0000000000054242
AUTHOR
Ida Giardino
showing 13 related works from this author
The Health Risks of Electronic Cigarettes Use in Adolescents
2020
The evidence to date suggests that vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking tobacco. This, coupled with the worrying trend of young nonsmokers being attracted to vaping, raises fears of yet another generation suffering from chronic lung disease and other acute and chronic health conditions. Finally, due to the insufficient regulations in several countries, up-to-date data on the prevalence of e-cigarette use and studies on the health's implications of their use are urgently needed to inform policy at a national and international level (ie, European Union). Pediatricians are typically on the front line for identifying emerging risks for children and adolescents ; therefore, they may effec…
Cationic polyaspartamide-based nanocomplexes mediate siRNA entry and down-regulation of the pro-inflammatory mediator high mobility group box 1 in ai…
2015
Abstract High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nonhistone protein secreted by airway epithelial cells in hyperinflammatory diseases such as asthma. In order to down-regulate HMGB1 expression in airway epithelial cells, siRNA directed against HMGB1 was delivered through nanocomplexes based on a cationic copolymer of poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)- d,l -aspartamide (PHEA) by using H441 cells. Two copolymers were used in these experiments bearing respectively spermine side chains (PHEA-Spm) and both spermine and PEG2000 chains (PHEA-PEG-Spm). PHEA-Spm and PHEA-PEG-Spm derivatives complexed dsDNA oligonucleotides with a w/w ratio of 1 and higher as shown by a gel retardation assay. PHEA-Spm and PHEA-P…
Children Witnessing Domestic and Family Violence: A Widespread Occurrence during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
2021
Across the world, children and adolescents are exposed daily to toxic levels of violent behaviors, including domestic and family violence. Violence increasingly has permeated and profoundly affected the lives of children, who are the most vulnerable members of society.1 Pediatric societies in Europe and North America have raised great concern over the effect that abusive experiences will have on present and future generations.1, 2, 3, 4 The global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the past year has dramatically worsened the situation, contributing to a further increase in violence and aggression within households. Reports of domestic abuse and family violence have increas…
Prevention and contrast of child abuse and neglect in the practice of European paediatricians: a multi-national pilot study
2021
AbstractBackgroundChild abuse and neglect, or maltreatment, is a serious public health problem, which may cause long-term effects on children’s health and wellbeing and expose them to further adulthood vulnerabilities. Studies on child maltreatment performed in Europe are scarce, and the number of participants enrolled relatively small. The aim of this multi-national European pilot study, was to evaluate the level of understanding and perception of the concepts of child abuse and neglect by European paediatricians working in different medical settings, and the attitude toward these forms of maltreatment in their practice.MethodsThe study was performed by a cross-sectional, descriptive, onli…
Increased Exposure to Violence and Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children
2021
Exposure of children and adolescents to violence has significant short and long-term consequences in terms of academic, social, physical, and psychological functioning.1,2 The relationship of exposure to traumatic events, including various forms of violence, with depression, anger, anxiety, dissociation, posttraumatic stress, and total trauma symptoms has been widely debated.1-3 It is largely accepted that adverse early life experiences and abusive events suffered during childhood can cause profound effects on the development and function of the nervous system and increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.4 Studies investigating the relationship between various types of neurodevelop…
Internet Addiction: Starting the Debate on Health and Well-Being of Children Overexposed to Digital Media.
2017
Previous articles published in the European Paediatric Association (EPA) pages have discussed the importance of children's well-being and its role in different areas of children's health, such as well-child care and child-friendly health care. The goal of this commentary is to raise pediatricians' awareness on the risks of children's overexposure to digital media. It is important to protect the psychological and emotional health of children from uncontrolled external influences to preserve their well-being. We also emphasize the importance of alerting parents and tutors to the risks related to the unrefrained use of the Internet.
Adequate Training and Multidisciplinary Support May Assist Pediatricians in Properly Handling and Managing Gender Incongruence and Dysphoria.
