Body size and pubertal development explain ethnic differences in structural geometry at the femur in Asian, Hispanic, and white early adolescent girls living in the U.S.

UNLABELLED: Variation in structural geometry is present in adulthood, but when this variation arises and what influences this variation prior to adulthood remains poorly understood. Ethnicity is commonly the focus of research of skeletal integrity and appears to explain some of the variation in quantification of bone tissue. However, why ethnicity explains variation in skeletal integrity is unclear. METHODS: Here we examine predictors of bone cross sectional area (CSA) and section modulus (Z), measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and the Advanced Hip Analysis (AHA) program at the narrow neck of the femur in adolescent (9-14 years) girls (n=479) living in the United States who were classified as Asian, Hispanic, or white if the subject was 75% of a given group based on parental reported ethnicity. Protocols for measuring height and weight follow standardized procedures. Total body lean mass (LM) and total body fat mass (FM) were quantified in kilograms using DXA. Total dietary and total dairy calcium intakes from the previous month were estimated by the use of an electronic semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (eFFQ). Physical activity was estimated for the previous year by a validated self-administered modifiable activity questionnaire for adolescents with energy expenditure calculated from the metabolic equivalent (MET) values from the Compendium of Physical Activities. Multiple regression models were developed to predict CSA and Z. RESULTS: Age, time from menarche, total body lean mass (LM), total body fat mass (FM), height, total calcium, and total dairy calcium all shared a significant (p<0.05), positive relationship with CSA. Age, time from menarche, LM, FM, and height shared significant (p<0.05), positive relationships with Z. For both CSA and Z, LM was the most important covariate. Physical activity was not a significant predictor of geometry at the femoral neck (p≥0.339), even after removing LM as a covariate. After adjusting for covariates, ethnicity was not a significant predictor in regression models for CSA and Z. CONCLUSION: Variability in bone geometry at the narrow neck of the femur is best explained by body size and pubertal maturation. After controlling for these covariates there were no differences in bone geometry between ethnic groups.

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia in a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report.

Diagnosing vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia in a young woman presenting mainly with skin manifestations of lupus and with no other risk factors is a major challenge. The case of a 27-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia is described. Although progression of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia to invasive planocellular carcinoma is rare, prompt and adequate diagnosis and treatment will help ensure the best possible quality of life.

Bone mineral and predictors of bone mass in white, Hispanic, and Asian early pubertal girls.

Differences in bone among racial/ethnic groups may be explained by differences in body size and shape. Previous studies have not completely explained differences among white, Asian, and Hispanic groups during growth. To determine racial/ethnic differences and predictors of bone mass in early pubertal girls, we measured bone mineral content (BMC) in white, Hispanic, and Asian sixth-grade girls across six states in the United States. We developed models for predicting BMC for the total-body, distal radius, total-hip, and lumbar spine for 748 subjects. For each of the bone sites, the corresponding area from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was a strong predictor of BMC, with correlations ranging 0.78-0.98, confirming that larger subjects have more BMC. Anthropometric measures of bone area were nearly as effective as bone area from DXA at predicting BMC. For total-body, distal radius, lumbar spine, and total-hip BMC, racial/ethnic differences were explained by differences in bone area, sexual maturity, physical activity, and dairy calcium intake. Bone size explained most of the racial/ethnic differences in BMC, although behavioral indicators were also significant predictors of BMC.

Orthopedic outcomes of long-term daily corticosteroid treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

OBJECTIVE: To document the effects of long-term daily corticosteroid treatment on a variety of orthopedic outcomes in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 159 boys with genetically confirmed dystrophinopathies followed at the Ohio State University Muscular Dystrophy Clinic between 2000 and 2003. Charts were reviewed for ambulation status, type and duration of steroid treatment (if any), and orthopedic complications including presence and location of long bone fractures, vertebral compression fractures, and the presence and degree of scoliosis. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 143 boys (16 boys with Becker dystrophy were excluded); 75 had been treated with steroids for at least 1 year, whereas 68 boys had never been treated or had received only a brief submaximal dose. The mean duration of daily steroid treatment was 8.04 years. Treated boys ambulated independently 3.3 years longer than the untreated group (p < 0.0001) and had a lower prevalence of scoliosis than the untreated group (31 vs 91%; p < 0.0001). The average scoliotic curve was also milder in the treated group (11.6 degrees) compared with the untreated group (33.2 degrees; p < 0.0001). Vertebral compression fractures occurred in 32% of the treated group, whereas no vertebral fractures were discovered in the steroid naive group (p = 0.0012). Long bone fractures were 2.6 times greater in steroid-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy on long-term corticosteroid treatment have a significantly decreased risk of scoliosis and an extension of more than 3 years' independent ambulation, they are at increased risk of vertebral and lower limb fractures compared with untreated boys.

