Screening of social phobia symptoms in a sample of Egyptian university students

Abstract Background Public speaking is a main requisite for academic achievement amongst university students. Epidemiological data on social phobia among University students in the Arab World are scarce. Objectives To screen for social phobia symptoms in a representative sample of Egyptian university students, and to highlight some putative risk factors associated with them. Methods Two thousand nine hundred and nineteen Egyptian university students participated in the study. They were screened for social phobia using Brief Social Phobia Scale (BSPS). Students total and subdomain scores on the BSPS were correlated with their demographic and scholastic variables. Results Social phobia symptoms were estimated to be prevalent among (44%) of the study sample. A significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation was found between students' age and avoidance scores on BSPS and between students' educational year and their scores on fear, avoidance and physiologic subdomains on the BSPS. Regression analysis pointed out to a number of predictive factors for the higher total BSPS scores such as female gender and being a medical student. Discussion Our study demonstrated a high rate of social phobia symptoms in university students. It also demonstrated a number of significant predictive factors associated with the domains of social phobia such as gender, BMI, scholastic year and faculty type.

Protective Effect of Bletilla Striata Polysaccharide on Immunological and Chemical Liver Injury in Mice / 医药导报

Objective To evaluate the protective effect of Bletilla striata polysaccharide ( BSPS) on immunological and chemical liver injury in mice. Methods Thirty Kunming male mice were randomly divided into five groups, including the normal control group,model control group,and low-,middle-,and high-dose BSPS groups (n=6 each).Tail vein injection of ConA was carried out to establish the ConA-induced liver injury model.After different treatments,all the animals were sacrificed,and the plasma levels of ALT and AST were tested.Additionally,sixty Kunming male mice were randomly divided into six groups,including the normal control group,model control group,silymarin group,and low-,middle-,and high-dose BSPS groups (n=10 each).Tail vein injection of CCl4 was performed to establish the CCl4-induced acute liver injury model.After different treatments,the plasma levels of ALT and GSH were tested.The effects of BSPS on the weights of the liver and spleen were examined. Results The levels of ALT and AST were reduced in BSPS-treated mice when compared with those experiencing only ConA-induced liver injury ( model control group) ,and significant difference was found between the middle-and high-dose BSPS groups and the model control group (P<0.01,P<0.05).The weights of the liver and spleen and the level of ALT were reduced in BSPS-treated mice as compared with those with only CCl4-induced acute liver injury (model control group),while the level of GSH was significantly increased in middle-and high-dose BSPS groups (P<0.05). Conclusion BSPS at low,middle,and high doses can prevent against the ConA-induced immunological liver injury and CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Sulfation techniques of Bletilla striata polysaccharide by orthogonal design / 中草药

Objective To optimize the sulfation-conditions of Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSPS). Methods BSPS was sulfated with chlorsulfonic acid-pyridine. Reagent proportion, reaction temperature, and reaction time were selected with substitution degree and yield as index by L_9(3~4) orthogonal design. Results Results showed that the condition with 6∶1 volume ratio of pyridine and chlorine sulfonic acid, reaction temperature of 85 ℃, reaction time of 2 h was the optimum. Conclusion The optimal method for sulfation of BSPS is feasible, and it provides valuable parameters for further enlarged test.