Numerical analysis of solutocapillary Marangoni-induced interfacial waves

Spreading problems and solutocapillary waves are now routinely treated by semi-analytic lubrication theory leading to a 1D spatiotemporal system to be integrated numerically. In this review, such theories have been shown to be robust predictors of the pseudo-steady propagation at long times with only an initial transient period when the lubrication assumptions breakdown and the wave front is retarded due to bottom friction. Linear stability theory for bottom friction effects leads to 1D evolution equations that predict the scale of Marangoni stresses needed to excite waves and the solitary wave structure of their propagation. In general, applications which are sensitive to Marangoni effects naturally have high values of the Marangoni number (at least hundreds and potentially much higher in evaporation problems). Even when the Marangoni-induced effects are small amplitude, the gradients in stresses are such that numerical resolution requirements are steep. The idealization of interfacial dynamics to a domain with zero thickness (molecular effects) is computationally more demanding than the boundary layers induced in say high Reynolds number laminar flows. Therefore, specialized computational methods for treating open deformable interfaces with high transverse gradients are both required and are being successfully developed as reported here.

A cervical cancer curriculum for Hispanic adolescents in rural high schools: a pilot study

We assessed the effectiveness of a one-hour curriculum about cervical cancer for high school students. The curriculum was developed and delivered to 142 female students in the 9th to 12th grade at two high schools in rural Eastern Washington State. Self-administered questionnaires assessed changes in knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes related to cervical cancer and Pap smears. Baseline results from a predominantly Hispanic adolescent sample (73%) indicated low pre-test knowledge and negative beliefs and attitudes. Post-test results indicated that there was a significant change in the intervention group for knowledge questions when compared with the control group. Only some changes to more positive beliefs and attitudes about cervical cancer and screening were significant in the post-test. The findings suggest that a culturally appropriate high school curriculum may inform young Hispanic women about important cervical cancer screening practices.

Children and adolescents with eating disorders: the state of the art

BACKGROUND

Eating disorders in children and adolescents remain a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in children, adolescents, and young adults. The working knowledge of pathophysiology, recognition, and management of eating disorders continues to evolve as research in this field continues.

OBJECTIVES

This article builds on previous background and position papers outlining issues relevant to the care of the adolescent patient with an eating disorder.

METHODS

The eating disorder special interest group from the Society for Adolescent Medicine recognized the need to update the state of the art published guidelines for the care of the adolescent patient with an eating disorder. This article was a multidisciplinary, group effort to summarize the current knowledge of best practice in the field.

RESULTS

This article summarizes newer findings on pathogenesis and etiology, prevention and screening, risk factors, nutritional issues, care from the primary care clinician's perspective, appropriate use of a multidisciplinary team, and issues of managed care and reimbursement.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary prevention combined with early recognition and treatment helps decrease morbidity and mortality in adolescents with eating disorders.

Value of the hamster oocyte test and computerised measurements of sperm motility in predicting if four or more viable embryos will be obtained in an IVF cycle

The experimental group consisted of men from 81 couples waiting for in vitro fertilization (IVF), about half of whom had sperm dysfunction defined by a negative post-coital test. A diagnostic semen sample was subjected to a hamster oocyte penetration test (HOPT) after stimulation of the acrosome reaction with A23187 +/- pentoxifylline and to computerized sperm motility measurements (CASA) as well as conventional semen analysis according to the WHO protocol. Logistic regression was used to identify parameters that predicted the probability of achieving four or more viable embryos at IVF among the 65 couples from whom four or more oocytes were collected. The number of oocytes available and whether the woman had previously been pregnant (ever pregnant) were important factors but once these had been taken into account a number of sperm parameters had additional predictive power. The most useful of these were the percentage sperm static (CASA) or the percent sperm progressively motile (conventional semen analysis) in the Percoll preparation. A model incorporating the number of oocytes collected, ever pregnant and percentage sperm static achieved 85% correct prediction of outcome in the experimental dataset but only 62% correct prediction in an independent set of 280 IVF cycles. The percentage of hamster oocytes penetrated was a significant predictor but had no advantage over simple motility measurements. The results illustrate the difficulty of basing a prognosis for achieving satisfactory fertilization in IVF on the properties of spermatozoa.

