Prenatal smoke exposure is associated with increased anogenital distance in female infants: a prospective case-control study

Objectives: To investigate the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on newborn infants' anogenital distance (AGD). Methods: Fifty-six female and sixty-four male newborn infants from mothers who smoked during pregnancy were included in this study. A control group for each sex was selected from infants whose mothers had no active or passive (in either the household or the workplace) smoke exposure before or during pregnancy. Questionnaire data on maternal demographic characteristics and information about cigarette use were collected. We assessed genital anthropometry which included AGD for both male and female neonates, and stretched penile length (SPL), penile girth for males within the first 48 h after birth. AGD measurements were also normalized according to birth weight (AGD/weight in grams), length (AGD/height in millimeters), and ponderal index [AGD/(weight in grams/height in cubic centimeters)]. Anogenital index (AGI) was calculated by dividing the AGD by cube root of birth weight. Results: In female infants, prenatal smoke exposure was associated with significantly increased weight-adjusted AGD (p=0.03). There was also a significant correlation between mothers' daily smoking rates and weight-adjusted AGD (r=0.27/p=0.03). In male infants, fetal smoke exposure was not associated with any AGD measurements, SPL and penile girth. Conclusions: A significant increase in weight-adjusted AGD in female infants exposed to maternal smoking may be an indicator of antenatal androgen exposure and may pose a risk for short and long-term endocrine, metabolic and behavioral problems

Information is Power: An Interventional Study on Parents of Children with Febrile Seizures

Aim: Febrile seizures (FS) cause great fear and panic in the families. The majority of parents think that they may lose their child during a seizure, and feel anxious about the possibility of seizures recurring in the future. We believe that educating the families with high levels of anxiety due to FS may help to reduce the level of anxiety. In this study, we aimed to determine the needs of parents regarding FS, and the effect of education on FS on the approach and anxiety of the parents. Materials and Methods: In our study, we interviewed the parents of 113 children who suffered from FS. We conducted a survey aiming at detailed detection of knowledge, attitudes, thoughts and concerns of the families about FS, and their approaches to fever and FS. We also performed Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to determine the levels of anxiety and depression of the parents. Results: In this study, we found that parents were misinformed and had misbeliefs suggesting that FS damage the brain and cause epilepsy, that they are life-threatening and electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans of the brain are required. We also determined a significant lack of information about interventions during a seizure and thus, a high level of anxiety. Conclusion: We concluded that parents provided with sufficient information and given psychosocial support have their anxiety levels significantly reduced, making them better in first aid practices and reducing their requests for unnecessary preventive interventions

Hyperandrogenism correlates with psychological symptoms in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome

This study aimed to analyze the depressive and anxiety states of adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This was a cross-sectional, multicenter, case–control study. A total of 100 participants (PCOS group, 51; control group, 49) aged 13–18 yr were included in the study. Body mass index was higher in patients with PCOS (P = 0.002). In the PCOS group, 28.5% of the patients had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms, whereas the incidence was lower in controls (8.3%, P = 0.021). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)-State, STAI-Trait, and physical, psychosocial, and total Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory PedsQL scores were higher in the PCOS group, suggesting that anxiety was more common and the quality of life was worse in patients with PCOS than in healthy participants (P = 0.01, P = 0.03, P = 0.02, P = 0.046, and P = 0.047, respectively). The serum free testosterone (fT) levels were positively correlated with the depression and anxiety scores and negatively correlated with the psychosocial PedsQL scores. In conclusion, adolescent girls diagnosed with PCOS demonstrated higher depressive and anxiety symptoms and lower psychosocial quality of life scores than their healthy counterparts. A relationship was found between the fT level and all psychological measures. © 2022 by The Japanese Society for Pediatric Endocrinology

Aromatase inhibitors: an effective and safe option for height increment in boys with growth hormone deficiency?

Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been suggestedto slow down estrogen-dependent skeletal maturation in pubertalboys with short stature. In the literature, few studies evaluate theefficacy and safety of AIs in boys with growth hormone deficiency(GHD).Objective: To evaluate the auxologic effects and short-termlaboratory profiles of combined AI and rhGH therapy in adolescentmales with GHD.Subjects and Methods: Male subjects between the ages of 10and 16 with GHD from two different centers were included in thestudy. Patients were divided into two groups: (i) those who onlyused recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy for atleast 1 year (Group I; G-I) and (ii) those who also used AI therapy(1 mg/day anastrozole or 2.5 mg/day letrozole) along with rhGHfor at least 1 year (Group II; G-II).Results: Forty-one patients (G-I, 46%; G-II, 54%) were includedin the study. All of the subjects had isolated idiopathic GHD. Atthe beginning of the treatment, the chronological ages (CAs) of thepatients in the G-I and G-II groups were 11.8 (10.9–13.7) and 12.8(12.0–14.3) years, respectively. The ratios of bone age (BA)/CA forthe two groups were 0.8 (0.8–0.9) and 1.0 (0.9–1.1), respectively(p&lt;0.001). The daily dose of rhGH was similar in both groups(p=0.08). After the treatment, the median height SD scores ofpatients in the G-I group increased from -2.6 [(-3.4)-(-2.0)] to -1.8[-2.1-(-1.3)], while subjects in the G-II group showed an incrementfrom -1.7 [(-2.1)-(-1.1)] to -1.2 [(-1.6)-(-0.8)]. The post-therapypredicted adult height (PAH) significantly increased frombaseline in all subjects in the G-I and G-II groups (p&lt;0.001;p&lt;0.001, respectively). There was no significant change in the ratioof BA/CA post-therapy in the G-I group (p=0.1), while there wasa small but significant decrease in the G-II group (p&lt;0.001). Thegrowth velocities of the patients in the G-I and G-II groups were9.1 (7.4–10.1) cm/year [1.5 (0.8–5.0) SD score] and 8.7 (7.5–9.9)cm/year [1.1 (0.3–3.1) SD score], respectively (p=0.6). While posttherapyserum testosterone concentrations were seen to increasein the G-II group, none of the patients exhibited hematocrit above50 percent, and the fasting glucose concentrations were normal.Conclusions: AIs were observed to promote growth potentialdespite the advanced BA and puberty. AIs could be used as an additionaltherapy for pubertal boys with GHD.</p