title: [Relationship between anogenital distance and cryptorchidism in human newborns].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relation of the anogenital distance (AGD) with cryptorchidism in male newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 350 male infants delivered in two community hospitals between September 2013 and September 2014. Within 24 hours after birth, a pediatric surgeon measured the AGD of the neonates and determined whether they had cryptorchidism. According to the testicular position, we divided the undescended testes into three types: upper scrotal, inguinal, and non-palpable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totally 39 cases of cryptorchidism were found in the 350 newborns. The AGD of the cryptorchidism infants was significantly shorter than that of the normal neonates ([2.01 ± 0.22] vs [2.35 ± 0.19] cm, P < 0.01), and statistically significant differences remained even when preterm and low birth-weight infants were excluded ([2.32 ± 0.14] vs [2.06 ± 0.19] cm; (2.37 ± 0.17) cm vs (2.12 ± 0.12) cm, all P < 0.01). The newborns with higher-position cryptorchidism had a shorter AGD, though with no significant difference (F = 0.434, P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the AGD between unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism ([1.96 ± 0.13] vs [2.02 ± 0.17] cm, P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shorter AGD is associated with a higher incidence of cryptorchidism in male newborns. AGD could serve as a potential biomarker for disruption of androgen action during the male programming window period.
authors.forename: Da-peng
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Hong-quan
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Hou-wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.lastname: Yu Xi-na
authors.forename: Xi-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shu-long
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D010502:Perineum / Q000002:abnormalities*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens