• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2012

Objectives This study was designed to find out the relationships between obesity and growth, skeletal maturity among children by analyzing body composition and bone age. Methods Subjects were composed of 577 children from six years to seventeen years of age, without any other diseases related to growth, were measured their body composition and bone age. Results As obesity index was increased, the RH-MPH(%) and skeletal maturity significantly was also increased. The RH-MPH(%) of the obesity group was significantly increased than that of normal weight group; the skeletal maturity was more increased in th obesity group. It means the recent height of obese children was more taller than that of inherited from the parents, while skeletal maturity of obese children was more rapidly progressing. The RH-MPH(%) was increased in children who revealed stage of second sexual character; skeletal maturity was decreased in children who developed secondary sexual character. Conclusions Obesity children might be taller than what it supposed to be. However, obesity could cause the increase of skeletal maturity. It means the growth plate of obese children has been closed early.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-22
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between weak children and growth indices. Methods One hundred twenty-six of the first and the second grade elementary school students who didn't have to develop yet their secondary sexual characteristics answered the questionnaire. Their bone age and body composition were measured. Results 1. According to the Weak Children questionnaire analysis, respiratory problem was one of the biggest problems in the weak children group (35.7%), followed by digestive problems (23.0%), psycho-neurological problems (22.2%), neuromotor problems (9.5%), and urogenital problems (8.7%). 2. From the comparison between growth indices of weak children and that of normal children are as follows: 1) The group of children who had problem in their digestive system had lower growth indices than the normal average children group. The growth indices includes mean height, weight, total body water, protein mass, mineral mass, body fat, skeletal muscle mass, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), and basal metabolic rate (BMR). 2) The children who had urogenital weakness had lower mean height, RH (Recent Height), RH - MPH {Recent Height(%) - Mid-Parental Height(%)}, RUS (Radius, Ulna and Short bone) score, weight, protein mass, body fat, BMI, and visceral fat than the normal children group. 3. The results of the multiple comparisons of growth indices and weak children groups are as follows: 1) Digestive weak children were the lowest in total body water, protein mass, mineral mass, skeletal muscle mass, and basal metabolic rate. 2) Urogenital weak children were the lowest in height, RH, RH - MPH, RUS score, and weight. Conclusion These results showed that children's growth is strongly correlated to their own growth problems, especially to those children who have digestive and urogenital problems. Therefore, this may be an effective way for children growth treatment in Korean medicine to treat weak symptoms.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.215-225
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• 2006

Precocious puberty is defined as the appearance of secondary sex characteristics before age 8 years in girls (or menarche before age 9 years) and before 9 years in boys. The age of onset of puberty is progressing to younger age. The pubertal activation of gonadotrophin releasing hormone(GnRH) release requires coordinated changes in excitatory or inhibitory amino acids, growth factors, and a group of transcriptional regulators. A number of factors affecting precocious puberty were explored, including the role of genetic factors, nutrition(body fat) and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. In addition to the psychosocial disturbances associated with precocious puberty, the premature pubertal growth spurt and the accelerated bone maturation result in reduced adult height. Precocious puberty may be gonadotrophin-dependent premature activation of the GnRH pulse generator or gonadotrophin-independent. In rapidly progressing central precocious puberty, GnRH agonists appear to increase final height. However more data on the effect and long-term safety of GnRHa are needed.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2009

Growth retardation is a common consequenc of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in childhood. Many recent clinical and experimental data indicate that growth failure in CKD is mainly due to a relative GH insensitivity and functional IGF-I deficiency. Glucocorticoids also glucocorticoids interfere with the integrity of the somatotropic hormone axis at various levels. Over the past 10 years, recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) has been used to help short children with chronic kidney disease. A GH dosage of 0.35 mg/kg/week (28 IU/$m^2$/week) appears efficient and safe. Some clinical trial data show that final height will be within the normal target height range when GH treatment is continued for many years without remarkable adverse events.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.125-139
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• 2008

Objectives : The study was designed to find out the relationships between rhinitis, quality of sleep, growth among children with chronic rhinitis. Methods : This research was performed in 50 children from November 2007 to May 2008. We measured height, weight, body mass index of those children and asked to answer to the questionnaires that consist of nasal symptoms, period of time with rhinitis, sleep symptoms, parent's height, present illness, and medical history. We also analyzed correlations with this factors obtained from questionnaires. Results : 1. In 50 subjects, there were significant correlations between nasal obstruction, the quality of sleep, and the between quality of sleep and growth. But, there were not significant correlations between nasal symptoms and growth. 2. In 24 preschool children, frequency of waking up during sleeping and the number of snorers were higher and quality of sleeping was worse than those in the children who were attending school. And there were significant correlations between quality of sleep and nasal obstruction. An average of RH-MPH(Recent Height-Mid-Parental Height) is $-7.74{\pm}36.51(%)$ which means they aren't as tall as MPH(Mid-Parental Height). 3. In 26 school children, there were significant correlations between symptoms and period of rhinitis, quality of sleep and growth. Conclusions : Children with chronic rhinitis have low quality of sleep and low growth. But more studies are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.552-557
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• 2006

Purpose : The recent results observed in precocious puberty and the hope that interrupting puberty might increase adult height have led to an attempt to use GnRH agonist(GnRHa) in children with premature puberty and a poor growth prognosis. We aimed to analyze the growth promoting effect of GnRHa in girls with early puberty and low predicted adult height(PAH). Methods : Thirty six girls were recruited. They were grouped according to the GnRHa treatment period(group 1>6 mo, n=18; group 2<6 mo, n=18). The following variables were analyzed before and after GnRHa treatment : chronological age(CA), bone age(BA), ${\Delta}age$(CA-BA), height, target height (TH), PAH, serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3. Results : Duration of the GnRHa treatment was $0.89{\pm}0.81yr$($1.37{\pm}0.92yr$ in group 1, and $0.41{\pm}0.08yr$ in group 2). Before treatment, none of the variables were different between the two groups. There were no differences in the following variables the between two groups at the end of treatment : CA, BA, ${\Delta}age$, PAH, serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3. But, growth velocity(GV) and PAH increment during treatment were significantly reduced in group 1. Compared with initial PAH, PAH at the end of treatment was significantly increased($3.7{\pm}3.2cm$). The last serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were lower than those before treatment. Conclusion : Even though last PAH didn't approach TH, short term GnRHa administration in early puberty with low predicted PAH was somewhat effective. But, GnRHa administration suppressed the growth hormone-IGF-1 axis. Therefore, it is recommended that growth hormone(GH) should be used in combination with GnRHa.