PUBERTY IN A SAMPLE OF BRAZILIAN SCHOOLBOYS: ONSET AND ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the age of puberty onset in boys and collect anthropometric data of participants at different puberty stages. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that assessed 430 boys in a random sample representing 48,390 students from public and private schools from the city of Uberaba, Southeast Brazil. The inclusion criteria were males, aged between 5 and 18 years, and absence of previous diseases. Participants and their guardians filled a semistructured questionnaire with questions relevant to their and their parents' puberty. We set the significance at p<0.05 and calculated the 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The mean age found in the puberty stage G2 was 11.2±1.8 (95% of participants in stage G2 were 9.2-13.4 years old). Pubarche data showed a mean of age of 11.0±1.6 years (95% of the participants experienced pubarche when they were 8.0-14.0 years old). When compared to the confidence intervals of two classical studies on the subject, our results showed a trend toward earlier pubarche. In addition, the mean age of this event in the children's parents was of 12.1±1.4 years, which was significantly higher than the age of the children's pubarche (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a secular decreasing trend in pubarche age and an earlier puberty onset. Considering these parameters, is important to design public policies aimed at preventing these early events.

Puberty in a sample of brazilian schoolboys: onset and anthropometric characteristics / Puberdade em uma amostra de meninos escolares brasileiros: início e características antropométricas

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the age of puberty onset in boys and collect anthropometric data of participants at different puberty stages. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that assessed 430 boys in a random sample representing 48,390 students from public and private schools from the city of Uberaba, Southeast Brazil. The inclusion criteria were males, aged between 5 and 18 years, and absence of previous diseases. Participants and their guardians filled a semistructured questionnaire with questions relevant to their and their parents' puberty. We set the significance at p<0.05 and calculated the 95% confidence intervals. Results: The mean age found in the puberty stage G2 was 11.2±1.8 (95% of participants in stage G2 were 9.2-13.4 years old). Pubarche data showed a mean of age of 11.0±1.6 years (95% of the participants experienced pubarche when they were 8.0-14.0 years old). When compared to the confidence intervals of two classical studies on the subject, our results showed a trend toward earlier pubarche. In addition, the mean age of this event in the children's parents was of 12.1±1.4 years, which was significantly higher than the age of the children's pubarche (p<0.001). Conclusions: These results indicate a secular decreasing trend in pubarche age and an earlier puberty onset. Considering these parameters, is important to design public policies aimed at preventing these early events.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar a idade em que a puberdade começa em meninos e coletar dados antropométricos de participantes em diferentes fases da puberdade. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal no qual foram avaliados 430 meninos, uma amostra aleatória representativa da população total de 48.390 estudantes de escolas públicas e particulares de Uberaba, Minas Gerais. Os critérios de inclusão foram: ser do sexo masculino, ter idade de 5 a 18 anos e ausência de doenças prévias. Os participantes e seus responsáveis preencheram um questionário semiestruturado com perguntas pertinentes à sua puberdade e à de seus pais. Os dados foram considerados significantes para p<0,05, e os intervalos de confiança calculados foram de 95%. Resultados: A média de idade encontrada no estágio G2 foi de 11,2±1,8 anos, sendo que 95% dos participantes em G2 tinham entre 9,2 a 13,4 anos. Quanto à pubarca, a média de idade foi de 11,0±1,6 anos, e 95% dos participantes apresentaram pubarca entre 8,0 e 14,0 anos. Quando tais resultados foram comparados aos intervalos de confiança de dois estudos clássicos sobre o tema, houve tendência à pubarca mais precoce. Além disso, a média de idade da pubarca nos pais das crianças foi de 12,1±1,4 anos, significantemente maior em relação à dos filhos (p<0,001). Conclusões: Os resultados indicam uma tendência secular em direção à diminuição da idade da pubarca e um possível início mais precoce da puberdade. É muito importante considerar esses parâmetros para estabelecer políticas públicas destinadas a prevenir esses eventos iniciais.

Exogenous intoxication by non-prescribed use of vitamin D, a case report.

BACKGROUND: This case report, unlike the current literature related to vitamin D intoxication, aims to highlight the risk of self-medication, and how publicity boosts the acquisition of vitamins for different purposes, increasing consumption with no professional indication or supervision. This practice can pose a serious health risk to the population. CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient, a brazilian retired 64-year-old female, presented to the emergency service with post-prandial food vomiting of undigested content and stabbing abdominal pain with worsening during palpation. Concomitantly, onset of sporadic frontal headache, fatigue, hyporexia, weight loss of 18 kg in the same period, severe pruritus, musculoskeletal pain in the limbs and nocturia. The physical examination showed hypertension (160/80 mmHg) and itchy macules in the lower limb. Initially, the main diagnostic hypotheses were multiple myeloma, hyperparathyroidism and pancreatitis secondary to hypercalcemia, osteolytic neoplasms and other neoplasms that present with hypercalcemia. However, blood count, parathyroid hormone, chest X-ray, immunoglobulins, myelogram and bone marrow biopsy were not compatible with these diagnoses. Meanwhile, 25 OH vitamin D dosage and diluted vitamin D test confirmed the diagnosis of hypervitaminosis D. Hypercalcemic crisis was managed with vigorous hydration (50 ml/kg in 2 h), furosemide, bisphosphonates and blood pressure control with amlodipine and atenolol. Subsequently, the patient was discharged from the outpatient clinic with complete remission of symptoms, weight gain, serum calcium values of 10.76 mg/dL and ionizable calcium values of 6.52 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: Our report summarizes the possible consequences of using a vitamin compound without supervision of a competent professional, as these substances are mistakenly considered non-toxic. To add, little information is available about the supplements' metabolism and their biological effects. Therefore, It is difficult to diagnose intoxication. This case report shows that even the self-administration of a product designed to bring health benefits can become a risky behavior. These vitamin and mineral supplements are supposed to bring patient empowerment and reduce government spending in health-care, but indeed represent a significant public health concern due to possible overdose and drug interactions.

