<p>Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) have been associated with adverse psychiatric effects, aggression and violent behaviour. The use of them has spread to a larger subpopulation, and the use has been connected to different risk behaviours, such as use of other illicit substances and carrying a gun. Case reports tell about a connection between AAS use and violent crimes, including homicide. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the proposed connection between AAS and crime, focusing on violent crimes, and to inquire into whether this proposed connection between AAS and criminality is affected by other risk factors for criminal behaviour.</p><p>The first two studies of this thesis investigated the registered criminality of individuals testing positively for AAS, with individuals testing negatively serving as control groups. In the two last studies individuals at a clinic for substance abuse treatment (Paper III) and in a prison (Paper IV) were asked about their use of AAS, and their history was assessed using the Addiction Severity Index.</p><p>The main finding of Paper I was the development of criminal patterns over time, with a clear increase of the proportion of violent crimes and weapons offences seen only among the pure AAS users. In Paper II an increased risk for weapons offences among AAS users was reported. In Paper III an increased risk of having been prosecuted for violent crimes and of having been physically abused was seen among the AAS users. In Paper IV, the main finding was the close resemblance of users and non users.</p><p>In summary, this thesis have concluded that the violence previously reported as connected to use of AAS can, to a large extent, be accounted for by other risk factors. There seems, however, to be a connection between use of AAS and a heavy, more planned form of criminality.</p>

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) have been associated with adverse psychiatric effects, aggression and violent behaviour. The use of them has spread to a larger subpopulation, and the use has been connected to different risk behaviours, such as use of other illicit substances and carrying a gun. Case reports tell about a connection between AAS use and violent crimes, including homicide. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the proposed connection between AAS and crime, focusing on violent crimes, and to inquire into whether this proposed connection between AAS and criminality is affected by other risk factors for criminal behaviour. The first two studies of this thesis investigated the registered criminality of individuals testing positively for AAS, with individuals testing negatively serving as control groups. In the two last studies individuals at a clinic for substance abuse treatment (Paper III) and in a prison (Paper IV) were asked about their use of AAS, and their history was assessed using the Addiction Severity Index. The main finding of Paper I was the development of criminal patterns over time, with a clear increase of the proportion of violent crimes and weapons offences seen only among the pure AAS users. In Paper II an increased risk for weapons offences among AAS users was reported. In Paper III an increased risk of having been prosecuted for violent crimes and of having been physically abused was seen among the AAS users. In Paper IV, the main finding was the close resemblance of users and non users. In summary, this thesis have concluded that the violence previously reported as connected to use of AAS can, to a large extent, be accounted for by other risk factors. There seems, however, to be a connection between use of AAS and a heavy, more planned form of criminality.

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has been associated with use of illegal or unprescribed prescription drugs, as well as different adverse psychiatric effects, such as ma-nia, psychosis and hostility. Further, there is an association between use of AAS and other different risk behaviours, including carrying guns and reckless driving. Taken together, these data suggest that there is a group of AAS users that are not elite athletes, but rather young men at risk for psychiatric illness and criminality, and who use AAS primarily for their aes-thetic effects and possibly for their psychoactive effects. The aim of this thesis is to investi-gate further the connection between use of AAS and use of other drugs, and to investigate whether the proposed side effects of AAS cause an increase in morbidity and mortality. The first study (Paper I) investigates morbidity and mortality in persons testing positive for AAS compared to persons testing negative for AAS at a doping laboratory. Paper II of this thesis studies the presence of psychoactive drugs in diseased men who tested positive for AAS upon autopsy and whether there is any difference between deceased users of AAS and deceased users of heroin or amphetamine (control group). The third article (Paper III) dis-cusses a surprising finding in paper I of increased seizures NOS in users of AAS. Paper IV and V are interview studies from an out-patient substance abuse clinic. The main findings in Paper I was that the majority of deceased users of AAS were also positive for other drugs and/or alcohol on autopsy, and that users of AAS more often than the control group had died from intentional death (suicide or homicide). The main finding of Paper II was that users of AAS were severely at risk for premature death compared to both the control group and the general population. Paper III concluded that the high prevalence of Convulsion NOS in users of AAS most likely was the result of concomitant substance abuse and withdrawal from such use. Paper IV concluded that twelve percent of the patients at the substance abuse clinic had used AAS for at least one cycle. Users of AAS had a higher risk of having been convicted of a violent offence, and users of AAS more often reported having been physically abused. In Paper V, long-terme users of AAS were found to have an increased risk for developing depression in connection with cessation of AAS use. AAS was also re-ported to be used in preparation for crime. In summary, this thesis concludes that there is a solid association between use of AAS and use of other psychotropic drugs in certain subpopulations, and that users of AAS are at risk for premature death due to unnatural causes that may be secondary to use of AAS.

