title: Environmental factors and apoptotic indices in patients with intrauterine growth retardation: a nested case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Egypt has one of the highest incidences of IUGR. The current study investigates the effect of heavy metals toxicity as risk factors of IUGR and determines the possible role of increased apoptosis in their pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in Assiut, Egypt, included 60 women diagnosed to have IUGR. We measured lead and cadmium levels in blood besides arsenic and cadmium levels in urine. Neonatal scalp hair sample were analyzed for arsenic content. Quantitative determination of human placental Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are significantly higher levels of heavy metals and caspase-3 and lower levels of placental Bcl-2 in the IUGR group. The levels of heavy metals were positively correlated with caspase-3 while negatively correlated (except cadmium) with Bcl-2 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an alarming high level of heavy metals toxicity in Egypt that was positively correlated to IUGR. Increased placental apoptosis may be one of the possible mechanisms behind the effect.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: monaelbaz1@gmail.com.
authors: Mona A H
authors: MA
authors: El-Baz
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: Thorayaeldeeb@yahoo.com.
authors: Thorya S
authors: TS
authors: El-Deeb
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: amira.elnewihi50@yahoo.com.
authors: Amira M
authors: AM
authors: El-Noweihi
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: Khalidmohany9@gmail.com.
authors: Khalid M
authors: KM
authors: Mohany
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: omshaaban2000@yahoo.com.
authors: Omar M
authors: OM
authors: Shaaban
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: bmr90@hotmail.com.
authors: Ahmed M
authors: AM
authors: Abbas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011041:Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D053148:Caspase 3; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Apoptosis; Arsenic; Cadmium; Caspase-3; IUGR; Lead