scholarly journals Forensic Post-Mortem Investigation in AAS Abusers: Investigative Diagnostic Protocol. A Systematic Review

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1307
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Esposito ◽  
Gabriele Licciardello ◽  
Federico Privitera ◽  
Salvatore Iannuzzi ◽  
Aldo Liberto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Small Vessel Disease ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Myocardial Damage ◽  
Organ Damage ◽  
Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Diagnostic Protocol ◽  
Androgenic Steroids

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) are a group of synthetic molecules derived from testosterone and its precursors. AASs are widely used illicitly by adolescents and athletes, especially by bodybuilders; AASs are among the most used drugs for improving physical performance, as well as for aesthetic purposes. The use of AASs by professional and recreational athletes is increasing worldwide. This review focused on deaths related to AAS abuse and to investigation of the autopsy results and histopathological findings using a rigorous methodology protocol covering: a complete autopsy, histological analysis, and a broad toxicological investigation. Moreover, we aimed to define an investigative diagnostic protocol supporting forensic pathologists during the post-mortem investigation of AAS abusers. This review was conducted using PubMed Central and Google Scholar databases to find articles published between 1 January 1968 and 30 June 2021, using the following key terms: “(anabolic-androgenic steroids) AND (autopsy); (anabolic-androgenic steroids) AND (forensic)”. A total of 939 articles were screened and 926 did not meet the inclusion criteria. In conclusion, 14 articles were included in this systematic review, reporting 137 fatal cases of AAS abuse in total. The histopathologic studies showed myocardial damage characterized by myocyte hypertrophy, focal myocyte damage with myofibrillar loss, interstitial fibrosis, mostly subepicardial, and small vessel disease. Indeed, in AAS-related cases, autopsy plays a pivotal role in the study of AAS adverse effects and organ damage related to their use or abuse. This systematic review aimed to define a specific workflow in death cases related to AASs, suggesting important future insights to better clarify sudden deaths related to AASs, such as the use of miRNAs. The forensic community needs a unified approach in cases of suspected death related to the use of AASs. There are several occasions to apply this workflow, for example in cases of death of bodybuilders and of young people who die in gymnasiums or during sports activities.

Effects of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids on the Reproductive System of Athletes and Recreational Users: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 1869-1883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Christou ◽  
Panagiota A. Christou ◽  
Georgios Markozannes ◽  
Agathocles Tsatsoulis ◽  
George Mastorakos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Reproductive System ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽  
Androgenic Steroids

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Misuse in Iranian Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Selk-Ghaffari ◽  
Sakineh Shab-Bidar ◽  
Farzin Halabchi
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Prevalence Rate ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
National Level ◽  
Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Anabolic Androgenic Steroid ◽  
Androgenic Steroid ◽  
Global Statistics ◽  
Androgenic Steroids

Background: Due to widespread abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids among professional athletes and amateur sportsmen and their health-related problems, determining the prevalence and the pattern of anabolicandrogenic steroid misuse at the national level seems to be vital for designing efficient preventive and educational measures. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted via comprehensive searches of the electronic databases including PubMed, MedLine, Scopus, Google Scholar and National Persian Databases including SID, Magiran, IranDoc (between 1980 and Dec 2019 in English and Persian languages) and also from citations in the selected papers. Overall, 39 articles met the criteria and were included in qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Results: The overall prevalence rate of anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse in the Iranian athletic population was 36.2% (95% confidence interval (CI), 29-43) with significant heterogeneity between studies (I2=99.0%, P<0.001). Prevalence rate of anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse among elite, male and younger athletes was higher (P<0.05). Moreover, prevalence rate of anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse among body-building athletes (36.3%) was higher compared to other athletes (30.9%), (P<0.001). Conclusion: Due to the higher prevalence of anabolic-androgenic steroids misuse in Iran compared to global statistics and the potential for serious adverse effects, preventive strategies and policies should be regarded as a real concern for public health.

Prevalence of the Use of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids in Brazil: A Systematic Review

2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 1156-1162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Odilon Salim Costa Abrahin ◽  
Evitom Corrêa de Sousa ◽  
Azenildo Moura Santos
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽  
Androgenic Steroids

scholarly journals Alterations of the cerebral cortex in sporadic small vessel disease: A systematic review of in vivo MRI data

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxane Peres ◽  
François De Guio ◽  
Hugues Chabriat ◽  
Eric Jouvent
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Small Vessel Disease ◽  
Small Vessel ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Vessel Disease

Cerebral small vessel diseases of the brain are a major determinant of cognitive impairment in the elderly. In small vessel diseases, the most easily identifiable lesions, both at post-mortem evaluation and magnetic resonance imaging, lie in subcortical areas. However, recent results obtained post-mortem, particularly in severe cases, have highlighted the burden of cortex lesions such as microinfarcts and diffuse neuronal loss. The recent development of image post-processing methods allows now assessing in vivo multiple aspects of the cerebral cortex. This systematic review aimed to analyze in vivo magnetic resonance imaging studies evaluating cortex alterations at different stages of small vessel diseases. Studies assessing the relationships between small vessel disease magnetic resonance imaging markers obtained at the subcortical level and cortex estimates were reviewed both in community-dwelling elderly and in patients with symptomatic small vessel diseases. Thereafter, studies analyzing cortex estimates in small vessel disease patients compared with healthy subjects were evaluated. The results support that important cortex alterations develop along the course of small vessel diseases independently of concomitant neurodegenerative processes. Easy detection and quantification of cortex changes in small vessel diseases as well as understanding their underlying mechanisms are challenging tasks for better understanding cognitive decline in small vessel diseases.

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