The purpose of this study was to compare the myocardial structure and function among endurance athletes (n.12), powerlifters/steroid users (n=5), powerlifters/non-steroid users (n=6), and sedentary controls (n=4). All subjects had a M-mode echocardiographic examination of their left ventricles under resting conditions. The echocardiographic measurements recorded and analyzed were of the left ventricular posterior wall at diastole and systole, left ventricular internal diameter at diastole and systole, and inter-ventricular septal thickness at diastole and systole. Myocardial function measurements consisting of left ventricle ejection time, left ventricular mass, mean ventricular contractile force, and percent fractional shortening were also recorded and analyzed. A One Way Analysis of Variance was used to analyze the data for statistical significance. A Tukey's HSD post-hoc test was used to determine statistical significance between the groups. A significant difference (p =0.02) was found for inter-ventricular septal thickness during diastole. All three athletic groups had significantly thicker inter-ventricular septa' thickness during diastole as compared to the controls. Power lifters/steroid users had the thickest inter-ventricular septal thickness (18.7 mm), followed by endurance athletes (18.6 mm), and powerlifters/nonsteroid users (16.5 mm). Overall, powerlifters/steroid users had the thickest walls at systole and diastole, while endurance athletes had the greatest internal diameters relative to the size of the left ventricle. Statistically significant differences among the groups were found for all four myocardial functional parameters: left ventricular ejection time (p = 0.03), left ventricular mass (p = 0.002), mean ventricular contractile force of (p 0.0013), and percent fractional shortening (p = 0.05). Power lifters/steroid users had the fastest left ventricular ejection times, largest left ventricular mass, greatest mean ventricular contractile force, and greatest percent fractional shortening. Endurance athletes had the slowest left ventricular ejection times, second largest left ventricular mass, lowest mean ventricular contractile force, and third lowest percent fractional shortening. The results indicated that not all individuals participating in high level endurance or powerlifting training and competition demonstrated complete adaptations in myocardial structure and function. Power lifters/steroid users however, demonstrated myocardial functional adaptations that were significantly different from powerlifters/non-steroid users, endurance athletes, and controls. The results of this study cannot attribute these changes either to the use of large amounts of anabolic steroids, or long-term, high-intensity training and competition in powerlifting. However, the study identified alterations in myocardial functions in powerlifters/steroid users, and contributes to the existing body of knowledge regarding the use of anabolic steroids by athletes. / Graduation date: 1990

The present study described the daily moods of male bodybuilders who self-administered large doses of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AS) through a full cycle of steroid use. Male bodybuilders (N = 13) who had been self-administering AS for 2.5 to 12 years served as subjects and participated in a 14 to 16 week experience sampling procedure wherein brief mood questionnaires were filled out twice daily. / Findings revealed that 11 of the 13 subjects experienced self-reported mood changes in association with AS use. In particular, 2 subjects (subjects 4 & 11) experienced quite dramatic changes in mood. It is concluded that there is much variability with regards to the psychological effects that humans may display in association with AS use. / Data are discussed in terms of the effects that AS use may have on mental health.