Puberty in a sample of Brazilian schoolgirls: timing and anthropometric characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the age at which puberty begins, age of menarche and anthropometric data of the participants at different stages of puberty. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study in which we evaluated 665 girls, a sample representing the female schoolchildren population in Uberaba. RESULTS: We found that thelarche, pubarche, underarm hair and menarche were attained at the age of 9.8 ± 1.4, 10.2 ± 1.4, 10.5 ± 1.5 and 11.7 ± 1.3 years, respectively. The mean interval between thelarche and menarche (ITM) was 1.7 ± 1.3 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 31.3% and 95% of the participants began at thelarche between the age of 7 and 12 years. CONCLUSION: These values indicate a secular tendency to the decrease of the age of menarche and an earlier start of puberty. It is very important to understand these parameters to establish public policies aimed at plans to prevent these early events, especially regarding control of the prevalence of obesity.

Puberty in a sample of Brazilian schoolgirls: timing and anthropometric characteristics

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the age at which puberty begins, age of menarche and anthropometric data of the participants at different stages of puberty. Subjects and methods This is a cross-sectional study in which we evaluated 665 girls, a sample representing the female schoolchildren population in Uberaba. Results We found that thelarche, pubarche, underarm hair and menarche were attained at the age of 9.8 ± 1.4, 10.2 ± 1.4, 10.5 ± 1.5 and 11.7 ± 1.3 years, respectively. The mean interval between thelarche and menarche (ITM) was 1.7 ± 1.3 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 31.3% and 95% of the participants began at thelarche between the age of 7 and 12 years. Conclusion These values indicate a secular tendency to the decrease of the age of menarche and an earlier start of puberty. It is very important to understand these parameters to establish public policies aimed at plans to prevent these early events, especially regarding control of the prevalence of obesity. .

Primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease associated with Carney complex: case report and literature review

CONTEXT: Carney complex (CNC), a familial multiple neoplasm syndrome with dominant autosomal transmission, is characterized by tumors of the heart, skin, endocrine and peripheral nervous system, and also cutaneous lentiginosis. This is a rare syndrome and its main endocrine manifestation, primary pigmented nodular adrenal disease (PPNAD), is an uncommon cause of adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent Cushing's syndrome. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 20-year-old patient with a history of weight gain, hirsutism, acne, secondary amenorrhea and facial lentiginosis. Following the diagnosing of CNC and PPNAD, the patient underwent laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy, and she evolved with decreasing hypercortisolism. Screening was also performed for other tumors related to this syndrome. The diagnostic criteria, screening and follow-up for patients and affected family members are discussed.

CONTEXTO: O complexo de Carney (CNC), uma síndrome de neoplasia múltipla familiar com transmissão autossômica dominante, caracteriza-se por tumores cardíacos, cutâneos, endócrinos e do sistema nervoso periférico, além de lentiginose cutânea. RELATO DE CASO: Devido à raridade da síndrome, bem como de sua principal manifestação endócrina, a doença adrenal nodular pigmentada primária (PPNAD), causa incomum de síndrome de Cushing ACTH-independente, relatamos o caso de uma paciente de 20 anos com história de ganho de peso, hirsutismo, acne, amenorréia secundária e lentiginose em face. Após estabelecido o diagnóstico de CNC e PPNAD, a paciente foi submetida a adrenalectomia bilateral via laparoscópica, evoluindo com melhora do hipercortisolismo. Também foi realizado rastreamento para os demais tumores relacionados à síndrome. Serão discutidos os critérios diagnósticos, o rastreamento e o acompanhamento dos pacientes e familiares afetados.

Primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease associated with Carney complex: case report and literature review.

CONTEXT: Carney complex (CNC), a familial multiple neoplasm syndrome with dominant autosomal transmission, is characterized by tumors of the heart, skin, endocrine and peripheral nervous system, and also cutaneous lentiginosis. This is a rare syndrome and its main endocrine manifestation, primary pigmented nodular adrenal disease (PPNAD), is an uncommon cause of adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent Cushing's syndrome. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 20-year-old patient with a history of weight gain, hirsutism, acne, secondary amenorrhea and facial lentiginosis. Following the diagnosing of CNC and PPNAD, the patient underwent laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy, and she evolved with decreasing hypercortisolism. Screening was also performed for other tumors related to this syndrome. The diagnostic criteria, screening and follow-up for patients and affected family members are discussed.