Anti-doping Research Articles

Detection of doping substances in paired dried blood spots and urine samples collected during doping controls in Danish fitness centers.

The use of dried blood spot (DBS) in anti-doping can be advantageous in terms of collection, transportation, and storage compared with the traditional anti-doping testing matrices urine and venous blood. There could, nonetheless, be disadvantages such as shorter detection windows for some substances compared with urine, but real-life comparison of the detectability of prohibited substances in DBS and urine is lacking. Herein, we present a liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS)-based screening method for simultaneous detection of 19 target analytes from the doping substance categories S1-S5 in a single spot. Ninety-eight urine and upper-arm DBS (Tasso-M20) sample pairs were collected from fitness centers customers notified for doping control by Anti Doping Denmark, and three sample pairs were collected from active steroid users undergoing clinical evaluation and treatment at a Danish hospital. The analytical findings were cross compared to evaluate the applicability of the developed DBS testing menu in terms of feasibility and analytical performance. To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare the detectability of prohibited substances in DBS and urine samples collected in a doping control setting. Twenty-seven of the urine samples and 23 DBS samples were positive, and we observed a very high concordance (95%) in the overall analytical results (i.e., positive or negative samples for both urine and DBS). Collectively, these results are very promising, and DBS seems suitable as a stand-alone matrix in doping control in fitness centers likely because of the high analyte concentration levels in these samples.

Osteonecrosis of the Knee: The Unintended Consequence of Steroid Abuse.

The anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of steroids allow their use in a wide variety of rheumatological diseases, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer therapy, and severe viral infections. Though life-saving or organ-saving, long-term clinical use leads to a vast array of complications. Osteoporosis is the most common orthopedic side effect of steroid abuse, while osteonecrosis is a rare occurrence. The risk of osteonecrosis appears to be dose and duration dependent, but several patient factors also play a major role and usually affect the femoral head followed by the knee joint. The long-term effects of steroids must be explained to all patients on therapy, but this risk is missed in individuals who abuse steroids for recreational or performance-enhancing purposes. We describe a male, aged 29 years, who presented with dull aching bilateral knee pain of 2-years' duration after a long-term steroid abuse for weight and muscle mass gain. Radiological and magnetic resonance imaging studies confirmed osteonecrosis of femoral and tibial condyles and secondary degenerative arthritis of the knee joint. Prompt suspicion, early diagnosis, and intervention in osteonecrosis of knee joints, and termination of steroids may reverse the pathology and prevent progression of disease.

Gene doping detection in the era of genomics.

Recent progress in gene editing has enabled development of gene therapies for many genetic diseases, but also made gene doping an emerging risk in sports and competitions. By delivery of exogenous transgenes into human body, gene doping not only challenges competition fairness but also places health risk on athletes. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has clearly inhibited the use of gene and cell doping in sports, and many techniques have been developed for gene doping detection. In this review, we will summarize the main tools for gene doping detection at present, highlight the main challenges for current tools, and elaborate future utilizations of high-throughput sequencing for unbiased, sensitive, economic and large-scale gene doping detections. Quantitative real-time PCR assays are the widely used detection methods at present, which are useful for detection of known targets but are vulnerable to codon optimization at exon-exon junction sites of the transgenes. High-throughput sequencing has become a powerful tool for various applications in life and health research, and the era of genomics has made it possible for sensitive and large-scale gene doping detections. Non-biased genomic profiling could efficiently detect new doping targets, and low-input genomics amplification and long-read third-generation sequencing also have application potentials for more efficient and straightforward gene doping detection. By closely monitoring scientific advancements in gene editing and sport genetics, high-throughput sequencing could play a more and more important role in gene detection and hopefully contribute to doping-free sports in the future.

Homologous blood transfusion and doping: Where are we now?

Homologous blood transfusion (HBT) is used for doping in endurance sports since the 1960s. The blood comes from a compatible donor, that is, someone with a compatible ABO and rhesus blood group. Despite been prohibited by the IOC in 1985, no detection method was available until 2003. Then came the idea to use red blood cells (RBC) minor blood groups antigens that constitute an "identity" card of someone's RBC to detect the presence of a second RBC population. The method validated for doping control samples uses flow cytometry after incubation of isolated RBC with eight to 12 primary antibodies against specific minor blood groups antigens. The presence of double populations of RBC is revealed by a major and a minor peak in a fluorescence histogram. The sensitivity was estimated sufficient to detect HBT for a few weeks. Despite the complexity and cost of the method, right after its application in 2004, several cases of HBT were identified but the number of cases dropped rapidly over the years. In the 2010s, other ways to detect HBT were developed and evaluated: indirect detection using the Athlete Biological Passport approach, and a few years later forensic DNA analysis to establish the presence of two different DNA in a blood sample after HBT. Despite the high specificity of the latter, the sensitivity was recently questioned in vivo. Nowadays, the flow cytometry method remains the method of choice for HBT detection and recent investigations helped to simplify the method and increase its specificity and sensitivity.

