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PURPOSE: Early pubertal timing in girls is associated with psychological and behavioral problems. This study aimed to evaluate the psychological features of girls who perceived breast development beginning by analyzing their depression levels and self-concept. METHODS: From March 2007 to December 2012, 93 girls were enrolled and assigned to a pre-8 (younger than 8 years, n=43) or post-8 (8 years and older, n=50) group according to the age at onset of perceived breast development, and their height, body weight, body mass index, bone age (BA), Tanner stage, and luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were examined. We investigated their psychological state with the Korean Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (PHCSC) to evaluate depression levels and self-concept, respectively. RESULTS: The pre-8 group had a significantly greater height standard deviation score, (0.5±1.01 vs. 0.11±0.86, P = 0.048) and more advanced BA (2.07±1.02 years vs. 1.40±0.98 years, P = 0.004) compared to the post-8 group. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences for the CDI and PHCSC scores; however, the pre-8 group scored higher than the post-8 group in the physical appearance and attributes domain of the PHCSC (9.93±2.57 vs. 8.52±3.03, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The timing of perceived breast development among girls who thought puberty to begin did not affect depression levels and self-concept. There was no correlation between Tanner stage and depression levels and self-concept despite the perception of pubertal onset. The pre-8 group had a more positive view of their physical appearance than the post-8 group.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To determine the significance of nocturnal hesitancy in the treatment of men with lower urinary tract symptoms. METHODS: A total of 123 patients with nocturia were prospectively studied. The nocturnal hesitancy scores ranged from 0 to 5 and were scored according to the International Prostate Symptom Score. The patients were stratified on the basis of their nocturnal hesitancy scores as group 1 (0 to 1, n = 57), group 2 (2 to 3, n = 45), and group 3 (4 to 5, n = 21). All patients received treatment with an alpha-blocker once daily for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Group 3 scored significantly higher on the International Prostate Symptom Score at baseline and after treatment than did group 1. The actual number of nightly voids was greatest in group 3 and was lowest in group 1 (P = 0.011 at baseline and P = 0.046 after treatment, respectively). The baseline nocturia indexes were greatest in group 3 and were lowest in group 2 (P = 0.027). A significant but weak correlation was also noted between the nocturia hesitancy score and the differences in scores between the posttreatment and baseline voiding symptoms (r = -0.234, P = 0.021) and total International Prostate Symptom Score (r = -0.270, P = 0.011), respectively. In our multivariate analyses, the straining score was a significant determinant of nocturnal hesitancy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study revealed that more emphasis should be placed on nocturnal hesitancy in the terminology of lower urinary tract symptoms. Additional research regarding the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying nocturnal hesitancy, as well as its effects on those with it, is clearly warranted.