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-02-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:42:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 agati_lb_dr_botib.pdf: 1519530 bytes, checksum: e23e18f534447ea896a1bef2a219977a (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Considerando-se a importância do exercício físico para a prevenção de problemas na saúde de indivíduos adultos e idosos associada à procura pela melhor forma de se exercitar, tem aumentado a busca por ergogênicos nos dias de hoje. Assim, os ergogênicos têm sido apontados como as principais substâncias utilizadas em tratamentos para o retardo da velhice e prevenção de doenças como enfarte e osteoporose. Porém pouco se sabe sobre o melhor método para estes tratamentos. Logo, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar os efeitos produzidos pelo treinamento resistido de alta intensidade e/ou tratamento com decanoato de nandrolona (anabolizante esteróide) sobre os aspectos sociais e reprodutivos, e à resistência mecânica do fêmur em ratos machos. Os ratos foram divididos em seis grupos experimentais: controle não treinado, controle treinado, anabolizante treinado, anabolizante não treinado, controle treinado pirâmide e anabolizante treinado pirâmide. O programa de exercício foi realizado três dias por semana, durante 8 semanas. Concomitantemente, o tratamento com o anabolizante esteróide - decanoato de nandrolona - foi realizado duas vezes por semana e ao final deste treinamento os ratos foram submetidos a um teste de agressividade (comportamento social) e a seguir eutanasiados. Foram realizadas análises ósseas (cabeça do fêmur), atividade da creatina kinase (CK), contagem espermática e viabilidade dos espermatozóides ao final das 8 semanas, com exceção a mensuração da CK que foi realizada ao longo do treinamento pirâmide. Os grupos submetidos ao exercício foram subdivididos para a realização de um protocolo de treinamento chamado “pirâmide”. Neste treinamento, os ratos foram submetidos a uma série de repetições máximas, na qual foi testada sua resistência à fadiga, de grande importância para avaliarmos o dano ou fortalecimento ósseo, assim... / Considering the importance of physical exercise in the prevention of several health diseases on adults and elderly, searching the best way of exercise, the sought for ergogenics has increased nowadays. On this sense, ergogenics have been pointed as one of the most utilized substances on the treatment of aging, prevention of heart attack and osteoporosis. However, little is known about the best method to these treatments. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effects produced by the high intensity resistance exercise and/or treatment with nandrolone (anabolic steroid) on social and reproductive aspects, as well as, the bone mechanical resistance on adult male rats. The rats were divided into six experimental groups: Untrained/Vehicle, Untrained/Anabolic, Trained/Vehicle, Trained/Anabolic, Pyramid/Vehicle and Pyramid Anabolic. The exercise protocol was performed three times a week, one day a part, during 8 weeks. The treatment with the anabolic steroid was realized within the eight weeks and at the end of the treatment/training, the animals were euthanized and the following analyses were assessed: femur mechanical resistance, creatine kinase (CK) activity, sperm count and seminal parameters, hormonal levels and the aggressive behavior. For the aggressive behavior the animals were isolated, and only the treatment was performed. The CK activity was the only measurement assessed during the 8 weeks. The groups submitted to the exercise were subdivided on the sixth week to accomplish another exercise protocol, known as pyramid training. This training protocol associates increasing working loads with low repetitions during the program, in which we tested the fatigue resistance, extremely important to evaluate the damage on bone strength, as well as other alterations. Through this analysis we could observe that the rats treated with decanoate... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

