Nat Rev Cardiol 2017 Oct 12. Epub 2017 Oct 12.

Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mount Wayte Avenue, Framingham, Massachusetts 01702-5827, USA.

In the past 2 decades, a high prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet, has been observed among young individuals living in developed countries. The rate of substance abuse (opioids, cocaine, electronic cigarettes, and anabolic steroids) is also increasing among young adults, whereas cigarette smoking might be declining. Among younger individuals (aged 18-50 years), the incidence of cardiovascular diseases over the same time period has either been steady or has increased, in contrast to the trend towards a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease in adults aged >50 years. Read More

Clin Auton Res 2017 Oct 10. Epub 2017 Oct 10.

Department of Physiology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.

Objective: The aims of this study were to examine the hypothesis that users of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) would have cardiac autonomic disorders and that there is a correlation between sympathetic modulation, high blood pressure (BP) and alterations to cardiac dimensions.

Methods: Forty-five male subjects were enrolled in the study. They were categorized into three groups comprising bodybuilders actively using AAS (AAS users; n = 15), bodybuilders who had never used AAS (nonusers; n = 15) and age-paired healthy sedentary controls (n = 15). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Oct;96(40):e8251

aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Changwon Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Changwon-si bDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital cDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University dInstitute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.

Rationale: Severe hypokalemia can be a potentially life-threatening disorder and is associated with variable degrees of skeletal muscle weakness.

Patient Concerns: We report a case of severe hypokalemic paralysis and rhabdomyolysis in a 28-year-old bodybuilder. He was admitted to the emergency room due to progressive paralysis in both lower extremities, which had begun 12 hours earlier. Read More

Mol Neurobiol 2017 Oct 2. Epub 2017 Oct 2.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D'Avanzo, Foggia, Italy.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) abuse is often associated with a wide spectrum of adverse effects. These drugs are frequently abused by adolescents and athletes for esthetic purposes, as well as for improvement of their endurance and performances. In this literature review, we evaluated the correlation between AAS and anxiety or aggression. Read More

J Hypertens 2017 Aug 31. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

aCentre of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine bDepartment of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Herlev and Gentofte cDepartment of Clinical Physiology, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Rigshospitalet and Glostrup dDepartment of Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Herlev and Gentofte eDepartment of Cardiology, The Heart Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Rigshospitalet and Glostrup fInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) is prevalent among recreational athletes and adverse effects on blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness could be substantial. Testosterone decreases natriuretic peptides which are key components in BP-regulation and may impair BP-homeostasis in AAS abusers.

Objective: To investigate BP and aortic stiffness in relation to natriuretic peptides among current AAS abusers, former AAS abusers and controls. Read More

J Health Psychol 2017 Feb 1:1359105317692144. Epub 2017 Feb 1.

Texas Tech University, USA.

Use of anabolic-androgenic steroids is a public health concern for adolescent boys. This study examined bullying based on being labeled gay/bisexual and steroid use among US adolescent boys, including sexual orientation disparities. Data from 2660 boys from the 2015 Youth Behavior Risk Survey were used. Read More

Curr Med Chem 2017 Jul 24. Epub 2017 Jul 24.

Laboratory of Electrochemistry and PATLAB, National Institute of Research for Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, 202 Splaiul Independentei Str., 060021, Bucharest-6. Romania.

Testosterone is the principal endogenous androgenic-anabolic steroid in humans. The levels of testosterone in the human body are correlated with many hormonal disorders (hypogonadism, impotence, etc) mostly in men, and with many types of diseases such as: prostate cancer, metabolic syndrome, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and so on. Testosterone is extensively used among sportsmen willing to increase strength, aggressiveness, and recovery; making it the most commonly reported substance in steroid abuse. Read More

Harm Reduct J 2017 Jul 21;14(1):48. Epub 2017 Jul 21.

Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.

