Risk factors for cryptorchidism and hypospadias.

PURPOSE: We studied risk factors for cryptorchidism and hypospadias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a register based, case control study of 6,177 boys with cryptorchidism, 1,345 with hypospadias and 23,273 male controls born live in Denmark from 1983 to 1992 to determine the effects of cryptorchidism and hypospadias on the presence of the other abnormality in an individual, the presence of the abnormalities in an older brother, birth weight, weeks of gestation, maternal history of stillbirth, parity, twin birth, parental age, nationality and professional status. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios. RESULTS: In an individual simultaneous cryptorchidism and hypospadias were more common than expected. There was an increased risk of both entities when the same abnormality was present in an older brother. The risk of cryptorchidism and hypospadias increased with decreasing birth weight independent of weeks of gestation. Twins were at lower risk than singletons for both entities in all lower birth weight groups. An increased risk of hypospadias was noted in the sons of women who had had a previous stillbirth. The risk of cryptorchidism and hypospadias slightly increased with decreasing parity. CONCLUSIONS: Birth weight was the principal determinant of cryptorchidism and hypospadias. Twins were at lower risk for both abnormalities than singletons in the same birth weight classes. There are indications of separate genetic as well as common environmental causes of cryptorchidism and hypospadias.

Cryptorchidism and hypospadias in sons of gardeners and farmers.

Cryptorchidism and hypospadias have been related to prenatal estrogen exposure in animal models. Some chemicals used in farming and gardening have been shown to possess estrogenic and other hormone-disrupting effects. Earlier studies have indicated increased risks of urogenital malformations in the sons of pesticide appliers. In the present study, parental occupation in the farming and gardening industry among 6,177 cases of cryptorchidism, 1,345 cases of hypospadias, and 23,273 controls, born live from 1983 to 1992 in Denmark, was investigated in a register-based case-control study. A significantly increased risk of cryptorchidism but not hypospadias was found in sons of women working in gardening (adjusted odds ratio = 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-2.47). The risks were not increased in sons of men working in farming or gardening. The increased risk of cryptorchidism among sons of female gardeners could suggest an association with prenatal exposure to occupationally related chemicals.

Comparative quantitative analysis of macrophage populations defined by CD68 and carbohydrate antigens in normal and pathologically altered human liver tissue.

Liver macrophages, which are involved in the different types of hepatitis, may indirectly induce hepatic fibrogenesis, since they have the possibility to activate hepatic stellate cells and fibroblasts by secretion of TGF-beta, TNF-alpha and IL-1. To evaluate variations of the number of liver macrophages and their subpopulations, a quantification was carried out in normal human liver tissue, fatty liver, fatty liver hepatitis and hepatitis B. Identification was performed by the mab PG-M1 (anti-CD68) and, comparatively, four lectins, Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin I (GSA-I), Erythrina cristagalli agglutinin (ECA), peanut agglutinin (PNA) and soybean agglutinin (SBA). A slight decrease in the frequency of macrophages in pericentral fields was observable in fatty liver and fatty liver hepatitis as compared to normal liver tissue. On the other hand, the number of CD68+ cells was significantly enhanced in hepatitis B with moderate and severe inflammatory activity. The highest incidence of macrophages was found in portal tracts of liver with fatty liver hepatitis and, particularly, hepatitis B. The fraction of cells stained by ECA, PNA or SBA did not increase significantly under pathological conditions. In contrast, the percentage of GSA-I binding macrophages was higher in liver parenchyma of hepatitis B and in portal tract macrophages in fatty liver hepatitis and also hepatitis B. In conclusion, our results indicate that GSA-I may aid in the detection of the subpopulation of activated macrophages which are assumed to play a pivotal role in liver pathology.

[The control of chronic laryngitis by endoscopic and histomorphologic methods (author's transl)]. / Die Uberwachung der chronischen Laryngitis mit endoskopischen und histomorphologischen Methoden.

Long time endoscopic-bioptic of 111 patients with chronic laryngitis made it possible to state cancer of the larynx in 12 patients. The diagnosis was made in the prognostically favourable stages T1 and T2N0M0 provided the controls were carried out immediately, considering histomorphologic degrees of malignancy (KLEINSAZSSER). A dispensaire of patients with increased risk cancer of the larynx can considerably improve early diagnosis in collaboration between family physician, specialist and special clinic applying speculum-examination of the larynx, laryngoscopy in general anaesthesia and microlaryngoscopy, as described by HEROLD for the district of Magdeburg (1964--1974).

Sesquiterpene antitumor agents: inhibitors of cellular metabolism.

Helenalin and tenulin injected into CF1 male mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumors inhibit DNA synthesis and DNA polymerase enzymatic activity in the tumor cells. Helenalin inhibited protein synthesis. Both drugs increased the concentration of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, and interfered with glycolytic and mitochondrial energy processes. Cholesterol synthesis was also inhibited, resulting in lower serum cholesterol levels in tumor-bearing animals. Data obtained in vitro indicate that the cyclopentenone-bearing sesquiterpene lactone and related compounds do not alkylate puring bases of nucleic acids but rather undergo a Michael-type addition reaction with the sulfhydryl groups of reduced glutathione and l-cysteine. Thus, the inhibition of cellular enzyme activities and metabolism that has been observed with these drugs might be explained by the occurrence of a Michael-type teaction.