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2.9 Cryptorchidism [Summary]
Literature survey concerning epidemiology of endocrine
disruptors and cryptorchidism was performed. Searching the
PubMed database retrieved 10 reports published up to Dec. 31,
2000, consisting of 1 intervention study and 9 case-control
studies. Since Jan. 1, 2001, a cohort study and 2 case-control
studies were published. No Japanese subject was studied in these
papers. One of the papers reported association of cryptorchidism
with heptachlor epoxide (HCE) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Two
studies on endocrine disruptors using biological samples did not
find significant correlation with polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE),
respectively. Endocrine disruptors including organochlorines
have thus scarcely been studied in relation to cryptorchidism.
Continued studies are needed on this topic.
[Purpose]
Cryptorchidism is one of relatively frequently observed
malformations. Since testicular descent depends on androgen,
exposure of the fetus to endo- and exogenous estrogens
represents a risk. Literature was reviewed to find epidemiologic
studies involving organochlorine compounds or other substances
relevant to this subject.
[Method]
The PubMed database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi)
provided by National Library of Medicine was searched with a
strategy " cryptorchidism AND (insecticides OR pesticides OR
chlorinated hydrocarbons OR pesticides OR chlorinated
hydrocarbons OR pcbs OR bisphenol OR phenol OR phthalate OR
styrene OR furan OR organotin OR diethylstilbestrol OR ethinyl
estradiol) AND (human)". From among the citations retrieved,
original papers reporting epidemiologic studies on human
populations were selected, and, as necessary, other articles
cited in these papers or reviews were added.
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