Rev Invest Clin
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The emergence of coronavirus disease 19 pandemic and novel research on the high transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has raised controversies over the use of face masks to prevent community transmission. Specific regulations need to be fulfilled to use a face mask as part of the personal protective equipment and high quality of evidence supporting its use to prevent respiratory viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, is lacking. However, its widespread use is becoming a standard practice in some countries and discrepancies between health authorities on their policy have led to controversy. The aim of this review is to provide an outlook on recent research in this matter and areas of opportunity.
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Several studies have evaluated the effect of infectious diseases and vaccine protocols during pregnancy on maternal milk immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, to understand the protection conferred by lactation on newborns. Colostrum is the primary source of maternal IgA for the newborn. IgA participates in protection mechanisms in the neonate's mucosa. In humans, IgA has two subclasses with differential anatomical distribution among mucosal compartments. Total IgA levels in maternal milk vary after antigen stimulation and have differential affinities in function of the chemical composition of the antigens. We studied the effect of antigenic stimulation during pregnancy on the concentrations of specific IgA1 and IgA2 subclasses in human colostrum. ⋯ Antigen interaction during pregnancy increased the amount of specific IgA subclasses, depending on the chemical composition of the antigen.
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The pituitary gland is responsible for the synthesis and secretion of various hormones that play a key role in regulating endocrine function and homeostasis. Pituitary adenomas (PA) are benign epithelial tumors arising from the endocrine cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Clinically relevant PA are relatively common and they occur in 0.1% of the general population. ⋯ Pituitary tumor oncogenesis involves several mechanisms that eventually lead to abnormal cell proliferation and dysregulated hormone production. Among these factors, we found inactivating mutations of tumor suppressor genes, activating mutation of oncogenes and the participation of hormonal signals coming from the hypothalamus, all resulting in cell-cycle regulation abnormalities. In this review, we summarize the clinical and pathophysiological aspects of the different hereditary pituitary tumor syndromes.