• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the discourse of puberty in the early teenage girls. Method: The participants were 24, 11-15years old girls who were interviewed in face-to-face using a semi-structured questionnaire. The interviews were done between October 29 and December 27 2003. Analysis of the qualitative data was done in 2 steps. Results: First, the theme of the girls' puberty discourse was identifying normality and consisted of 5 categories : i) defining puberty as experiencing changes, ⅱ) acknowledging their own puberty connecting it with their definitions of puberty, ⅲ) selectively excluding/recognizing the actual pubertal changes by seeing themselves as nonsexual and negative beings, ⅳ) recognizing the pubertal changes as becoming women and making them not peculiar but normal, and ⅴ) sharing the knowledge and experience of change inactively and exclusively and resisting the dominant discourse. Three main discourse frames, marking off sexual/nonsexual, man/women, and major/minor were revealed in the second step of the analysis. They were intricately woven with each other and converged on sex. Conclusion: The girls posited themselves as being asexual, unstable, and marginal. So there is a need to help them recognize their pubertal state as physical and mental paradigmatic changes and assure their pubertal changes as positive.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 2017

Objectives Five cases of early puberty patients were diagnosed and treated according to Sasang constitutional medicine. Methods Seven year-old girl and four nine year-old girls visited the children's development clinic and were diagnosed as Sasang constitutional types according to clinical investigations. Their breast stages were in the 2nd degree of SMR(sexual maturity rating). Three were Taeeumin and two were Soeumin, so they were prescribed according to their Sasang constitutional types and complaints. Results and Conclusions It could show that early puberty patients can be given treatments and managements according to Sasang constitutional medicine.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.355-361
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• 2016

The menarcheal age of Korean women has been rapidly decreasing for the last 50 years, and the average menarcheal age of women born in the 1990s is approaching 12.6 years. In addition, interest in early puberty has been increasing recently owing to the rapid increase in precocious puberty. Generally, out of concern for short stature and early menarche, idiopathic central precocious puberty in female adolescents is treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs. Studies to date have described the association between early menarche and psychosocial problems such as delinquency and risky sexual behavior, as well as physical health problems such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and breast cancer throughout the lifespan of women. However, the pathophysiological mechanism underlying this association has not been clarified thus far. In this article, we review and discuss the existing literature to describe the current understanding of the effects of early menarche on the physical and psychosocial health of adolescent girls and adult women.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.718-725
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• 2006

The pubertal activation of gonadotrophin releasing hormone(GnRH) requires coordinated changes in excitatory or inhibitory amino acids, growth factors, and a group of transcriptional regulators. The age of onset of puberty is progressing to younger age. Factors affecting early puberty include genetic traits, nutrition(body fat) and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. In rapidly progressing central precocious puberty, gonadotrophin releasing hormone(GnRH) agonists(GnRHa) appear to increase final height if treated early stage. Further large scaled long-term follow-up study of the effects of GnRHa on final height is needed.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.60-65
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study is to emphasize the importance of preventing precocious puberty. This study assessed current number of the patients with early puberty and their medical expenses from 2010 to 2015. Methods Using the data from Korean Statistical Information Service and Heathcare Bigdata Hub, number of patients diagnosed with precocious puberty by gender, age, and year from 2010 to 2015 were reviewed. Also, annual medical insurance expenses and the incidence of leuprorelin use were reviewed. Results Number of the patients with precocious puberty has increased from 29,251 in 2010 to 75,945 in 2015. Total medical insurance expenses have increased from 25,716,431 won in 2010 to 56,367,981 won in 2015. The use of lueprorelin also has increased annually from 11,097,590,000 won in 2010 to 21,617,585,000 won in 2015. Conclusions As a result, the patients diagnosed with precocious puberty are increasing in number, and their medical costs have been rising as well. It may be necessary to control the environmental causes of precocious puberty to reduce not only the physical and psychosocial health problems, but also the social costs.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2011

Objective: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used extensively to manufacture plastics and epoxy resin liners for food and beverage cans. BPA, with properties similar to estrogen, has endocrine-disrupting effects. In the present study, we examined the effects of early prepubertal BPA exposure on the onset of puberty and reproductive parameters such as estrous cycle and reproductive organ weights in female mice. Methods: Female mice were injected subcutaneously at postnatal day (PND) 8 with BPA (0.1, 1, 10, 100 mg/kg) in sesame oil or with sesame oil alone. Body weight was measured from PND 10 to 70. Vaginal opening and estrous cycle were monitored from PND 20 to 29. Animals were sacrificed at PND 25, 30, and 70, and the ovary and uterus weights were measured. Results: Early prepubertal exposure to BPA (10 and 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased body weight from PND 18 to 30. BPA treated mice at testing dose levels showed early opening of the vagina compared to the control group. The number of estrous cycle and days of estrus were significantly decreased in high dose (100 mg/kg) BPA treated mice. The ovary weight at PND 25 and 30 was significantly decreased in all BPA treatment groups. Conclusion: Early prepubertal exposure to BPA accelerated the onset of puberty but decreased reproductive parameters in female mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.634-639
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• 2008

