Doping and Performance Enhancing Drug Use in Athletes Living in Sivas,Mid-Anatolia: A Brief Report

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of doping and performance enhancing drug use in athletes in Sivas, Turkey, and to analyze the main reasons for the use. This was a cross-sectional study based on a self-report questionnaire. The subjects filled the questionnaires under the supervision of the investigators during interviews. This questionnaire included 24 items describing the population in terms of demographics, sport practice, doping in sport and substance use. Moreover, we assessed the frequency of doping drug use. The number of respondents was 883, of which 433 athletes and 450 healthy non-athletes (control group). The mean age of the total volunteers was 21.8 ± 3.7 yrs. The male and female ratios were 78.2% and 21.8% respectively. Doping and performance enhancing drug usage rate was 8.0% (71cases in 883 subjects). Doping drug use among the athletes was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (14.5%) compared with the non-athletes (1.8%). The agents used were anabolic steroids in 60.5%, l-carnitene in 12.7%, erythropoietin in 5.4%, Na-bicarbonate in 11.3% and creatinine in 14.1% of 71 cases. The reasons for doping use were to have a better body condition in 34 cases (47.9%) and to solve weight (gaining or loosing) problems in 8 (11.3%) cases. Since the potential side effects of doping drugs are not satisfactorily familiar to the most users, the education of athletes on the matter must be a top priority.

Key Points

• Doping and performance enhancing drug use was 71 (8.0%) in 883 subjects, and it was significantly higher (14.5%) in the athletes compared with the non-athletes (1.8%) in Sivas, Turkey.
• The rate of athletes who experienced such drugs at least once in their life was 29.0%.
• The 52.4% of doping and performance enhancing drug users accepted that they were unaware of the drugs full and/or potential side effects.

Key Words: Drug abuse, sports     

Patient characteristics and treatment implications of marijuana abuse among bipolar alcoholics: results from a double blind, placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE: Marijuana abuse, primarily a disorder of adolescents and young adults, is highly prevalent among patients with severely ill psychiatric population, especially those with bipolar disorder. Additional marijuana abuse may impact on the clinical presentation of bipolar illness and may potentially act as mediator of treatment response in this population. However, the characterization of bipolar disorder patients with additional marijuana abuse and the impact of such abuse on treatment outcome has been rarely examined. The aim of this study was to characterize bipolar alcoholic patients with comorbid marijuana abuse and test the impact of marijuana abuse on alcohol and mood outcome of patients with bipolar disorder and comorbid alcohol dependence. METHOD: We conducted secondary analyses of a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial testing valproate in 52 bipolar alcoholics. Subjects had a comprehensive assessment at baseline using structured diagnostic assessments, and they were then assessed every 2 weeks for 24 weeks. RESULTS: Twenty-five subjects (48%) reported marijuana abuse. Those with co-occurring marijuana abuse were younger, had fewer years of education, and had significantly higher number of additional psychiatric comorbidity. They also had more severe alcohol and other drug use and were significantly more likely to present in the manic phase. The mixed model indicated that the placebo-treated marijuana abuse group had the worst alcohol use outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Marijuana abuse among patients with bipolar disorder and alcohol dependence is associated with higher degree of severity of alcohol and other drugs of abuse and may negatively impact on alcohol treatment outcome.     

Sex difference in susceptibility to picrotoxin-induced seizures in rats following octreotide

It was previously reported that females with proestrous are more susceptible to picrotoxin-induced epileptic seizures than males, provided that the estrous cycle is taken into consideration (Tan & Tan, 2001). The sex difference in susceptibility to picrotoxin-induced seizures was reconsidered in the present study using rats with a previous octreotide (a stable somatostatin analogue) injection, as somatostatin is known to be involved in epileptic phenomena. Contrary to rats without octreotide, males were more susceptible to picrotoxin-induced seizures than females. Statistical analysis indicated that only males showed decreased latencies to seizures and increased seizure frequencies following octreotide; females were not affected by this experimental procedure. It was suggested that as a GABA antagonist, somatostatin may contribute to the occurrence of epileptic discharges in nervous system, creating a sex difference to epileptic seizures. These results may have implications for understanding the epileptic mechanisms, with possible therapeutic consequences.     

Wolfram syndrome

Wolfram syndrome (WFS) is a rare diffuse neurodegenerative disorder characterized by diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, deafness, and a wide variety of central nervous system abnormalities. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with optic nerve atrophy is sufficient criteria for the diagnosis. WFS is a devastating disease for the patients and their families. This study emphasizes the need for careful evaluation of cases having insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy.     

The acute alterations in biochemistry, morphology, and contractility of rat-isolated terminal ileum via increased intra-abdominal pressure.

AIM AND SCOPE: To determine the acute effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on the biochemistry, morphology, and contractility of the isolated terminal ileum of rats. BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic procedures are used clinically in diagnostic and treatment modalities and experimentally as a model of ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by the elevation of IAP. Although some clinical and in vivo experimental studies investigate the results of ischemia-reperfusion injury whether induced by elevated IAP or clamping, there is no in vitro study that has investigated the acute effects of high IAP mimicked by a laparoscopic intervention in any of the intra-abdominal organs (like terminal ileum) on the basis of contractility which represents the motility. METHODS: Twenty-four adult with either sex Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The control group (Group I) was not subjected to any IAP. In Groups II and III, an IAP of 10 and 20 mmHg, respectively, was established by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum for a period of 60 min. Thirty minutes after the desufflation, the terminal ileum was removed for in vitro pharmacological investigation, measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) values, and histopathological examination. Statistical comparisons among groups were done using the Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis, with post hoc comparison performed with the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Tissue MDA value and the damage scores of mucosa and submucosa were significantly increased in both IAP groups. The smooth muscle layer was significantly damaged only in Group III. The contractions obtained by electrical field stimulation (EFS) were inhibited in both IAP groups, and the contractions to acetylcholine were inhibited in Group III when compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we can say that pneumoperitoneum induced IAP may inhibit contractile responses, cause structural alterations which may be related to ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat terminal ileum.     

