الفهرس 
FETAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
RISK FACTORS FOR ABNORMAL FETAL GROWTHOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
SUMMARY
Fetal growth is a complex process influenced by genetic,
nutritional, hormonal, placental, maternal and environmental factors.
One of the most common causes of intrauterine growth retardation is
utero-placental insufficiency that is characterized by decreased supply
of nutrients and oxygen across the placenta to the fetus .(30)
In addition to nutrients, fetal growth is dependent on a number of
hormones and growth factors produced by the fetus and the placenta.
These include insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulinlike
growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) that are the main
mediators of growth during fetal life.(17)
Insulin -like growth factors (IGFs) are GH-dependent
polypeptides that promote cell replication in most mesenchymally
derived tissues, and are responsible for the growth-promoting
effects of GH.(6)
Cigarette smoking is a major public health problem, and
constitutes a particular risk to the fetus due to the special vulnerability
during developmental stage. Smoking is common among pregnant
women in many countries.(18)
The aim of this work was to study the effect of passive maternal
smoking on the serum level of insulin like growth factor -1(IGF-1) in
neonates and to investigate the relationship between this level and
growth indices in these neonates.