Mona A H El-Baz1, Thorya S El-Deeb2, Amira M El-Noweihi3, Khalid M Mohany4, Omar M Shaaban5, Ahmed M Abbas6. 1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: monaelbaz1@gmail.com. 2. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: Thorayaeldeeb@yahoo.com. 3. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: amira.elnewihi50@yahoo.com. 4. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: Khalidmohany9@gmail.com. 5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: omshaaban2000@yahoo.com. 6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: bmr90@hotmail.com.
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.
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: Yolisa Prudence Dube; Newton Nyapwere; Laura A Magee; Marianne Vidler; Sophie E Moore; Benjamin Barratt; Rachel Craik; Peter von Dadelszen; Prestige Tatenda Makanga Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-07-28 Impact factor: 3.390