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Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Athletes use androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) to enhance their physical performance. The abuse of AAS is however associated with a host of side effects including sudden death due to cardiac arrest. The use of AAS leads to myocardial hypertrophy, which possibly makes the heart more prone to ischaemia/reperfusion injury, since it often develops in the absence of proper vasculature development. Chronic AAS use also disrupts myocardial p-adrenoreceptor function and possibly cAMP, signalling in the heart. Drugs increasing cAMP and decreasing cGMP levels in the ischaemic myocardium exacerbate myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury. We also know that AAS causes coronary artery disease secondary to the deleterious alteration of lipid profiles by increasing the LOL cholesterol and decreasing the HOLcholesterol levels. AAS treatment may increase systemic TNFa levels by stimulating lymphocyte TNFa secretion that has been implicated in the depression of myocardial function, myocardial hypertrophy and the worsening of ischaemia/reperfsuion injury. Aims: To determine whether chronic AAS treatment in trained and untrained rats influences: 1) heart function and susceptibility to ischaemia/reperfusion injury, 2) myocardial cyclic nucleotide levels (cAMP and cGMP) and 3) myocardial TNFa levels. Material and methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=100) were divided into 4 groups: sedentary vehicle (placebo) treated group, sedentary AAS treated group, exercise vehicle (placebo) treated group, and exercise AAS treated group. Steroid treated animals received an intramuscular injection of nandrolone laureate (0.375 mg/kg) once a week, for six weeks. Training consisted of swim sessions 6 days a week for 6 weeks. Swim time was incrementally increased up to a maximum of 50 minutes a day. For biometric parameters heart weight and body weight were documented. Hearts were mounted on a l.anqendorff perfusion apparatus and left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), heart rate (HR) and coronary flow (CF) was monitored. The hearts were subjected to a period of 20 minutes of global ischaemia, followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. Functional parameters was again monitored and documented. For biochemical analysis, blood was collected for the determination of serum lipid levels and myocardial tissue samples were collected before, during and after ischaemia for the determination of myocardial TNFa, cGMP and cAMP levels and p38 activity. Conclusions: Results obtained would suggest that AAS exacerbate exercise induced myocardial hypertrophy. It also prevents the exercise-induced improvement in cardiac function. AAS use reduces reperfusion function in treated hearts, which may suggest that AAS exacerbates ischaemie and reperfusion injury. Furthermore it was seen that AAS elevates basal (preischaemie) cyclic nucleotide levels and basal (pre-ischaemic) as well as reperfusion TNFa levels. This may also contribute to the exacerbation of ischaemic and reperfusion injury. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Androgeniese anaboliese steroïede (AAS) word dikwels deur atlete gebruik om sportprestasie te verbeter. Die misbruik van AAS het egter talle newe effekte, insluitende skielike dood wat gewoonlik toegeskryf word aan hartaanvalle. Die gebruik van AAS lei onder andere tot miokardiale hipertrofie wat opsigself, as gevolg van ontoereikende vaskulêre ontwikkeling tydens die ontwikkeling van hipertrofie, die hart nog meer vatbaar vir isgemie/herperfusie skade maak. Kroniese AAS toediening versteur miokardiale beta-adtenoresepter funksie en moontlik die tweede boodskapper, sAMP, seintransduksie in die hart. Ons weet ook dat AAS koronêre hartvatsiektes veroorsaak. Laasgenoemde is sekondêr tot die nadelige lipiedprofiel verandering, wat 'n verhoging in LDL-C en 'n verlaging in HDL-C insluit. Middels wat miokardiale sAMP vlakke verhoog en sGMP vlakke in die isgemiese miokardium verlaag, vererger miokardiale isgemie/herperfusie skade. AAS behandeling kan moontlik ook sistemiese TNFa vlakke verhoog deur limfosiet TNFa sekresie te stimuleer. Die verhoogde TNFa vlakke word verbind aan die onderdrukking van miokardiale funksie, miokardiale hipertrofie en die verergering van isgemie/herperfusie skade. Doelwitte: Die doelwitte van die studie was om te bepaal of kroniese AAS toediening in geoefende en ongeoefende rotte 1) hartfunksie en die hart se vatbaarheid vir isgemie/herperfusie skade beïnvloed, 2) miokardiale sikliese nukleotiedvlakke (sAMP en sGMP) beïnvloed en 3) miokardiale TNFa-vlakke beïnvloed. Materiale en metodes: Manlike Sprague-Dawley rotte (n=100) is gebruik en in 4 groepe verdeel: 'n ongeoefende