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Background:The human androgen receptor (AR) gene contains two polymorphisms of CAGand GGNrepeats respectively. The GGNrepeat function is still largely unknown and to date there are no in vivodata on this segment with respect to the general population.Methods:We investigated the impact of CAGand GGNrepeats on male reproductive function, one by one and in interaction with each other, in 220 adolescent men from the general Swedish population. Physical examination and semen analysis, including accessory sex gland markers and measurement of reproductive hormone levels, were performed. Lifestyle-associated factors, including maternal smoking during pregnancy, were recorded. GGNand CAGrepeat lengths were determined by sequencing.Results: GGN<23 was associated with lower semen volume when compared to GGN=23 (mean difference −0.6 ml, P=0.02) and GGN>23 (mean difference −0.9 ml, P=0.002). Men with GGN<23, exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy, had higher body mass index compared to men with other GGNlengths, no matter whether their mother had smoked or not during pregnancy (mean difference 4.8 kg/m2, P<0.001).Conclusions:Short GGNrepeats seem to be associated with decreased semen volume, possibly due to suboptimal AR activity. Body composition may be influenced by the combination of fetal exposure to maternal smoking and certain AR genotypes.

BACKGROUND: The human androgen receptor (AR) gene contains two polymorphisms of CAG and GGN repeats respectively. The GGN repeat function is still largely unknown and to date there are no in vivo data on this segment with respect to the general population. METHODS: We investigated the impact of CAG and GGN repeats on male reproductive function, one by one and in interaction with each other, in 220 adolescent men from the general Swedish population. Physical examination and semen analysis, including accessory sex gland markers and measurement of reproductive hormone levels, were performed. Lifestyle-associated factors, including maternal smoking during pregnancy, were recorded. GGN and CAG repeat lengths were determined by sequencing. RESULTS: GGN<23 was associated with lower semen volume when compared to GGN=23 (mean difference –0.6 ml, P=0.02) and GGN>23 (mean difference –0.9 ml, P=0.002). Men with GGN<23, exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy, had higher body mass index compared to men with other GGN lengths, no matter whether their mother had smoked or not during pregnancy (mean difference 4.8 kg/m2, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Short GGN repeats seem to be associated with decreased semen volume, possibly due to suboptimal AR activity. Body composition may be influenced by the combination of fetal exposure to maternal smoking and certain AR genotypes.

A common aetiology behind time-related deterioration of male reproductive function, including decline of sperm concentration and rising incidence of testicular cancer and cryptorchidism, has been suggested. Accordingly, a high incidence of testicular cancer and low sperm counts have been observed in Denmark, while in Finland opposite figures were found. This may be due to genetic factors. The incidence of testicular cancer is 50% lower in Sweden than in Denmark. Data on sperm counts in a population of Danish military conscripts have been published and we wished therefore to compare them with semen parameters in a corresponding cohort from Southern Sweden, geographically and genetically very closely related to Denmark.

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess whether a high dietary intake of fatty fish from the Baltic Sea, contaminated with persistent organochlorine compounds, might increase the risk for congenital malformations and perinatal death. Methods: A cohort of fishermen's wives from the Swedish east coast (at the Baltic Sea) were linked to the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR), resulting in the identification of 1501 infants born in the period 1973–1991. A further linkage with the Swedish Registry of Congenital Malformations was performed. Similar linkages were made for a comparison group of fishermen's wives from the Swedish west coast, who gave birth to 3553 infants during the study period. The reproductive end points studied included congenital malformations, stillbirths, and early neonatal deaths. The expected numbers of these end points were calculated from the MBR data for the regional populations. Results: In the east coast cohort, 3.3% of the infants had some malformation diagnosis as compared with 5.0% of the west coast cohort. As compared with the general population, somewhat fewer malformations than expected were diagnosed in the east coast cohort (risk ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.58–1.04). No specific malformation was overrepresented in the east coast cohort. The risk ratios for stillbirths and early neonatal deaths did not significantly differ from unity in any of the cohorts. Conclusions: The present results exclude in an unequivocal way an association between exposure to persistent organochlorines from fatty Baltic Sea fish and an increased risk for all congenital malformations and perinatal death. The limited power of the study design, however, does not allow the exclusion of slight risk excesses for some specific types of malformation.

