Maternal occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and urogenital anomalies in the offspring

Occupational and Environmental Exposure Influences the Inflammatory (Pro-and Anti-) Status in Benign Prostate Hyperplasia and Prostate Carcinoma Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

Multiple diseases and disorders are connected with occupational and environmental exposure risk. It is also well-established that chemicals and chemical mixtures have an influence on the immune cells of humans. This is an important field of research that has been pursued extensively in relation to autoimmune illnesses, allergy/asthma, and lung cancer, but Prostate Carcinoma has received rare reports. Chronic chemical exposure is known to produce inflammation, which is one of the most prominent characteristics of all malignancies. Changes in the ratio of pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory molecules are thought to be a key factor in the emergence of inflammation. Prostate gland cells express the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18), which is a major facilitator of immunological responses. Conversely, interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that is linked to immune responses and inhibits the development of an inflammatory environment. Our goal is to investigate the inflammatory status of IL-18 (pro-) and IL-10 (anti-) in a variety of occupationally exposed populations in patients with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) and patients with Prostate Carcinoma. The present study was conducted with 664 subjects, comprising 285 Prostate Carcinoma patients, 94 BPH patients and 285 controls. The subjects of BPH and Prostate Carcinoma were screened and confirmed on the basis of Prostate Serum Antigen (PSA) and pathological biopsy. All subjects were categorized as per their occupational exposure into various groups. The pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory Interleukins (IL-18 and IL-10) and serum PSA levels were analysed by using corresponding quantitative ELISA kits. The results showed that as compared to control participants, the serum PSA levels were higher in the Prostate Carcinoma and BPH groups. When mean levels of IL-18 were compared between various occupational groups, Tanners (tanning industry), Agriculture, and Ordnance workers had significantly higher levels (P < 0.05) of IL-18 than sedentary workers. The pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-18) levels were also found to be aggravated in Prostate Carcinoma compared to BPH and controls. According to the findings of the current study, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-18 and IL-10) in various occupational groups of BPH, Prostate Carcinoma, and controls were altered. Long-term occupational exposure may have a negative influence on inflammation levels and the immune system; therefore, preventative measures should be explored for improved health.

Monomethyl Phthalate Causes Early Embryo Development Delay, Apoptosis, and Energy Metabolism Disruptions Through Inducing Redox Imbalance

Phthalates are a class of environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals which can cause reproductive system damages. However, data about reproductive toxicity spectrum of phthalate metabolites among Chinese women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments are scarce yet. Previous studies regarding underlying embryo toxicities focused on oxidative stress and apoptosis, while energy metabolism abnormality might be another key cause for embryo developmental disruptions. Here, we found that among the measured eight phthalate metabolites, monomethyl phthalate (MMP) had the second highest urinary concentration in women receiving IVF. Compare to the lowest exposure level group, MMP in tertile 3 was associated with fewer counts of oocyte retrieved and good-quality embryos, and MMP in tertile 2 was correlated with reduced good-quality embryo rate. The direct embryo toxicities of MMP were studied using mouse 2-cell embryos. Consistent to results found in human populations, exposure to MMP induced mouse early embryo developmental delay. Furthermore, MMP exposure led to excessive reactive oxygen species production in early embryos, and antioxidant can partially rescue the early embryo development slow down. Embryo apoptosis could also be caused by oxidative stress. To be noted, elevated apoptosis level was not found in live "slow" embryos but dead embryos, which suggested that apoptosis was not related to early embryo developmental delay. Additionally, MMP exposure depleted adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis of early embryos, which could be reversed by antioxidant. In conclusion, MMP, as the newly found embryonic toxicant in Chinese women, resulted in early embryo development delay, apoptosis, and energy metabolism disruptions via inducing redox imbalance.

Benzophenone-2 exerts reproductive toxicity in male rats

Benzophenone derivatives such as benzophenone-2 (BP-2) belong to the group of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Increased exposure to EDCs is considered to be an important factor behind the decline of human fertility. The main aim of the present study was to determine the effect of BP-2 on testicular function specified by sperm analysis, the level of sex hormones and their receptors. Since BP-2 has been shown to activate the immune system, another aim of the research was to verify the hypothesis that the immune system may be contributing to the testis toxicity of this compound and for this purpose changes in macrophage and lymphocyte populations in the testes were determined. BP-2 at a dose of 100 mg/kg was administered dermally, twice daily at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 4-weeks. It was shown that BP-2 reduced the number and motility of sperm and increased the number of sperm showing morphological changes. By determining the concentration of sex hormones, a significant decrease in testosterone levels and an increase in the blood levels of 17β-estradiol were demonstrated. Similar to the results obtained from the blood samples, testosterone levels in the testes were lowered, which could affect sperm parameters. The effect of BP-2 on lowering testosterone levels and the number of sperm cells may be due to immunoactivation in the testes, because it has been detected that this compound significantly decreased the number of the immunosuppressive resident testicular macrophages (TMs) (CD68-CD163+), but increased pro-inflammatory TMs with monocyte-like properties (CD68+CD163-).

