Disease Biology, Genetics, and Socioecology

Welcome to the inaugural Issue of Disease Biology, Genetics, and Socioecology (DBGS)

2024-08-30T22:48:22+08:00

Editorial

Welcome to the Inaugural Issue of Disease Biology, Genetics, and Socioecology (DBGS)

Michel Tibayrenc

Institute of Research for the Development, 34394 Montpellier, France; michel.tibayrenc@ird.fr

Received: 30 August 2024; Accepted: 2 September 2024; Published: 10 September 2024

Rethinking Conservation in the Anthropocene—The Case of Holobionts

2025-03-19T15:14:30+08:00

Editorial

Rethinking Conservation in the Anthropocene—The Case of Holobionts

Seyed E. Hasnain ¹^,2,* and Niyaz Ahmed ^3,*

¹ Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IITD), New Delhi 110016, India

² Department of Life Science, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201306, India

³ Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India

* Correspondence: seyedhasnain@gmail.com (S.E.H.); niyaz.ahmed@uohyd.ac.in (N.A.)

Received: 29 September 2024; Accepted: 9 October 2024; Published: 11 October 2024

Managing Gender Dysphoria in Minors—What Insights Does Evidence-Based Medicine Offer in 2024?

2025-03-19T15:19:11+08:00

Review

Managing Gender Dysphoria in Minors—What Insights Does Evidence-Based Medicine Offer in 2024?

Beryl Koener ¹, Alexandre Ledrait ² and Céline Masson ³^,*

¹ Centre Pédiatrique Pluridisciplinaire «Riza», Avenue des Combattants, 29, B-1420 Bousval, Belgium

² Laboratoire de Psychologie Caen Normandie (LPCN), Université de Caen, 14032 Caen, France

³ Department of Psychology, Research Center for the History of Societies, Sciences and Conflict, University of Picardie Jules Verne, 80025 Amiens, France

* Correspondence: celine.masson@u-picardie.fr

Received: 7 November 2024; Revised: 6 January 2025; Accepted: 10 January 2025; Published: 17 January 2025

Abstract: Context: A dramatic increase in young people experiencing gender distress has been observed globally over the past 10–15 years, resulting in a surge in demand for specialized care. This increase is particularly notable among female adolescents. Significant misinformation surrounds the clinical management of minors with gender dysphoria/incongruence. While guidelines from organizations such as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) have historically guided treatment of the minors, based on the Dutch Protocol, these are increasingly challenged due to their reliance on weak scientific evidence. Recent systematic reviews, including those informing the UK’s Cass Review, have critically evaluated existing evidence, highlighting inconsistencies and insufficient data on the benefits and risks associated with established treatment protocols. This has prompted a readjustment of the framework use of the protocol in several countries, fueled by concerns over both clinical outcomes and ethical implications. The emergence of the debated notion of “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” (ROGD) further complicate the clinical landscape and necessitate a critical review of current approaches. Method: The article reviews available evidence-based data on the care of children and adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria/incongruence, primarily focusing on systematic reviews, including those used to inform the recent Cass Review. The analysis includes international literature and hypotheses regarding the increase in children and adolescents seeking for sex/gender reassignment. Results: Systematic reviews reveal a lack of sufficient data regarding the benefits and risks linked to the use of the Dutch Protocol. Many guidelines promoting gender-affirming care are based on weak evidence. Studies highlight a high co-occurrence of mental health issues in young people seeking care for gender dysphoria. The systematic reviews also reveal significant methodological inconsistencies across different studies, mainly focusing on the lack of long-term follow-up. Conclusions: The evidence suggests the arguments supporting the use of early interventions such as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones are not sufficiently supported by scientific evidence. Concerns regarding the long-term effects and ethical implications of current treatments are raised. Moreover, the article advocates for a more holistic approach to care, prioritizing evidence-based principles and addressing the mental health needs of these young people. It also highlights the recommandations of the Cass Review and the European Society of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry (ESCAP), calling for further research with larger, more representative samples and long-term follow-up to fully evaluate treatment protocols.

