ScienceDaily: Steroid News

How chronic stress accelerates Alzheimer’s disease

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:50:50 EDT

Why does chronic stress lead to increased risk for dementia? The answer may lie in the elevation of stress steroids that is seen in the brain during stress, a researcher suggests.

Steroid injection may lead to worse outcomes in patients with spinal stenosis

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:09:09 EST

For patients with spinal stenosis, epidural steroid injections (ESI) may actually lead to worse outcomes—- whether or not the patient later undergoes surgery, according to a new study.

Long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid use may impact visuospatial memory

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:30:30 EST

The long-term use of anabolic-androgenic steroids may severely impact the user's ability to accurately recall the shapes and spatial relationships of objects, according to a recent study.

The scientific side of steroid use and abuse

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:19:19 EDT

Scientists are investigating the cellular basis for behavioral changes seen with the abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids. New research looks at three major behavioral systems typically associated with steroid abuse -- reproduction, aggression in males, and anxiety in both sexes. Studies have shown there are "critical periods" -- periods of time during adolescence when exposure to steroids can impose permanent changes in both brain organization and function.

Variations in sex steroid gene expression can predict aggressive behaviors, bird study shows

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:49:49 EDT

A biologist has shown that natural variation in measures of the brain's ability to process steroid hormones predicts functional variation in aggressive behavior. The new work has found strong and significant relationships between aggressive behavior in free-living birds and the abundance of messenger RNA in behaviorally relevant brain areas for three major sex steroid processing molecules: androgen receptor, estrogen receptor and aromatase.

Male college students believe taking performance-enhancing drugs for sports is more unethical than using stimulants to improve grades

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:39:39 EDT

In the eyes of young college men, it’s more unethical to use steroids to get an edge in sports than it is to use prescription stimulants to enhance one’s grades, according to new research.

Menopause clinicians support new advice on steroid use

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:17:17 EDT

Glucocorticoids - a type of steroid hormone - are widely used in a number of medical disorders. Worldwide, it is estimated that almost 5% of postmenopausal women take glucocorticoids. As well as having specific benefits, Glucocorticoids have side effects. One of the potentially most important is that glucocorticoid use is associated with bone loss, which is most rapid in the first 3-6 months of treatment, potentially leading to serious complications and osteoporosis in many postmenopausal women.

The biology behind alcohol-induced blackouts

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:24:24 EDT

Neuroscientists have identified the brain cells involved in alcohol-related blackouts and the molecular mechanism that appears to underlie them. Alcohol interferes with key receptors in the brain, which in turn manufacture steroids that inhibit long-term potentiation, a process that strengthens the connections between neurons and is crucial to learning and memory.

Etanercept shows promise for treating dermatomyositis, study suggests

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:15:15 EDT

A multicenter pilot study of etanercept for treatment of dermatomyositis found no major safety concerns and many patients treated with the drug were successfully weaned from steroid therapy. These results are encouraging, but larger studies are needed to further investigate the safety and efficacy of etanercept.

Injection therapy for sudden hearing loss disorder may be suitable alternative to oral steroids

Tue, 24 May 2011 16:20:20 EDT

Treating idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with injections of steroids directly into the ear appears to result in recovery of hearing that is not less than recovery obtained with the standard therapy of oral corticosteroids and may be a preferable treatment for some patients to avoid the potential adverse effects of oral steroids, according to a new study.

How genetic variations in neuroactive steroid-producing enzymes may influence drinking habits

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:43:43 EST

Alcohol dependence (AD) may develop through alcohol's effects on neural signaling. Researchers have found that neuroactive steroids may mediate some of the effects of alcohol on y-aminobutyric acid type A receptors. These findings suggest that genetic variations in neuroactive steroid-producing enzymes may be related to risk for AD.

New role for zebrafish in human studies: Animal model uses mysterious enzyme also found in human brains

Wed, 19 May 2010 15:17:17 EDT

A researcher has discovered that zebrafish -- an important animal model in disease and environmental studies -- could provide the means to help scientists eventually reveal the function of a mysterious enzyme linked to the steroid cortisol, and found in the human brain.

