Weekly readings archive 

This document aims to provide guidance and recommendations for drafting research studies and protocols that consider sex and gender determinants. After outlining the various factors that contribute to sex and gender differences, it explores the key issues related to preclinical, epidemiological, and clinical studies from a gender perspective. 

It was 1991 when American cardiologist Bernardine Healy brought the narrative premise of Singer’s story into medicine and, sparking great debate, published the article “The Yentl Syndrome” in the New England Journal of Medicine. In her article, the cardiologist described the discrimination she had observed at the cardiology institute she directed: women were hospitalized less often and underwent fewer diagnostic (coronary angiography) and therapeutic procedures (thrombolysis, stents, bypass surgery) compared to men. Since then, the “Yentl Syndrome” has been used in the medical field to describe the phenomenon in which women who present symptoms or conditions that do not match those of men become victims of diagnostic errors and ineffective treatments. Where do we stand 30 years after that article? 

Violence against women is a relevant health and social problem with negative consequences on women’s health. The interaction between genome and environmental factors, such as violence, represents one of the major challenges in molecular medicine. The Epigenetics for WomEn (EpiWE) project is a multidisciplinary pilot study that intends to investigate the epigenetic signatures associated with intimate partner and sexual violence-induced stress-related disorders. 

All the professional figures involved in communication activities related to research should make their own contribution to achieving this objective: overseeing the relationship between the number of female authors and that of male authors of papers accepted for publication; checking the consistency of the position of the signatures of authors in relation to the contribution to the research work and the preparation of articles, as well as on the improper recognition of honorary authorship; ensuring a balanced composition of scientific committees in terms of gender; monitoring the peer review process of contributions received and avoiding any gender bias in the evaluation of articles. 

In the era of the technological revolution, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in crucial sectors such as biomedicine and healthcare is providing unprecedented opportunities to improve diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention. However, the increasing use of these technologies raises concerns related to sex and gender inequalities embedded in AI algorithms 

Endometriosis affects 10% of women in their reproductive years and nearly half of women with infertility, and its etiology remains unclear. Pharmacological therapy is generally based on progestins like progestogen. This drug binds to progesterone receptors with many known side effects. Here, we describe the case of a 33-year-old woman surgically treated for endometriosis who continued with drug therapy based on estradiol valerate and dienogest. Considering the pharmacodynamics of dienogest versus selective progesterone receptor modulators, it can be assumed that the patient’s clinical events are related to a specific response at sites where steroids bind to the progesterone receptor. Dienogest may have induced CSC as a yet uncharacterized side effect of the drug. Undoubtedly, further specific studies are needed concerning the metabolic and pharmacodynamic aspects that cannot be fully addressed here. 

Gender Medicine Tells Us It’s Time to Change by Silvia De Francia delves into how health, a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution, is shaped by deep socio-cultural and biological inequalities. The article highlights the importance of gender-specific medicine, which takes sex and gender differences into account in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, moving beyond the historically androcentric approach of medical science. With references to Italian regulatory innovations and ongoing challenges, the piece underscores the urgency of promoting a healthcare system that is fair, inclusive, and respectful of each individual's uniqueness. 

The University of Turin launches Italy's first interdisciplinary Queer Studies course, a 6-credit program that addresses key themes of queer theory, such as sexual and gender orientation, feminism, intersectionality, and discrimination. The course, taught in English, is open to all students of the University and can be included in the Global Law and Transnational Legal Studies degree program at the Department of Law. Led by Professor Antonio Vercellone, the course will involve academics and professionals from various disciplines. Topics covered include queer theory, the history of the LGBTQI+ movement, gender identities, transsexuality, gender medicine, non-monogamies, new family structures, international protection for LGBTQI+ migrants, the relationship between Christianity and homosexuality, and much more. Mia Caielli, President of the University’s CUG, emphasizes the importance of this initiative in strengthening the University’s commitment to issues of gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Let's imagine having to face a healthcare system that doesn't recognize you for who you are. This is what many trans* people experience every day, as revealed in the study "The Fluidity of Boundaries: Does the Right to Health Have a Gender?" A survey of 165 responses uncovers a troubling reality: most trans* people have never received information about gender-specific medicine, and many are unaware of alternative therapeutic options. The responses, often marked by misinformation, pathologization, and a lack of resources, paint a picture of invisibility and discrimination. It is time to break down prejudices and ensure everyone has the right to be treated as they deserve.