(Feminist) Academic friendships: Discussing and re-thinking the labour of love

In this collaborative piece, originated from a series of conversations between the authors, we reflect on our friendship as a form of peer-to-peer mentorship and as an experience of informal collaboration. Drawing from our academic relationship, the article also makes some broader considerations on the meanings and potentials of academic friendships and how they offer an unvaluable source of mutual and self-care in the context of neoliberal academia

Newborn of mothers affected by autoimmune thyroiditis: the importance of thyroid function monitoring in the first months of life

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>evaluation of thyroid function in neonates born from mothers affected by autoimmune thyroiditis in order to define if a precise follow-up is necessary for these children. The influence of maternal thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and L-thyroxine therapy during pregnancy on neonatal thyroid function was also investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>129 neonates were tested for thyroid function by measurement of free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in 3^thday, 15^thday and at one month of life. TPOAb were measured in all patients; periodical control of thyroid function were performed until 6 months of life if Ab were positive. Data concerning etiology of maternal hypothyroidism and maternal replacement therapy with L-thyroxine during pregnancy were retrospectively collected.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>28% neonates showed at least a mild increase of TSH value at the different determinations. In the majority of them, a spontaneous completely normalisation of TSH value was observed within the first month life. L-thyroxine replacement therapy was started in 3 neonates. TPOAb titer and maternal L-thyroxine replacement therapy were not related to alteration of thyroid hormone function in our study population.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>transient mild elevation of serum TSH above the normal reference value for age is frequently observed in the first month of life in infants born from mothers affected by autoimmune thyroiditis. Persistent hyperthyrotropinemia requiring replacement therapy is observed in 2.2% of these neonates. According to our experience, follow-up is recommended in these newborns; the most accurate and not invasive way to carefully monitor these infants after neonatal screening for CH seems to be serum-testing TSH between 2^ndand 4^thweek of life.</p