Meeting report: measuring endocrine-sensitive endpoints within the first years of life.
An international workshop titled "Assessing Endocrine-Related Endpoints within the First Years of Life" was held 30 April-1 May 2007, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Representatives from a number of pregnancy cohort studies in North America and Europe presented options for measuring various endocrine-sensitive endpoints in early life and discussed issues related to performing and using those measures. The workshop focused on measuring reproductive tract developmental endpoints [e.g., anogenital distance (AGD)], endocrine status, and infant anthropometry. To the extent possible, workshop participants strove to develop or recommend standardized measurements that would allow comparisons and pooling of data across studies. The recommended outcomes include thigh fat fold, breast size, vaginal cytology, AGD, location of the testis, testicular size, and growth of the penis, with most of the discussion focusing on the genital exam. Although a number of outcome measures recommended during the genital exam have been associated with exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, little is known about how predictive these effects are of later reproductive health or other chronic health conditions.
Arbuckle
Tye E
TE
Biostatistics and Epidemiology Division, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. tye_arbuckle@hc-sc.gc.ca
Hauser
Russ
R
Swan
Shanna H
SH
Mao
Catherine S
CS
Longnecker
Matthew P
MP
Main
Katharina M
KM
Whyatt
Robin M
RM
Mendola
Pauline
P
Legrand
Melissa
M
Rovet
Joanne
J
Till
Christine
C
Wade
Mike
M
Jarrell
John
J
Matthews
Stephen
S
Van Vliet
Guy
G
Bornehag
Carl-Gustaf
CG
Mieusset
Roger
R
D000886:Anthropometry; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D001940:Breast / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013963:Thyroid Hormones