Biochemical study of anxiety among secondary school adolescents

This work was carried out on 376 adolescent students of the first and second grades of secondary schools in Mansoura District. They were chosen through a stratified cluster sample. Anxiety score was done according to the standardized Arabic translation of Taylor's Test. Relevant data to anxiety were fulfilled through a structured questionnaire. 41.5% of these 376 students were sampled. The results revealed that, male adolescents with severe anxiety had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol [TC] and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] and significant decrease of high density lipoprotein [HDL-C]. Regarding corresponding lipoprotein values in female adolescents, there were no significant differences in different anxiety scores. From the questionnaire, 33.5% and 41.8% of adolescent pupils were suffering from severe and mild to moderate anxiety. Also, urban residence, lower socioeconomic standard of the family and absence of friends all are important factors contributing to anxiety state. So, mental and physical health care is recommended for this neglected age group as well as education and guidance programs are advisable

Study of dermatoglyphics and blood groups in bipolar affective disorder

The present study analysed dermatoglyphics features and blood groups among 50 patients diagnosed bipolar disorder [manic] according to DSMIII and compared to the controls. There are significant differences in both dermatoglyphics and blood groups between the patients and controls. These results support the view that bipolar illness is a polygenic or multifactorial one and linkage analysis for these genetic markers is a useful tool in delineating the aetiology or the predisposition to affective disorder