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Presents information and concerns about the use of androstenedione and anabolic-androgenic steroids in the U.S. Side effects of excess testosterone in the body; Physical signs seen in androgen users; Counseling strategies in discussing potential androgen use in athletes. INSETS: Physical and Psychological Signs of Androgen Use;Adverse Effects Associated With Adrogen Use.

Esports, or competitive video gaming, has rapidly increased in online play and viewing. The popularity of esports such as League of Legends may derive in part because it features skills-based coalitional competition. Whereas a sizable literature focuses on adult human hormones and competition, little research has addressed the hormone responses of men playing video games. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of playing a coalitionary-based esport on young U.S. men's steroid hormone levels in a naturalistic study. We tested salivary steroid changes in response to esports club members (n = 26) playing League of Legends against other people and the computer. We hypothesized that esports competition would increase testosterone, cortisol, DHEA and androstenedione levels, with more pronounced increases in winners than losers. Participants provided saliva samples before and after competitions lasting 15–27 min in duration. Salivary testosterone, cortisol, DHEA and androstenedione levels did not change overall or between play against people vs. the computer or with respect to winning or losing. However, play duration (range 16–27 min) was positively related to changes in DHEA, androstenedione and testosterone during play against people. Aldosterone levels decreased overall. We suggest that the informal and familiar environment as well as relatively short play duration help account for generally null findings. These findings help document physiological effects of esport play, in turn contributing to a richer understanding of why so many play and watch esports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: The “International Active Surveillance Study of Women Taking Oral Contraceptives” investigated the risks of short- and long-term use of an extended 24-day regimen of drospirenone and ethinylestradiol (DRSP24d) compared to established oral contraceptives (OCs) in a routine clinical setting. Study Design: Prospective, controlled, noninterventional cohort study conducted in the United States and six European countries with three main cohorts: new users of DRSP24d, DRSP21d (21-day regimens of DRSP-containing OCs), and non-DRSP (OCs without DRSP). All self-reported clinical outcomes of interest (OoI) were validated via attending physicians and relevant source documents. Main OoI were serious clinical outcomes, in particular venous thromboembolism (VTE). Comprehensive follow-up procedures were implemented. Statistical analyses were based on Cox regression models. Primary statistical variable was the VTE hazard ratio (HR) for DRSP24d vs. non-DRSP. Results: A total of 2285 study centers enrolled 85,109 women. Study participants were followed for 2 to 6 years, which generated 206,296 woman-years (WY) of observation. A low loss to follow-up of 3.3% was achieved. DRSP24d, DRSP21d, non-DRSP and levonorgestrel-containing OCs (LNG) showed similar incidence rates of venous and arterial thromboembolism, fatal outcomes, cancer, severe depression and other serious adverse events. VTE incidence rates for DRSP24d, DRSP21d, non-DRSP and LNG were 7.2, 9.4, 9.6 and 9.8 VTE/10,000 WY, respectively. Adjusted HRs for DRSP24d vs. non-DRSP and DRSP24d vs. LNG were 0.8 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.5–1.3] and 0.8 (95% CI, 0.4–1.5). Conclusion: DRSP24d, DRSP21d, non-DRSP and LNG use was associated with similar risks of serious adverse events, and particularly VTE, during routine clinical use. Implication Statement: The 24-day regimen of drospirenone-containing combined OCs is associated with similar risks of venous and arterial thromboembolism, fatal outcomes, cancer, severe depression and other serious adverse events compared to 21-day regimens of drospirenone-containing combined OCs, OCs without drospirenone and LNGs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Progesterone, androstenedione, and androstadienedione were previously identified in the water and sediment of the Fenholloway River (Taylor County, FL, USA), a river that contains populations of masculinized female mosquitofish downstream of a paper mill, at levels higher than those in the nearby Spring Creek. Plant sterols, such as β-sitosterol in mill effluent derived from pine tree pulp, were suggested to be metabolized by bacteria to progesterone and androgens to account for the masculinization phenomenon. The current study made use of standard solid-phase methanol extraction procedures, high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and a cell-based, androgen-receptor transcription assay to determine naturally occurring progesterone levels in mature pine trees. Progesterone concentrations in the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were 49.34 ± 4.1 nmol/g dry mature wood (15.5 ± 1.29 μg/g), 12.26 ± 1.78 nmol/g pine needles (3.85 ± 0.56 μg/g), and 3.81 ± 0.36 nmol/g pine bark (1.19 ± 0.11 μg/g). The results suggest that naturally occurring progesterone from pine wood pulp contributes to increased progesterone levels downstream of paper mill effluent discharges and may serve as the natural steroid precursor for environmental androgen production that causes masculinization of female mosquitofish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the capacity of androstenedione to masculinize female mosquitofish. Previous studies have identified androstenedione in the water and sediment of the Fenholloway River, a Florida, USA, coastal river that receives paper mill effluent and contains masculinized eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). Females of the closely related western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, were exposed to androstenedione through both dietary and static renewal treatments. Morphological masculinization of female mosquitofish is characterized by the development of a male secondary sexual trait: an elongated and modified anal fin (gonopodium). Dietary exposure to 0.7, 7, 70, and 700 μg of androstenedione per gram of food failed to induce gonopodial development at any concentration within the six-week exposure period. Static renewal treatments used androstenedione concentrations of 0.14, 1.4, 14, 140, and 350 nM. Significant anal fin ray elongation was observed in all but the lowest exposure group. Fish growth during the static renewal exposure experiment was negatively correlated with androstenedione concentration. No significant effects were observed for gonadosomatic index, vitellogenin expression, or ovarian area in fish exposed to androstenedione via either the dietary or static renewal methods. These results indicate that exposure to androstenedione via water can cause masculinization of adult female mosquitofish in a relatively short period of time and that acute dietary exposure to androstenedione at the concentrations used is not sufficient to induce masculinization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the processes by which the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004, an act that added steroid precursors such as androstenedione to the list of Schedule III Controlled Substances in the United States, came to pass in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Grounded theoretically in political economy, the article addresses, in the abstract, how the interplay of political pressures and economic influences stands to affect the actions of public officials, and how ‘tougher’ drug policies—those touted to be more substantive and efficacious than existing regulations—often fail to effect change. The article concludes with implications for those involved in the regulation of anabolic steroids and steroid precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates androstenedione as an androgenic component of river water downstream of a pulp and paper mill effluent on the Fenholloway River in Florida. Extraction and concentration of Fenholloway water; Reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography; Mass spectromety analyses of deionized and Fenholloway River water.

