Category: Post & News

The Italy of fires, pollution and new pathologies Post & News admin April 8, 2024 The “Land of Fires” includes a territory of 1076 km², with 57 municipalities and a total of approximately 2 and a half million residents. This term, coined at the beginning of the 2000s to define an area in Campania, has for some years indicated a national emergency. Our country is burning from Campania to the rest of Italy. Dumping of illegal waste, which is then set on fire, has generated and continues to generate extreme damage to the ecosystem over the years: significant reduction in air quality, contamination of water and soil, with consequences on agricultural products, high levels of toxic metals in the blood, massive doses of pollutants in the human body and increase in oncological pathologies. Although the trend of waste fires is decreasing, the illicit disposal sites from North to South are (according to one of the latest Ispra reports) more than 20 thousand, and the damage to human and environmental health caused in previous years will also have repercussions in the future.“It is now a fact that health and development of serious pathologies is closely related to the health of the environment. I believe that identifying areas at risk, maximum doses of pollutants tolerated by the body, specific biomarkers, improving the healthcare system, implementing prevention, preserving the environment and residents for whom healthcare can be guaranteed be a One Health approach. It is necessary to study not only human beings, but also air, soil, water, the food chain: ecological healthcare”, Professor Antonio Giordano, oncologist and teacher, director and founder, explained in the interview with One Health of the Sbarro Health Research Organization.You have always been involved with Terra dei Fuochi. Almost 10 years have passed since your book “Monnezza di Stato”, which assesses the incalculable environmental and health damage caused by the spillage of toxic waste in the area. Has something changed? What is the situation in your Campania today?I coordinated a study on the Campania population in order to propose solutions to a ten-year problem. In this study, blood levels of carcinogenic heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured on a cohort of 95 cancer patients residing in Campania. High levels of blood concentrations of heavy metals have been observed in municipalities like Pianura, Giugliano, Qualiano and Castel Volturno. Despite some limitations of this exploratory study (small sample size for some Municipalities), our preliminary observations confirm some previous studies: the level of toxic metals in the blood of cancer patients in some Municipalities of Terra dei Fuochi is completely above the norm. After this study, a report was drawn up by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Naples North and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità which confirms that there is a link between illicit waste disposal and the incidence of various pathologies, including cancer. We are starting to face reality even if there is still a lot to do.As we focus on Naples, the latest data from Legambiente on air quality are alarming as in fact the regional capital and the province are experiencing a significant environmental and health emergency. The constant exceeding of the legal limits allowed for environmental pollutants that I have been denouncing for years is an alarming fact. We must act. Solutions must be implemented quickly, it is necessary to clean up, block illegal spills, organize an efficient waste and population surveillance program. Thus, it is necessary to raise awareness among the population and encourage public health by increasing prevention and screening activities.“Speaking of Puglia as a new land of fires is a fact as the damage is very considerable. The traffic of waste is enormous and is causing considerable damage to Puglia.” This was stated by Bari prosecutor, Roberto Rossi. “Land of Fires” is therefore not only in Campania. Is there a risk of an Italy of Fires? Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to limit the “Land of Fires” to Campania alone. In Italy there are many “Lands of Fires”. Environmental pollution is a global problem and the health emergency caused by Covid is the result of an altered relationship between man and environment. We must respect the environment to protect the health of the world population. You are an internationally renowned oncologist in the USA. What are the health risks? The risks in the USA are the same for all nations but perhaps in the United States an incorrect eating style can have a greater impact. Today, chronic diseases, including cancer, are defined as “environmental genetic pathologies” because, in addition to age, there are other factors such as exposure to environmental insults and lifestyle to which the disease can be ascribed (e.g. smoking, lack of physical exercise, obesity, diet). Consequently, if on one hand we have diagnostic improvements, increase diffusion of screening programs, increase in life expectancy, on the other hand there is a concomitant progressive increase in oncological pathologies. Whose responsibilities are? How could we try to tackle this problem? Identifying “the cause” is not a simple task. The characterization of multifactorial pathologies, the development of which could also be related to environmental factors, is very complex. There are many confounding factors that make this mission difficult. On top of this, there are political and economic problems that make the situation even more difficult to deal with. For example, lack of mechanisms of control and unrealized remedies represent a problem. Citizens and environmental committees are calling for analysis and screening to demonstrate the connection between pollution and onset of certain diseases. What are the institutions doing? Can PNRR money help on this? The One Health approach we described above could be implemented on PNRR funds, as the committees request. “De Luca must have respect for citizens: if the healthcare system in Campania doesn’t work, he must take responsibility for it”. Thus, Minister Schillaci is in full controversy with Governor De Luca. In your opinion, what is the state of healthcare in your region?I’m not a politician, I’m a scientist. I… Continue reading The Italy of fires, pollution and new pathologies