Background: There is good evidence to suggest that performance and image enhancing drug (PIED) use is increasing in Australia and that there is an increase in those using PIEDs who have never used another illicit substance. Peers have always been an important source of information in this group, though the rise of the Internet, and the increased use of Internet forums amongst substance consumers to share harm reduction information, means that PIED users may have access to a large array of views and opinions. The aim of this study was to explore the type of information that PIED users seek and share on these forums. Read More

PLoS One 2017 18;12(7):e0180409. Epub 2017 Jul 18.

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America.

The abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has been considered a major public health problem during decades. Supraphysiological doses of AAS may lead to a variety of neuroendocrine problems. Precisely, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is one of the body systems that is mainly influenced by steroidal hormones. Read More

Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017 Jul 12. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

Section of Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.

Doping with anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) is common among both male and female athletes and is a growing public health problem. Review of historical data of systematic state-sponsored doping programs implemented by the German Democratic Republic in elite female athletes and from clinical trials of testosterone administration in non-athlete women suggests that AAS have ergogenic effects in women. The use of AAS in female athletes has been associated with adverse effects that include acne, hirsutism, deepening of the voice and menstrual disturbances; life-threatening adverse effects such as cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death have also been reported. Read More

J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol 2017 Jun 30. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by primary hyperparathyroidism, enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and anterior pituitary adenomas. A 16-year-old male presented to the emergency outpatient clinic with tonic convulsions. Physical examination in the postconvulsive period was unremarkable and revealed a muscular, postpubertal adolescent. Read More

Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017 Jun 9. Epub 2017 Jun 9.

Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are performance enhancing drugs commonly used by athletes and bodybuilders to improve appearance and athletic capability. Unfortunately, these testosterone derivatives can be associated with serious and potentially irreversible side effects, and can impact multiple organ systems. It is important that physicians be familiar with these adverse consequences so that they can appropriately counsel patients whom they suspect of AAS-abuse. Read More

PLoS One 2017 5;12(6):e0178922. Epub 2017 Jun 5.

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia.

Since the increased prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroids abuse in last few decades is usually accompanied by various exercise protocols, the scope of our study was to evaluate the effects of chronic nandrolone decanoate administration in supraphysiological dose and a prolonged swimming protocol (alone and simultaneously with nandrolone decanoate) on depressive state in male rats. Simultaneously, we investigated the possible alterations in neuropeptide Y (NPY) content in blood and the hippocampus, in order to determine the role of NPY in the modulation of depressive-like behavior.Exercise induced antidepressant effects in tail suspension test (decrease of the total duration of immobility), as well as significant increase in the number of hippocampal NPY-interneurons in CA1 region. Read More

Circulation 2017 May;135(21):1991-2002

From Cardiovascular Performance Program, Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (A.L.B., R.B.W.); Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (A.L.B., R.B.W.); Biological Psychiatry Laboratory and Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA (G.K., J.I.H., H.G.P.); Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (G.K., J.I.H., H.G.P.); Cardiac MR PET CT Program, Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston (M.T.L., U.H.).

Background: Millions of individuals have used illicit anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), but the long-term cardiovascular associations of these drugs remain incompletely understood.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional cohort design, we recruited 140 experienced male weightlifters 34 to 54 years of age, comprising 86 men reporting ≥2 years of cumulative lifetime AAS use and 54 nonusing men. Using transthoracic echocardiography and coronary computed tomography angiography, we assessed 3 primary outcome measures: left ventricular (LV) systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction), LV diastolic function (early relaxation velocity), and coronary atherosclerosis (coronary artery plaque volume). Read More

Pharmacol Rep 2017 Aug 11;69(4):673-678. Epub 2017 Mar 11.

Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland.

Background: Anabolic-androgenic steroids abuse is on the rise among adolescent boys and young men, mostly in those seeking a 'shortcut' to an improved body image. This approach is associated with the risk of severe adverse health effects, some of which involve the liver and are linked to hepatic oxidative stress. Testosterone and its esters is a cornerstone of most anabolic-androgenic steroid stacking protocols. Read More

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2017 Sep 8;87(3):249-256. Epub 2017 Jun 8.

Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Herlev and Gentofte, Denmark.

