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Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2022 17;35(3):363-365. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.

Bodybuilders often use anabolic-androgenic steroids to improve performance. We report a case of a 30-year-old male bodybuilder with anabolic-androgen steroid abuse while getting ready for a bodybuilding contest. He had New York Heart Association class IV heart failure, severe nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, new-onset atrial fibrillation, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and acute respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation. Read More

Psychiatr Danub 2022 ;34(1):91-93

Gaziantep 25 Aralık State Hospital, Değirmiçem District, Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Street, No:38, 27090 Şehitkamil, Gaziantep, Turkey,

Scand J Med Sci Sports 2022 Apr 23. Epub 2022 Apr 23.

Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Introduction: Abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has been linked to a variety of different cardiovascular (CV) side effects, but still the clinical effects of AAS abuse on CV risk are not clear. The aim of this study was to assess the CV phenotype of a large cohort of men with long-term AAS use compared with strength-trained athletes without AAS use.

Methods: Fifty one strength-trained men with ≥3 years of AAS use was compared with twenty one strength-trained competing athletes. Read More

Subst Use Misuse 2022 22;57(7):1160-1163. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Background: Concurrent use of e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and cannabis is common among adolescents, while illicit anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use has recently been on the rise. Today, no known research has investigated the patterns of concurrent substance use and AAS use among adolescents in the United States.

Objective: To determine the association between concurrent lifetime use of e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and cannabis and illicit AAS use among adolescents. Read More

Arch Toxicol 2022 Mar 28. Epub 2022 Mar 28.

Institute of Doping Analysis and Sports Biochemistry Dresden, Kreischa, Germany.

Dietary supplements sold for anabolic benefits or performance enhancement often contain substances, which are non-approved and might lack quality controls. With regard to athletes, the inclusion of substances or methods in the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency is based on medical or scientific evidence. 5α-hydroxy-laxogenin is a synthetic spirostane-type steroid, which is contained in dietary supplements and advertised as anabolic agent. Read More

Addict Biol 2022 03;27(2):e13135

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.

Previous studies have established a role of sex hormones in alcohol use disorder (AUD).Only few clinical investigations with low numbers of patients with AUD have focused on the sulphated form of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA-S), despite its function as a neuromodulating sex steroid on receptors in the central nervous system (γ-aminobutyric acid type A, N-methyl-D-aspartate, sigma-1 receptors). DHEA-S serum levels were compared between 200 inpatients with AUD (44% women) admitted for withdrawal treatment and 240 healthy controls (45% women) and analysed longitudinally in patients from early abstinence (baseline) to a median of 5 days later. Read More

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2022 03 8;51(1):205-216. Epub 2022 Feb 8.

Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Hypogonadism commonly occurs during withdrawal from anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use, particularly when users have been taking AAS for prolonged periods. Mounting evidence now suggests that AAS-induced hypogonadism may persist for months or even years after last AAS use, and in some cases may be partially or completely irreversible. Treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin and clomiphene may help to restore hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis function, and these substances are widely used illicitly by AAS users at the end of a course of AAS as so-called postcycle therapy. Read More

Panminerva Med 2022 Feb 11. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

Legal Medicine, Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, G.F. Ingrassia, University of Catania, Catania, Italy -

Introduction: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) are a complex cluster of synthetic derivatives of testosterone. AAS abuse is considered a major public health issue since it has increased among young/adolescent males. The use of steroids has a prevalence rate of 14% in young athletes and 30-75% in professional athletes or bodybuilders. Read More

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2022 Feb;32(2):233-235

Department of Cardiology, Russells Hall Hospital, NHS Trust, Dudley, United Kingdom.

Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is widespread nowadays, not only in athletes but in non-athletic populations; and rapidly becoming a public health challenge. Cardiomyopathy (both dilated and hypertrophic) is a known complication of anabolic steroid use. A 47-year woman presented with acute pulmonary edema, in the background of exertional dyspnea for the last few weeks. Read More

J Clin Exp Hepatol 2022 Jan-Feb;12(1):216-221. Epub 2021 Mar 11.

Institute of Liver disease and Transplantation, Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India.

The modified derivatives of testosterone, termed as androgenic steroids are indicated in the management of hypogonadism, visceral obesity and metabolic disorders. Anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) however are surreptitiously used by athletes and body builders for cosmetic purpose owing to their anabolic effects on muscle mass and strength. The unsurveilled use of AASs subjects these users to various side effects involving multiple systems such as the endocrine, genitourinary, hepatobiliary, central nervous, musculoskeletal and psychosocial system. Read More

Drug Test Anal 2022 Jan 20. Epub 2022 Jan 20.

Shanghai Anti-doping Laboratory, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.

Dried blood spots (DBSs) provide a valuable complementary sample matrix for routine doping analysis, and the full automation of analysis for DBS samples is achievable to avoid extensive and repetitive manual laboratory work. In the current study, a fully automated online DBS preparation and detection method for the screening and quantification analysis of 13 anabolic steroid esters by means of the DBSA-TLX-HRMS system was developed and validated, based on the purpose for the determination of the abuse of anabolic steroid esters in athletes. Validation of the method yielded linear (R  > 0. Read More

Drug Alcohol Depend 2022 02 10;231:109275. Epub 2022 Jan 10.

Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Introduction: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), including testosterone and synthetic derivatives, are typically used to increase muscle mass. Many users develop a dependence on these substances, contributing to worsened physical and mental health outcomes. Aspects of personality and executive dysfunction may represent underlying vulnerabilities for developing dependence. Read More

Unfallchirurg 2022 Jan 15;125(1):73-82. Epub 2021 Dec 15.

Klinik und Poliklinik für Unfallchirurgie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, München, Deutschland.

The triceps brachii muscle is the main extender of the elbow joint. Triceps tendon rupture or tearing presents a rare injury pattern in general. Distal tendon ruptures occur most commonly in the area of the insertion of the olecranon. Read More

Anal Chem 2021 11 18;93(47):15590-15596. Epub 2021 Nov 18.

GIE-LCH, Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, 15 Rue de Paradis, 91370 Verrières-le-Buisson, France.

Synthetic androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) are banned compounds and considered as major threats by both racing and sports international authorities. Hence, doping control laboratories are continually looking into analytical improvements to increase their detection capabilities, notably by means of emerging technologies. To enhance analytical performances for the detection of synthetic AAS such as stanozolol, specific chromatographic procedures have been developed using recent quaternary liquid chromatography technology originally designed for high-throughput standardized proteomics connected to mass spectrometry. Read More

J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2022 Jan 31;36(1):e22936. Epub 2021 Oct 31.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Manufacturing, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), Giza, Egypt.

The illicit abuse of anabolic steroids is associated with brutal aggression, which represents a serious health hazard and social threat. Boldenone is commonly used for doping by athletes and adolescents for esthetic purposes and to enhance performance and endurance during competitions. However, the mechanistic pathways underlying boldenone-induced behavioral deviations and neuronal toxicity have not yet been elucidated. Read More

Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2021 12;28(6):604-614

Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to examine the recent evidence regarding the effects of exogenous androgens on the brain. Understanding these effects is of high importance, as the consequences of androgens on the reproductive and endocrine system are well documented, while fewer studies have focused on the neural and cerebral consequences of androgen use.

Recent Findings: Supraphysiological doses of androgens have been shown to contribute to neurodegeneration, decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor, increased inflammation and decreased neuronal density in animal studies, which may correspond to changes in mood, cognition and aggression. Read More

Drug Test Anal 2022 Feb 1;14(2):298-306. Epub 2021 Nov 1.

Institute of Doping Analysis and Sports Biochemistry Dresden, Kreischa, Germany.

In order to detect the abuse of substances in sports, the knowledge of their metabolism is of undisputable importance. As in vivo administration of compounds faces ethical problems and might even not be applicable for nonapproved compounds, cell-based models might be a versatile tool for biotransformation studies. We coincubated HepG2 cells with metandienone and D -epitestosterone for 14 days. Read More

Drug Test Anal 2021 Nov 21;13(11-12):1835-1851. Epub 2021 Oct 21.

Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Köln, Germany.

The testing strategy for the detection of testosterone (T) or T-prohormones is based on the longitudinal evaluation of urinary steroid concentrations accompanied by subsequent isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS)-based confirmation of samples showing atypical concentrations or concentration ratios. In recent years, the IRMS methodology focussed more and more on T itself and on the metabolites of T, 5α- and 5β-androstanediol. These target analytes showed the best sensitivity and retrospectivity, but their use has occasionally been challenging due to their comparably low urinary concentrations. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2021 Nov 22;206:114388. Epub 2021 Sep 22.

Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Unit of Medical Toxicology, Headache Centre and Drug Abuse, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo, 41124 Modena, Italy.

Migraine is a very painful, disabling and extremely common disorder among the world's adult population, especially women, and it is associated with a variety of comorbidities. Neuroactive steroids exhibit pleiotropic actions on the nervous system. Alterations in their peripheral and central levels could be involved in the pathogenesis, still not fully understood, of migraine and its comorbidities. Read More

Iran J Public Health 2021 Jun;50(6):1120-1134

Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Due to widespread abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids among professional athletes and amateur sportsmen and their health-related problems, determining the prevalence and the pattern of anabolicandrogenic steroid misuse at the national level seems to be vital for designing efficient preventive and educational measures.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted via comprehensive searches of the electronic databases including PubMed, MedLine, Scopus, Google Scholar and National Persian Databases including SID, Magiran, IranDoc (between 1980 and Dec 2019 in English and Persian languages) and also from citations in the selected papers. Overall, 39 articles met the criteria and were included in qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Read More

Drug Test Anal 2021 Nov 22;13(11-12):1921-1928. Epub 2021 Sep 22.

