The Relationship between Psychopathology, Self-esteem, Body Perception and Serum Sex Steroids in Pubertal Gynecomastia

Objective@#The current study aimed to investigate the psychopathology behind gynecomastia and potential associated problems regarding self-esteem and body perception, and the relationships of these variables with sex steroid levels in adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia. @*Methods@#The study included 50 normal weight male adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years with gynecomastia but without any chronic organic pathology, and 50 healthy pubertal male adolescents matched for age. The adolescents underwent psychopathology assessment by Development and Well-Being Assessment interviews; self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; body perception was evaluated using the Body Image Perception Scale, and the relationship between these variables and sex steroid levels were explored. @*Results@#The results of the study revealed that the gynecomastia group had significantly greater internalization disorder (X2 = 12.96, p ＜ 0.001), and impairments in self-esteem (z = −1.975, p = 0.024) and body perception (z = −2.286, p = 0.022), and these variables were correlated with the gynecomastia stage. In the study group, cortisol levels were significantly higher (z = −2.330, p = 0.02) in adolescents with internalization disorder compared to those without, and cortisol levels increased in parallel with increased gynecomastia duration (r = 0.386, p = 0.006). @*Conclusion@#In our study, we found that gynecomastia, depending on its stage, may lead to internalization disorder and impair self-esteem and body perception. It was found that there was no direct relationship between these parameters and sex steroids in pubertal gynecomastia, except for high cortisol levels in adolescents with internalization disorder.

The Relationship between Psychopathology, Self-esteem, Body Perception and Serum Sex Steroids in Pubertal Gynecomastia

Objective@#The current study aimed to investigate the psychopathology behind gynecomastia and potential associated problems regarding self-esteem and body perception, and the relationships of these variables with sex steroid levels in adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia. @*Methods@#The study included 50 normal weight male adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years with gynecomastia but without any chronic organic pathology, and 50 healthy pubertal male adolescents matched for age. The adolescents underwent psychopathology assessment by Development and Well-Being Assessment interviews; self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; body perception was evaluated using the Body Image Perception Scale, and the relationship between these variables and sex steroid levels were explored. @*Results@#The results of the study revealed that the gynecomastia group had significantly greater internalization disorder (X2 = 12.96, p ＜ 0.001), and impairments in self-esteem (z = −1.975, p = 0.024) and body perception (z = −2.286, p = 0.022), and these variables were correlated with the gynecomastia stage. In the study group, cortisol levels were significantly higher (z = −2.330, p = 0.02) in adolescents with internalization disorder compared to those without, and cortisol levels increased in parallel with increased gynecomastia duration (r = 0.386, p = 0.006). @*Conclusion@#In our study, we found that gynecomastia, depending on its stage, may lead to internalization disorder and impair self-esteem and body perception. It was found that there was no direct relationship between these parameters and sex steroids in pubertal gynecomastia, except for high cortisol levels in adolescents with internalization disorder.

Effect of melatonin on bone mineral density of irradiated rats

Melatonin is a powerful endogenous antioxidant and it may play a role in prevention of radiation-induced damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin on bone mineral density in rats receiving radiation. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group 1 [control group] received neither melatonin nor radiation [control group]. Group 2 [Mel group] was administered intraperitoneal injections of 5mg/kg melatonin daily for ten days. Group 3 [RT group] and Group 4 were exposed to total cranium radiation of 5 Gy in a single dose by using a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit. In addition to irradiation, group 4 [RT + Mel group] was administered 5mg/kg of melatonin intraperitoneally. At the end of the 10th day, the rats' cranium and vertebrae bone mineral densities [BMDs] were measured. When cranial BMDs were evaluated, statistically more significant BMD increases were seen in the Mel group and the RT + Mel groups than in the control group. No significant difference was seen in the Mel group versus the RT + Mel group; however, there was a significant difference between RT and RT + Mel groups. When vertebral BMDs were evaluated, the only significant difference was found between the control and Mel groups. We think that melatonin is a radioprotective agent. However, we would like to emphasize that further studies are needed before clinical trials with melatonin are initiated

The Influence of Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus on Dentition and Oral Health in Children and Adolescents

