Background: Due to their experiences of major stressful life events, including post-displacement stressors, refugees and asylum seekers are vulnerable to developing mental health problems. Yet, ...despite the availability of specialized mental health services in Western European host countries, refugees and asylum seekers display low mental healthcare utilization.
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore structural and socio-cultural barriers to accessing mental healthcare among Syrian refugees and asylum seekers in Switzerland.
Method: In this qualitative study, key-informant (KI) interviews with Syrian refugees and asylum seekers, Swiss healthcare providers and other stakeholders (e.g. refugee coordinators or leaders) were conducted in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed, and then analysed using thematic analysis, combining deductive and inductive coding.
Results: Findings show that Syrian refugees and asylum seekers face multiple structural and socio-cultural barriers, with socio-cultural barriers being perceived as more pronounced. Syrian key informants, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders identified language, gatekeeper-associated problems, lack of resources, lack of awareness, fear of stigma and a mismatch between the local health system and perceived needs of Syrian refugees and asylum seekers as key barriers to accessing care.
Conclusions: The results show that for Syrian refugees and asylum seekers in Switzerland several barriers exist. This is in line with previous findings. A possible solution for the current situation might be to increase the agility of the service system in general and to improve the willingness to embrace innovative paths, rather than adapting mental healthcare services regarding single barriers and needs of a new target population.
Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) detection offers highly sensitive label-free detection of biomolecular interactions. Simple and robust surface architectures compatible with real-time ...detection in a flow-through system are required for broad application in quantitative interaction analysis. Here, we established self-assembly of a functionalized gold nanoparticle (AuNP) monolayer on a glass substrate for stable, yet reversible immobilization of Histidine-tagged proteins. To this end, one-step coating of glass substrates with poly-
L
-lysine graft poly(ethylene glycol) functionalized with ortho-pyridyl disulfide (PLL-PEG-OPSS) was employed as a reactive, yet biocompatible monolayer to self-assemble AuNP into a LSPR active monolayer. Site-specific, reversible immobilization of His-tagged proteins was accomplished by coating the AuNP monolayer with tris-nitrilotriacetic acid (trisNTA) PEG disulfide. LSPR spectroscopy detection of protein binding on these biocompatible functionalized AuNP monolayers confirms high stability under various harsh analytical conditions. These features were successfully employed to demonstrate unbiased kinetic analysis of cytokine-receptor interactions.
Graphical abstract
Wnt Signalodroplets
High‐density arrays of biofunctionalized nanodots with diameters of 300 nm enable spatially controlled assembly of active Wnt signaling platforms in the plasma membrane. Massive ...parallelization at the single cell level uncovers receptor density‐dependent co‐condensation of cytosolic effector proteins, suggesting a digitalized transmembrane signaling controlled by liquid–liquid phase separation. More details can be found in article number 2203723 by Martin Steinhart, Jacob Piehler, Changjiang You, and co‐workers.
Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an effective cancer treatment that uses Fenton reaction to induce cancer cell death. Current clinical applications of CDT are limited by the dependency of external ...supply of metal ions as well as low catalytic efficiency. Here, a highly efficient metal‐free CDT by using endoperoxide bridge‐containing artesunate as free radical‐generating substance is developed. A Pt(IV) prodrug (A‐Pt) containing two artesunate molecules in the axial direction is synthesized, which can be decomposed into cisplatin and artesunate under reducing intracellular environment in tumor cells. To improve the catalytic efficiency for Fenton reaction, a near‐infrared‐II (NIR‐II) photothermal agent IR1048 is incorporated to achieve a mild hyperthermia effect. By encapsulating the A‐Pt and IR1048 with human serum albumin, A‐Pt‐IR NP are formulated for efficient drug delivery in 4T1 tumor‐bearing mice. NIR‐II light irradiation of A‐Pt‐IR NP treated mice show accelerated Fenton reaction. In addition, A‐Pt‐IR NP could also induce strong immunogenic cell death, which effectively reverses the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and augments antitumor immunity. This study demonstrates that A‐Pt‐IR NP are potent biodegradable NIR‐II active chemotherapy/CDT nanomedicine for clinical translation.