Objective: Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) is prevalent among young men, but information regarding effects on insulin sensitivity and fat distribution is limited. The objective was to investigate insulin sensitivity in relation to fat distribution and adipocytokines among current and former AAS abusers compared with controls.

Design: Cross-sectional study among men involved in recreational strength training. Read More

Adicciones 2017 Jul 14;0(0):853. Epub 2017 Jul 14.

Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. Facultad de Educación. Departamento de Educación Física.

Debido a una distorsión en la imagen corporal, las personas que padecen Dismorfia Muscular se perciben menos musculosas de lo que son en realidad. Con el fin de aumentar su musculatura, algunas de estas personas hacen uso de hormonas cuya función principal es la del aumento del tamaño muscular. Por lo que el objetivo de este estudio es conocer la prevalencia del uso de hormonas en personas afectadas por Dismorfia Muscular. Read More

Int J Legal Med 2017 Apr 21. Epub 2017 Apr 21.

Department of Medicine and Surgery, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.

Background: Several fatal cases of bodybuilders, following a myocardial infarction after long exposure to androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS), are reported. In recent years, evidence has emerged of cases of heart failure related to AAS consumption, with no signs of coronary or aorta atherosclerosis. This study aims to further investigate the pathogenesis of the ventricular AAS-related remodeling performing immunohistochemistry (IHC). Read More

J Sci Med Sport 2017 Sep 21;20(9):814-818. Epub 2017 Mar 21.

Department of Surgical Sciences, Forensic Medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between somatic health and former abuse of AAS in former elite male athletes 30 years after the end of their active sports career.

Design: Retrospective follow-up study.

Methods: N=996 former elite male athletes were sent a questionnaire concerning sociodemographic variables, previous and past sport activity and lifetime prevalence of seeking professional help for health problems. Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2017 Mar;21(1 Suppl):7-16

Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Drug Abuse and Doping Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) abuse and misuse is nowadays a harmful habit involving both professional or recreational athletes, as well as general population. AAS are also frequently present in over-the-counter dietary supplements without being declared in the list of ingredients, leaving consumers unaware of the risks of adverse effects. Indeed, health risks of AAS consumption in pharmaceutical preparations or dietary complements seem still underestimated and under-reported. Read More

Food Chem 2017 Aug 15;229:188-197. Epub 2017 Feb 15.

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via G. Salvemini 1, I-06126 Perugia, Italy. Electronic address:

European Union prohibited the use of anabolic agents in food producing animals since 1988. An efficient control of abuses is guaranteed not only by highly performing analytical methods, but also by knowledge of metabolic pathways, kinetics of elimination and tissue distribution. To obtain data concerning metabolites production and accumulation in bile, two typical growth promoting treatments are carried out in cattle. Read More

Mol Cell Biochem 2017 Mar 24. Epub 2017 Mar 24.

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovica 69, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia.

In a last few decades, anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) abuse has become serious health concern especially among adolescents. AASs abuse has been reported to be involved in pathogenesis of various mood disorders, including depression. In order to evaluate the effects of chronic (6 weeks) testosterone enanthate (TE) treatment in supraphysiological dose and exercise on depression-like behavior in rats, 32 male rats were divided into four groups: control (C), testosterone enanthate (T, 20 mg/kg/w, s. Read More

Drug Test Anal 2017 Mar 11. Epub 2017 Mar 11.

Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Doping Control Laboratory, Ghent University, Technologiepark 30 B, B-9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium.

The search for metabolites with longer detection times remains an important task in, for example, toxicology and doping control. The impact of these long-term metabolites is highlighted by the high number of positive cases after reanalysis of samples that were stored for several years, e.g. Read More

Adv Chronic Kidney Dis 2017 Mar;24(2):80-85

Department of Nephrology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; and Department of Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH. Electronic address:

Drug abuse is widespread in many populations, and patients abusing illicit substances are at a significantly increased risk of kidney injury. The tubulointerstitial compartment is a common target of these nephrotoxic agents. This review will cover some of the common illicit drugs and will focus on the tubulointerstitial injuries seen in the setting of drug abuse. Read More

J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017 Feb 20;43(1):57-60. Epub 2017 Feb 20.

Department of Dentistry, General Hospital of Siena, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is characterized by mucocutaneous tenderness and typical hemorrhagic erosions, erythema and epidermal detachment presenting as blisters and areas of denuded skin. SJS is often observed after drug use as well as after bacterial or viral infections. Several drugs are at high risk of inducing SJS, but there are no cases in the English literature regarding anabolic steroid use triggering SJS. Read More

Sports Med 2017 Mar 4. Epub 2017 Mar 4.

Department of Endocrinology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.

Background: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are testosterone derivatives used by athletes and recreational users to improve athletic performance and/or enhance appearance. Anabolic androgenic steroids use may have serious and potentially irreversible adverse effects on different organs and systems, including the reproductive system.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to critically assess the impact of AAS use on the reproductive system of athletes and recreational users. Read More

Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017 Mar 1. Epub 2017 Mar 1.

From the Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

The use of androgens, frequently referred to as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), has grown into a worldwide substance abuse problem over the last several decades. Testosterone was isolated in the 1930s, and numerous synthetic androgens were quickly developed thereafter. Athletes soon discovered the dramatic anabolic effects of these hormones, and AAS spread rapidly through elite athletics and bodybuilding from the 1950s through the 1970s. Read More

Steroids 2017 Apr 10;120:7-18. Epub 2017 Feb 10.

Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil.

Nandrolone Decanoate (ND) is an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid (AAS) that under abusive regimen can lead to multiple physiological adverse effects. Studies of AAS-mediated cardiovascular (CV) alterations were mostly taken from male subjects, even though women are also susceptible to the effects of AAS and gender-specific differences in susceptibility to vascular diseases exist. Here we investigate ND-induced vascular reactivity alterations in both sedentary and exercised female rats and whether these alterations depend on endothelium-derived factors. Read More

Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017 Jan 24. Epub 2017 Jan 24.

Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address:

Androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) are potent and widely used performance-enhancing substances (PES). Since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) began testing athletes for AAS in the 1970s, athletes and their teams have endeavored to beat the system to avoid doping violations and/or sanctions derived from positive test results. This review will discuss the strategies used to avoid detection based on the pharmacology, biochemistry, and genetics of AAS metabolism and testing principles. Read More

Biomed Rep 2016 Dec 27;5(6):665-666. Epub 2016 Oct 27.

Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece.

Stanozolol is a synthetic heterocyclic steroid with anabolic and androgenic properties, which has been abused by several high-profile professional athletes. Stanozolol is also used in veterinary medicine to increase appetite, cause weight gain and treat certain types of anemia. The detection of stanozolol metabolites in human urine for doping control purposes depends on the analytical method applied. Read More

Drug Test Anal 2017 Sep 5;9(9):1291-1303. Epub 2017 Apr 5.

Doping Control Laboratory of Athens, Olympic Athletic Center of Athens 'Spyros Louis', 37 Kifisias Avenue, 15123, Maroussi, Greece.

The artificial increase of the physical capability of horses using drugs is well known in racing and other equine sports. Both illicit and therapeutic substances are regarded as prohibited substances in competition in most countries. Some countries make distinctions for a few, specific drugs which are, however, allowed for use in other countries. Read More

J Vet Diagn Invest 2017 Jan;29(1):35-40

Histopathology Department (Zanardello, Vascellari), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.

We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of progesterone receptors (PRs) in the prostate and bulbourethral glands of thirty-two 10-14-mo-old Charolais bulls following treatment with a low dosage of estrogens. Animals were divided into 2 groups: 16 animals (group T) were treated for 71 d with a therapeutic dose of trenbolone acetate and estradiol by subcutaneous implant, 16 animals (group C) received no treatment. Urine samples were collected both at the beginning of the trial and 9 times during the study. Read More

Am J Public Health 2017 Feb 20;107(2):319-321. Epub 2016 Dec 20.

