To explore the role of the somatomedins (SM) during human pregnancy, we have measured plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-II, and SM peptide content (SMPC) in 79 women in various stages of normal pregnancies. IGF-I and IGF-II were measured by specific RIAs, and SMPC was measured by a radioreceptor assay using human placental membranes. IGF-I and SMPC rose during pregnancy, showing a significant positive correlation with the length of gestation. Plasma levels of IGF-I in the third trimester averaged 324 ng/ml, a 33% increase over the first trimester average of 243 ng/ml (P less than 0.05). Although IGF-II did not correlate with the length of gestation, the third trimester average was significantly higher than the first trimester average (780 vs. 630 ng/ml; P less than 0.05). After delivery, both IGF-I and IGF-II levels rapidly dropped to levels significantly below those seen in the third trimester. The gestational rise in SMPC and plasma levels of both IGF-I and IGF-II supports the hypothesis that SM play a role in the regulation of fetal growth.

Introduction: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has proved to be an important intervention in the reduction of both morbidity and mortality of HIV infected patients. As the use of ART increases, a number of studies have associate it to some metabolic complications including glucose intolerance, dyslipidaemia, and diabetes mellitus. Despite the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Africa and the recent increased access to Antiretroviral drugs, information on ART related insulin resistance and glucose metabolism in the African population including children is scarce if not almost non-existent posing a barrier to implementation of a monitoring plan in Angola. Objective: To describe the pattern of insulin resistance and glucose metabolism among HIV infected children on ART between 3-14 years of age at Lubango paediatric hospital. Methods: The study adopted a Cross-sectional study design and data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire, clinical examination and anthropometric measurements of HIV infected children on ART. Venous blood sample was obtained for fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin and HOMA-IR was calculated, followed by an Oral glucose tolerance test as per World Health Organization guidelines. Result: In this study, 40% (20) and 20% (10) of the children had an OGTT and calculated HOMA-IR of more than 7.8 mm/l and 1.999 respectively. In the bivariate analysis, children who had history of diabetes in the family were significantly more likely to have Insulin Resistance (p 0.027). Female sex (p 0.038), advanced clinical stage of the AIDS disease (p < 0.001) had a strong association with abnormal OGTT while long time on ARV were moderately associated with abnormal OGTT (p 0.057). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance among HIV positive children on ART on follow up at Lubango paediatrics hospital. Insulin resistance was associated with family history of Diabetes white glucose intolerance was associated with female sex, advance stage of AIDS and long time on antiretroviral therapy.