The Promising Effects of Virtual Reality for Managing Pain and Anxiety in Pediatric Oncology Patients Post & News admin October 3, 2024 Authors of the research paper:- Carlotta Nerini, Sharon Burk, Emanuela Andretta, Andrea Chirico, Antonio Giordano Cancer treatment is an extremely difficult experience for pediatric patients, often involving substantial pain and anxiety from procedures like chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and needles. Effectively managing this distress is crucial for ensuring proper care and avoiding dangerous reactions like attempts to avoid treatment.While opioid medications are commonly used, they have significant potential side effects like nausea, constipation, and hallucinations. As a result, there is great interest in non-pharmacological approaches like virtual reality (VR) that can act as a distraction during painful procedures.Recent studies have shown very promising results for using VR with pediatric oncology patients. Multiple randomized controlled trials found that VR significantly reduced self-reported pain levels compared to control groups during procedures like port access, IV insertion, and blood draws. VR also decreased anxiety and fear levels in these patients.The immersive, engaging virtual environments provided through VR headsets seem to effectively distract patients and reduce activation in the brain regions associated with pain perception. Different VR scenarios have been tested, like swimming with marine animals, exploring forests, playing games, and riding rollercoasters.While more research is still needed, VR appears to be an effective complementary technique to standard analgesics for managing procedural pain and distress in pediatric oncology patients. It represents a novel, drug-free intervention that can improve patient experience and cooperation with difficult cancer treatments.However, VR does have some potential limitations like motion sickness, eye strain, and accessibility challenges that need to be addressed. But overall, this innovative technology holds great promise as a form of palliative care to reduce suffering for pediatric cancer patients undergoing treatment.Professor Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., is the creator and head of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, located at Temple University‘s College of Science and Technology in Philadelphia. Stay connected with him through his various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram

The Sovereign Empire of Laws: From Filangieri to Present Times Post & News admin October 2, 2024 On April 4th, from 10 am to 1 pm, the Pessina classroom of the University of Naples Federico II (C.so Umberto I, 40) will host the study meeting “The Sovereign Empire of Laws: From Filangieri to Present Times”, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the publication of “Political Reflections on the Last Law of the Sovereign” (Naples, 1774), a work in which the Neapolitan Enlightenment thinker Gaetano Filangieri expressed some very timely considerations on the theme of the rule of law.The event will open with institutional greetings from Sandro Staiano, Director of the Department of Law of the University Federico II, Maura Striano, Councilor for Education and Families of the Municipality of Naples, Antonio Giordano, Board Member of the National Italian American Foundation and President of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, Costanzo Jannotti Pecci, President of the Union of Industrialists of Naples, Benedetto Migliaccio, President of the Filangieri Academy Della Porta, Riccardo Imperiali di Francavilla, Representative of the heirs of Gaetano Filangieri at the Civic Museum Filangieri, Fabio Ferraro, Director of the Advanced Course in European Union Law at the University Federico II.The discussion will be moderated by Amedeo Arena, full professor of European Union law at the Federico II University and creator of the Filangieri Prize for young jurists, and will see the participation of distinguished speakers from the academic world and legal professions.Francesca De Rosa, professor of history of justice at the University Federico II, will focus on the centrality of the law in the “nation” of Naples, highlighting how Filangieri laid the foundations for a new approach to the relationship between law and power. Francesco De Santis, professor of civil procedural law, will analyze the subjection of the judge to the law, showing the evolution of this principle from Filangieri to the present day. Raffaele Sabato, judge at the European Court of Human Rights, will discuss the obligation to motivate judicial decisions, drawing a direct line between eighteenth-century reflections and current practices. Michela Troisi, professor of constitutional procedural law, will explore the genesis of the constitutional legitimacy review in Italy, highlighting how the insights of Filangieri and Mario Pagano are at the basis of a central procedure in the Italian constitutional architecture. Finally, Gian Marco Antonelli, notary and member of the Public Law Studies Commission of the National Council of Notaries, will examine the challenges to the rule of law principle posed by the implementation of European anti-money laundering legislation, connecting the current debate on legality and justice to issues dear to Filangieri.Professor Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., is the creator and head of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, located at Temple University‘s College of Science and Technology in Philadelphia. Stay connected with him through his various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram

GOLDEN LION FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT TO THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN SCIENTIST ANTONIO GIORDANO Post & News admin October 2, 2024 The Award is for an ITALIAN SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE IN THE WORLD AND THE INTERNATIONAL STUDY ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN HEALTH AND POLLUTION IN THE LAND OF FIRE IN CAMPANIA GIORDANO: “A SMALL REDEMPTION FOR A LAND tortured BY POLLUTERS. WE WILL NOT LET OUR GUARD ON THE INJUSTICE OF THE restitution to THE PELLINI Venice recognizes the work of the Italian American scientist Antonio Giordano, President and founder of the Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO) at Temple University USA and Professor of Anatomy and Pathological Histology of the University of Siena, for demonstrating the correlation between health and pollution, particularly in Campania with the Terra dei Fuochi.The Golden Lion for legality was awarded to the father of the studies that demonstrated the connection between the illicit waste landfilling and tumor pathologies in Campania.The award represents the recognition for scientific research on cancer and for the courage to have revealed the links between waste management, controlled by the Camorra, and the incidence of cancer in the Campania region. This prize presentation takes place a few hours after the filing of the Supreme Court ruling, which released all assets confiscated from the members of the Pellini family, convicted of environmental crimes and responsible for the environmental disaster that Professor Giordano fought and continues to fight.The anti-mafia magistrate Catello Maresca, now president of the legality section of the Golden Lion award in Venice, proposed this recognition to the jury of the Venice grand prize. He was in charge of many investigations against the Casalesi clan who poisoned the lands between Naples and Caserta.“Just as the assets of the Pellinis, the entrepreneurs involved in the illicit trafficking of waste, have being released from seizure, the recognition is a significant gesture, of taking a stance on legality and justice, a cry to keep the attention high on this increasingly current problem. With my team we will never lower our guard to continue to protect a tormented land like Campania from environmental criminals. Even in a very difficult moment for the fight against the Camorra, in which procedural delays throw away years of investigations and successes of the State against the clans, we must not lose hope and continue the battle for legality even in schools to spread the anti-mafia culture” declare Giordano and Maresca.The Italian-American scientist is at the center of these news for his substantial contribution to the emergence of the phenomenon of the Land of Fires, with a scientific study which was included in the book “Rubbish of the State” and which brought to the attention of the Prosecutor’s Office many illegal realities in Campania, now receives an award dedicated to Italian excellence. This award allows him to continue his mission against illegality and maintain high public attention on a deeply rooted issue more important now that world tries face important environmental issues and to assume a sustainable identity.The awards ceremony in Venice at the Palazzo della Regione Veneto, chaired by Sileno Candelaresi, brings together every year awardees, which constitute a mix of Italian and international excellence in the field of entrepreneurship, sport and culture. Guests of honour is the knight Gianfranco Sciscione, twice Golden Lion for professional merit who presents the collaboration with the starred chef Luigi Ciciriello and the producer of Euroasia Yimei Heng who receives the prestigious Institutional Plaque of Venice of the Lion of San Marco.Excellent guests include Amedeo Bianchi, Michele Bauli, Paolo Agnelli and Angelo Simonetti who will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, the singer-songwriter Shara, the sports director of Juventus Cristiano Giuntoli, Adolfo De Angelis, the chef Graziano Press, the rector of the University of Naples Federico II who turns 800 Matteo Lorito, the researcher Annamaria Colao, the president of Promovetro di Murano Luciano Gambaro as well as Simona Tardani, principal of the “Sacro Cuore” peer institute in Rome who also receive the Golden Lion for professional merit.Professor Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., is the creator and head of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, located at Temple University‘s College of Science and Technology in Philadelphia. Stay connected with him through his various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram

ITALIANS ABROAD WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP FREE TREATMENT AND HEALTH ASSISTANCE IN ITALY Post & News admin March 27, 2024 NEW FDI LAW PROPOSAL TEXT OF THE NEW LAW DRAFT GENERATED BY THE GROUP PRESIDED BY THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN PROFESSOR ANTONIO GIORDANO Italians residing abroad and registered with the AIRE, through the health card service, will maintain medical assistance and health exemptions when present in Italy. The text of the new bill aimed at expanding free hospital care – both in terms of service provided and duration – for Italians residing abroad is ready for parliament. The draft was formulated by the working group coordinated by Professor Antonio Giordano, President and founder of the Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO) Temple University USA and Professor of Anatomy and Pathological Histology at the University of Siena, on behalf of the Honourable Andrea Di Giuseppe member of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chamber of Deputies.The working group team, which also included Prof. Giovanni Ciccarelli, Dr. Iris Maria Forte, Professor Francesca Gimigliano, Dr. Massimo Petrone and Professor Antonio Russo, was formed with the aim of developing policies and identifying effective tools for this initiative which could prove a real healthcare revolution.”Important turning point for Italians abroad: from today they will no longer have to give up medical care once they return to Italy from abroad. From today, every time an Italian returns home they will have healthcare at a minimum monthly cost” comments Prof Giordano.“It is important to give credit to the Meloni Government and to Fratelli d’Italia who have actively demonstrated particular attention to benefit all Italians in the world” declares the Honourable Andrea Di GiuseppeThe current legislation, as in the decree of the Minister of Health of 1 February 1996, provides that, in the event of occasional return to Italy, Italian citizens not in possession of a European Health Insurance Card, with the status of emigrant or having a pension under Italian social security institutions, not having public or private insurance coverage, are entitled to emergency hospital services free of charge up to a maximum of ninety days. However, ” lack of health card, which certifies the citizen’s registration in the national health registry, makes operational management cumbersome for all areas of national health, as well as for compatriots who often feel more foreign than those who do are Italian”.A peculiar element of the proposed law is to guarantee, through the health card service, the maintenance of the general practitioner and paediatrician, with consequent updates of the electronic health record, the exemption plan for pathologies, the therapeutic plan and access to essential medicines.Professor Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., is the creator and head of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, located at Temple University‘s College of Science and Technology in Philadelphia. Stay connected with him through his various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram