Endocrine effects in female weight lifters who self-administer testosterone and anabolic steroids

Article Abstract:

Many athletes, both male and female, use natural or synthetically produced androgens (male sex hormones) such as testosterone or anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass and to improve athletic performance. A number of studies performed with male subjects have clearly shown that use of these drugs can cause severe side effects. Fewer studies have been performed on females who use steroids. This study examined the endocrine effects of steroid use in female weight lifters. Aspects of endocrine function were evaluated in nine female weight lifters who were using these drugs and in seven others who were not. Menstrual abnormalities afflicted seven of the nine women who used steroids but none of the women who did not use them. Women using three or more steroid preparations reported increased aggressiveness, increased body hair, and deepening of the voice. Serum testosterone levels were markedly elevated in seven of the nine women who were taking steroids and levels were on average 30 times greater than levels in the women who were not taking steroids. Serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were significantly lower in the women who were taking steroids than in those who were not taking them. The steroid-using women also had significantly lower HDL cholesterol levels. These results indicated that androgen use can have adverse endocrine effects in females and that such use may increase the risks for developing heart disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Drugs and athletes, Anabolic steroids, Women bodybuilders

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Cost savings form the use of antenatal steroids to prevent respiratory distress syndrome and related conditions in premature infants

Article Abstract:

Substantial savings may be gained from the use of corticosteroids administered before delivery of preterm infants. Researchers analyzed the hospital discharges of low birthweight infants from Maryland hospitals in 1992, using a decision model of three outcomes: no disease and discharged alive; disease and discharged alive; and discharged dead. They estimated a savings of about $200,000 to $500,000 per 100 premature babies treated. They projected that deaths would decrease from three to 17 per 100 infants treated if corticosteroids were used when appropriate for low birthweight babies. The cost of the additional survivors would be offset by the savings of not having to treat babies with respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary disease, and other common adverse outcomes associated with prematurity. The average rate of corticosteroid use is 15% currently, but if it was increased to 60%, there would be 5,826 fewer cases of disease, 2,119 fewer deaths and a savings for $157 million annually.

Economic aspects, Prevention, Corticosteroids, Adrenocortical hormones, Premature birth, Respiratory distress syndrome

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Detection of morphological changes of the ovine cervix in response to sex steroids using a fluorescence confocal endomicroscope

Article Abstract:

A study is conducted to examine morphological changes of the ovine cervix in response to sex steroids using confocal microscopy. It is concluded that confocal microscopy has potential diagnostic value for the detection of cellular and subcellular changes of the cervical epithelium.

United States, Pregnant women, Cervix uteri, Steroids (Drugs)

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