Birth weight associated with lowest neonatal mortality: infants of adolescent and adult mothers

OBJECTIVE

We tested the hypothesis that survival is highest for infants born in the same weight range whether mothers are adolescent or adult, comparing the weights at which infants of these mothers achieve lowest neonatal mortality.

METHODS

The relationship between birth weight and neonatal mortality was studied in births to 16.4 million women using the National Center for Health Statistics 1983-1987 national linked birth/infant death data sets. Neonatal mortality rates were calculated for 500 g birth weight categories. Births for maternal ages < or = 15 years, 16 years, and 17 to 18 years were compared with births to adults 19 to 34 years of age, whites and blacks considered separately. The birth weight categories associated with minimum neonatal mortality and the weight range corresponding with greatest survival were determined for each age and racial group.

RESULTS

Minimum neonatal mortality rates occurred at the same birth weights (3500 to 4499 g white and 3000 to 3999 g black) whether mothers of the infants were adolescents or adults. The most favorable range of birth weight, in which survival was greatest, commenced at 3000 g for all mothers, terminating at 3999 g for most black adolescents and black adults, 4499 g for most white adolescents, and 4999 g for white adults. Of infants born to mothers < or = 16 years old, 33% were lighter and 1.5% were heavier than the favorable birth weight range.

CONCLUSION

The birth weight categories with minimum neonatal mortality and the birth weight range in which neonatal survival was greatest were comparable for infants of adolescents and adults. Lower birth weights, occurring more frequently in births to teenage mothers, were associated with higher neonatal mortality. Assisting adolescent mothers to bear infants with birth weights in the range corresponding with low neonatal mortality is an appropriate goal of clinical management.

Pentoxifylline acts synergistically with A23187 to increase the penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes by cryopreserved human spermatozoa

The number of cryopreserved human spermatozoa which penetrated zona-free hamster oocytes after stimulation with 2 mumol A23187 per litre was increased by the further addition of 0.6 or 3.6 mmol pentoxifylline per litre. With spermatozoa prepared by washing by repeated centrifugation, the median numbers of sperm heads/egg were 1.9, 7.9 and 10.8 in the presence of 0, 0.6 or 3.6 mmol pentoxifylline per litre, respectively. A similar effect was observed with spermatozoa prepared on a Percoll gradient. As A23187 inhibited sperm motility, and this was exacerbated by pentoxifylline, the increased penetration rate of hamster oocytes cannot be explained by improved sperm motility. The number of spermatozoa stimulated to acrosome react by 2 mumol A23187 per litre was increased 3-fold by 3.6 mmol pentoxifylline per litre and 4-fold by 5 mmol caffeine per litre. These data suggest that cAMP may act synergistically with Ca2+ to stimulate the acrosome reaction. Pentoxifylline may improve the fertility of poor-quality human spermatozoa by enhancing their ability to respond to the Ca2+ signal produced by binding to the zona pellucida.

Weight gain in adolescents during pregnancy: rate related to birth-weight outcome

This study of 459 subjects from prenatal clinics for teenagers at three universities across the United States, addresses questions about gestational weight gain in adolescents raised by the 1990 Institute of Medicine Report. Rate and pattern of gain, independent of pregravid weight, are based on serial measures of mothers with favorable and unfavorable outcomes. Rate of gain (determined by using regression statistics) from weeks 15 to 40 was 0.588, 0.510, and 0.488 kg/wk for mothers of term infants weighing 3000-4000 g, term infants weighing < 3000 g, and preterm infants, respectively. The significantly lower percentage of infants weighing 3000-4000 g vs < 3000 g needing intensive care at birth (6% vs 15%, respectively, P < 0.05) further indicates the superior outcome among mothers with higher rates of gain. Rate of gain of mothers of infants weighing 3000-4000 g (favorable outcome) equaled the highest amount provisionally recommended, suggesting that restricting natural gain of adolescents to recommended rates may result in smaller than optimal infants.

The cost of burn care and the federal government's response in the 1990s

This article attempts to predict the federal government's response to the cost of burn care in the 1990s by examining the explosive growth of health care costs in the 1980s and the impact that this had on hospitals with burn centers. The Prospective Payment System (PPS) was enacted in 1983, which limited the government's liability to hospitals by effectively capping the amount of federal dollars in the system. The inequities of the classification of burn patients by the PPS is discussed and a proposal for modification is outlined.

