The objective of the present study was to determine the role of sex steroids in the development of self-perceived competence during adolescence. The Harter Self-Perception Scale was administered to 56 adolescents with delayed puberty who were receiving depo-testosterone (males) or conjugated estrogens (females) administered in 3-month blocks alternating with placebo. Treatment was given at three dose levels approximating early, middle, and late pubertal replacement levels. Hormone treatments had a significant positive effect for both males and females in one subscale domain--perceived job competence. Significant positive hormone effects were also obtained for perceptions of romantic appeal and close friendship in females and perception of athletic abilities in males. It can be inferred from the results of this study that the hormonal changes associated with sexual maturation have targeted influences on specific domains of self-perceived competence and that there are clear gender differences.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diversity of pubertal testosterone changes in boys with constitutional delay in growth and/or adolescence.

In a group of 22 boys with constitutional delay in growth and/or adolescence, intermittent testosterone enanthate treatment was employed in a randomized clinical trial at multiple doses ranging from 25-100 mg every two weeks for three month periods extending over 15-21 months. Twelve of the patients displayed a prompt increase in endogenous testosterone levels during the study period, reaching levels in the adult male range (> 250 ng/dl). The remaining 10 boys showed sluggish changes in endogenous testosterone during the investigation, ranging from 35-177 ng/dl. The bone ages and testicular sizes of the two groups at study initiation did not differ though urine LH was significantly less at study entry in the slowly maturing group. The data reveal a great diversity in the pace and pattern of endogenous testosterone changes in the study population. The results also suggest that exogenous sex steroid treatment of such patients does not speed up the central nervous system processes controlling the onset and progression of puberty. Boys with delayed puberty should be followed until endogenous testosterone levels reach the adult male range in order to rule out mild gonadotropin deficits.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in short children with and without growth hormone deficiency.

The effects of L-dopamine (LD) administration and insulin-induced hypoglycemia in adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol secretion were studied in 14 short boys. LD caused moderate changes in both hormones. The four boys with isolated, idiopathic growth hormone (GH) deficiency (IGD) demonstrated a greater cortisol increase in response to hypoglycemia than the 10 boys with normal GH secretion. In at least some short children with IGD, abnormal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may be present.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Twenty-four-hour cortisol profiles demonstrate exaggerated nocturnal rise in diabetic children.

Plasma cortisol was measured every 20 min for 24 h in 12 normal and 8 insulin-dependent, nonketotic, diabetic children treated with one daily injection of insulin. Plasma glucose was also measured every 20 min in the diabetic children. The diurnal pattern of cortisol secretion was identical. The mean 24-h plasma cortisol was similar in both groups, but significantly elevated in the diabetic children between 0200 and 0920 h. Peak cortisol levels were higher in the diabetic than in the normal children. No correlation was found between average plasma glucose and average plasma cortisol, or between the nocturnal change in plasma glucose and average nocturnal plasma cortisol in the diabetic subjects. These studies demonstrate an exaggeration of the normal nocturnal rise in plasma cortisol in diabetic children not related to the levels of plasma glucose.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sanitary product use by white, black, and Mexican American women.

In 1988-89, the use of menstrual sanitary products was surveyed among 699 white, 477 black, and 425 Mexican American women to detect age and racial or ethnic differences in product use that might explain the differences in the incidence of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in these demographic categories. Forty percent of the women had never used tampons. Significantly more whites used tampons alone (26 percent) or with pads (36 percent) than did blacks. Proportionately more blacks used tampons alone (16 percent) or with pads (27 percent) compared with Mexican Americans, 11 percent of whom used tampons alone and 21 percent of whom used tampons and pads. Since a substantial proportion of black women used tampons, racial-ethnic variations in use patterns alone cannot completely explain the low incidence of TSS among black women. Tampon use started in the early teen years, but women in the age group 20-29 had the highest frequency of use of tampons either alone (26 percent) or with pads (33 percent). These percentages suggest that age-related differences in product use may not explain the age-related differences in the incidence of TSS. Fear was the most common specific reason for not using tampons in response to information about TSS. Decreased use of tampons in response to information about TSS was reported by 39 percent of whites, 50 percent of blacks, 46 percent of Mexican Americans, and by 36 percent of women less than 19 years, 41 percent of 20-29-year-olds, and 47 percent of women 30 years and older.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A survey of pediatricians' attitudes and practices about maternal employment.

A survey of 281 members (31 percent) of the Texas Pediatric Society was performed in 1981 to assess members' knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practices regarding mothers who work outside the home. Only 15 percent correctly answered two of three knowledge questions about maternal employment. Thirty-five percent of the pediatricians failed to inquire about maternal employment. Although only 1 percent advised all mothers not to work, 22 percent said that mothers with children at home should not work. Most pediatricians had traditional conservative attitudes and opinions (exemplified by the statement "a woman's place is in the home") in regard to two factors, "acceptability of maternal employment" and "effects of maternal employment on children." More liberal views were associated with more recent graduation from medical school, being a woman, having a working wife, being in favor of wife's working status, and knowledge of statistics concerning maternal employment. These results suggest that if the practices of those Texas pediatricians who responded correspond with other pediatricians' practices in the United States, a large proportion of pediatricians may not be providing adequate support for the 17 million working mothers and their children.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