Familial amyloid polyneuropathy was first described by Corino de Andrade in 1952 in Northern Portugal. It is a fatal autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progression of neurologic symptoms, beginning early in the reproductive life. The Transthyretin gene mutation originates a mutated protein that precipitates in the connective tissue as amyloid deposits. This disease...

Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial disease, causing a significant burden to females due to reproductive dysfunction. Intensive screening and antibiotic treatment are unable to completely prevent female reproductive dysfunction, thus, efforts have become focused on developing a vaccine. A major impediment is identifying a safe and effective ...

Investigation of chemical exposures as possible etiologic factors for breast cancer has not been a research priority in the United States, which is surprising given the evidence from animal studies that environmental chemicals cause cancer and reproductive dysfunction. Study of environmental chemicals has also been indicated by the failure of traditional epidemiologic methods to account for sig...

Neurology Andrew G. Herzog, Pavel Klein and Alan R. Jacobs dysfunction in men with epilepsy and hypogonadism Testosterone versus testosterone and testolactone in treating reproductive and sexual This information is current as of January 7, 2010 http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/50/3/782 the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and service...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive age women.1 According to National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria (presence of ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism, after exclusion of related disorders), PCOS is estimated to affect 6–8% of women in the US, the prevalence is estimated to be almost doubled to 15% when on the Rotterdam criteria are ...

Hypertension in women of childbearing age is a challenging medical problem with increasing prevalence. Essential hypertension remains the most common diagnosis in young women. Reproductive goals and possible teratogenic effects must be considered when initiating therapy. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are frequent causes of maternal/fetal morbidity and mortality, the most common being pree...

Controlled oxidation, such as disulfide bond formation in sperm nuclei and during ovulation, plays a fundamental role in mammalian reproduction. Excess oxidation, however, causes oxidative stress, resulting in the dysfunction of the reproductive process. Antioxidation reactions that reduce the levels of reactive oxygen species are of prime importance in reproductive systems in maintaining the q...

Women's health is an area that is gaining increasing attention with the realization that men's and women's bodies don't just look different-they also react differently to environmental agents. Barbara J. Davis, head of the Female Reproductive Pathology Group and now acting chief of the newly created Laboratory of Women's Health, is leading women's health studies at the NIEHS. Over the course of...

Exercise-induced or athletic menstrual dysfunction (amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, anovulation, luteal phase deficiency, delayed menarche) is more common in active women and can significantly affect health and sport performance. Although athletic amenorrhoea represents the most extreme form of menstrual dysfunction, other forms can also result in suppressed estrogen levels and affect bone health...

Many environmental contaminants disrupt the vertebrate endocrine system. Although they may be no more sensitive to endocrine-disrupting contaminants (EDCs) than other vertebrates, reptiles are good sentinels of exposure to EDCs due to the lability in their sex determination. This is exemplified by a study of alligators at Lake Apopka, Florida, showing that EDCs have altered the balance of repro...