic girls. Intervention in the form of adequate chelation therapy in girls with high serum ferritin levels yielded favourable outcomes, as evident from serum gonadotropin and oestrogen levels.

Determination of the growth performance and reproductive season of wild Channa lucius (Cuvier, 1831) populations of genus Channa (Channidae, Perciformes) in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

This study aimed to investigate the growth and spawning characteristics of wild Channa lucius (Cuvier, 1831) populations in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The study was carried out from March 2011 to February 2012. The length-weight relationship of C. lucius was determined according to the equations W= 0.0044L3.2494 , R2 = 0.9157 (female fish) and W= 0.0047L3.2178 , R2 = 0.9434 (male fish). The length and weight of the body for female fish ranged from 16.3 to 36.0cm and 49.0 to 550.0g, and for male fish, from 14.6 to 38.2cm and 46.0 to 639.0g, respectively. Female and male fish had almost similar lengths at first maturity (21.3958 cm for females and 21.3952 cm for males). The condition factor of female fish ranged from 0.842 to 0.864 and for male fish ranged from 0.848 to 0.874. The gonadosomatic index of female fish was highest in June (1.68%) and lowest in November (0.69%); that of male fish was highest in June (0.53%) and lowest in September (0.15%). The sexual maturity rate (SMR) of female fish peaked in May, with SMRs of 33.3% (stage III) and 58.3% (stage IV). In conclusion, C. lucius has a positive allometric range (b> 3), reaching sexual maturity when its length reaches 21.39 cm for both sexes, and the spawning season begins in December but peaks in May and June.

Rare presentation of pituitary stalk lipoma as central precocious puberty in a girl

Central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls is most commonly idiopathic. Here, we present a case of a 5-year 3-month-old child who presented with CPP with a stalk lipoma on magnetic resonance imaging. On examination, the sexual maturity rating was A1P1B (Rt B1, Lt B2), respectively. The hormonal evaluation revealed pubertal gonadotropin and E2 levels, respectively, with pubertal ultrasound (USG) parameters. She was started on gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy and is on regular follow-up. This case highlights stalk lipoma as a cause of CPP.

The impact of the cardiovascular component and somatic mutations on ageing.

Mechanistic insight into ageing may empower prolonging the lifespan of humans; however, a complete understanding of this process is still lacking despite a plethora of ageing theories. In order to address this, we investigated the association of lifespan with eight phenotypic traits, that is, litter size, body mass, female and male sexual maturity, somatic mutation, heart, respiratory, and metabolic rate. In support of the somatic mutation theory, we analysed 15 mammalian species and their whole-genome sequencing deriving somatic mutation rate, which displayed the strongest negative correlation with lifespan. All remaining phenotypic traits showed almost equivalent strong associations across this mammalian cohort, however, resting heart rate explained additional variance in lifespan. Integrating somatic mutation and resting heart rate boosted the prediction of lifespan, thus highlighting that resting heart rate may either directly influence lifespan, or represents an epiphenomenon for additional lower-level mechanisms, for example, metabolic rate, that are associated with lifespan.

Peripheral Precocious Puberty In A Four Years Old Boy With Classic Simple Virilizing Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

The study aims to describe a case of precocious puberty caused by classic simple virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This is a case of 4 years-old boy who developed premature pubarche 5 month before consultation. Patient also has penis enlargement with prepubertal testes and facial acne since age of three. His voice also changed to be more like an adult male voice. Physical examination revealed an alert boy, with normal vital sign, body weight of 27 kilograms (>P95, CDC Growth Chart 2000) and height of 126 centimeter (>P95, CDC Growth Chart 2000), with advanced bone age of 14-years-old child. The Sexual Maturity Rating score was G1P3( tanner stage 3), and his height was more than his mid-parenteral height. Laboratory test was done revealed 17-OHP of 196.03 ng/ml (n: <= 0.90ng/ml), high level of testosterone at 270.1 ng/ml (n: <= 0.19ng/ml), level of B-HCG : <2.3mIU/ml, low level of LH : 0.1 mIU/ml (n: >0.6 mIU/ml), and low level of FSH: 0.1 mIU/ml (n: 0-5.0mIU/ml). Ultrasound of Kidney shows a picture of hyperplasia of left adrenal gland. All of these findings allowed diagnosing him with classic simple virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Based on this diagnosis, he was then started on hydrocortisone, and after 6 months of starting the treatment, he has a favourable clinical outcome, without any secondary sex characteristics or bone age progression. Peripheral precocious puberty due to classic simple virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia may be asymptomatic from birth to the preschool age, therefore early detection, immediate and appropriate managements are crucial and important to prevent late outcomes.