Elucidates the physiological and androstenedione supplementation in men aged 35-65 years while participating in a high-intensity resistance training program in the United States. Hormonal responses to androstenediol supplementation before and after training; Estradiol and testosterone responses to rostenediol for all measurement periods; Blood lipid profile.

Editorial. Considers how the use of the dietary supplement and androgenic steroid hormone androstenedione presents a number of questions and challenges. Drug scandals in sports including Mark McGwire's admission that he used androstenedione; How role models might encourage youngsters to use this steroid hormone; Present and future studies of androstenedione.

The article deals with the effects of the use of anabolic steroids by children and teenagers in the U.S. The use of anabolic steroids in children and teenagers has been well documented with various studies showing a national user rate between three percent and nine percent in high school students. Steroids make athletes stronger and faster, which make it difficult to convince young athletes to abstain from using anabolic steroids. The ramifications of anabolic steroid use in a developing body are not known but the issue of mood instability in teens is being considered. Steroid-related suicides has also been reported.

Reports on a science-based approach to protecting U.S. consumers from unsafe dietary supplements outlined by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Efforts of FDA to protect consumers of unsafe dietary supplements; Number of companies requested by FDA to cease distributing dietary supplements containing androstenedione; Importance of regulations for industry on good manufacturing practices being developed by FDA.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a crackdown on products containing androstenedione. The product, which is commonly known as "andro," are marketed over the counter as dietary supplements that enhance athletic performance. Research contradicts claims of the advertisement that andro-containing supplements promote increased muscle mass. In the body, androstenedione is converted into testosterone and estrogen. In addition, studies, have shown that androstenedione poses the same kinds of health risks as anabolic steroids.