Comparing family functionality perception between non-Aymara and indigenous Aymara families in northern Chile

We compared perception of family functioning in a sample (N = 1,496) of Aymara and non-Aymara parents and children living in Arica, Chile. The children were aged from 9 to 15 years and were recruited from the 5th to 8th grades of 9 elementary schools (4 public, 5 government-subsidized private schools) serving lower socioeconomic areas. Participants completed the Family Functioning Test (FF-SIL), which consists of 14 events or characteristics that may occur in a family. The results showed that parents and children from the Aymara group recorded lower scores for their perception of family functioning than did the non-Aymara group. Addressing this issue may be important in the prevention of psychological problems in these families.

Family-based programmes for preventing smoking by children and adolescents: Evidence and implications for public health

- P -General population, nonsmoking children (aged 5 to 12) and adolescents (aged 13 to 18) with their parents - I -Interventions with children and family members intended to deter tobacco use. Any components to change parenting behaviour, parental or sibling smoking behaviour, or family communication and interaction. - C -Usual practice, or a program of no family intervention - O -Smoking status of children who reported no use of tobacco at baseline.

Is there enough evidence with evolocumab and alirocumab (antibodies to proprotein convertase substilisin-kexin type, PCSK9) on cardiovascular outcomes to use them widely?

Introduction: Statins alone often do not reduce LDL cholesterol levels sufficiently to given maximum cardiovascular benefit. Thus, additional drugs are required to reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol. Monoclonal antibodies to PCSK9 have recently been shown to decrease LDL cholesterol, but it is not known whether they improve cardiovascular outcomes. Areas covered: Evaluation of two clinical trials reporting cardiovascular outcomes with antibodies to PCSK9; the OSLER extension with evolocumab and the ODYSSEY LONG TERM trial with alirocumab. Expert opinion: In OSLER and ODYSSEY LONG TERM, there were very few cardiovascular outcomes, but the trials do suggest that evolocumab and alirocumab may reduce these outcomes. However, there are also some safety concerns with both of these antibodies. Large clinical outcome trials are underway with both evolocumab and alirocumab, which will probably clarify both the safety concerns and any cardiovascular benefits with these antibodies. In our opinion, these antibodies may be suitable for use in subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia, who are uncontrolled with their present medications, provided intensive safety and cardiovascular monitoring is being undertaken. However, evolocumab and alirocumab should be used with caution in other subjects, until outcome studies in higher numbers of subjects, have shown acceptable safety and cardiovascular profiles.