PURPOSE: The present study is to investigate the effects of type 1 diabetes mellitus on dentition and oral health for children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigation was carried out on 100 subjects. The first group consisted of 50 subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (21 females, 29 males), age 9 +/- 0.14 years; In the second group, there were 50 healthy subjects who did not suffer from any systemic disease (25 females, 25 males), age 9 +/- 0.11 years. The subjects were evaluated and divided into two groups of 5-9 years old, and 10-14 years old. The dentition of all participants was examined. Besides, the DFS/dfs index, oral hygiene conditions were evaluated, as well as the plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and calculus index (CI). The data obtained from each group were compared statistically. RESULTS: When compared to the non-diabetic group, we observed that dental development was accelerated until the age of 10 in the diabetic group, and there was a delay after the age of 10. The edentulous interval was longer in the group with type 1 diabetes mellitus. This was accompanied by a high ratio of gingival inflammation. Gingival inflammation was 69.7% in the group of 5-9 year-old, and 83.7% in the group of 10-14 year-old with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Though there was a greater loss of teeth in the group with type 1 diabetes mellitus, there were more caries in the control group. The PI, GI and CI values showed an increase with aging in favor of the group with type 1 diabetes mellitus. There was statistically significant difference in PI, GI and CI between the control and type 1 diabetes mellitus groups for 10-14 year-old patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings we obtained showed that type 1 diabetes mellitus plays an important part in the dentition and oral health of children and adolescents.

Body Hair Scores and Total Hair Diameters in Healthy Women in the Kirikkale Region, of Turkey

It was aimed to determine the normal hair scores of women of Kiri kkale region according to the Ferriman- Gallwey scale and to investigate the relationship between the hair shaft diameter and hair scores. Hair scores were calculated in 204 healthy women, and hair shaft diameters were measured from the hair samples collected from 60 patients. Body mass index, waist to hip ratio, insulin resistance and blood androgen levels were determined. Neutral, hormonal and total hair scores were 2.1+/-1.4, 3.1+/-2.7 and 5.2+/-3.6, respectively. The average total hair diameter and hormonal hair diameter were 191.93+/-90.49micrometer and 121.8+/-75.9micrometer respectively. The correlation between total hair diameter and total hair score was statistically significant (r=0.704 p< 0.001). Also, the correlation between hormonal hair diameter and hormonal hair score was statistically significant (r=0.724 p< 0.001). While hair scores and diameters show meaningful positive correlation with androgen levels, they show negative correlation with age. In our population, 95% value of total hair score was 11, and for the hormonal score, it was 9. Hair diameters increase with hair score, regardless of total or hormonal of hair scores. Hair scores and hair diameters may be affected by blood androgens in healthy women.

First Turkish Patient with Floating Harbor Syndrome with Additional Findings: Cryptorchidim and Microcephaly

We report the first Turkish patient with Floating Harbor Syndrome (FHS). The 12-year old male patient exhibited classical dysmorphic features of FHS, mental retardation, celiac disease and additional undescribed findings: microcephaly and cryptorchidism.

Inherited Vitamin K Deficiency: Case Report and Review of Literature

Vitamin K is the cofactor for the hepatic carboxylation of glutamic acid residues in a number of proteins including the procoagulants factors ll, Vll, lX, and X. The role of vitamin K in normal bone function is not fully understood. Inherited deficiency of vitamin K dependent coagulation factors is a rare bleeding disorder reported only in a few patients. Here we present an 18-month old child who presented with osteopeni due to inherited vitamin K deficiency. While the patient had high bone specific alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone levels and low osteocalcin and bone mineral density values, with the regular supplementation of vitamin K all the mentioned parameters returned to normal values.

An Unusual Combination of Relapsing and Cholestatic Hepatitis A in Childhood

Clinical variants of hepatitis A include the prolonged, relapsing and cholestatic forms. Here, the first childhood case of hepatitis A, with a combination of the relapsing and cholestatic forms is presented, a 14-year old boy. In the first phase of the illness, while the AST and ALT levels were declined, th total and direct bilirubin and GGT were increased. The patient was thought to have the cholestatic form of hepatitis A. Du to intense pruritus and high bilirunbin levels, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy was started. On the 17th day, the decreased AST and ALT levels began to increase, reaching levels as high as 484 U/L and 862 U/L, respectively. The UDCA treatment was stopped on the 64th day. On the 164th day, all his laboratory parameters were within normal limits, but the anti-HAV IgM was still positive.