title: Lung volume and expiratory flow rates from pre- to post-puberty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to determine if the airways and lungs grow disproportionately from pre- to post-puberty in boys and girls. We hypothesized that the airways grow at a slower rate than lung volume (i.e. dysanapsis growth) during puberty and boys would exhibit more dysanaptic growth compared to girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one pre-pubescent children [11 boys (pre 10.1 ± 0.5 years, post 15.3 ± 0.5 years); 10 girls (pre 9.4 ± 1.0 years, post 14.1 ± 1.0 years)] performed pulmonary function tests (PFTs) ~5 years ago from an original cohort of 40 children. These 21 children performed PFTs, which included forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory flow at 50 % FVC (FEF50). Static pressure at 50 % of FVC [Pst(L)50 %] was estimated based on age. Dysanapsis ratio (DR) was calculated [FEF50 × FVC(-1) × Pst(L) 50 % (-1) ]. Maturation status was determined via Tanner stages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stage of maturation was not different (p > 0.05) between boys and girls (4.2 ± 0.6 stage vs. 3.7 ± 0.7 stage, respectively). FVC and FEF50 increased (p < 0.05), DR significantly decreased, and FEF50/FVC was similar (p > 0.05) from pre- to post-puberty. FEF50 and FVC significantly increased and DR decreased (p < 0.05) post-puberty for both sexes. Post-puberty, boys had a significantly larger FVC, but FEF50, DR, and FEF50/FVC were not different (p > 0.05) compared to girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that dysanaptic growth occurs during puberty and that it is not different between boys and girls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, 1A Natatorium, Manhattan, KS, USA, smith424@ksu.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Sam R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: Stephanie P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kurti
authors.forename: Kirti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Harms
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014797:Vital Capacity