Persistent evidence suggests that sex disparities exist in most non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as well as certain infectious diseases. For instance, the age-standardized cancer incidence rates at shared sites are substantially higher in men than in women. This “sex dimorphism” is also observed in cardiovascular disease and diabetes in relation to incidence and prognostics. Recently, it is observed a male bias in COVID-19 mortality in nearly all countries with available sex-disaggregated data, and the risk of death in males is ~1.7 times higher than in females. Sex differences are intertwined with differences in gender roles socially and with sex-specific dietary factors, which can also influence disease incidence and outcomes.
Although many studies suggest both genetic and lifestyle factors including dietary patterns play important and sex-specific roles in disease development, the role of gender is still obscure and is in urgent need of comprehensive investigation. Many confounders may bias the association in epidemiological research in relation to sex. There are possible biological mechanisms of male sex bias that affect the severity of NCDs, particularly with respect to immune responses. Variability of risk factors for NCDs, such as hypertension, fasting glucose, and insulin can also be explained by sex-dimorphic genetic effects and novel loci.
The main objective of this Research Topic is to understand the recent advances on the roles of gender and dietary patterns in the etiology and prognosis of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain infectious diseases. This Research Topic will cover topics including sex disparity immunotherapy outcomes, genetic and transcriptomic analysis to reveal mechanisms of sex dimorphism in immune response, and the development of novel biomarkers for precision treatment. These topics will help to clarify the role of gender and its molecular basis in disease susceptibility, etiology, and treatment.
Specifically, we welcome the submissions of Original Research (including Meta-analyses) and Reviews articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following terms:
1. The impact of sex/gender on etiology and prognosis of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain infectious diseases
2. Sex-specific dietary/lifestyle pattern associated with health outcomes
3. Gene-gender/gender-dietary pattern interactions in disease susceptibility and prognosis
4. The potential underlying mechanism of sex dimorphism in immune response and immunotherapy outcomes
Persistent evidence suggests that sex disparities exist in most non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as well as certain infectious diseases. For instance, the age-standardized cancer incidence rates at shared sites are substantially higher in men than in women. This “sex dimorphism” is also observed in cardiovascular disease and diabetes in relation to incidence and prognostics. Recently, it is observed a male bias in COVID-19 mortality in nearly all countries with available sex-disaggregated data, and the risk of death in males is ~1.7 times higher than in females. Sex differences are intertwined with differences in gender roles socially and with sex-specific dietary factors, which can also influence disease incidence and outcomes.
Although many studies suggest both genetic and lifestyle factors including dietary patterns play important and sex-specific roles in disease development, the role of gender is still obscure and is in urgent need of comprehensive investigation. Many confounders may bias the association in epidemiological research in relation to sex. There are possible biological mechanisms of male sex bias that affect the severity of NCDs, particularly with respect to immune responses. Variability of risk factors for NCDs, such as hypertension, fasting glucose, and insulin can also be explained by sex-dimorphic genetic effects and novel loci.
The main objective of this Research Topic is to understand the recent advances on the roles of gender and dietary patterns in the etiology and prognosis of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain infectious diseases. This Research Topic will cover topics including sex disparity immunotherapy outcomes, genetic and transcriptomic analysis to reveal mechanisms of sex dimorphism in immune response, and the development of novel biomarkers for precision treatment. These topics will help to clarify the role of gender and its molecular basis in disease susceptibility, etiology, and treatment.
Specifically, we welcome the submissions of Original Research (including Meta-analyses) and Reviews articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following terms:
1. The impact of sex/gender on etiology and prognosis of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain infectious diseases
2. Sex-specific dietary/lifestyle pattern associated with health outcomes
3. Gene-gender/gender-dietary pattern interactions in disease susceptibility and prognosis
4. The potential underlying mechanism of sex dimorphism in immune response and immunotherapy outcomes
