title: Thyroid Hormone Status in Umbilical Cord Serum Is Positively Associated with Male Anogenital Distance.
abstract: In human adults and adolescents, thyroid function affects sex hormones and male reproductive functions. Little is known about the thyroid function effects on the gonadal development in human infants.
  
  
  
  The aim was to examine the association between thyroid hormones (THs) and sexually dimorphic genital development or fetal growth.
  
  
  
  This is a birth cohort study.
  
  
  
  A total of 616 mothers and newborns were analyzed from two local hospitals.
  
  
  
  TSH, free T3 (FT3), and free T4 (FT4) levels in cord blood serum, anogenital distance (AGD), birth weight, birth length, birth body mass index, and head circumference in neonates.
  
  
  
  Longer AGD in male newborns was observed with higher cord serum FT3 (β, 1.36 mm [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.58-2.13] for 1 pmol/L FT3), FT4 (β, 0.12 mm [95% CI, 0.00-0.25] for 1 pmol/L FT4), and TSH (β, 3.14 mm [95% CI, 0.65-5.63] for a 10-fold TSH increase), and with a lower FT4/FT3 ratio (β, -0.11 mm [95% CI, -0.20 to -0.02] for doubling FT4/FT3 ratio). The relationships between TSH, birth weight, and birth length were different by secondhand smoke exposure. Secondhand smoke exposure had an effect modification, with interaction P value .039 and .010, respectively. Secondhand smoke exposure also had an effect modification on the relation between FT4 and head circumference with interaction P value .020.
  
  
  
  In the absence of overt thyroid dysfunction, THs are positively associated with AGD in male newborns. TH effects on body size and head circumference may be modified by maternal secondhand smoke exposure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Rongju
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Xijin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Xiangbin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Stephani S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Kim N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Shuk-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reponen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology (R.L., X.X., Y.Z., X.Z., X.H.), and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.L.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (X.X.), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health (S.S.K., K.N.D., S.-M.H., T.R., A.C.), College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267; and School of Environment (X.H.), Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009929:Organ Size; D011379:Prognosis; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013963:Thyroid Hormones