Patients' views on the professional behaviour of family physicians.

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is an important part and a measure of the quality of health care. Patient satisfaction with family physicians was studied within the project 'Analysis of Transition of Health Care System in Croatia'. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore patient satisfaction with family physicians through evaluation of some characteristics of physician behaviour. The specific goals of this study were to determine whether there were differences in the evaluation of patient satisfaction with physician behaviour with regard to some sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. METHODS: The study group consisted of 1217 respondents: 479 (39.4%) men and 738 (60.6%) women. Medical students interviewed the respondents 'face-to-face' immediately after their consultation with the physician. An anonymous questionnaire was created providing answers to 10 questions on patient satisfaction. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and the reason for encounter of the respondents were also collected. RESULTS: The average positive rating over 10 questions on patient satisfaction was 85.3%. There was a statistically significant difference in age distribution between geographic areas (P < 0.001). Differences in answers were found regarding sex, age, educational level (P < 0.001) and reason for encounter (P < 0.01). Two factors were obtained by factor analysis: the first could be called physician's competence/expertise estimated by respondents, and the other physician's empathy evaluated by respondents. The respondents were divided into two groups based on the reason for encounter as a criterion for discriminant analysis: acute (symptoms and complaints, injuries; n = 553) and other reasons (n = 664). The discriminant function obtained was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Younger respondents, regardless of sex, whose reason for encounter was an acute condition, were less satisfied with the physician's expertise, agreeableness during the consultation, physician's interest in what they were saying and physician's friendliness. CONCLUSION: Considering the difficulties present in the health systems of countries in transition, the results of our study were surprisingly encouraging, showing that the respondents were satisfied with the physician's behaviour and that the physicians fulfilled the basic elements of professional behaviour.

Comparison of absorptiometric evaluations from total-body and local-regional skeletal scans.

The most common measurement sites for dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) in clinical practice are posteroanterior (PA) spine and femur. However, other skeletal regions may provide different bone density information. The purpose of this study was to establish the least number of DXA measurements needed to obtain complete information about bone. A total of 262 normal female subjects, 8-50, were measured on a Lunar DPX-L scanner under total body, PA spine, lateral spine, and femur protocol. Forearm measurements were performed with a Lunar SP2 single-photon absorptiometry scanner. The various measurements were compared based on a linear regression model. The correlation coefficients for bone mineral density (BMD) between adjacent vertebrae were 0.92-0.95, and the associated standard errors of the estimate (SEE) were 4.5-5.5%. Total-body BMD can best predict BMD of the trunk, arms, and legs (SEE<4.3%), but least that of the lateral view of the spine (SEE>13.9%). BMD values of the leg from total-body scans predict those from the femoral neck with an error of 9.0%, and those of the trochanteric region with 11.1%. The error between adjacent vertebrae (6%) is considered acceptable, then a total-body measurement combined with a lateral view of the spine and a femur scan are adequate.

The effect of air pollution on ventilatory function in nonsmoking women.

This study investigated disorders of ventilatory function in unemployed nonsmoking women living in areas with different air pollution. Subjects from Bakar and Krasica had lived in areas with large industrial plants in the vicinity. Continuous air quality measurements showed that SO2 concentrations exceeded the recommended values. The control group had lived in the Viskovo area where measurements showed the air to be clean. Ventilatory functions were measured on two occasions, in 1986 and in 1990. FVC, FEV1, Tiffeneau index, and FMF25-75 were taken and expressed as absolute and relative values. In both 1986 and 1990 measurements, women of Viskovo manifested significantly better values of ventilatory function than the women living in Bakar, except for the Tiffeneau index. The same stands for the 1986 comparison between Viskovo and Krasica women, whereas the second, 1990 measurement showed no difference between the two groups. Decreased ventilatory function in the Bakar women over both measurements and in the Krasica women at the first measurement may be associated with a long-term exposure to an increased air pollution with respect to the Viskovo area.