Reduced plakoglobin increases the risk of sodium current defects and atrial conduction abnormalities in response to androgenic anabolic steroid abuse.

Androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) are commonly abused by young men. Male sex and increased AAS levels are associated with earlier and more severe manifestation of common cardiac conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, and rare ones, such as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Clinical observations suggest a potential atrial involvement in ARVC. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is caused by desmosomal gene defects, including reduced plakoglobin expression. Here, we analysed clinical records from 146 ARVC patients to identify that ARVC is more common in males than females. Patients with ARVC also had an increased incidence of atrial arrhythmias and Pwave changes. To study desmosomal vulnerability and the effects of AAS on the atria, young adult male mice, heterozygously deficient for plakoglobin (Plako+/-), and wild type (WT) littermates were chronically exposed to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or placebo. The DHT increased atrial expression of pro-hypertrophic, fibrotic and inflammatory transcripts. In mice with reduced plakoglobin, DHT exaggerated Pwave abnormalities, atrial conduction slowing, sodium current depletion, action potential amplitude reduction and the fall in action potential depolarization rate. Super-resolution microscopy revealed a decrease in NaV1.5membrane clustering in Plako+/- atrial cardiomyocytes after DHT exposure. In summary, AAS combined with plakoglobin deficiency cause pathological atrial electrical remodelling in young male hearts. Male sex is likely to increase the risk of atrial arrhythmia, particularly in those with desmosomal gene variants. This risk is likely to be exaggerated further by AAS use. KEY POINTS: Androgenic male sex hormones, such as testosterone,might increase the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), which is often caused by desmosomal gene defects (e.g. reduced plakoglobin expression). In this study, we observed a significantly higher proportion of males who had ARVC compared with females, and atrial arrhythmias and Pwave changes represented a common observation in advanced ARVC stages. In mice with reduced plakoglobin expression, chronic administration of 5α-dihydrotestosterone led to Pwave abnormalities, atrial conduction slowing, sodium current depletion and a decrease in membrane-localized NaV1.5 clusters. 5α-Dihydrotestosterone, therefore, represents a stimulus aggravating the pro-arrhythmic phenotype in carriers of desmosomal mutations and can affect atrial electrical function.

Impact of anabolic steroids on male fertility and the role of post-cycle therapy in recovery

Impact of anabolic steroids on male fertility and the role of post-cycle therapy in recovery

Current Areas of International Labor Organization Activity for the Progressive Development of International Labor Law

Introduction. The article presents an analysis of the current activities of the International Labor Organization (hereinafter reffered to as the ILO) on the unification of existing and the development of the latest international labor standards for two categories of workers. In particular, we would like to draw attention to the lack of international legal labor standards for professional athletes and the necessary norms to protect their labor rights. In international law, there are a number of universal and regional international legal acts dedicated to professional sports, for example, the International Convention against Apartheid in Sports of 1985, the International Convention against Doping in Sports of 2005, the Council of Europe Convention against Doping of 1989. However, there are no issues of regulating the work of athletes and protecting their labor rights in international legal acts.Another issue that requires the closest attention from the ILO in terms of the progressive development of international labor law is the regulation of remote (remote) work. The article examines various forms of remote work, and also presents a comparative legal analysis of the status of a homeworker and a remote (remote) worker in accordance with ILO documents. Materials and methods. The methodological basis of the study was the following general scientific and special methods of cognition of legal phenomena and processes: the method of system-structural analysis; formal-logical method.Research results. As a result of the research, the authors found that there is a need to develop an ILO Convention, as well as an appropriate Recommendation that would consolidate the minimum labor rights of athletes with their subsequent extension in employment contracts of a private legal nature. Regarding the legal regulation of remote work, the authors also propose to allocate remote workers into a separate category of workers on a par with homeworkers and domestic workers.Discussion and conclusion. In modern professional sports, workers of various nationalities are represented, consequently, the ILO needs to progressively develop new international standards for the labor rights of athletes at a universal level, in particular, it is proposed to adopt a Convention on the peculiarities of work in professional sports. Since a homeworker and a remote worker are essentially not identical concepts, therefore, the ILO Convention No. 177 on Home Work of 1996 cannot be extended to regulate the work of remote workers, therefore it seems appropriate to develop an appropriate Convention.

Supplement usage and doping attitudes in elite youth sports: The mediating role of dietary supplement acceptance.

This study investigated whether dietary supplement acceptance mediated the relationship between supplement use and doping attitudes in youth sports. To this end, we employed a two-wave half-longitudinal design during a sports season (time point one [T1] to time point two [T2]). The sample consisted of 217 elite youth athletes (47% male; mean age = 16.98 years, standard deviation = 0.88) who competed in team sports (43%; N = 93; basketball, floorball, handball, and ice hockey) and individual sports (57%; N = 124; alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, swimming, and tennis). The participants were recruited from eight Norwegian sports academy high schools that provide extracurricular, higher-level training and specialization for youth athletes. Results from structural equation modeling analysis indicated that dietary supplement acceptance (T2) mediated the positive relationship between supplement use (T1) and doping attitudes (T2) when accounting for prior levels of the mediator and the outcome variable. These findings suggest that when young athletes used dietary supplements at the start of the season to improve their performance, they were more likely to view the use of supplements as acceptable and to report more favorable attitudes toward doping at the end of the season six months later. For those seeking to prevent doping in youth sports, targeting athletes' views on the acceptable use of dietary supplements may be important.

A SNP-based genotyping strategy to detect the abuse of homologous blood transfusion from dried blood spots.

We performed genotyping analysis of human biallelic polymorphisms (single nucleotide polymorphisms) for the detection of homologous blood transfusion in sports doping. DNA was extracted from dried blood spots and quantified real-time fast PCR. The method was proven to allow the detection of transfusions up to a donor percentage of 1%, with a significant improvement in terms of sensitivity with respect to both the reference cytofluorimetric method and a previously proposed strategy based on the DNA STR-based strategy.

Targeted Metabolic Investigation of Ligandrol and Analytical Methods Validation for Its Main Long-term Metabolite.

Prompted by the need for related analytical reference material in the frame of the fight against doping in sports, synthetic efforts towards the main long-term bishydroxylated metabolite (LGD-LTM1) of the nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) ligandrol have produced related derivatives that were exploited for a targeted metabolite analysis of urine samples obtained in the course of previous excretion studies of this SARM. Further clarifying ligandrol's metabolic profile, the availability of synthetic reference material permitted the structural elucidation of a previously reported pyrrolidinone-type metabolite and revealed its potential analytical utility as an additional long-term marker. Moreover, synthetic reference material enabled the comparison and validation of liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based detection and identification methods focusing on the LGD-LTM1 marker.

Is health literacy of adolescent athletes’ parents whose children belonged to sports clubs related to their children’s intention to receive medications, vaccines, supplements, and energy drinks? A cross-sectional study

BackgroundAdolescent athletes’ values ​regarding health behaviors, including their attitudes toward doping, are largely derived from those of their parents. Therefore, clarifying the factors that affect parents’ intentions regarding their children’s medicine intake and nutrition can help elucidate the process of forming values ​​of healthy behaviors in young athletes.MethodsBetween March 8 and March 9, 2021, an online questionnaire survey was conducted via an Internet research company; data from 2,000 residents in Japan were collected. Participants were male and female residents aged 30–59 years with children in elementary or high school and belonging to sports clubs. The survey items included respondent’s and child’s basic information, respondent’s health literacy, and level of sports in which the respondent and child were (or are) engaged. Respondents were also asked if they would like their children to receive prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, herbal medicines, vaccines, supplements, or energy drinks. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between respondents’ basic information and health literacy and their intention to receive prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal medicines, vaccines, supplements, and energy drinks.ResultsHigher parental health literacy was associated with higher children’s willingness to receive prescription drugs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.025, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.016–1.035), over-the-counter drugs (OR = 1.012, 95% CI: 1.003–1.021), prescription herbal medicines (OR = 1.021, 95% CI: 1.021–1.030), over-the-counter herbal medicines (OR = 1.012, 95% CI: 1.003–1.021), and vaccines (OR = 1.025, 95% CI: 1.016–1.035). Conversely, the children’s intention to receive energy drinks (OR = 0.990, 95% CI: 0.980–1.000) decreased significantly. As the child’s athletic level increased, parents’ willingness for their children to receive oral prescription medicines decreased (OR = 0.886, 95% CI: 0.791–0.992) and that to receive supplements (OR = 1.492, 95% CI: 1.330–1.673) and energy drinks significantly increased (OR = 1.480, 95% CI: 1.307–1.676).ConclusionHealth literacy of adolescent athletes’ parents is associated with their children’s willingness to receive medicines. Healthcare providers should counsel parents of adolescent athletes to allow their children to receive necessary drug treatments and prevent doping violations caused by supplement intake.

Beyond the surface: confronting the impact of topical steroids on facial skin

Background: Topical steroids have become the primary therapeutic approach among dermatologists. The clinical outcomes are attributed to their anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and immunosuppressive effects. However, this miraculous remedy can lead to significant trouble when used improperly, especially on the face where it can lead to topical steroid damaged faces (TSDF). Methods: study was conducted for 9 months among 30 patients presenting with chief complaints due to topical steroid abuse over face and data was collected and analysed after using self-designed open ended questionnaire. Results: Out of 30 patients, preponderance were seen in females (M:F=1:2.3) The most common age group was 18-28 years (50%). Majority of them (36.6%) used class-3 of highly potent steroid which is betamethasone valerate 0.1%. Most common indication for application was as fairness cream (46.7%). In majority of the patients (70%), suggestion for application was given by pharmacist. 73.3% of patients, purchase medication over the counter (OTC) without prescription. Duration of usage was more than 6 months in 10% patients. Dyspigmentation (32.1%) followed by erythema (28.6%) were the most common adverse effects. Conclusions: Using too many topical corticosteroids may benefit manufacturers and sellers, but it harms unsuspecting people. It's crucial to evaluate and advise patients, as well as inform doctors about avoiding excessive use of these products on the face. This is an important step that needs attention now.

NEUROLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSIVE USE OF ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROIDS

The abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The highest incidence of this malpractice documented in males (prevalence rate about 6.4%), a third of which develop adverse reactions. Accordingly, the objective was to review published studies about the neurological complications triggered by the indiscriminate use of AASs, with focus on the pathogenesis of lesions in the nervous system (NS). As a result it was observed that at NS, these stimulants actuate through a complex signaling systems that include the neuroendocrine alteration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, modification of neurotransmitters and their receptors, as well as the induction of neuronal death by apoptosis in several pathways. These organic neurological alterations can lead to a clinical symptomatology with neurological, mood and sleep disorders. Consequently, varying adverse effects were observed analogous to the class of AAS utilized, how it was administered and time of use. Even though to date, only a few classes were submitted for scientific analyses, on dosages, mode of administration and specific exposure times. Furthermore, the illegal use and production of these drugs does not propitiate their appropriate application, quality control and purity. It was concluded that the abuse of AAS has inimically severe and complex effects, including serious neurotoxic issues.

Prolonged testosterone 17β-cyclopentylpropionate exposition induces behavioral, ovarian, oviductal, uterine and reproductive disturbances in female mice

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) abuse is often associated with metabolic disorders and infertility. However, the current evidence on AAS-induced reproductive toxicity is mainly based on male studies. Thus, AAS repercussions on female reproductive capacity remain poorly understood, despite scarce evidence that fertility determinants may be more severely impaired in females than males exposed to these drugs. Accordingly, this study used an integrated framework to investigate the impact of different testosterone 17β-cyclopentylpropionate (TC) doses on pain sensitivity, aggressiveness, anxiety, sexual behavior, ovarian, oviductal, uterine and reproductive morphofunctional and molecular outcomes. These parameters were used to explore the reproductive capacity in female mice exposed to this synthetic testosterone ester. The animals were untreated or intraperitoneally treated with 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg TC every 48 h for 12 weeks. Our findings indicated that testosterone was upregulated while the hormones luteinizing, follicle-stimulating, estrogen and progesterone were down-regulated by TC. This AAS also exerted deleterious effects on anxiety, aggressivity, nociception, exploratory and sexual behavior in female mice. Concurrently, TC attenuated ovarian follicle maturation, interrupted the estrous cycle, induced oviductal and uterine hypotrophy. Estrous cyclicity was reestablished 60 days after AAS treatment. However, TC-treated mice still exhibited impaired reproductive capacity, a disturbance potentially related to deficiency in folliculogenesis, sex hormones production, and endometrial receptivity mediate by ER-α, PR, HOXA-10 and LIF down-regulation. Taken together, our findings indicated that in addition to female behavior, reproductive organs microstructure and function are markedly impaired by TC in a dose-dependent manner, whose time-dependent reversibility remains to be clarified.

Serum myokines as potential biomarkers of myostatin inhibition in sport doping: a preliminary study on their baseline levels in elite athletes.

We considered in this study the possibility of developing an indirect procedure for detecting myostatin inhibition/suppression, a practice that is prohibited as doping in sport. We have specifically considered the potential diagnostic utility of human serum myokines as indirect markers of myostatin inhibition. Myostatin, its main antagonist follistatin, and other myokines (follistatin-like 1, musclin, oncostatin, osteonectin, irisin, brain derived neurotrophic factor, and insulin-like growth factor-1) were selected as a panel of potential biomarkers whose levels may be altered following myostatine suppression. The serum levels of myostatin and of the nine myokines were measured in elite athletes of different age, sex, and sport discipline, and their cross correlation assessed by multivariate analysis. All myokines resulted to be measurable in human serum, except for musclin and irisine, whose levels were below the limits of quantitation in a reduced number of samples. Serum concentrations varied of different orders in magnitude (musclin and osteonectin < 1 ng/mL; follistatin, myostatine and irisine 1-5 ng/mL; brainderived neurotrophic factor, follistatin-like 1 and iinsulin-like growth factor-1 > 10 ng/mL), while no significant differences were found between female and male subjects, with the exceptions of follistatin-like 1 and musclin, showing a higher concentrations in females (p < 0.05). Levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 and brain derived neurotrophic factor were significantly higher in power athletes than in endurance ones. Multivariate statistics showed that musclin, follistatin-like 1 and oncostatin are more clustered and correlated to myostatin than other myokines, suggesting they could be considered as potential biomarkers of doping by myostatin inhibitors.

Application and prospect of carbon nanomaterials in electroanalysis for detection of illicit drugs in sports

Application and prospect of carbon nanomaterials in electroanalysis for detection of illicit drugs in sports

Therapeutic Measures from Cardiovascular Damage using Statins, Acetylsalicylic Acid during the Abuse of Irrational Cycles of Anabolic Steroids in Bodybuilder Who Were Infected with the COVID-19

Introduction: We are increasingly witnessing the self-initiated, uncontrolled stacking of incompatible anabolic substances in various cycles in the young Balkan Recreational Bodybuilding population group, increasingly frequent acts of violence in our country and the emergence of a neglected and very silent epidemic that is taking on an increasingly aggressive course of illness and psychological behavior. Black market anabolic steroids are associated with many generally health problems and uncontrolled aggression behavior by abusers. Young unsolicited recreate bodybuilding are also associated with generalized atherosclerosis and potential increased high risk for heart disease that can structural and functional damage the cardiovascular system during muscle mass steroid cycles. Besides high calorie intake, elevating serum blood lipid cholesterol levels LDL lowering HDL levels, elevating, systolic and diastolic blood pressure take a certain participation in cardiovascular risk and therefor need a development of certain cardiovascular protection strategies for this avoiding medical supervision anabolic steroids abuser group which are not yet appropriate established. The aim of the short study was to estimate Cardiovascular Protective Strategy Measures on lipid levels, and blood pressure status in a young recreational bodybuilder with different ethnic groups who Abuse Anabolic Steroids during controversial and different mass Cycles with and without taking Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) and Statins. Subjects and methods: This study was conducted from beginning of January, 2022 till end of July, 2022. 140 subjects are included age 17-30 (74 male Recreational Bodybuilder Who Abuse Anabolic Steroids on Simvastatin’s 10mg and Acetylsalicylic Acid 150mg doses of (ASA) and 10 grams of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids during mass Steroid Cycles and 66 impellers group of male Recreational Bodybuilder Who Abuse Anabolic Steroids consisting without consume Statins and Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) during mass Steroid Cycles). For the testing of statistical significance of differences between the exanimated groups non-parameter and parameter tests were used. The difference at a level of p&lt; (0,001) was statistically significant. Results: In all the tested subjects we investigated increasing lipid levels and blood pressure after six months of study. Analysis shows the statistically insignificant influence of antiplatelet therapy (150mg Acetylsalicylic acid) (ASA), combined with Simvastatin 10mg p&lt;(0,001) in steroid abuse subjects during irrational muscle mass steroid cycles. Conclusion: Lack of familiarity with combinations of anabolic substances, as well as the danger of oral applications of very harmful steroids from the former Soviet Union and German Democratic Republic (GDR), this study showed. Avoidance of physician supervision by recreate bodybuilders by deceiving of the athletic subjectivity look, seams appears almost always in gym. This cardiovascular protective measures have poor benefit appeared to be usefully blind preventing strategy of controlling blood lipid levels during muscle mass steroid cycles, with no guaranty of worsen cardiovascular condition by abusing anabolic steroids. The influence of the reflection of the COVID 19 virus on such dramatic therapeutic results in this population group of two groups cannot be ruled out for sure.