A highly efficient metal‐free chemodynamic therapy (CDT) using endoperoxide bridge‐containing artesunate is developed. To improve the catalytic efficiency for Fenton reaction, a near‐infrared‐II (NIR‐II) photothermal agent is incorporated to activate CDT through mild hyperthermia effect. This work demonstrates that A‐Pt‐IR NP are potent biodegradable NIR‐II active chemotherapy/CDT nanomedicine for immunotherapy.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of transient signaling platforms in the plasma membrane has remained a key experimental challenge. Here, biofunctional nanodot arrays (bNDAs) are developed to ...spatially control dimerization and clustering of cell surface receptors at the nanoscale. High‐contrast bNDAs with spot diameters of ≈300 nm are obtained by capillary nanostamping of bovine serum albumin bioconjugates, which are subsequently biofunctionalized by reaction with tandem anti‐green fluorescence protein (GFP) clamp fusions. Spatially controlled assembly of active Wnt signalosomes is achieved at the nanoscale in the plasma membrane of live cells by capturing the co‐receptor Lrp6 into bNDAs via an extracellular GFP tag. Strikingly, co‐recruitment is observed of co‐receptor Frizzled‐8 as well as the cytosolic scaffold proteins Axin‐1 and Disheveled‐2 into Lrp6 nanodots in the absence of ligand. Density variation and the high dynamics of effector proteins uncover highly cooperative liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS)‐driven assembly of Wnt “signalodroplets” at the plasma membrane, pinpointing the synergistic effects of LLPS for Wnt signaling amplification. These insights highlight the potential of bNDAs for systematically interrogating nanoscale signaling platforms and condensation at the plasma membrane of live cells.
High‐density arrays of biofunctionalized nanodots with diameters of 300 nm enable spatially controlled assembly of active Wnt signaling platforms in the plasma membrane. Massive parallelization at the single cell level uncovers receptor density‐dependent co‐condensation of cytosolic effector proteins, suggesting digitalized transmembrane signaling controlled by liquid–liquid phase separation.
Racial inequality can be looked at from two perspectives. One is that disadvantaged group members remain disadvantaged because they are unable or unwilling to improve their condition due to prejudice ...and discriminatory behaviors against their groups. The second perspective is that privileged group members retain their higher status because they are unable our unwilling to recognize that their advantages create disadvantage for others. Research addressing the privileges that advantaged individuals experience because of their group membership is relatively scarce. Therefore, we conducted two studies to begin examining methods of influence that might be effective in producing recognition of privilege. Persuasion research as well as social identity theory, suggests that influence attempts made by an ingroup member should be more successful than attempts by an outgroup member. Additionally, strong arguments are effective in producing attitude change under certain conditions. Therefore, we examined the effectiveness of an ingroup member versus an outgroup member in producing acknowledgment of privilege and endorsement of equality under weak argument conditions (Study 1), and an ingroup versus outgroup member influence under strong argument conditions (Study 2). In Study 1, white participants completed a bogus test said to favor white people (weak argument) by an ingroup member, an outgroup member, or they were told nothing. In Study 2, participants read an article that explicitly accused advantaged group members of contributing to inequality by denying their privileged status (strong argument), and learned that the article was written by an ingroup or outgroup member. Three dimensions of privilege were assessed. In both studies, an ingroup member was more effective in eliciting acknowledgment that privileged group members did not have to work hard for their status, while an outgroup member was more effective in the acknowledgment that privileged group members have historically done better than disadvantaged groups. Neither the ingroup member or outgroup member was effective in eliciting acknowledgment of personally unearned privilege, which is potentially most relevant to endorsement of action aimed at creating equality. In Study 1, advantaged group members appeared to reject the notion that their group is guilty of harming others when an outgroup member provides privilege information, although this result was not replicated in Study 2. Although the group membership of the information source had no effect on people's endorsement of equality in either study, participants agreed that equality is good for society and that they would report discrimination to a greater degree than they endorsed giving up their own benefits to improve equality among racial groups. We had expected that reminding people that their advantages were due to their group membership might cause them to identify with their group, but group identification scores were below the midpoint, suggesting that they considered themselves as individuals rather than group members. In support of this, Study 1 assessed the attributions advantaged group members made for their test outcomes. Although told that the test favored their racial group, they attributed their scores to their personal abilities. We conclude that influence attempts aimed at acknowledgment of more socially relevant dimensions of privilege and collective guilt are more successful when made by ingroup members, and that outgroup members' influence attempts might create more harm than good. In addition to the persuasion attempts made in these studies, alternative methods of increasing acknowledgment of privilege are discussed.