Iron status, menarche, and calcium supplementation in adolescent girls.

The effects of growth, menstrual status, and calcium supplementation on iron status were studied over 4 y in 354 girls in pubertal stage 2 who were premenarcheal at baseline (x+/-SD age: 10.8+/-0.8 y). Girls were randomly assigned to placebo or treatment with 1000 mg Ca/d as calcium citrate malate. Anthropometric characteristics, bone mass, and nutritional status were measured biannually; ferritin was measured annually; and red blood cell indexes were determined at 4 y. The simultaneous effects of iron intake and menstrual status on serum ferritin, after change in lean body mass (LBM) was controlled for, were evaluated in subjects in the upper and lower quartiles of cumulative iron intake. The average maximal accumulation of LBM (386 g/mo; 95% CI: 372, 399) occurred 0.5 y before the onset of menarche. Change in LBM was a significant predictor of serum ferritin (P < 0.0001), with a negative influence on iron status (t ratio=-4.12). The 2 fitted mathematical models representing ferritin concentrations of subjects in the upper and lower quartiles of cumulative iron intake were significantly different (P < 0.018). The regression line of the ferritin concentration in menstruating girls with high iron intakes had a less negative slope than the line fit to serum ferritin concentrations in girls with low iron intakes (NS). Serum ferritin concentrations at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 y were not significantly different between groups. In addition, there was no significant difference between groups in any of the red blood cell indexes. In summary, growth spurt and menstrual status had adverse effects on iron stores in adolescent girls with low iron intakes (<9 mg/d), whereas long-term supplementation with calcium (total intake: approximately 1500 mg/d) did not affect iron status.

Relation of nutrition, body composition and physical activity to skeletal development: a cross-sectional study in preadolescent females.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation of anthropometric and growth parameters (weight, stature, body composition, age, and skeletal age), nutritional factors, and physical activity to the total body and radius bone mineral density and content and radiogrammetry parameters of the second metacarpal. STUDY DESIGN: The study was a cross-sectional evaluation of 456 healthy, Caucasian girls, ages 8 to 13 years. Multiple regression models were created based on Cp statistics to determine the association between bone parameters and various independent variables. RESULTS: Mean calcium intake was 956+/-381 mg/day, about 20% below the RDA of 1200 mg/day and about 36% below the threshold intake of approximately 1500 mg/day. The most significant predictors for total body and radius bone mineral density were corresponding bone areas, lean body mass, body fat, skeletal age, dietary calcium, and stature (only for total body) with corresponding R2(adjusted) of 48% and 36%. The total body and radius bone mineral content was positively associated with corresponding bone areas, lean body mass, body fat, calcium intake, and skeletal age with corresponding R2(adjusted) of 86% and 72%. Energy expenditure (corrected for BMI) was stratified into quartiles and bone mass parameters were distributed accordingly. A statistically significant difference in total body and radius bone mineral density and content was noted between the fourth and lower quartiles (ANOVA, p<0.05 to p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The most significant predictors of bone mass in preadolescent females evaluated in this study are bone area, lean body mass, body fat, skeletal age and dietary calcium.

Leptin is inversely related to age at menarche in human females.

Over the last century there has been a trend toward an earlier onset of menarche attributed to better nutrition and body fatness. With the discovery of the obesity gene and its product, leptin, we reexamined this hypothesis from a new perspective. As delayed menarche and leanness are considered risk factors for osteoporosis, we also evaluated the relation between leptin and bone mass. Body composition and serum leptin levels were measured, and the timing of menarche was recorded in 343 pubertal females over 4 yr. Body composition was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry, and leptin by a new RIA. All participants were premenarcheal at baseline (aged 8.3-13.1 yr). Leptin was strongly associated with body fat (r = 0.81; P < 0.0001) and change in body fat (r = 0.58; P < 0.0001). The rise in serum leptin concentration up to the level of 12.2 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 7.2-16.7) was associated with the decline in age at menarche. An increase of 1 ng/mL in serum leptin lowered the age at menarche by 1 month. A serum leptin level of 12.2 ng/mL corresponded to a relative percent body fat of 29.7%, a body mass index of 22.3, and-body fat of 16.0 kg. A gain in body fat of 1 kg lowered the timing of menarche by 13 days. Leptin was positively related to bone area (r = 0.307; P < 0.0001) and change in bone area (r = 0.274; P < 0.0001). A critical blood leptin level is necessary to trigger reproductive ability in women, suggesting a threshold effect. Leptin is a mediator between adipose tissue and the gonads. Leptin may also mediate the effect of obesity on bone mass by influencing the periosteal envelope. This may have implications for the development of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

Calcitriol and bone mass accumulation in females during puberty.