Abstract: Objectives: To explore the natural course of musculoskeletal disorders during a 5-year period among dental personnel, to survey findings and diagnoses according to a standardized protocol, and to compare and evaluate different methods for the detection of musculoskeletal disorders in a population. Methods: In a 5-year follow-up study, dental personnel (n = 90) and referents (n = 30) were studied. The Nordic questionnaire (years 0 and 5), the present pain rating according to the Borg category ratio scale, and physical examination (year 5) were used. Results: In year 0 the prevalence of symptoms in the shoulders, the wrists/hands, and, unexpectedly, the hips was higher in the dental personnel as compared with the referents. Furthermore, those (16%) who had left the dental profession during the observation period showed a higher prevalence of and, often, combined symptoms from several body regions in year 0 than did those who stayed. Dental personnel who remained in the profession tended to have an increased risk of developing more symptoms in the shoulders and the elbows/wrists/hands in year 5 as compared with year 0 and at year 5 were in more pain and had received more diagnoses for the neck/shoulder region relative to the referents. Furthermore, there was a considerable variation in symptoms during the follow-up period. The sensitivity of the pain rating and of the Nordic questionnaire in detecting musculoskeletal disorders was high for the neck and shoulders but was not as high for the elbow, wrists/hands, or hips. The association was better for diagnoses than for findings. The opposite patterns were observed for specificity. Conclusions: Dental personnel had an increased risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders as verified by symptoms and diagnoses and more painful or persistent conditions. This led to a selection out of work. The questionnaire and the present pain rating gave a relatively good picture of the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders arising from the neck, shoulders, and hips and would be useful as screening tools. Their sensitivity in detecting disorders was higher for diagnoses than for findings. However, these methods were not as sensitive for disorders involving the elbows/wrists/hands. Physical examinations gave more detailed information.

&lt;it>Objective&lt;/it>. To explore the risk factors that have been suggested to be associated with the development of SLE. &lt;it>Methods&lt;/it>. A case–control study was performed and a questionnaire was developed to obtain the data. Consecutive female incident cases diagnosed between 1981 and 1999 in a defined geographical area in southern Sweden were included. Controls, matched for calendar year of birth, were selected randomly from the same area. In total, 85 cases and 205 controls agreed to participate. The questionnaire included questions about formal education, body weight and height, medical history, family history of autoimmune diseases, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, animals, hair&hyphen;colouring dyes, alfalfa &lpar;lucerne&rpar; sprouts, smoking and alcohol habits, history of physical traumata, blood transfusion, silicone breast implants, exogenous oestrogens, other medication, and significant negative life events. &lt;it>Results&lt;/it>. Using a multivariate model, a history of hypertension &lsqb;odds ratio &lpar;OR&rpar;&equals;3.7, 95&percnt; confidence interval &lpar;CI&rpar; 1.4–9.8], drug allergy &lpar;OR&equals;3.6, 95&percnt; CI 1.4–9.5&rpar;, a type I&sol;II sun&hyphen;reactive skin type &lpar;OR&equals;2.3, 95&percnt; CI 1.1–4.8&rpar; and a family history of SLE &lpar;OR&equals;6.8, 95&percnt; CI 1.4–32&rpar; were all significantly associated with an increased risk of developing SLE, whereas consumption of alcohol was inversely associated with the risk of SLE &lpar;use of alcohol very seldom, OR&equals;1.0; 1–150 g&sol;month, OR&equals;0.4, 95&percnt; CI 0.2–1.0; >150 g&sol;month, OR&equals;0.2, 95&percnt; CI 0.1–0.5&rpar;. A suggested association with increased SLE risk was seen for smoking &lpar;OR&equals;1.8, 95&percnt; CI 0.9–3.6&rpar; and blood transfusions &lpar;OR&equals;2.3, 95&percnt; CI 0.9–5.8&rpar;. Neither exposure to exogenous oestrogen nor exposure to hair&hyphen;colouring dyes was associated with SLE. &lt;it>Conclusions&lt;/it>. Risk factors of both exogenous and endogenous origin were identified in this population&hyphen;based series of SLE patients.