Aaron J. Blashill and Jerel P. Calzo are with San Diego State University, San Diego, CA. Scott Griffiths is with University of Canberra, Bruce, Canberra, Australia. Stuart B. Murray is with University of California, San Francisco.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence of anabolic steroid misuse among US adolescent boys as a function of sexual orientation and race/ethnicity.

Methods: We analyzed boys from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 6248; mean age = 16), a representative sample of US high school students. Lifetime prevalence of anabolic steroid misuse was dichotomized as never versus 1 or more times. Read More

JAMA 2017 01;317(1):23-24

Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2016 17;8:36. Epub 2016 Nov 17.

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, STAD, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: During the past decades, concerns about increased anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use among recreational sportspeople have been raised, yet there is a paucity of AAS prevention efforts targeting this group. Accordingly, doping prevention efforts aimed at gyms have been recommended. The overall objective of the present project is to examine a prevention programme named 100% Pure Hard Training (100% PHT), which targets AAS use among recreational sportspeople training in gyms. Read More

Pharmacol Res 2017 Jan 24;115:209-217. Epub 2016 Nov 24.

Centre of Excellence "Neurobiology of Dependence", University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS 554 Km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy; CNR Institute of Neuroscience-Cagliari, National Research Council, Italy. Electronic address:

Clinical and pre-clinical observations indicate that anabolic-androgenic steroids can induce neurobiological changes that alter the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. In this study, we investigated the effect of the anabolic steroid nandrolone on the rewarding properties of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 (WIN) in rats. Lister Hooded male rats were treated intramuscularly with nandrolone (15mg/kg) or vehicle for 14 consecutive days, and then allowed to self-administer WIN (12. Read More

Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem 2017 ;14(3):160-166

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Cotton College, Guwahati, Assam, India.

Background: This article is a study of adverse effects associated with the abuse of recreational drugs such as anabolic androgenic steroids. Nandrolone decanoate is one such drug often abused by athletes and bodybuilders seeking enhanced physical strength or appearance. The use of such steroids has increased dramatically over the years. Read More

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2017 Jan 8;1040:250-259. Epub 2016 Nov 8.

State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China. Electronic address:

Stanozolol is one of the most commonly abused anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) by athletes and usually detected by its parent drug and major metabolites. However, its metabolic pathway is complex, varied and individually different, it is important to characterize its overall metabolic profiles and discover new and long-term metabolites for the aims of expanding detection windows. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the human urine after oral administration of stanozolol. Read More

Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2017 Apr 28;34(4):632-640. Epub 2016 Nov 28.

a LaBoratoire d'Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA) , Oniris , Nantes , France.

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are a novel class of androgen receptor ligands. They are intended to exhibit the same kind of effects as androgenic drugs, like anabolic steroids, but be much more selective in their action, targeting particular tissues without any undesirable effects on others. While the main applications of these synthetic substances are for therapeutic purposes, they also have a high potential for misuse in veterinary practice and the sporting world. Read More

Asian J Sports Med 2016 Sep 16;7(3):e35018. Epub 2016 Jul 16.

Department of Pharmacology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, IR Iran.

Background: Several reports have implied progressive increase of performance-enhancing drug (PED) use among Iranian athletes. More importantly, most of the previous research in the Iranian population had mainly focused on the anabolic steroid abuse, and ignored other agents.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of PED use among bodybuilding athletes in Bushehr, south of Iran. Read More

Curr Neuropharmacol 2017 ;15(5):724-730

Drug Abuse and Doping Unit, Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome. Italy.

Background: Recently, a large amount of physical and sexual performance enhancing products have started to be freely sold mainly on internet web sites as dietary supplements. However, there a high suspicion that pharmacologically active substance, prohibited in these products, can be present to provide the expected effect.

Methods: A simple and rapid systematic toxicological analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry has been applied after a liquidliquid extraction at acidic, neutral and alkaline pH with chloroform-isopropanol (9:1 v/v). Read More

Drug Test Anal 2016 Nov 11;8(11-12):1212-1221. Epub 2016 Nov 11.