Heterogeneity in speech under stress has been a recurring issue in stress research, potentially due to varied stress induction paradigms. This study investigated speech features in semi-guided speech ...following two distinct psychosocial stress paradigms (Cyberball and MIST) and their respective control conditions. Only negative affect increased during Cyberball, while self-reported stress, skin conductance response rate, and negative affect increased during MIST. Fundamental frequency (F0), speech rate, and jitter significantly changed during MIST, but not Cyberball; HNR and shimmer showed no expected changes. The results indicate that observed speech features are robust in semi-guided speech and sensitive to stressors eliciting additional physiological stress responses, not solely decreases in negative affect. These differences between stressors may explain literature heterogeneity. Our findings support the potential of speech as a stress level biomarker, especially when stress elicits physiological reactions, similar to other biomarkers. This highlights its promise as a tool for measuring stress in everyday settings, considering its affordability, non-intrusiveness, and ease of collection. Future research should test these results' robustness and specificity in naturalistic settings, such as freely spoken speech and noisy environments while exploring and validating a broader range of informative speech features in the context of stress.
The usage of EEG to uncover the influence of psychosocial stressors (PSSs) on neural activity has gained significant attention throughout recent years, but the results are often troubled by ...confounding stressor types. To investigate the effect of PSSs alone on neural activity, we employed a paradigm where participants are exposed to negative peer comparison as PSS, while other possible stressors are kept constant, and compared this with a condition where participants received neutral feedback. We analyzed commonly used sensor level EEG indices (frontal theta, alpha, and beta power) and further investigated whether source level power and functional connectivity (i.e., the temporal dependence between spatially seperated brain regions) measures, which have to our knowledge not yet been used, are more sensitive to PSSs than sensor level-derived EEG measures. Our results show that on sensor level, no significant frontal power changes are present (all p's > 0.16), indicating that sensor level frontal power measures are not sensitive enough to be affected by only PSSs. On source level, we find increased alpha power (indicative of decreased cortical activity) in the left- and right precuneus and right posterior cingulate cortex (all p's < 0.03) and increased functional connectivity between the left- and right precuneus (p < 0.001), indicating that acute, trial based PSSs lead to decreased precuneus/PCC activity, and possibly indicates a temporary disruption in the self-referential neural processes of an individual.
Since the inclusion of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) as a mood disorder in the DSM-5, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms have received more attention from researchers and clinicians. In ...this large-scale study, we investigated core psychological concepts relevant to mood disorder vulnerability between people with 1) no to mild, 2) moderate to severe, and 3) PMDD levels of PMS symptoms. Several trait measures related to mood disorders including depressive symptoms, feelings of stress and anxiety, and ruminative thinking were measured (single measurement, N = 380) along with state (momentary) reports of stress and stress-related perseverative thinking (measured twice, once in the follicular and once in the premenstrual/luteal phase, N = 237). We consistently observed that participants with higher severity of PMS symptoms also scored higher on depression, anxiety, stress, and rumination (trait measures). We also found consistent increases in momentary stress and stress-related perseverative ruminative thinking with increased PMS symptoms at each of our two test moments (in the middle of the follicular and premenstrual/luteal phase respectively). Interestingly, we did not find significant differences between our two test moments for any group, despite PMS being characterized by specific systems in the premenstrual/luteal phase. However, this could be due to noise surrounding the testing moments due to the temporal resolution of the questionnaires and the menstrual cycle estimation method. Nevertheless, these results suggest that stress and rumination are important psychological mechanisms to consider in PMS. Future PMS research studying stress and rumination on a day-to-day basis in combination with hormonal measures is warranted.
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•Increased Premenstrual Syndrome symptoms come with increased levels of stress, rumination, anxiety and depressive symptoms.•These results appear to be stable and do not fluctuate depending on the menstrual phase (follicular vs luteal/premenstrual).•Psychological vulnerabilities are important mechanisms in studying PMS/PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) interventions.
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