Adolescence is characterized by rapid skeletal development and high demands for bone minerals. Though the stimulative effect of calcitriol on intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption is well understood, its effect on bone development is not completely clear. It may be directly involved in the facilitation of calcium economy during this critical phase of skeletal development. Therefore, we evaluated the serum concentrations of calcitriol in relation to skeletal development in a cross-sectional study of 178 healthy Caucasian females during different pubertal stages, extending from childhood to young adulthood. In addition, a subsample of 57 younger girls was followed for a 1-year period to evaluate the association among serum calcitriol, nutrition parameters (dietary calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D), bone mass accumulation, and biochemical markers of bone turnover. The serum calcitriol concentration in a cross-sectional sample was the highest during pubertal growth spurt (sexual maturity index 3-4, age 11-13 years) (ANOVA; F = 2.4945; P = 0.0329). This correlated to the peak skeletal calcium accretion (g/year) and bone mass accumulation in total body and forearm. In a longitudinal sample, there was a positive association between annual change in TBBMC (P = 0.0255); TBBMD (P = 0.0168); proximal radius (1/3 distance from styloid process) BMC (P = 0.0096); BMD (P = 0.0541), and baseline calcitriol level in forward stepwise regression analyses. The results of the forward stepwise regression analyses with serum calcitriol as a dependent variable and different serum, urinary, and dietary parameters measured at baseline (age 11 years, n = 114) and after 1 year (age 12 years, n = 57) showed that osteocalcin was positively associated with calcitriol in both years; more so in a second year (P = 0.0514, P < 0.001, respectively). Dietary vitamin D and phosphorus showed negative association with serum calcitriol at age 11, and dietary Ca and P were selected at age 12. The results of this study show that calcitriol is a significant correlate of bone mass accumulation during pubertal growth, presumably in response to the high requirements for calcium during this critical phase of skeletal development.

Holistic approach to analysis of medical data: cancer of the corpus uteri.

Besides the information regarding his/her disease, each hospitalized cancer patient also provides the variety of data regarding his/her psychological, cultural, social, economical, genetic, constitutional and medical background. The aim of this study was to introduce a holistic approach to analysis of medical data, in this case clinical data regarding cancer of the corpus uteri. Such approach requires the collection of data regarding different aspects of the cancer patient, and after the satisfactory sample size is obtained (which should be at least five times greater than the number of examined patient characteristics), the performance of factor analysis. In this study, the authors have processed the data regarding 25 characteristics of 928 corpus uteri cancer patients treated between 1980 and 1990 at the Department for Gynecological Oncology of the University Hospital for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Zagreb, Croatia. In factor analysis, the principal components were rotated after the initial extraction (the authors recommended the use of oblimin rotation) in order to obtain better ground for interpretation of the obtained results. The next step in this approach was the stepwise exclusion of characteristics with smallest communalities according to Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin criteria, and retaining the characteristics and components with the most significant impact on the explained system variance. When the number of principal components and initial analyzed characteristics was reduced to 3-4 and 7-10, respectively, the ultimate interpretations and conclusions were made. This approach outlined some clusters of correlations between medical data which are difficult to identify using other statistical procedures, primarily the impacts of various socioeconomic and hereditary-constitutional variables on overall survival.

Gain in body fat is inversely related to the nocturnal rise in serum leptin level in young females.

Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to adolescent obesity. Evidence of a genetic basis for obesity development is substantial, although the exact mechanism of action has yet to be identified. The purpose of this study was to document the circadian rhythmicity of the serum leptin level in young females and to assess the impact of the change in body fat stores during growth on the nocturnal rise in the serum leptin level with implications for obesity traits. There was a significant rise in serum leptin at midnight and 0400 h, suggesting a diurnal variation in serum leptin concentrations (ANOVA F ratio = 6.2; P < 0.0001). There was also a strong association between relative total body fat and the average daytime serum leptin level (r = 0.78; P < 0.0001). The percent increase in the nocturnal leptin concentration was inversely related to the percent gain in total body fat (r = 0.45; P < 0.024). Forward stepwise regression analysis selected the change in total body fat over a 6-month interval as the most powerful determinant of the percent increase in the nocturnal leptin concentration (partial R2 = 0.203; beta = -0.450; SE of beta = 0.186; t = -2.418; P < 0.024). If the lack of a nocturnal rise in serum leptin persists over a longer period of time, it may have implications for the development of obesity, presumably by inadequate suppression of nighttime appetite.