Ecological-parasitological method in studies of population biology of beaked redfish <i>Sebastes mentella</i> (Scorpaeniformes: Sebastidae) in the Irminger Sea

The results of the analysis of the data set obtained in course of long-term studies of the population biology of beaked redfish Sebastes mentella are used as an interdisciplinary approach in the study of its geographical, biotopic, ontogenetic and phylogenetic features, population structure in the pelagic zone of the Irminger Sea and the adjacent bathyal zone of Greenland and Iceland. The approach is based on the ecological-parasitological method, which involves the use of data on the composition of parasite communities and the occurrence of their individual species as biomarkers for understanding the features of the hydrobionts ecology. The results obtained, which include information on the spatial distribution, functional subdivision of the area, ontogenetic migrations, maturation and growth rate, underwater marking, phenetic, genetic and other features of beaked redfish, made it possible to identify the conditions for divergent formation and significant isolation of its pelagic and benthic groupings, constituting the North Atlantic population. The colonization by this species of great depths of the oceanic pelagial and the near-bottom layer of the bathyal, accompanied with an increase in the rate of sexual maturation and migratory activity in the pelagial, characterizes the direction of the current stage of its phylogenesis. The unity of the pelagic grouping of beaked redfish in the vast water area and throughout the depth of its distribution in the Irminger and Labrador seas is substantiated. It is shown that significant differences in infestation rate between males and females of beaked redfish, stable in time and space, with the only species-specific parasite (the copepod Sphyrion lumpi), serve as a phene of the pelagic grouping of the North Atlantic population of the host.

Effects of adult-diet modifications on sexual maturation rate, body weight, and quantity of sperm transfer by male Mexican fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Mass-reared sterile Mexican fruit flies (Anastrepha ludens [Loew]) are released along the US-Mexico border to control fruit fly damage and spread. It is more cost effective for the mass rearing program if males mature at a younger age because they can be held for a shorter time at the facility before release. In this study, adult male Mexican fruit fly diets were tested to determine if the current diet used at the mass rearing facility promotes younger mating and optimal sperm transfer compared to other diet formulations. Hydrolyzed yeast presentation methods were examined: an agar-free dry mixture of yeast and sugar (Y+S), yeast embedded in the diet during the agar boiling process (current method used) and sifted dry on the ager gel surface. Methoprene, a juvenile hormone analog was also tested as a supplement to agar gel diets with and without yeast. A greater proportion of males fed Y+S mated 1 day earlier than males fed other diets. Male mating age and diet did not significantly affect the quantity of sperm transferred; however, a non-significantly higher percentage of males fed diets with embedded yeast transferred enough sperm to fill all 3 spermathecae. The results suggest that the current diet used is optimal for mass-rearing the flies and that yeast presentation method has a significant effect on A. ludens male mating age but not on the quantity of sperm transferred to females.

High reproductive potential of the commercially exploited shark Squalus suckleyi in the major fishing grounds of the western North Pacific.