Ocular blood flow in healthy and primary open-angle glaucomatous eyes

PURPOSE: To evaluate blood flow parameters in the ophthalmic artery, in the posterior ciliary arteries and in the central retinal artery in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Hemodynamic parameters were evaluated by color Doppler imaging in 48 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 42 age-matched normal control subjects. Peak systolic velocity (Pv), end-diastolic velocity (Ev), and resistive index (RI) were calculated in the central retinal artery, short posterior ciliary arteries and the ophthalmic artery. RESULTS: The analysis of the ocular blood flow velocities in the central retinal artery, short posterior ciliary arteries and the ophthalmic artery revealed a significant reduction in peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity with an increase in resistive index in primary open-angle glaucoma compared with controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate primary open-angle glaucoma to be associated with a decreased flow velocity and increased resistive index in the ocular vasculature.     

Paradoxical rise in blood pressure during ultrafiltration is caused by increased cardiac output

BACKGROUND: In some haemodialysis patients, blood pressure increases during the dialysis session despite ultrafiltration (UF). METHODS: We investigated six such patients who were not responsive to hypotensive drugs. Their echocardiograms were obtained prior to and during the dialysis session. RESULTS: After the mean 2520 +/- 1698 (4.5 +/- 2.3% of BW) ml of fluid was removed, the cardiac systolic function parameters significantly improved and maximum mean arterial pressure rose (from 107 +/- 5 to 118 +/- 6 mmHg, p < 0.027). This increase in blood pressure was accompanied by an increase in cardiac index (from 3.8 +/- 0.6 to 4.8 +/- 1.1 L/min/m2, p < 0.027). With continuing UF, after a mean fluid removal of 4133 +/- 1622 (7.5 +/- 2.1% of BW) ml, normal blood pressure was achieved in all patients. Previously increased ejection fraction and fractional shortening decreased. End-diastolic volume significantly decreased from 98 +/- 34 to 78 +/- 35 ml/m2 indicating normovolemia. This decrease in blood pressure was accompanied by a return of cardiac index to normal values (from 4.8 +/- 1.1 to 3.1 +/- 0.8 L/min/m2, p < 0.027). There was a positive correlation between mean arterial pressure and cardiac index (r = 0.56, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that our patients had passed the top of the Frank-Starling curve and were on the descending limb at the initial examination. With UF, patients first shifted to the left and upward on the curve. With further UF, they came down the ascending limb of the curve. In conclusion, paradoxical blood pressure rise during UF is caused by increased cardiac output, mediated by volume overload and can be treated by intensified UF.     

基于网络药理学及分子对接探讨香连片对新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的机制研究

目的：基于网络药理学及分子对接技术探讨香连片对新型冠状病毒肺炎（Corona Virus Disease 2019,COVID-19）的作用机制。方法：通过中药系统药理学数据库与分析平台（Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform,TCMSP）、PubChem数据库、生物信息学分析工具（a bioinformatics analysis tool for molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine,BATMAN-TCM）及SwissTarget Prediction平台查询香连片活性成分及其对应的靶点基因;根据大于2倍中位数的节点度值（degree）为条件,筛选香连片关键活性成分,并运用Cytoscape 3.6.1软件绘制关键活性成分-对应靶点网络;通过GeneCards及PHARMGKB疾病数据库,以"coronavirus pneumonia"、"COVID-19"及"SARS-CoV-2"为关键词进行检索疾病靶点基因。运用Cytoscape 3.6.1软件进行交集,得到共同靶点并构建成分-靶点-疾病网络图;通过STRING网站对共同靶点构建蛋白相互作用（Protein Protein interaction,PPI）网络,通过DAVID数据库对共同靶点进行基因本位（gene ontology,GO）和京都基因与基因组百科全书（Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG）分析;利用CB-Dock网站对筛选出的活性成分及抗病毒化药和SARS-CoV-2 3CL水解酶及血管紧张素转化酶Ⅱ （angiotensin converting enzyme Ⅱ,ACE2）进行分子对接。结果：香连片共得到41个活性成分,其中16个关键活性成分,并与疾病靶点相交得到24个共同靶点;GO功能富集得到分子功能（molecular function,MF）、细胞组分（cellular component,CC）及其所参与的生物过程（biological process,BP）分别为125条、16条及24条;KEGG富集得到94条通路,其通路多与免疫反应和炎症反应有关,主要有PI3K-Akt、Ras、HIF-1、MAPK、NF-kB以及TNF等信号通路;分子对接得出黄柏酮、氧化小檗碱、吴茱萸碱、吴茱萸次碱及豆甾醇等多种成分与SARS-CoV-2 3CL水解酶及ACE2的对接亲和力均强于2种临床化学药物（阿比多尔及利巴韦林）。结论：香连片多是通过作用于MAPK家族、IL1B、NFKB1、CASP3、CCL5、TNF等靶点因子来调节PI3K-Akt、MAPK、NF-kB及TNF等炎症免疫通路,以多成分、多靶点、多途径参与COVID-19的多种生理过程,从而对COVID-19有一定治疗作用;在中药成分上,黄柏酮、氧化小檗碱、吴茱萸碱、吴茱萸次碱、豆甾醇、吴茱萸酰胺类成分等可以很好作用于COVID-19治疗中涉及到的2种关键酶（SARS-CoV-2 3CL水解酶及ACE2）,故这几种中药单体成分有作为治疗COVID-19的新药潜能。