The yield, motility and performance in the hamster egg test of human spermatozoa prepared from cryopreserved semen by four different methods

Different procedures were investigated for the dilution of human cryopreserved semen and the preparation of an enriched population of motile spermatozoa for assisted reproduction. The dilution of a 0.25 ml straw of cryopreserved human semen by addition of 2.0 ml Ham's F-10 buffer in one step caused a large decrease in the proportion of motile spermatozoa. This was due to osmotic stress because many of the diluted spermatozoa exhibited swollen tails. To a large extent the damage could be avoided by adding the buffer in 0.10-ml aliquots at 30-s intervals. Spermatozoa obtained after such dilution of cryopreserved human semen were subjected to the swim-up procedure, to centrifugation on two-step gradients of Nycodenz or Percoll, or to filtration through glass fibre paper and compared with respect to yield, motility parameters and penetrating ability in the hamster egg test. The swim-up procedure yielded spermatozoa with excellent motility but only 12% of the available motile spermatozoa were recovered. On both Nycodenz and Percoll gradients, greater than 40% of the available motile spermatozoa were recovered and the average velocity of the spermatozoa was not significantly less than for the swim-up technique. When A23187 was used to promote acrosome reactions in the hamster egg test, Percoll-prepared spermatozoa achieved an average of 8.6 decondensed sperm heads/egg compared to 1.9 for Nycodenz and 1.3 for the swim-up procedure. The yield from glass fibre paper filtration was only 12% and the velocity of the spermatozoa and their performance in the hamster egg test was significantly poorer than in all the other methods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Controlling the swimming speed of human sperm by varying the incubation temperature and its effect on cervical mucus penetration

The objective of the present experiments was to study the effect of sperm velocity as a single variable on the ability of sperm to penetrate cervical mucus in a modified Kremer test. Sperm incubated at 13, 22 and 37 degrees C exhibited progressive velocities of 25 +/- 1.7, 40 +/- 2.1 and 56 +/- 2.1 microns sec-1 (mean +/- SEM, n = 6) respectively, but the percentage of progressively motile sperm, their lateral head displacement and the viscoelastic properties of cervical mucus remained comparatively unchanged over this temperature range. The number of sperm which penetrated the mucus and the percentage of successful collisions were correlated strongly with the average velocity of the sperm population (r = 0.82 and r = 0.72 respectively). It is concluded that sperm velocity has an important influence on the penetration of cervical mucus because it governs the frequency of collisions with the mucus interface and is determined by the thrust generated by the flagellum which also determines the ability of the sperm to traverse the mucus interface.

Treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis by burn units: another market or another threat?

A survey of burn care facilities in the United States has provided information regarding the treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis and related diseases in burn units. The survey suggests that a disproportionate share (12% to 15%) of the projected number of cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis that occur annually are being transferred to the 2% of United States hospitals that have burn units. Because of the potential for a complex hospital course and extended length of stay, treatment of these patients in a prospective payment system poses a significant fiscal threat to hospitals with burn units.

The effect of A23187 concentration and exposure time on the outcome of the hamster egg penetration test

We investigated the conditions required to enhance the performance of human sperm in the hamster egg penetration test with the free acid form of A23187. The best performance was observed after stimulation with 2 microM A23187 for 1 h when the median penetration rate with sperm from fertile donors was 100% of eggs with 5.8 decondensed sperm heads/egg. Extending the stimulation period with 2 microM A23187 to 2 or 3 h, resulted in a progressive decrease in the penetration rate. In the absence of A23187, the penetration rate was lower (0.7 decondensed sperm heads/egg after 1 h) but increased with stimulation time. A similar picture was observed with sperm from patients taken for an IVF programme. For a pool of cryopreserved semen, the coefficient of variation of the penetration rate after stimulation with 2 microM A23187 for 1 h, expressed as decondensed sperm heads/egg, was 11% within and 20% between assays. There was no correlation between the outcome of the hamster egg penetration test and the percentage motility, velocity or lateral head displacement of the sperm measured after the same stimulation regime. However, in IVF patients the initial velocity and lateral head displacement of the sperm (zero time) were correlated with the best result from the hamster egg penetration test (r = 0.62 and 0.57 respectively). No motility changes characteristic of capacitation were detected. We conclude that stimulation with 2 microM A23187 (free acid) for 1 h prior to the addition of the zona free hamster eggs can produce a high penetration rate with fertile samples and provides a convenient and robust protocol for the assay. However, when carried out in this way the test does not assess the ability of the sperm to capacitate.

Management of obesity in adolescence

A great deal of the discouragement about treating adolescents who are obese is related to the traditional treatment approaches. Obesity is a complex problem needing comprehensive treatment. Focusing on weight loss as a short-term goal is unreasonable because of individual variation in the physiologic potential to lose weight. Short-term goals and rewards are related to adopting daily habits that will lead to a decrease in energy storage in the long term. Support for changing habits and improving psychosocial adjustment is a necessary component of effective treatment, enabling patients and their families to make changes.

Effect of caffeine and of pentoxifylline on the motility and metabolism of human spermatozoa

Human spermatozoa were washed and incubated with 6 mM-caffeine or 0.15-1.2 mM-pentoxifylline. Sperm motility was measured by time-lapse photography, the rate of glycolysis by the release of tritiated water from 1 mM-[3-3H]D-glucose and the rate of mitochondrial respiration by the release of 14CO2 from 1 mM-[U-14C]-L-lactate or 1 mM-[2-14C]pyruvate. Caffeine stimulated the majority of spermatozoa to convert from the 'rolling' to the 'yawing' mode of progression with a concomitant increase in lateral head displacement from 4.1 +/- 0.09 microns (343) to 6.7 +/- 0.25 microns (105) (mean +/- s.e.m. (number of spermatozoa)). There was a 45% decline in the percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa and a very small decrease in their velocity. Pentoxifylline had only a slight effect on lateral head displacement or percentage motility but produced a significant increase in velocity. Both compounds increased the rate of glycolysis by greater than 40% but elevated the rate of 14CO2 production to a smaller extent. The concentrations of ATP and ADP changed very little. We conclude that the glycolytic pathway in human spermatozoa can respond efficiently to changes in energy demand.

An evaluation of the role of relaxin in the penetration of cervical mucus by spermatozoa

Relaxin-like immunoreactivity was measured in seminal plasma from men who were separated into two groups, on the basis of a previous positive or negative result in a postcoital cervical mucus penetration test. There was no difference in the relaxin concentration between the groups. The effect of exogenous porcine relaxin (0, 10 or 100 ng/ml) on human cervical mucus penetration in vitro by washed human spermatozoa was studied using a capillary tube preparation. In the positive postcoital test group the highest relaxin concentration (100 ng/ml) tended to inhibit cervical mucus penetration, although this effect was only significant for one of the parameters measured (number of spermatozoa penetrating to the 10-mm mark). The same trend was apparent for the negative postcoital test group, but no differences were significant. The results are in direct contrast to previous reports that relaxin can stimulate human spermatozoa motility and cervical mucus penetration.

Identification of relaxin in the placenta of the ewe

Sheep placentomes were collected at the abattoir and the stage of gestation was estimated from the crown-rump length and appearance of the fetus. Samples were extracted and either freeze dried (crude extracts) or fractionated on Sephadex G-50 and CM-cellulose. Relaxin immunoreactivity (RXN-IR) was detected in all samples by a pig relaxin RIA and diluted in parallel with the standard curve. Two patterns of RXN-IR were seen after Sephadex G50 purification: (a) a single main peak of RXN-IR eluting at a position similar to pig relaxin; or (b) a 3-peak pattern with additional higher (void volume) and lower (approximately 1000) molecular weight peaks. These peaks were all found with 4 different and specific antisera. The 6000 molecular weight peak eluted at a similar position to pig relaxin on CM cellulose and inhibited electrically stimulated rat uterine contractions in vitro. The amount of relaxin measured in crude extracts of placentomes from different ewes was very variable. Most samples were within the range 0.05-11.2 ng/g wet weight of tissue (3.0 +/- 0.45 (s.e.m.), n = 44) but a few contained much higher concentrations (25.5-61.4 ng/g, n = 3). There was no obvious variation in concentration with stage of pregnancy (20 days to term). Samples of intercotyledonary endometrium, allantochorion and whole ovaries from pregnant ewes were also extracted. All contained low concentrations of RXN-IR (0.6 +/- 0.13 ng/g, n = 4; 0.6 +/- 0.29 ng/g, n = 3; 1.0 +/- 0.66 ng/g, n = 7, respectively). We conclude that relaxin-like peptides are present in the pregnant ewe and that, as the placentomes are the largest component by weight, they represent the major source.