The present study examined body length (precaudal length, PCL) and age at sexual maturity, as well as fecundity and maternal investment in the Pacific spiny dogfish Squalus suckleyi, a long-term commercially exploited shark in the western North Pacific, using samples caught in several fisheries and across seasons. The PCL and age at 50% sexual maturity of males were 60.6 cm and 9.4 years, respectively; and those of females were 73.1 cm and 17.8 years, respectively. The PCL and age at 50% maternity were 77.4 cm and 19.7 years, respectively. General or generalised linear models revealed that the fishing method was not significantly correlated with sexual maturity (both sexes), and the maternity rate and litter size were not correlated with female PCL. Other general linear models revealed an increase in offspring size with maternal size, but litter size was not affected by embryonic development. These findings indicate that the reproductive potential of Pacific spiny dogfish is relatively high throughout the whole North Pacific region because of a smaller size and earlier age at sexual maturation in both sexes. In addition, pregnant females displayed no resting phase and produced 0.45 more embryos per cm PCL in their lifetime after the onset of maturity, which is higher than in the eastern North Pacific. We suggest that these qualities are not a consequence of stock decline associated with the long-term exploitation of the species, but that its high reproductive potential has likely contributed to the long-term stability of the landings in Japan. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous Menarche in 45, X/47, XXX Mosaicism

Backgrounds: Turner syndrome (TS) also called monosomy X or Ulrich, is a congenital disorder caused by one intact X chromosome and the absence of second sex chromosomes. Only females are affected by Turner syndrome, characterized by abnormalities affecting the X chromosomes. Its incidence about 2.5-5.5 per 10,000 live births of girls. Mosaic 47, XXX karyotype is found in 3%-4% of TS patients. Objective: To describe clinical manifestation and examination aspects of mosaicism turner syndrome. Case presentation: An 18-years-old girl came with complaint short stature. This complaint has been noticed since the patient was in elementary school. The patient's parents initiated to have their child checked by pediatric endocrinologist when the patient was 6 years old. The patient was diagnosed with Turner syndrome from the result of chromosomal examination. The patient was given growth hormone by pediatrician with unknown dosage for approximately 1.5 years but the patient has never returned to control. During that period of time, her breast developed when she was 11 years old and the patient had menstruation at the age of 14 but the menstrual cycle was irregular. Physical examination showed the patient with short stature, low hairline, shield-shaped chest and right elbow deformity. The Sexual Maturity Rating score was M4P4. Her anthropometric status was overweight and short stature with height for age < P3rd. The patient's bone age was equivalent with child age 17-years-old. Karyotype examination with G-banding technique, the chromosomes from 40 cells have been studied and the number of chromosomes in each cell studied is mos 47, XXX[30]/45, X[10]. Ultrasonography examination showed the uterus anteflexed below normal size, the right ovary appears below normal size, and the left ovary is not visible. Conclusion: An 18-year-old girl with mosaic Turner syndrome. The diagnosis is established by history taking, physical examination, hormone examination, imaging and karyotyping. Patient was treated with growth hormone.

Novel Husbandry Practices Result in Rapid Rates of Growth and Sexual Maturation Without Impacting Adult Behavior in the Blind Mexican Cavefish.

Animal model systems are dependent on the standardization of husbandry protocols that maximize growth and reduce generation time. The Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, exists as eyed surface and blind cave dwelling populations. The opportunity for comparative approaches between independently evolved populations has led to the rapid growth of A. mexicanus as a model for evolution and biomedical research. However, a slow and inconsistent growth rate remains a major limitation to the expanded application of A. mexicanus. Fortunately, this temporal limitation can be addressed through husbandry changes that accelerate growth rates while maintaining optimal health outcomes. Here, we describe a husbandry protocol that produces rapid growth rates through changes in diet, feeding frequency, growth sorting and progressive changes in tank size. This protocol produced robust growth rates and decreased the age of sexual maturity in comparison to our previous protocol. To determine whether changes in feeding impacted behavior, we tested fish in exploration and schooling assays. We found no difference in behavior between the two groups, suggesting that increased feeding and rapid growth will not impact the natural variation in behavioral traits. Taken together, this standardized husbandry protocol will accelerate the development of A. mexicanus as a genetic model.

Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in Vietnamese children with central precocious puberty

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) are generally indicated in central precocious puberty (CPP) patients. We aimed to analyze the auxological outcomes of GnRHa treatment on CPP children. A cross-sectional study with observational data were collected from 143 CPP patients who finished GnRHa therapy in Children Hospital 2, Vietnam. Anthropometry and sexual maturity rating were assessed after 6 months and each year of the therapy. The Bayley-Pinneau method was used to estimate the predicted adult height (PAH). The mean calendar age and bone age at the start of the treatment were 8.0 ± 0.7 years and 10.5 ± 0.1 years, respectively. The mean treatment period was 2.4 ± 0.6 years. GnRHa led to the regression of pubertal symptoms after treatment. The pre-treatment PAH was 157.8 ± 0.6 cm (girls) and 172.3 ± 2.4 cm (boys). The PAH at treatment discontinuation (162.0 ± 0.5 cm in girls and 176.7 ± 2.3 cm in boys) was higher than the initial PAH (p<0.05). For girls with treatment before 6 years old, GnRHa results in a predicted average gain in adult height of 10.2 ± 3.2 cm, whereas the predicted height advancement in the 6-8 age group was 5.3 ± 0.7 cm. The predicted average height gain of girls aged over 8 years was 3.2 ± 0.6 cm. GnRHa therapy was effective for CPP treatment with the improvement of predicted final height. Predicted height advancement was still documented in females who started the treatment after 8 years old.

Effects of Sex and Rearing Season on Body Weight Gain and Growth Curve Parameters of Local Chickens in Niger

Local chicken breeding is widespread in Niger, a country with harsh environmental conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sex, temperature, and hygrometry variations on the body weight gain and growth curve of local Nigerien chickens. Two groups of local chickens were followed from hatching to 20 weeks of age. The first and second groups consisted of 96 and 124 chickens, respectively. Three seasons were identified based on continuously recording ambient temperature and humidity over a year. The dry and warm seasons (February, March, April, and May), the wet and warm seasons (June, July, August, and September), and the dry and cold seasons (October, November, December, and January). The average hatch weight was about 24 g, and monthly body weight gains ranged from 100 to 360 g. Asymptotic weights were 2214.02 ± 69.94 g and 1776.93 ± 63.57 g for roosters and 1380.25 ± 25.96 g and 1433.08 ± 71.24 g for hens. The sexual maturity rates indicate that hens are more precocious than roosters. Sex and season had significant impacts on the growth performance of the chickens. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that the optimal time to raise local chickens in rural Niger is from June to January, and males are better candidates for meat production. Keywords: Growth curve, Hygrometry, Local chicken, Temperature, Weight gain

Mothers of small-bodied children and fathers of vigorous sons live longer.

Life-history traits (traits directly related to survival and reproduction) co-evolve and materialize through physiology and behavior. Accordingly, lifespan can be hypothesized as a potentially informative marker of life-history speed that subsumes the impact of diverse morphometric and behavioral traits. We examined associations between parental longevity and various anthropometric traits in a sample of 4,000-11,000 Estonian children in the middle of the 20th century. The offspring phenotype was used as a proxy measure of parental genotype, so that covariation between offspring traits and parental longevity (defined as belonging to the 90th percentile of lifespan) could be used to characterize the aggregation between longevity and anthropometric traits. We predicted that larger linear dimensions of offspring associate with increased parental longevity and that testosterone-dependent traits associate with reduced paternal longevity. Twelve of 16 offspring traits were associated with mothers' longevity, while three traits (rate of sexual maturation of daughters and grip strength and lung capacity of sons) robustly predicted fathers' longevity. Contrary to predictions, mothers of children with small bodily dimensions lived longer, and paternal longevity was not linearly associated with their children's body size (or testosterone-related traits). Our study thus failed to find evidence that high somatic investment into brain and body growth clusters with a long lifespan across generations, and/or that such associations can be detected on the basis of inter-generational phenotypic correlations.

