Examining the Efficacy of a Family Peer Advocate Model for Black and Hispanic Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects individuals across all racial and ethnic groups, yet rates of diagnosis are disproportionately higher for Black and Hispanic children. Caregivers of children with ASD experience significant stressors, which have been associated with parental strain, inadequate utilization of mental health services and lower quality of life. The family peer advocate (FPA) model has been utilized across service delivery systems to provide family-to-family support, facilitate engagement, and increase access to care.

Hair removal using a combination of conducted radiofrequency and optical energies--an 18-month follow-up.

Objective: Multiple lasers and intense pulsed light sources have been shown to provide long-term hair removal; however, the management of all dark skin phenotypes and light-colored hair remains problematic. The present study examined the long-term photoepilatory effect of a combined intense pulsed light (IPL) (680-980 nm)/radiofrequency (RF) (10-30 J/cm3) light source and its efficiency for the treatment of multiple skin phenotypes and varied hair colors.

Methods: Forty adult patients (skin phenotypes II-V) with varied facial and non-facial hair colors were treated with a combined IPL/RF technology.

How the World Trade Organisation is shaping domestic policies in health care.

High up on the agenda of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the privatisation of education, health, welfare, social housing and transport. The WTO's aim is to extend the free market in the provision of traditional public services. Governments in Europe and the US link the expansion of trade in public services to economic success, and with the backing of powerful medico-pharmaceutical, insurance, and service corporations, the race is on to capture the share of gross domestic product that governments currently spend on public services.