Parental occupational exposure to solvents and risk of developing testicular germ cell tumors among sons: a French nationwide case-control study (TESTIS study)

OBJECTIVES

The etiology of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) is suspected to be related to prenatal environmental risk factors. Some solvents have potential endocrine disrupting or carcinogenic properties and may disrupt male genital development in utero. The aim of this study was to examine the association between parental occupational exposure to solvents and TGCT risk among their offspring.

METHODS

A French nationwide case-control study, TESTIS included 454 TGCT cases and 670 controls frequency-matched on region and 5-year age strata. Participants were interviewed via telephone and provided information on parental occupations at birth. Job-exposure matrices (JEM) developed in the French Matgéné program were used to assign exposure to five petroleum-based solvents, five solvents or groups of oxygenated solvents, and five chlorinated solvents. Odds ratios (OR) for TGCT and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for TGCT risk factors.

RESULTS

Occupational exposure to at least one solvent during the year of their son's birth was 41% among fathers and 21% among mothers. Paternal exposure to at least one solvent showed OR 0.89 (95% CI 0.68-1.15). Exposure to perchloroethylene (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.55-3.61), methylene chloride (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.54-2.34) and diesel/kerosene/fuel oil (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.80-1.73) disclosed OR >1 but with low precision. Our results suggest a possible modest increase in non-seminoma risk for sons whose fathers were highly exposed to trichloroethylene (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.79-2.63). Maternal exposure to at least one solvent showed OR 0.90 (95% CI 0.65-1.24). When stratifying by birth year, men born in the 1970s experienced an increased TGCT risk following maternal exposure to fuels and petroleum-based solvents (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.11-6.76).

CONCLUSION

Overall, no solid association was found between parental occupational exposure to solvents and TGCT risk. The association found with maternal occupational exposure to fuels and petroleum solvents among older men needs further investigation.

Research advances in identification procedures of endocrine disrupting chemicals

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are increasingly concerned substance endangering human health and environment. However, there is no unified standard for identifying chemicals as EDCs, which is also controversial internationally. In this review, the procedures for EDC identification in different organizations/countries were described. Importantly, three aspects to be considered in identifying chemical substances as EDCs were summarized, which were mechanistic data, animal experiments, and epidemiological information. The relationships between them were also discussed. To elaborate more clearly on these three aspects of evidence, scientific data on some chemicals including bisphenol A, 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2 dibromoethyl) cyclohexane and perchlorate were collected and evaluated. Altogether, the above three chemicals were assessed for interfering with hormones and elaborated their health hazards from macroscopic to microscopic. This review is helpful for standardizing the identification procedure of EDCs.

Current perspectives in hypospadias research: A scoping review of articles published in 2021 (Review)

Hundreds of papers are written about hypospadias every year referring to all aspects of the pathology, being one of the most common congenital malformations. The present study conducted a scoping review of articles published in 2021 to present the main issues and summarize current perspectives and achievements in the field. It searched for the keyword 'hypospadias' in the three most popular databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science). After the analysis of the publications, they were categorized into different domains. The present review was performed respecting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) guidelines. A total of 284 articles were included. These were published in 142 different journals. The most accessed was the Journal of Paediatric Urology with 54 articles. The main identified domains were related to surgical techniques, postoperative care, complications, anesthesia, anatomical factors, genetics, environmental factors, endocrinology, associated malformations, questionnaires and recommendations, management, biological materials, animal models, retrospective studies of centers, social media, bibliometrics, small gestational age, neoplasm, or fertility. Promising modifications of existing surgical techniques were presented with improved outcomes for both the proximal and distal types of hypospadias. Relevant anatomical and etiological, and also genetic factors were clarified. Aspects of the peri- and postoperative management referring to the antibiotherapy, analgesia, dressing techniques, and the future use of novel bioengineering agents to prevent, reduce or treat the occurring complications were discussed.

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Disease Endpoints

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have significant impacts on biological systems, and have been shown to interfere with physiological systems, especially by disrupting the hormone balance. During the last few decades, EDCs have been shown to affect reproductive, neurological, and metabolic development and function and even stimulate tumor growth. EDC exposure during development can disrupt normal development patterns and alter susceptibility to disease. Many chemicals have endocrine-disrupting properties, including bisphenol A, organochlorines, polybrominated flame retardants, alkylphenols, and phthalates. These compounds have gradually been elucidated as risk factors for many diseases, such as reproductive, neural, and metabolic diseases and cancers. Endocrine disruption has been spread to wildlife and species that are connected to the food chains. Dietary uptake represents an important source of EDC exposure. Although EDCs represent a significant public health concern, the relationship and specific mechanism between EDCs and diseases remain unclear. This review focuses on the disease-EDC relationship and the disease endpoints associated with endocrine disruption for a better understanding of the relationship between EDCs-disease and elucidates the development of new prevention/treatment opportunities and screening methods.

