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Background:The recreational use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has reached alarming levels among healthy people. However, several complications have been related to consumption of these drugs, including liver disorders.Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of liver injuries in young Brazilian recreational AAS users.Methods:Between February/2007 and May/2012 asymptomatic bodybuilders who were ≥18 years old and reported AAS use for ≥6 months were enrolled. All had clinical evaluations, abdominal ultrasound (AUS), and blood tests.Results:182 individuals were included in the study. The median age (interquartile range) was 26.0 years (22.0–30.0) and all were male. Elevated liver enzyme levels were observed in 38.5% (n= 70) of AAS users, and creatine phosphokinase was normal in 27.1% (n= 19) of them. Hepatic steatosis was observed by AUS in 12.1% of the sample. One individual had focal nodular hyperplasia and another had hepatocellular adenoma. One case each of hepatitis B and C virus infection was found. A diagnosis of toxic liver injury was suggested in 23 (12.6%) AAS users without a history of alcohol or other medications/drugs consumption, or evidence of other liver diseases.Conclusions/Importance: Young Brazilian recreational AAS users presented a wide spectrum of liver injuries that included hepatotoxicity, fatty liver, and liver neoplasm. They also presented risk factors for liver diseases such as alcohol consumption and hepatitis B and C virus infection. The results suggest that the risk of AAS use for the liver may be greater than the esthetic benefits, and demonstrate the importance of screening AAS users for liver injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This cross-sectional, quantitative, exploratory study investigated the prevalence and profile of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) users amongst a convenience sample of 510 bodybuilders from 52 gyms, in João Pessoa, Brazil, with a structured questionnaire containing selected questions about socioeconomic and training variables on the use of AAS. Data were analyzed using frequency and chi-square tests. AAS prevalence use was 20.6%; mostly young men (98.1%), of a low education level (46.7%), who trained for more than 4 years (49.5%). The use of AAS was related to the use of dietary supplements. About 81% of consumed AAS consisted of Deca-Durabolin, Winstrol, and Sustanon. Study's limitations are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are used to enhance physical performance and/or appearance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the concomitant use of alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, and AAS on blood lipid profiles of 145 asymptomatic male bodybuilders from the Northeast region of Brazil. Interviews, clinical exams, and serological evaluations were performed on all participants between 2007 and 2009. All subjects' self-reported use of testosterone or its derivatives, 118 individuals reported alcohol intake, 27-reported cigarette smoking, and 33 confirmed cocaine use. Four subjects were users of all drugs at the same time. Higher levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were observed among concomitant users of alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, and AAS. The study's limitations are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the use of paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) combined with chemometric models to analyze seized samples of anabolic steroids. Because many forensic laboratories typically demand high-throughput analysis for this type of sample, we developed a quicker and simpler alternative analytical method for routine analysis with minimal sample preparation. Oily samples (n = 39) resulting from seizures carried out by Brazilian Federal and State Police units were selected for this study. These samples were analyzed by PS-MS in the positive ion mode and full scan (50-1000 m/z), providing spectra containing patterns of the respective active ingredients present in each product. A principal component analysis (PCA) model was built, which discriminated samples mainly according to their active ingredients and allowed to detect and characterize some cases of product counterfeiting. The variable selection method ordered predictors selection was employed jointly with PCA to improve sample cluster separation and to provide model simplification. The final PCA model was built with three principal components and using only 28 spectral variables. This model accounted for 69.82% of the variance and discriminated samples according to their specific active ingredients., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The current Brazilian situation is such that it is difficult to obtain a worldwide evaluation of failure in education, intervention, or prevention programs. How fragile Brazil's anti-doping system is, its appropriateness as well as its relevance, with needed policy infrastructures for achieving the selected goals, and how wide the gap is between education and prevention program effectiveness between high-performance athletes and recreational practitioners who just want to look good. An additional concern, and ever present flaw regarding Brazil's "common sportsman" in day-to-day society is their not receiving known and necessary "sports education," enabling the development of an "at-risk" population for self-harm. Reflections on public health policy are noted.

This cross-sectional, quantitative, exploratory study investigated the prevalence and profile of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) users amongst a convenience sample of 510 bodybuilders from 52 gyms, in João Pessoa, Brazil, with a structured questionnaire containing selected questions about socioeconomic and training variables on the use of AAS. Data were analyzed using frequency and chi-square tests. AAS prevalence use was 20.6%; mostly young men (98.1%), of a low education level (46.7%), who trained for more than 4 years (49.5%). The use of AAS was related to the use of dietary supplements. About 81% of consumed AAS consisted of Deca-Durabolin, Winstrol, and Sustanon. Study's limitations are noted.

Background: In the past 20 years, there has been an increase in the incidence of upper extremity tendinous injuries, especially in sports including strong physical activity, such as in weight lifting, as well as with the concurrent use of anabolic steroids. Today, there are more than 200 cases describing rupture of the pectoralis major muscle in athletes., Hypothesis: Surgical treatment will have a better outcome than nonsurgical treatment in total rupture of the pectoralis major muscle in athletes., Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2., Methods: Twenty athletes with pectoralis major muscle (PMM) rupture were studied; 10 had surgical treatment, and the other 10 were treated nonoperatively. The mean age was 32.27 years (range, 27-47 years); all of them were men. The average follow-up was 36 months (range, 48-72 months). Injuries were diagnosed by history, physical examination, and subsidiary tests. Functional evaluation and isokinetic evaluation were performed on all 20 patients., Results: The clinical evaluation revealed 70% (n = 7) excellent, 20% good (n = 2), and 10% poor (n = 1) outcomes for the cases treated with surgery and 20% good (n = 2), 50% fair (n = 5), and 40% poor (n = 4) outcomes for the cases treated nonsurgically. The isokinetic evaluation at 60-deg/s speed showed a decrease in strength of 53.8% in the nonsurgical group and 13.7% for the surgical group., Conclusion: Total PMM rupture in athletes showed a better functional result after surgical treatment than after nonsurgical treatment.