Center for Preventive Doping Research/Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

A fundamental challenge in preventive doping research is the study of metabolic pathways of substances banned in sport. However, the pharmacological predictions obtained by conventional in vitro or in vivo animal studies are occasionally of limited transferability to humans according to an inability of in vitro models to mimic higher order system physiology or due to various species-specific differences using animal models. A more recently established technology for simulating human physiology is the "organ-on-a-chip" principle. Read More

Steroids 2021 11 4;175:108916. Epub 2021 Sep 4.

Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

We aimed to investigate the effects of high doses of nandrolone decanoate and resistance training (RT) on the proteomic profile of the left ventricle (LV) of rats, using a label-free quantitative approach. Male rats were randomized into four groups: untrained vehicle (UTV), trained vehicle (TV), untrained nandrolone (UTN), and trained nandrolone (TN). Rats were familiarized with the exercise training protocol (jump exercise) for one week. Read More

Biomarkers 2021 Dec 16;26(8):685-690. Epub 2021 Sep 16.

Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Science, Gonabad, Iran.

Background: Nowadays bodybuilders use anabolic steroids frequently. Abuse of these substances can cause significant side effects; therefore, we aim to investigate the effect of anabolic steroids on DNA damage in bodybuilders' blood lymphocytes.

Methods And Materials: This case-control study was performed on 36 male bodybuilders in Gonabad. Read More

Cureus 2021 Aug 17;13(8):e17264. Epub 2021 Aug 17.

Department of Psychiatry, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, USA.

Background Although the relationship between sexual risk behaviors and substance use has been established, It remains to be studied if different types of substances have differences in the odds of sexual risk behaviors. Therefore, we aimed to identify the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors in high school students of the United States (US) and study the difference in the odds of sexual risk behaviors for various substances. Methods We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) data of 2019 that nationally represents US high school students in grades 9-12. Read More

Diagnostics (Basel) 2021 Jul 21;11(8). Epub 2021 Jul 21.

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 1 December Sq, 10, 410087 Oradea, Romania.

Androgenic-Anabolic Steroids (AAS) abuse is known to play an important role in causing the systemic inflammatory response and multiple-organ dysfunction in healthy individuals. Although many of the undesirable effects of steroid abuse have been reported, at present, little is known about the effect of anabolic supplements and the correlation between cardiac and metabolic pathology. This paper presents a case of a 25 year old patient with a complex medical history after 6 months of steroid administration. Read More

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2021 11 19;214:105978. Epub 2021 Aug 19.

Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Königin-Luise-Straße 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address:

Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT) is an anabolic-androgenic steroid that was developed by Jenapharm in the 1960s and was marketed as Oral Turinabol®. It is prohibited in sports at all times; nevertheless, there are several findings by anti-doping laboratories every year. New long-term metabolites have been proposed in 2011/12, which resulted in adverse analytical findings in retests of the Olympic games of 2008 and 2012. Read More

Int J Drug Policy 2021 09 17;95:103366. Epub 2021 Aug 17.

Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, United States.

Medically-sanctioned testosterone administration has seen increasingly widespread application in the treatment of gender dysphoria (GD). Yet, by comparison, this approach is not medically accepted for those who are experiencing muscle dysmorphia (MD), a specifier of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), despite both conditions reflecting incongruences between self-perception, identity and phenotype, and both currently being classified as mental health disorders. Rather, by stark contrast, those with MD are largely treated with psychological intervention to accept themselves as they physically are and the illicit use of testosterone for muscle-related body perception purposes is generally subject to criminal justice enforcement actions. Read More

Drug Test Anal 2022 Jan 26;14(1):39-55. Epub 2021 Aug 26.

Sports and Specialised Analytical Services, LGC, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK.

Oxandrolone is an anabolic-androgenic steroid with favourable anabolic to androgenic ratio, making it an effective anabolic agent with less androgenic side effects. Although its metabolism has been studied in humans, its phase I and II metabolism has not been previously reported in the horse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro metabolism of oxandrolone (using both equine liver microsomes and S9) and in vivo metabolism following oral administration (three daily doses of 50 mg of oxandrolone to a single Thoroughbred horse), using both gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Read More

J Sex Med 2021 09 5;18(9):1662-1675. Epub 2021 Aug 5.

Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA.

Background: The effect of gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) on clinical laboratory parameters, including levels of liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), is an area of uncertainty in transgender health.

Aim: We sought to estimate the distribution parameters of liver enzyme levels among transmasculine (TM) and transfeminine (TF) persons receiving GAHT relative to the corresponding measures in cisgender reference groups, and to evaluate longitudinal changes in these laboratory measures following GAHT initiation.

Methods: The data for this longitudinal study included 624 TF and 438 transmasculine (TM) people as well as 4,090 cisgender males and 4,797 cisgender females enrolled in 3 integrated health systems. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2021 Jul 10;57(7). Epub 2021 Jul 10.

Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 2114, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia.

: The main aim of the present study was to assess the use of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) and to investigate its potentially unfavorable effects among gym members attending gym fitness facilities in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. : A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out during the summer of 2017. Male gym users in the Eastern Province region of Saudi Arabia were the respondents. Read More