The role of mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration in limiting the storage life of human blood

Human erythrocytes stored for more than 21 days in citrate phosphate dextrose with adenine (CPDA-1) at +4 degrees C had a decreased cell volume, an increased cell density, an elevated mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and hence an elevated internal viscosity. These changes are normally masked by the reversible cell swelling which accompanies storage in CPDA-1. Incubation of stored cells for 24 h at 37 degrees C in fresh autologous plasma mimics the effects of reinfusion and causes the artificially swollen cells to shrink to their true volume. Thus, incubated cells which had been stored in CPDA-1 for more than 21 days exhibited a decreased filterability through Nuclepore membranes in vitro, which is apparently correlated with a decreased survival time in vivo.

The effects of reinflation on the survival of time-expired stored rabbit erythrocytes in vivo

Rabbit blood cells stored for prolonged periods in citrate phosphate dextrose with adenine (CPDA-1) at +4 degrees C show the same decreased volume, increased cell density and decreased filterability as human cells stored under similar conditions. As with human erythrocytes, the stored rabbit cells had to be incubated with autologous fresh plasma for 24 h at 37 degrees C before these changes could be observed (this incubation process apparently mimics the effects of reinfusion). These shrunken stored rabbit cells could also be reinflated using nystatin, so that their mean cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, average cell densities and filterabilities were restored to normal values. This in vitro reinflation of the stored cells significantly prolonged their in vivo survival rate as determined by radiochromium labelling studies. This reinflation technique may therefore have an application in the prolongation of the useful storage life of human blood.

The use of nystatin to restore the flow properties of time-expired stored erythrocytes

Human erythrocytes stored for more than 21 days in citrate phosphate dextrose with adenine (CPDA-1) exhibited a marked reduction in volume following incubation for 24 h at 37 degrees C in fresh autologous plasma. This incubation apparently mimics the effects of reinfusion of the stored cells in vivo. These shrunken stored cells have a decreased filterability as measured by their increased transit times through a 5-microns diameter Nuclepore filter. The polyene antifungal agent nystatin was used to reinflate these shrunken cells with different concentrations of potassium ions. A concentration of 90 mM potassium chloride was found to reinflate the shrunken stored cells so that their mean cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and average densities were the same as those of fresh cells. This reinflation also restored the filterability of the shrunken stored cells so as to be similar to that of fresh cells.

Health, developmental, and nutritional status of adolescent alcohol and marijuana abusers

The impact of alcohol and marijuana abuse on the physical health and nutritional status of adolescents has not been well documented. The health consequences of alcoholism and chemical abuse in adults may not relate to the pediatric population. Forty-nine adolescent boys (mean age 15.8 years) with varying degrees of alcohol and marijuana use by self-report were evaluated as to their general health, pubertal development and nutritional status using health and dietary history, physical examination, anthropometrics, and biochemical assays of liver function and tissue nutrients. Thirteen (27%) were alcohol and marijuana abusers, 20 (41%) marijuana abusers, and 16 (32%) nonusers. There were significant differences between alcohol and marijuana abusers and marijuana abusers compared to nonusers with respect to endorsing symptoms of nutritional deficiency (muscle weakness, bleeding gums, tiredness, etc) (P less than .001). There were no significant differences between subgroups in other nutritional measures except plasma zinc concentration which was low in marijuana abusers (mean 85 micrograms/dL). All adolescents reported consuming adequate nutrients, although alcohol and marijuana abusers reported eating more snack foods and less fruit, vegetables, and milk than other groups. There were no significant differences in hematologic status (complete blood cell count, transferrin, folate), liver function (gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase), or anthropometric and sexual maturational indices of growth. There were no chronic signs of chemical abuse by physical examinations. It appears that health and nutritional disability from chemical abuse in adolescents relates more to poor dietary habits and symptomatic deterioration in general health than to specific effects on growth or nutritional status. Studies with larger numbers of subjects need to document these findings.

