Reconsidering the sex differences in the incidence of pubertal disorders.

The age range of normal puberty is determined statistically; therefore, a similar percentage of boys and girls should present early or late puberty. However, far more girls present with precocious puberty and more boys with delayed puberty. We suggest that the gender differences in the incidence of pubertal disorders may be due to the following: The signs of puberty are more readily detected in girls, whereas male genitalia may not be examined during a physical examination.

The role of timely intervention in middle lobe syndrome in children.

Study Objectives: Middle lobe syndrome (MLS) in children is characterized by a spectrum of clinical and radiographic presentations, from persistent or recurrent atelectasis to pneumonitis and bronchiectasis of the right middle lobe (RML) and/or lingula. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of early intervention, including fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB), in the development of bronchiectasis in MLS.

Design: Children with atelectasis of the RML and/or lingula persisting for > 1 month or recurring two or more times despite conventional treatment underwent high-resolution CT (HRCT) scanning and FOB.

Serum eosinophil cationic protein and CD23 in acute RSV bronchiolitis.

Background: Elevated concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) have been found in acute viral wheezing during infancy. Furthermore, RSV infection has been suggested to stimulate type-2 cytokine responses. The aim of this study was to test whether serum ECP and soluble CD23 levels, which are markers of eosinophil and IgE responses, respectively, are elevated in infants hospitalized for acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis.

Bronchial hyper-responsiveness in selective IgA deficiency.

Secretory IgA in mucosal secretions has a broad protective function. The insufficient protection provided by the respiratory mucosa in children with selective IgA deficiency (sIgAD) might facilitate the development of bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) and consequently asthma symptoms. This study was conducted to clarify the prevalence of BHR in sIgAD children and the relationship with atopic status.

Subjective and objective nasal obstruction assessment in children with chronic rhinitis.

Objective: The present study was undertaken, to test the hypothesis that schoolchildren on long-term treatment for chronic rhinitis under-report their nasal congestion.

Methods: Ninety-seven children aged 8.3-15.

Hospitalizations for childhood asthma in Athens, Greece, from 1978 to 2000.

Trends in rates of asthma admissions among children have shown a variety of patterns in different countries in the last decades. We undertook the present study to determine the time trends in asthma admissions and readmissions of children in Athens, Greece. Data were obtained retrospectively from hospital registries of the three main children's hospitals in Athens from 1978 to 2000.

Growth of asthmatic children before long-term treatment with inhaled corticosteroids.

The aim of this study was to examine the growth of asthmatic children before any long-term inhaled corticosteroid treatment. We studied 436 asthmatic children (254 boys and 182 girls), age range 3.9-15.

Testicular descent related to growth hormone treatment.

An 8.7 year-old boy with cryptorchidism and growth hormone (GH) deficiency due to septooptic dysplasia presented testicular descent related to the commencement of hGH treatment. This case suggests a role for GH in testicular descent.

Effects of bracing on lung function in idiopathic juvenile kyphosis.

Although considerable information is available on the effects of bracing on lung function in kyphoscoliosis, there is a paucity of data on idiopathic juvenile kyphosis (IJK). The present study was designed to investigate the immediate effect of bracing on lung function in children and adolescents with mild-to-moderate IJK. Spirometry, measurement of lung volumes, and arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO(2)) were performed in 24 patients, 9-17 years of age, who were treated with a corrective brace for mild-to-moderate IJK (Cobb angle, 46-75 degrees ).

Sexual maturation of Greek boys.

Background: Sexual maturation is dependent on genetic and environmental factors, therefore each ethnic group has to have its own normative data.

Aim: This study describes the sexual maturation of Greek boys.

Subjects And Methods: We examined cross-sectionally 1266 healthy boys, aged 8-16 years.

Sex differences in the secular changes in pubertal maturation.

Objective: It is a common experience among pediatricians in the industrialized countries that many girls-but many fewer boys-present with secondary sex characteristics at a younger age than normal. This study examines whether there are sex differences in the secular changes toward earlier pubertal maturation.

Methods: The author collected the growth data from various studies performed in Greece in the 20th century (from 1928 to 1995) and estimated the age at peak annual height increment in each study by calculating mean increase in height in each successive year.

The anabolic steroid oxandrolone increases muscle mass in prepubertal boys with constitutional delay of growth.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oxandrolone on body composition in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty. In 14 prepubertal boys, height, weight, triceps and subscapular skinfolds and upper arm circumference were measured. Body mass index, the ratio of subscapular to triceps skinfolds and the upper muscle area were also determined.

Isolation rate, T-serotyping and susceptibility to antibiotics of Group A Streptococcus from pediatric infections in Athens.

Objective: The epidemiology of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) in Greece is not known. We have therefore conducted this prospective study to investigate the isolation rate of GAS from pediatric specimens, determine T-serotype frequency and examine the susceptibility of GAS to penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin.

Methods: Over a 3-year study-period (1993-95) 11 597 clinical specimens obtained from sick children were inoculated on appropriate culture media.

Age at menarche in Greek girls.

This study reports menarcheal age in 1134 contemporary Greek girls and the duration of their menstrual cycle. Comparison with a similar study performed 15 years ago shows that in Greek girls there is still a secular trend, although a small one, towards earlier menarcheal age.

Adipsic hypernatremia syndrome in infancy.

We report on an infant with chronic hypernatremia due to a congenital defect in osmo-regulation of thirst and the secretion of arginine vasopressin (AVP). A 12 month-old female infant who presented with irritability and signs of dehydration was found to have hypertonic dehydration; plasma osmolality was 430 mOsm/kg B.W.

Time trends and seasonal variation in hospital admissions for childhood asthma in the Athens region of Greece: 1978-88.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the trend and seasonal variation in hospital admissions for childhood asthma in the Athens region of Greece.

Methods: Data were obtained from hospital registries of the three main children's hospitals in Athens between 1978 and 1988. Children admitted with the diagnosis of asthma, asthmatic bronchitis, or wheezy bronchitis were included.