2022
What we call “sexual identity” refers to the complex relationship between biological sex, gender identity and role, and sexual orientation.1 “Gender identity” means the unified and persistent perception of oneself as belonging to the male or the female gender or ambivalent. For many, gender identity coincides with sexual identity; traditional culture has long provided for the definition of only 2 genders, corresponding to the 2 biological sexes. The person with gender incongruence experiences a disharmony between biological aspects and gender identity, with the constant awareness that he or she belongs to the opposite gender and is imprisoned in a body that does not represent him or her. Ge…
Murdered women’s children: A social emergency and gloomy reality
2018
Femicide, defined as the killing of females by males because they are females, is be-coming recognized worldwide as an im-portant ongoing manifestation of gender inequality. Actual or imminent separation, abuser’s access to firearms, prior threats with a weapon, prior threats to kill the victim, a stepchild in the household, prob-lematic alcohol and illicit drug use, as well as mental health problems, are associated with a substantially higher risk of femi-cide. Little is known about the number of orphaned children who have instantane-ously lost both parents. Sparse attention has been focused on children whose moth-er was murdered: these are difficult cases for child psychiatry teams. Decis…
The Hikikomori Phenomenon of Social Withdrawal: An Emerging Condition Involving Youth's Mental Health and Social Participation.
2020
The objective of this editorial is to raise awareness on the burden and risks faced by adolescents developing this emerging form of social withdrawal. The hikikomori phenomenon is part of the group of new morbidities causing children and adolescents to limit their activity owing to a chronic health condition with attendant psychological problems. We further emphasize the importance of including new morbidities involving mental health and social participation in formal pediatric training, to enable new generations of pediatricians to identify and properly manage these disorders.
An Appeal for Implementing Social Assistance and Welfare Programs for European Children Challenged by Parental Loss
2018
The authors of this commentary, many of whom are part of a working group on social pediatrics supported by some of the European national pediatric societies member of EPA-UNEPSA, conclude that more studies are needed to cross the boundaries between disciplines, for example, looking at the inter-relationship of family life and child health and how parental loss is affecting the micro and macro level of child healthcare service systems. Therefore, this article aims to alert pediatricians to the impact of parental loss on child health and wellbeing. It emphasizes the importance of implementing preventive and social support programs for achieving health promotion and health-protective effects.
Effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Family Functioning
2021
More than a year and a half after the first clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reported in Wuhan, China,1 , 2 the magnitude of the pandemic across the globe and its related clinical and social effects3 remain unclear.4 The pandemic has affected lives and sparked concerns about everything from health to job security. In high–Gross Domestic Product (GDP) countries, despite trillions in coronavirus aid released by governments, many families still struggle to pay for basic necessities like food and rent, and these difficulties worsened during the pandemic.5 , 6 The general social uncertainty caused by the pandemic seems to have also affected family resilience, w…
Caring for Infants and Children Following Alternative Dietary Patterns
2017
The number of people that refrain from eating meat has apparently increased. This is due to a variety of factors other than economic constraints or religious concerns, which have long been reasons for such dietetic conduct. Several reasons for adopting diets excluding meat include improved health, concerns regarding animal welfare, the use of antibiotics and hormones in livestock, and the excessive exploitation of environmental resource. Consequently, the number of children whose parents decide to follow alternative diets, such as vegetarian, vegan, macrobiotic, or fruitarian, is also growing. Clinical research regarding adults adopting such diets has expanded, and their nutritional impact …
The Dark Side of the Web—A Risk for Children and Adolescents Challenged by Isolation during the Novel Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic
2021
In response to the global novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries around the world adopted social isolation measures to contain the spread of the virus.1 For children and adolescents, limitations in faceto-face activities and interactions with their traditional peer groups has been a frustrating experience. After disease containment measures, which included school closures, social distancing, and home quarantine, children and adolescents faced a prolonged state of physical isolation from their peers, teachers, extended family, and community networks that affects their emotional and behavioral health.2 Parents and pediatricians are reporting signs of mental distres…