Purpose : There has been considerable disagreement regarding the most appropriate dosage of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in cases of central precocious puberty. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate dosage for suppression of the puberty in girls with central precocious or early puberty. Methods : Twenty-two girls with early puberty were randomly subjected to 3 types of dosages of leuprolide acetate for at least 6 months. The number of cases in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 7, 7, and 8, and dosages were 70, 90, and $110{\mu}g/kg/-month$, respectively. Height, weight, bone age, Tanner stage of breast development, and serum levels of LH, FSH, estradiol, and progesterone were measured before treatment and after 6 months of treatment. The number of cases of puberty suppression was compared using a modified puberty suppression score with a nonparametric chi-square test. Results : There were no significant differences of chronologic and bone ages among the groups. There was a significant decrease in height SDS gain after 6 months in group 3 (P<0.05) compared with groups 1 and 2. Serum levels of LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone were all significantly decreased after treatment in all 3 groups (P<0.05). The number of cases of puberty suppression in each group were 4 (57%), 5 (71%), and 8 (100%). There was a significantly increased proportion of suppression of puberty in group 3 (P<0.05). Conclusion : It was necessary to use a higher dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to suppress early puberty in girls; however further longitudinal study will be needed for their prognosis of final adult height.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.54-61
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• 2016

Purpose Precocious Puberty is defined as the development of secondary sexual characteristics in girls younger than 8 years, and boys 9 years. Cause premature closure of the epiphysis is a disease that eventually decreases the final adult height. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic difference the GnRH (Gonado-tropin-releasing Hormone) stimulation test results with medical records of precocious puberty in girls. Materials and Methods From February 2015 to December 2015 it was enrolled in the girls 118 people who visited the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Pediatrics, Endocrinology Internal Medicine. True precocious puberty group (n=57), early puberty group (n=39), were divided into Premature thelarche (n=22) group. A Tanner stage, chronological age, bone age, height, body weight for each group was determined by examining the mean${\pm}$standard deviation. GnRH test result was compared LH (Basal, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min), FSH (Basal, 30 min, 60 min) for each group, Each group LH, FSH Peak value distribution, the mean${\pm}$standard deviation was calculated for the peak LH/LH basal ratio, peak LH/Peak FSH ratio. The significance probability (P-value) between the value of each third group was determined. Results The average height of the true precocious puberty group $131{\pm}14.85$, the mean weight was $28.80{\pm}4.93$, the average chronological age $7.1{\pm}0.81$, the mean bone age was $9.9{\pm}0.9$, The average height of early puberty group was $134{\pm}5.10$, the average weight $28.50{\pm}4.43$, the average chronological age $8.05{\pm}0.03$, the mean bone age was $10.0{\pm}0.62$, The average height of Premature thelarche $129{\pm}6,01$, the average weight was $28.65{\pm}5.98$, the average chronological age $7.02{\pm}0.58$, the mean bone age was $8.04{\pm}1.29$. There was no significant difference when compared to the height and weight. There was a significant difference between the groups in the chronologic age and bone age difference (P <0.0002) True precocious puberty group showed peak LH levels at 30'(82.5%), 45'(12.3%), 60'(5.3%), in Peak FSH 30'(8.8%), 60'(91.2%). Early Puberty group showed high values in Peak LH at 30'(79.5%), 45'(17.9%), 60'(2.6%), in peak FSH levels at 30'(7.7%), 60'(92.32%). In Premature thelarche Group it showed the Peak LH levels at 30'(30%), 45'(59%), 60'(9.09%), Peak FSH levels at 30'(0%) 60'(100%). When compared with the The Peak LH/basal LH ratio, True precocious puberty group was $19.09{\pm}17.15$, early puberty group was $15.23{\pm}10.88$, Premature thelarche group showed significant differences between the three groups as $4.93{\pm}4.36$.(P <0.0001) LH Peak/FSH Peak ratio, true precocious puberty group was $1.222{\pm}0.77$, early puberty group was $1.34{\pm}1.23$, Premature thelarche group showed significant differences between the three groups as $0.3{\pm}0.09$(P <0.0001) Conclusion In order to diagnose the true precocious puberty have a diagnostic value when the LH peak after GnRH stimulation is increased by more than two to three times compared to baseline or a predetermined level or more than 5~10 IU/L increases. GnRH Test is a test for a long time and the patient discomfort due to repeated blood sampling, but the hypothalamus-pituitary gland- gonad axis activity evaluate and is the most basic accurate test in the differential diagnosis of precocious puberty disorders.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.17.1-17.4
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• 2014

Puberty is a stage of sexual development determined by the interaction of many loci and environmental factors. Identification of genes contributing to genetic variation in this character can assist with selection for early pubertal bulls, improving genetic progress in livestock breeding. Thyroid hormones play an important role in sexual development and spermatogenic function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in thyroglobulin(TG) gene with age of puberty in Angus bulls. Four SNPs were genotyped in 273 animals using SEQUENOM technology and the association between markers and puberty age was analyzed. Results showed a significant association (P < 0.05) between these markers and puberty age estimated at a sperm concentration of 50 million and a progressive motility of 10%. This is the first report of an association of TG polymorphisms with age of puberty in bulls, and results suggest the importance of thyroidal regulation in bovine sexual development and arrival to puberty.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.400-403
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• 2003

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia(CAH) is a recognized cause of precocious pseudopuberty. Some children with CAH also develop true precocious puberty with early maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. We review a case of CAH who eventually developed central precocious puberty nine months after initial treatment with corticosteroid. A 3-year-old boy visited complaining of rapid growth, a large penis and frequent penile erections. This patient was diagnosed with CAH with elevated 17-OH progesterone and cortical hypertrophy of adrenal gland on CT scan. His gonadotropin levels were within the normal prepubertal range. Even on treatment with corticosteroid he grew rapidly and had testicular enlargement, pubic hair development and rapid bone maturation. At second admission, his gonadotropin levels were elevated both basally and in response to LHRH stimulation, suggesting that the CAH led to early activation of pubertal gonadotropin secretion(true precocious puberty). He was treated with monthly depot injections of a LHRH analog in addition to the hydrocortisone. His second sexual characteristics regressed gradually and rate of linear growth and bone maturation decreased.