Reinfection Mechanisms of Various Viruses and Their Societal Implications

2025-03-19T15:19:08+08:00

Review

Reinfection Mechanisms of Various Viruses and Their Societal Implications

Ryusuke Kimura ^1,2,^†, Yuriko Hayashi ^3,^†, Yuka Sato-Fujimoto ⁴, Kei Miyakawa ⁵, Kazuya Shirato ⁶, Koo Nagasawa ⁷, Fuminori Mizukoshi ⁶, Takeshi Tsugawa ⁸, Akihide Ryo ⁴ and Hirokazu Kimura ^2,3,*

¹ Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi-shi 371-8511, Gunma, Japan

² Advanced Medical Science Research Center, Gunma Paz University, Takasaki-shi 370-0006, Gunma, Japan

³ Department of Health Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma Paz University, Takasaki-shi 370-0006, Gunma, Japan

⁴ Faculty of Healthcare, Tokyo Healthcare University, Setagaya-ku 141-8648, Tokyo, Japan

⁵ Research Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama-shi 208-011, Tokyo, Japan

⁶ Department of Virology III, Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases,
Musashimurayama-shi 208-0011, Tokyo, Japan

⁷ Department of Pediatrics, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba-shi 260-8670, Chiba, Japan

⁸ Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo-shi 060-8543, Hokkaido, Japan

* Correspondence: h-kimura@paz.ac.jp

† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Received: 27 December 2024; Revised: 22 January 2025; Accepted: 24 February 2025; Published: 26 February 2025

Abstract: Viral infections involve numerous pathogens, some of which allow reinfection while others, such as measles virus, provide lifelong immunity. The differences in reinfection mechanisms can be attributed to variations in viral antigenicity and host immune responses. Measles virus exhibits highly conserved hemagglutinin (HA) proteins, where neutralizing antibody-binding regions overlap with host receptor-binding sites, resulting in effective immune protection against reinfection. In contrast, influenza viruses undergo rapid antigenic evolution driven by immune selection pressures, leading to immune escape variants that facilitate annual reinfections. SARS-CoV-2, similarly, shows frequent mutations in its spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD), contributing to reinfection despite prior immunity from vaccination or infection. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human respirovirus type 3 (HRV3) are monoserotype viruses capable of lifelong reinfections. Structural analyses indicate that their conformational epitopes do not align with neutralizing antibody-binding sites, undermining the effectiveness of immune responses. To better understand these mechanisms highlights the interplay between viral evolution and host defenses, providing essential insights for developing targeted vaccines and therapeutic strategies to combat respiratory virus reinfections. Moreover, understanding of the reinfection mechanisms regarding various virus infections may significantly influence public health policies, emphasizing the need for effective vaccination strategies, risk communication, and consideration of cultural factors to address challenges in vaccine adoption, health behaviors, and societal stigma.

East Meets West: Overcoming Barriers to Compliance with Mitigation Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2025-03-10T09:48:33+08:00

Opinion

East Meets West: Overcoming Barriers to Compliance with Mitigation Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Julian W. Tang ^1,*, Daniel Pan ¹ and Tze Ping Loh ²

¹Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK

²Laboratory Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore

* Correspondence: Julian.tang@uhl-tr.nhs.uk; Tel.: +44-116-258-6516/3574; Fax: +44-116-255-1949

Received: 12 December 2024; Revised: 5 March 2025; Accepted: 10 March 2025; Published: 12 March 2025

Abstract: The initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic varied among different countries and cultures with large contrasts in outcomes. Western countries were generally slow in implementing pandemic restrictions while Southeast/ East-Asian countries quickly adopted social distancing, universal masking, mass testing and lockdown measures – resulting in fewer COVID-19 cases and death. Despite the apparent benefits of these restrictions, many countries did not adopt similar actions, allowing the virus to spread further in their populations. Three cultural barriers may explain the poor compliance. “We are not like them” refers to the exceptionalism attitudes by Western (British/ European) countries over their former colonies leading to reluctance in following effective pandemic responses of the latter. “We cannot be like them” posits that Western countries cannot emulate the operational and infrastructure readiness in coping with pandemic that the Asian countries have inculcated following the 2003 SARS-CoV-1 outbreak since their healthcare services are more optimized for non-communicable disease management. “We don’t want to be like them” describes the Western individualism attitudes (as opposed to the general collectivism attitudes of Asian countries) that impedes with compliance with social restrictions. Underlying compliance include various factors: social norms, self-interest vs. prosocial actions, individual vs. collectivism action, value reframing. To improve compliance, public health messaging needs to be consistent, nuanced and customized to its target audience, with specific attention paid to vulnerable populations. Going forwards, during inter-pandemic periods, policy-makers need to understand and be more aware of localised practices and cultures that require specific interventions to get sufficient ‘buy-in’ from such groups, so that their compliance can be more reliable for any future pandemic response when such an event again arises.