Growth and Sexual Development (Hardcover)

This book reflects the progress over the last few years in understanding the mechanisms of normal and abnormal growth and sexual development. The areas covered include growth hormone action and the structure and locations of its receptor, growth hormone therapy in short children as well as in adults with growth hormone deficiency, insulin-like growth factor action and its therapeutic applications,and sexual development and disorders of the gonad.;The recent successful challenge of locating the gene responsible for male differentiation is described, and a cause of abnormal male sex differentiation, the androgen insensitivity syndrome, is thoroughly reviewed with particular emphasis on the molecular biology of the androgen receptor and its mutations. The susceptibility of the gonad in abnormalities of male differentiation is discussed along with clinical considerations in the management of these children and young adults.;As a result of its increased availability, growth hormone is now being examined as a therapeutic option for children with a variety of causes of short stature. Chapters in this book outline the many initial benefits seen for the most of these children but they also discuss the concerns that are being raised by this therapy in regard to possible benefits to final height and growth during puberty.