Depression and anxiety in migrants in the Netherlands: Population studies on diagnosis and risk factors

Beekman, A.T.F. [Promotor]Dekker, J.J.M. [Promotor]Wit, M.A.S. de [Copromotor]Verhoeff, A.P. [Copromotor

Tight-binding g-Factor Calculations of CdSe Nanostructures

The Lande g-factors for CdSe quantum dots and rods are investigated within the framework of the semiempirical tight-binding method. We describe methods for treating both the n-doped and neutral nanostructures, and then apply these to a selection of nanocrystals of variable size and shape, focusing on approximately spherical dots and rods of differing aspect ratio. For the negatively charged n-doped systems, we observe that the g-factors for near-spherical CdSe dots are approximately independent of size, but show strong shape dependence as one axis of the quantum dot is extended to form rod-like structures. In particular, there is a discontinuity in the magnitude of g-factor and a transition from anisotropic to isotropic g-factor tensor at aspect ratio ~1.3. For the neutral systems, we analyze the electron g-factor of both the conduction and valence band electrons. We find that the behavior of the electron g-factor in the neutral nanocrystals is generally similar to that in the n-doped case, showing the same strong shape dependence and discontinuity in magnitude and anisotropy. In smaller systems the g-factor value is dependent on the details of the surface model. Comparison with recent measurements of g-factors for CdSe nanocrystals suggests that the shape dependent transition may be responsible for the observations of anomalous numbers of g-factors at certain nanocrystal sizes.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures. Fixed typos to match published versio

Histone H3.3 beyond cancer: Germline mutations in Histone 3 Family 3A and 3B cause a previously unidentified neurodegenerative disorder in 46 patients

Although somatic mutations in Histone 3.3 (H3.3) are well-studied drivers of oncogenesis, the role of germline mutations remains unreported. We analyze 46 patients bearing de novo germline mutations in histone 3 family 3A (H3F3A) or H3F3B with progressive neurologic dysfunction and congenital anomalies without malignancies. Molecular modeling of all 37 variants demonstrated clear disruptions in interactions with DNA, other histones, and histone chaperone proteins. Patient histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) analysis revealed notably aberrant local PTM patterns distinct from the somatic lysine mutations that cause global PTM dysregulation. RNA sequencing on patient cells demonstrated up-regulated gene expression related to mitosis and cell division, and cellular assays confirmed an increased proliferative capacity. A zebrafish model showed craniofacial anomalies and a defect in Foxd3-derived glia. These data suggest that the mechanism of germline mutations are distinct from cancer-associated somatic histone mutations but may converge on control of cell proliferation

Migranten in de ambulante GGZ maken een inhaalslag

So far little is known about the use that immigrants are making of the outpatient mental health services. We listed the demographic data, the principal diagnoses and the treatment characteristics of all patients being treated at an outpatient mental health clinic in Amsterdam and compared these data with data for the general population. First and second generation immigrants from Morocco, Turkey and Surinam were treated at this outpatient clinic, one and a half times as often as indigenous Dutch. There are clear differences between the population groups as far as the diagnoses are concerned. Dutch indigenous patients suffering from non-psychotic disorder are treated for longer period and are hospitalised more often. The results of this study show that increasingly immigrants are finding their way to the outpatients mental health services

Comorbidity of anxiety and depressive disorders: A comparative population study in Western and non-Western inhabitants in the Netherlands

Background: Overlap of depressive and anxiety symptoms is supposedly more common in non-Western populations. This can lead to diagnostic uncertainity and undertreatment.Aims: The aim of this study was to assess cross-cultural differences regarding the comorbidity of anxiety and depressive disorders in a comparative population study.Methods: In a random urban population sample, stratified for descent, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, diagnostic interviews were held by bilingual interviewers. Diagnoses of anxiety and depressive disorders, based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, were obtained for 307 native Dutch subjects, 205 Turkish-Dutch subjects and 186 Moroccan-Dutch subjects.Results: The prevalence rate of comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders was higher in Turkish-Dutch (9.8 %) and Moroccan-Dutch (3.8%) subjects compared to native Dutch subjects (2.3%). However, this could be explained by differences in baseline prevalence rate and level of severity of the separate disorders. The onset order of anxiety disorders and depressive disorders was comparable in each ethnic group.Conclusions: The high prevalence rate of comorbid anxiety and depressive diorders in non-Western immigrants in the Netherlands necessitates assesssment and treatment of both disorders. There was no indication of a-culturally influenced-stronger overlap between anxiety and depressive disorders in non-Western immigrants in the Netherlands. © SAGE Publications 2010