Insights into Mefenamic Acid-Induced Allergic Reactions: A Comprehensive Clinical and Research Review

This study investigates the incidence of Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome associated with the over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) mefenamic acid. Approximately 10% of individuals exposed to mefenamic acid experience DRESS syndrome, a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction characterized by fever, skin rash, lymphadenopathy, hematological abnormalities, and internal organ involvement. Leukocytosis with eosinophilia (90%) and mononucleosis (40%) has been linked to certain cases, emphasizing the diversity of clinical presentations. The causative medication must be promptly discontinued upon identification of DRESS syndrome, with documented evidence indicating improved prognosis with early drug removal. Despite the severity of these reactions, the study sheds light on the alarming accessibility of mefenamic acid and other banned medications in developing nations, particularly exemplified by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission’s alert on mefenamic acid issued on December 7, 2023. The lack of effective law enforcement and medical awareness poses significant challenges, allowing banned drugs, including Nimesulide and Rofecoxib, to persist in the market despite being banned by the USFDA. This research underscores the critical need for global collaboration to address regulatory gaps, enhance medical awareness, and enforce stringent measures to restrict the availability of harmful medications in developing nations. Urgent attention to these issues is imperative to safeguard public health and ensure the effective implementation of drug regulations on a global scale.

CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TOPICAL STEROID DAMAGED FACE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objectives- The aim of the study was to determine the clinical features, extent, and dermographics of topical corticosteroid usage on the face in patients who were seen in the dermatology outpatient department. Materials and Methods: Between August 2022 and August 2023, a questionnaire-based analysis of patients attending the dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital was conducted. The study was comprised of 200 subjects who applied topical steroid on their face for more than 6 weeks and they were enquired regarding their history. Clinical assessment, and lesion photography was also done. Results: 200 patients with topical steroid damaged face were examined in the study. The most prevalent age range for topical steroid use was between 18 and 30 years which comprised 42% of total patients in the study. Out of 200 patients 149 were women [74.5%]. The average time between commencing the topical steroid regimen and the appearance of symptoms was six months. 74 [39.5%] used topical steroids to treat dermatophyte infections and the remaining subjects used them for miscellaneous reasons. In this study population, cream-based betamethasone valerate was the most frequently misused steroid. The most frequent adverse effect was hyperpigmentation (27%) followed by acneiform eruptions (25%) facial erythema (18%), hypertrichosis (12%), perioral dermatitis (4%) and skin atrophy (5%), hypopigmentation(9%). Conclusion: Topical steroid damaged face is a dermatological concern. The public must be made aware of the possible danger of topical steroid abuse to stop its indiscriminate use.

Sprawozdanie z Ogólnopolskiej Konferencji Naukowej „Farmaceutyki – sport – przestępstwo” (13–14 kwietnia 2023 r.)

The article is a report from the course of the National Scientific Conference “Pharmaceuticals – sports – crime” that took place at the Faculty of Law and Administration in Toruń on the 13th–14th of April 2023. The subject of the meeting was the issue of the broadly understood pharmaceutical crime and the abuse of substances that are not allowed in contemporary sports. The report characterizes the proceedings of the conference, including the presentations of speakers on the various aspects of it, such as: “Pharmaceuticals and sport – the voice of practitioners”, “Pharmaceuticals and sport – the problems of criminal law and criminology”, “Pharmaceuticals and sport – foreign experience”, “Doping in sport and standards of its combating”, “Doping in sport – practical aspects”.