Assessing the relationship between hypospadias risk and parental occupational exposure to potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals

OBJECTIVE

The association between periconceptional parental exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and hypospadias remains inconclusive and controversial. Therefore, we conducted a hospital-based retrospective study to assess the relationship between hypospadias risk and parental occupational exposure to potential EDCs.

METHODS

Incident cases (n=73) were boys between 0 and 14 years diagnosed with hypospadias with no micropenis or cryptorchidism. Controls (n=146) were an age-matched group of boys without any congenital malformations, inguinal hernia, nephrological, urological and genital disorders. Their selection was independent of exposures to EDCs. Data on parental occupation and sociodemographic variables were collected using a structured questionnaire. We evaluated parental occupational exposures using a previously validated job-exposure matrix (JEM) for EDCs.

RESULTS

In our case-control study, 30.1% of all pregnancies had likely exposure to potential EDCs. The most prevalent occupations conferring possible exposure were related to activities on farms. Maternal and paternal occupational exposure to potential EDCs significantly increased the risk of mild hypospadias than moderate-to-severe hypospadias (OR=6.55 vs OR=4.63). Among various categories, parental occupational exposure to pesticides was associated with at least a twofold increased risk of hypospadias. Maternal EDC exposure during the first trimester significantly increased the risk of bearing a hypospadiac child (OR=4.72 (95% CI 2.10 to 10.60)).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that EDCs are a risk factor for hypospadias through occupational exposure during fetal life.

Parental smoking and risk of hypospadias: An updated meta-analysis of observational studies

Background

Inconsistent relationships have been shown between cigarette smoking and hypospadias in offspring. The purpose of this study was to summarize epidemiological evidence to evaluate the relationship between parental smoking and the risk of hypospadias.

Methods

Up until October 2022, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for qualified research. The summary RRs and 95% CIs were calculated using either a fixed-effects or a random-effects model. There were subgroup analyses undertaken to identify potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results

44 studies with 16,637,830 participants were included in our meta-analysis. Overall, maternal active smoking [risk ratio (RR) = 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90-0.99; P < 0.01] was significantly associated with the risk of hypospadias. And neither paternal smoking (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.86-1.15) nor maternal passive smoking (RR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.60-1.23) was associated with the risk of hypospadias.

Conclusion

Our study discovered an association between maternal active smoking and a decreased risk of hypospadias, which may be due to the effect of smoking on androgen. However, as numerous studies have proved that cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of overall birth abnormalities in offspring, quitting cigarettes before pregnancy positively influences the health of offspring and should be advocated worldwide.

Systematic review registration

[www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero], identifier [CRD42022319378].

Where do you live and what do you do? Two questions that might impact your kidney health

In many cases the social determinants of health need to be assessed through their interaction with environmental factors. This review looks at the impact of physical location and occupation of individuals on their kidney health. It examines the effect of living at high altitude on kidney function and the relationship between extreme cold or hot temperatures and the incidence of kidney injury. It reviews as well the many occupations that have been linked to kidney disease in high-income and low-and-middle-income countries. As a conclusion, this overview proposes preventive recommendations that could be individualized based on weather, altitude, socio-economic level of the country and occupation of the individual.

An experimental evaluation of the efficacy of perinatal sulforaphane supplementation to decrease the incidence and severity of vinclozolin-induced hypospadias in the mouse model

Determining the mechanisms of toxicity induced by pollutants has long been a research priority in lieu of considering the mechanisms of resilience that prevent deleterious impacts. Protective mechanisms in many taxa can be therapeutically targeted to enhance resilience to synthetic toxicants. For example, the environmental sensor, Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nfe2l2 or Nrf2), a transcription factor, facilitates transcription of many protective genes. Hypospadias is a common malformation of the penis. The risk of being born with hypospadias increases with pollutant exposure. We use vinclozolin-induced hypospadias in the mouse as a model to test the hypothesis that pollutant-induced birth defects can be prevented and reduced in severity by augmenting natural mechanisms of resilience. Pregnant mice were exposed to the demasculinizing toxicant, vinclozolin, in combination with increasing doses of the NRF2 activator, sulforaphane. The sulforaphane dose that most effectively increased masculinization (anogenital distance) was identified and used to test the hypothesis that sulforaphane reduces the hypospadias-inducing potency of vinclozolin. Finally, a Nrf2 knockout study was conducted to test whether NRF2 was required for the sulforaphane-induced rescue effects. Sulforaphane supplementation to vinclozolin exposed embryos increased anogenital distance in a nonlinear fashion typical of Nrf2 activators. The most effective dose of sulforaphane (45 mg/kg) reduced the occurrence and severity of vinclozolin-induced hypospadias and corrected penis morphogenesis. The sulforaphane-induced rescue effect was dependent on the presence of Nrf2. Nrf2 plays a critical role in protecting the fetus from vinclozolin and reduces the incidence and severity of hypospadias, the most common birth defect in boys in many countries. This work lays a foundation for developing prenatal supplements that will protect the fetus from pollutant-induced hypospadias. Studying the protective mechanisms that drive resilience to toxicants will facilitate innovation of protective therapies.