Laboratorio Antidoping FMSI, Largo Onesti 1, 00197, Rome, Italy.

The detection of the abuse of pseudo-endogenous steroids (testosterone and/or its precursors) is currently based on the application of the steroid module of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athletes' Biological Passport (ABP), implemented through ADAMS. Diagnostic metabolites are monitored for every athlete and statistically evaluated with a predictive Bayesian approach. In the case of suspicious samples, the data of the ABP are confirmed and the isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) test is activated. Read More

Drug Test Anal 2017 Sep 18;9(9):1304-1319. Epub 2016 Nov 18.

Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

In recent years, the potential for anabolic steroid abuse in equine sports has increased due to the growing availability of designer steroids. These compounds are readily accessible online in 'dietary' or 'nutritional' supplements and contain steroidal compounds which have never been tested or approved as veterinary agents. They typically have unusual structures or substitution and as a result may pass undetected through current anti-doping screening protocols, making them a significant concern for the integrity of the industry. Read More

Drug Test Anal 2017 Jul 11;9(7):1017-1025. Epub 2016 Nov 11.

LUNAM Université, Oniris, Laboratoire d'Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), Nantes, France.

Besides their development for therapeutic purposes, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (non-steroidal SARMs) are also known to impact growth-associated pathways as ligands of androgenic receptors (AR). They present a potential for abuse in sports and food-producing animals as an interesting alternative to anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). These compounds are easily available and could therefore be (mis)used in livestock production as growth promoters. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2016 Nov 15;131:482-496. Epub 2016 Sep 15.

Institute of Biochemistry - Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany.

So far, in sports drug testing compounds of different classes are processed and measured using different screening procedures. The constantly increasing number of samples in doping analysis, as well as the large number of substances with doping related, pharmacological effects require the development of even more powerful assays than those already employed in sports drug testing, indispensably with reduced sample preparation procedures. The analysis of native urine samples after direct injection provides a promising analytical approach, which thereby possesses a broad applicability to many different compounds and their metabolites, without a time-consuming sample preparation. Read More

Biol Psychiatry 2017 Aug 30;82(4):294-302. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Oslo, Norway.

Background: Prolonged high-dose anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use has been associated with psychiatric symptoms and cognitive deficits, yet we have almost no knowledge of the long-term consequences of AAS use on the brain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between long-term AAS exposure and brain morphometry, including subcortical neuroanatomical volumes and regional cortical thickness.

Methods: Male AAS users and weightlifters with no experience with AASs or any other equivalent doping substances underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain. Read More

PLoS One 2016 17;11(8):e0161208. Epub 2016 Aug 17.

Department of Internal Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.

Aims: Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) is highly prevalent among male recreational athletes. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of AAS abuse on reproductive hormone levels and symptoms suggestive of hypogonadism in current and former AAS abusers.

Methods: This study had a cross-sectional case-control design and involved 37 current AAS abusers, 33 former AAS abusers (mean (95%CI) elapsed duration since AAS cessation: 2. Read More

Steroids 2016 Nov 10;115:34-39. Epub 2016 Aug 10.

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia.

Counterfeit steroids are available on the black market, ultimately to consumers who believe they are buying a legitimate pharmaceutical item from the labeled company. In many cases, counterfeit steroids can contain lower doses or some products can be overdosed. This can unwittingly expose users to a significant health risks. Read More

Chemistry 2016 Sep 17;22(40):14171-4. Epub 2016 Aug 17.

Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Kuprevich str., 5/2, 220141, Minsk, Belarus.

Palladium-catalyzed C-H acetoxylation has been proposed as a key transformation in the first chemical synthesis of steroids bearing a unique 17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methyl-18-nor-13-ene D-fragment. This C-H functionalization step was crucial for inverting the configuration at the quaternary stereocenter of a readily available synthetic intermediate. The developed approach was applied to prepare the metandienone metabolite needed as a reference substance in anti-doping analysis to control the abuse of this androgenic anabolic steroid. Read More