Identification of relaxin immunoreactivity in human follicular fluid

Relaxin immunoreactivity has been found in samples of human follicular fluid collected from artificially stimulated pre-ovulatory follicles. The crude extract caused a reduction in the height of the contractions in a rat uterine strip bioassay. The reactive material eluted from Sephadex G50 in two major peaks. The first contained approximately 60% of the immunoreactivity and had an elution position corresponding to that of porcine relaxin, indicating a mol. wt of approximately 6000 daltons. The second peak was of a lower mol. wt, but its exact size and significance are unknown. A possible role for relaxin in the process of follicular rupture is suggested.

Iron fortification of infant foods. A decade of change

A survey of iron-fortified commercial foods commonly marketed for consumption by infants was conducted in 1972 and again in 1982. Positive changes had occurred in infant formulas and cereals during that decade, in availability of fortifying iron, level of fortification, and label information. Miscellaneous iron-containing products, cookies, and crackers were unreliable sources of dietary iron in both 1972 and 1982. Availability of fortifying iron in regular cereals had improved by 1982, though 10 percent lacked the label information. Fortified infant formulas and cereals contribute iron of high bioavailability to the typical infant diet in amounts equal to the USRDA. Food manufacturers need to continue to apply knowledge gained through research to sustain the lessened but still highly prevalent incidence of anemia in 1-2-year old children.

Changes in plasma opioid concentrations after physiotherapeutic exercises for arthritic patients

Plasma concentrations of [met]enkephalin (ME) and beta-endorphin (beta E) were measured in samples obtained immediately before and after physiotherapeutic exercises for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), osteoarthritis (OA), or knee injuries. Correlations were sought between opioid peptide concentrations or changes therein, and nature, severity and duration of disease, age, severity of pain reported and pain threshold. No correlation was found with any of the pain parameters. However, there was a possible relationship between age or duration of disease and changes in ME concentrations.

The effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on opioid peptide mediated inhibition of guinea pig ileum

Strips of guinea pig ileum were mounted in a tissue bath within the poles of a magnet capable of generating a 50 Hz field of intensity up to 1 mT. In the absence of magnetic field the preparations were stimulated transmurally at tetanic frequency (10 Hz). The post-tetanic inhibition was antagonised by naloxone. When this inhibitory phase was repeated in the presence of a magnetic field of 0.5 mT there was a small but significant increase in the inhibition when compared with paired controls.

The effects of phenylpropanolamine and other sympathomimetics on food consumption and motor activity in mice

The effects of phenylpropanolamine on motor activity and on food intake were compared with those of S-amphetamine, ephedrine, 2-aminoindane and fenfluramine in groups of mice. Motor activity was additionally measured in mice pretreated with levodopa and benserazide, and food intake in mice pretreated with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Amphetamine (2.5 mg kg-1) increased motor activity, phenylpropanolamine (10-40 mg kg-1) and 2-aminoindane (2.5-10 mg kg-1) decreased activity whilst ephedrine (2.5-40 mg kg-1) had a biphasic effect. Fenfluramine (10-40 mg kg-1) had negligible effect on activity. In mice pretreated with levodopa and benserazide both phenylpropanolamine and 2-aminoindane caused a massive increase in motor activity whilst fenfluramine's action was not affected in the same way. Whilst the anorectic action of fenfluramine was considerably potentiated in mice pretreated with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, that of amphetamine, ephedrine, 2-aminoindane and phenylpropanolamine was either unaffected or initially antagonized. It is concluded that the mechanisms of motor and anorectic actions of phenylpropanolamine are similar to those of amphetamine.

Prenatal weight gain and postpartum weight loss patterns in adolescents

The standard weight gain curve for pregnant females is used for all ages but its suitability for pregnant adolescents has not been satisfactorily examined. The purpose of this project was to compare prenatal weight gain patterns of 80 adolescents (13-17 yr old) with those of the standard curve. Girls who were chronologically and physiologically younger tended to gain less weight prenatally then older girls. Girls who were underweight prior to pregnancy gained more weight prenatally than other girls. Term weight gain averaged 37 lb. Increase in height was not recorded during the course of the investigation. The development of standard curves for adolescents must be based on a larger study population, but the curves presented here are an important initial step toward achieving this goal.