Обзор данных по биологии нельмы Stenodus leucichthys nelma (Pallas, 1773)

Nelma (Stenodus leucichthys nelma (Pallas, 1773)) is one of the biggest predators and a prominent representative of the whitefish family. It is a poorly studied valuable commercial species. The rate of growth and sexual maturation of this fish is very high compared to other whitefishes. Within the vast range of white salmon populations living in different geographical zones there can be found variability in meristic and size-weight characteristics. There are also differences in the time of sexual maturity of species in different rivers. Some negative limiting factors impact the nelma populations: pollution of water bodies, poaching, and transformation of the flows of large rivers (building the hydroelectric power stations, reservoirs, etc.). There have been presented the review of the published literature on nelma biology and the data of the proper research. Comparative analysis of the meristic, size-weight and physiological characteristics of nelma populations from different rivers within the geographical range has been made. From the review of available literary sources it follows that today the populations of nelma are characterized by a radical decline and rejuvenation of the spawning stock in almost all rivers of its habitat. There is found reducing the spawning areas of the species due to the regulation of the flows of large rivers. Studying biology and ecology of nelma as a valuable and endangered species is important today.

Neighborhood Racial and Economic Privilege and Timing of Pubertal Onset in Girls

PurposeEarly puberty is associated with adverse health outcomes over the life course, and Black and Hispanic girls experience puberty earlier than girls of other racial/ethnic backgrounds. Neighborhood racial and economic privilege may contribute to these disparities by conferring differential exposure to mechanisms (e.g., stress, obesity, endocrine disruptors) underlying early puberty. We examined associations between neighborhood privilege, measured by the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE), and age at pubic hair onset (pubarche) and breast development onset (thelarche) in a large multiethnic cohort. MethodsA cohort of 46,299 girls born 2005–2011 at Kaiser Permanente Northern California medical facilities were followed until 2021. Pubertal development was assessed routinely by pediatricians using the Sexual Maturity Rating scale. ICE quintiles for race/ethnicity, income, and income + race/ethnicity were calculated using American Community Survey 2010 5-year estimates and linked to census tract at birth. We fit multilevel Weibull regression models accommodating left, right, and interval censoring for all analyses. ResultsICE measures were monotonically associated with pubertal onset, with the strongest associations observed for ICE–race/ethnicity. Adjusting for maternal education, age at delivery, and parity, girls from the least versus most privileged ICE–race/ethnicity quintiles were at increased risk for earlier pubarche (hazard ratio: 1.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.21, 1.38) and thelarche (hazard ratio: 1.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.36, 1.54). These associations remained significant after adjusting for girls' race/ethnicity and childhood body mass index. Additionally, adjustment for ICE partially attenuated Black–White and Hispanic–White disparities in pubertal onset. DiscussionNeighborhood privilege may contribute to pubertal timing and related disparities.

Growth in children aged 5 to 15 years with special reference to sexual maturity rating: cross-sectional study

Background: Puberty is a critical period for children since hormonal changes impact directly on linear and sexual growth. This study aimed to assess the growth pattern of children aged 5-15 years with special reference to sexual maturity and to find association of sexual maturity rating (SMR) with body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic scores.Methods: Cross sectional study was done in Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences a tertiary care hospital. The 910 children in the age group of 5 to 15 years with consent /assent formed the study group via multistage sampling. Study period was for 18 months (March 2016 to September 2017). Physical examination included anthropometry and SMR by Tanner staging. Probit analysis was done to calculate the mean ages of attainment of SMR. Bivariate analysis and Pearson’s chi-square test were used to test the possible association between SMR and BMI/ socioeconomic status.Results:910 children were included in the study (M:F=1.25:1). The mean and 50th percentile values for height and weight were in close agreement in all age groups in both sexes. The maximum increase in height was noted between 11-12 years in girls and 14-15 years in boys. The mean age of onset of Gonadarche and Pubarche in boys was 11.4±0.99 years and 12.4±1.36 years respectively. The mean age of attainment of Thelarche, pubarche, and menarche was 10.4±1.38, 10.9±1.29, and 11.2±1.56 years respectively in girls. The time interval between Thelarche and Menarche was 10 months. The association of thelarche with SES was statistically significant (p<0.001). Overweight/obese girls showed 9.6 months earlier onset of thelarche when compared to the normal/thin subjects.Conclusions: The study yielded normative values for height, weight, and sexual maturation patterns in children of central Kerala. Obese/overweight female subjects tend to attain sexual maturation earlier compared to non-obese subjects.