Zinc balance in adolescent females consuming a low- or high-calcium diet.

There is increasing evidence that calcium intake up to the threshold amount (1480 mg/d) increases bone mass during growth. However, there is concern that such a high calcium intake may interfere with the utilization of other nutrients such as zinc, which is also important for skeletal development. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of long-term calcium supplementation on zinc utilization in 26 adolescent females (mean +/- SD age 11.3 +/- 0.5 y) during a 14-d period. Each day subjects consumed a metabolic diet containing 722 mg Ca and 6.3 mg Zn. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a calcium supplement containing 1000 mg supplemental Ca/d as calcium citrate malate. Supplementation began 15 wk before the balance period to allow for adaptation to the greater calcium intake. Mean (+/-SD) zinc balance (0.8 +/- 0.8 compared with 0.3 +/- 1.1 mg/d, P = 0.23), fecal zinc (4.3 +/- 0.6 compared with 4.7 +/- 1.4 mg/d, P = 0.27), urinary zinc (0.4 +/- 0.2 compared with 0.5 +/- 0.1 mg/d, P = 0.55), and net zinc absorption (21% compared with 15%, P = 0.33) were not significantly different between the high- and low-calcium groups. Our results suggest that increasing the recommended dietary allowance of calcium to 1500 mg/d as recommended by the National Institutes of Health consensus panel will not have adverse effects on zinc utilization in adolescent females.

Nutrition, genetics and skeletal development.

From infancy through young adulthood the activity of bone formation predominates, resulting in a steady accumulation of bone mass. As the rate of growth changes with age, so skeletal modeling progresses through phases of different intensity with time. This is paralleled by concomitant changes in bone and calcium metabolism. Bone modeling and skeletal consolidation probably result from a complex sequence of hormonal changes in interaction with nutritional factors. However, current knowledge of the role, sequence, and genetic regulation of hormonal events during puberty, and of the response of bone tissue in interaction with nutrition is limited. This interaction is now beginning to be elucidated. The importance of this interaction with regard to fracture epidemiology in children and peak bone mass acquisition has been discussed.

Skeletal age as a determinant of bone mass in preadolescent females.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between chronological age, skeletal age, pubertal stage, and basic anthropometry with bone mass of the total body, forearm, and second metacarpal bone in 456 healthy Caucasian females, aged 8-13 years. DESIGN: Total body and forearm bone measurements were performed by dual X-ray absorptiometry, while bone mass of the second metacarpal was assessed by radiogrammetry. Skeletal age (SA) was assessed by the FELS method and pubertal stage was self-determined by selecting corresponding illustrations of breast and public hair development. The Cp criterion was used to select the best multiple regression model containing the subset of independent variables with the least bias and best predictive ability for each of the measured bone mass variables. RESULTS: Of all the independent variables, weight, stature, and SA emerged as the most significant predictors for almost all the bone mass variables. Multiple regression models were created based on the Cp criterion with the resulting R2 (adjusted) for bone mineral content of total body, proximal forearm, ultradistal forearm, length of second metacarpal, as well as of total, medullary, and cortical areas: 0.793, 0.523, 0.390, 0.602, 0.232, 0.073, and 0.264, respectively. The measured bone variables were also regressed on SA using either quadratic or linear equations, depending on the shape of the cubic splines used for the best curve fitting. Significant positive association (p < 0.0001) of SA and each of the bone variables was noted, the highest being with bone mineral density and content of total body (R2 = 0.176, 0.338) and proximal and ultradistal forearm (R2 = 0.216, 0.203, 0.106, 0.201), respectively, as well as with the length of the second metacarpal bone (R2 = 0.339). Chronological age and pubertal stage did not have statistically significant predictive abilities for bone mass variables in the multiple regression models. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that skeletal age is a powerful determinant of bone mass in children. It can be used as the criterion for the selection of a biologically homogeneous population with regard to bone mass. This may be important for the design of intervention studies targeting bone mass of children and adolescents.