placebo groep (kontrole); 'n ongeoefende steroïedbehandelde groep; 'n geoefende placebo groep (kontrole) en 'n geoefende steroïedbehandelde groep. Steroïed behandelde diere het 'n intramuskulêre nandroloon lauraat inspuiting (0.375 mg/kg) een keer per week vir ses weke ontvang. Die oefenprogram het bestaan uit ses swemsessies 'n week vir ses weke. Die swemtyd is geleidelik weekliks verhoog tot by 'n maksimum tyd 50 min. Die waterbadtemperatuur is tussen 30 - 32 oe gehandhaaf. Vir biometriese parameters is hartgewig en liggaamsgewig genoteer. Harte is op 'n Langendorff perfusie apparaat gemonteer en linker ventrikulêre ontwikkelde druk (LVOD), koronêre vloei (KV) en harttempo (HT) is genoteer. Die harte is vervolgens blootgestel aan 20 minute van globale isgemie gevolg deur 'n 30 minute herperfusieperiode. LVOD, KV en HT is weer eens noteer. Vir biochemiese doeleindes is bloed voor perfusie versamelom serum lipied vlakke te bepaal. Miokardiale weefsel is versamel voor, tydens en na isgemie vir die bepaling van TNFa, cGMP en AMP vlakke asook p38 aktiwiteit. Gevolgtrekkings: Na aanleiding van resultate verkry wil dit voorkom asof die gebruik van steroïde oefeningsgeïnduseerde miokardiale hipertrofie vererger. Dit verhoed ook oefeningsgeïnduseerde verbetering in miokardiale funksie. AAS lei tot 'n verlaagde herperfusiefunksie in behandelde harte, wat dalk mag dui op MS verergering van isgemie en herperfusie skade. Verder was daar ook waargeneem dat MS basale (pre-isgemiese) sikliese nukleotiedvlakke en basale TNFa-vlakke sowel as herperfusie TNFa vlakke verhoog. Die verhoging in TNF-a vlakke mag dus moontlik ook bydra tot die verergering van isgemie- en herperfusieskade.

Title: Abuse of anabolic steroids of Youth in fitness centers Objectives: The main aim of the thesis is to determine the current state of the issue of doping Youth visiting the fitness centres and gyms. Another object is the comparison of the current data with data from the research conducted in 2002. Methods: There was applied the method of the sociological questionnaire survey and the interview method in this diploma thesis. The sociological questionnaire survey method was used to determine the current situation dealing with the doping of recreational sporting Youth visiting the fitness centers and gyms. Information obtained during the research have been supplemented by informal interviews with visitors of fitness centers and gyms. Both researches were compared for comparison purposes of present situation with the situation in 2002 and based on the results, conclusions were drawn. Results: The thesis describes the current situation of the issue of doping recreational sporting Youth visiting the fitness centers and gyms. In the final section of the thesis was discovered that the extent of this phenomenon, awareness about danger that supporting remedies especially anabolic steroids introduce, relatively improved when it is compared with the previous research dealing with this subject of...

Title: Experiences of gym members with Performance Enhancing Drugs. Objectives: The aim of the diploma work is to explore the prevalence of doping in two particular fitness centres, to specify the most used doping substances, frequency and form of using, way of acquiring and to define reasons leading gym members to using these substances. No less important goal of the work is to find out the most reported benefits resulting from using doping as well as the most reported negative side effects. Methods: The main method used in the research is a questionnaire survey that is divided into three sections. The goal of the survey is to assess aspects of using performance enhancement drugs amongst gym members. Results: We found that 8% of the respondents reported positive experience with anabolic steroids as well as 5,3% of the respondents with diuretics and 3,7% of the respondents reported that they have used growth hormones. The most common substances are nandrolone and stanozolole (53,3%) followed by oxandrolone and testosterone (46,7%). Except these doping substances respondents mentioned methandienone, trenbolone, oxymetholone, clenbuterol, dianabol and boldenone. Keywords: doping, anabolic steroids, attitudes, recreational athletes, performance enhancing drugs