Member Of NFL Hall Of Fame Diagnosed With Degenerative Brain Disease

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:47:47 EDT

Medical researchers have announced that a recently deceased member of the NFL Hall of Fame suffered from the degenerative brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) when he died, becoming the 10th former NFL player diagnosed with the disease. All NFL and college football players studied post-mortem show signs of CTE

Adding Steroid Drug To MS Treatment May Reduce Disease Activity

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:14:14 EDT

Using a steroid drug for multiple sclerosis in addition to an MS drug may reduce the amount of disease activity more than using the MS drug alone, according to a new study.

Asthma Drugs Need To Be Maintained For Continued Benefit, Study Shows

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:18:18 EST

Children whose asthma improved while taking steroid drugs for several years did not see those improvements continue after stopping the drugs, new results from a comprehensive childhood asthma study show.

NO Help: Nitric Oxide Monitoring Does Not Help Most Children With Asthma

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:50:50 EST

A recent multi-center prospective study found that calibrating medications based on daily monitoring of the fractional exhaled nitric oxide and symptoms in asthmatic children showed no significant improvement over medicating based on daily symptom monitoring alone.

Steroids Aid Recovery From Pneumonia, Researchers Say

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:59:59 EDT

Adding corticosteroids to traditional antimicrobial therapy might help people with pneumonia recover more quickly than with antibiotics alone, scientists have found.

Focus Attention Upon Distributors Of Human Growth Hormone, Scientists Urge

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:08:08 EDT

A great deal of attention has been paid to the use of growth hormone by elite athletes and a few vocal entertainers. But underlying this tip of the iceberg is a $2 billion dollar a year business, likely involving hundreds of thousands of regular people, and promoted by anti-aging and age-management clinics and compounding pharmacies who aggressively market and sell growth hormone with the claim that it has anti-aging or athletic enhancing properties.

Testosterone Levels Predict City Traders' Profitability

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:48:48 EDT

When city traders have high morning testosterone levels they make more than average profits for the rest of that day, researchers have discovered. The scientists hypothesize that this may be because testosterone has been found to increase confidence and appetite for risk -- qualities that would augment the performance of any trader who had a positive expected return.

Blood Pressure Drug May Curb Brain Damage From Alzheimer's, Depression And Schizophrenia

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 17:42:42 EST

A drug used to treat high blood pressure and enlargement of the prostate may protect the brain from damage caused by post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer's disease, depression and schizophrenia. Prazosin, also prescribed as an antipsychotic medication, appears to block the increase of steroid hormones known as glucocorticoids, researchers have found. Elevated levels of glucocorticoids are associated with atrophy in nerve branches where impulses are transmitted, and even nerve cell death, in the hippocampus.

Faster, More Efficient Method For Detecting Illegal Steroids In Urine

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:14:14 EDT

Amid growing concerns about sports "doping," researchers report development of a faster and more efficient method for detecting the presence of illegal anabolic steroids in urine. The new method takes only a few seconds and involves no time-consuming sample preparation. The study notes that use of banned substances by professional athletes to build muscle and gain a competitive advantage is a growing problem in sports such as track and field, baseball, football and cycling.

The 'Arms' Race: Adult Steroid Users Seek Muscles, Not Medals

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:53:53 EDT

The majority of nonmedical anabolic-androgenic steroid users are not cheating athletes or risk-taking teenagers. According to a recent survey, containing the largest sample to date, the typical male user is about 30 years old, well-educated and earning an above-average income in a white-collar occupation. The majority did not use steroids during adolescence and were not motivated by athletic competition or sports performance.

Steroid Medications Don't Work In Treating Lower Respiratory Infections In Children

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:54:54 EDT

The use of steroid medication to treat bronchiolitis -- a common viral lower respiratory infection in infants -- does not prevent hospitalization or improve their respiratory symptoms, according to a recent study. The findings resolve controversy from prior research and are expected to help guide treatment for the most common cause of infant hospitalization.

Evidence Lacking To Guide Treatment For Sudden Hearing Loss

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:41:41 EDT

Although steroids are the most widely used treatment for sudden hearing loss, little scientific evidence supports their use or that of any other therapies for this condition, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Risk Of Lymphoma In Rheumatoid Arthritis Decreased By Long-term Treatment With Steroids

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:07:07 EDT

Two years or more of oral steroid treatment decreases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis related lymphoma, according to data presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology. Furthermore, these effects were found regardless of when in the course of the disease the steroids were first administered. However, these beneficial effects were not observed if the steroids were taken for less than a two-year period.

Female Teen Steroid Use Not Limited To Athletes

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:35:35 EDT

Researchers have found steroid use among teen girls is not limited to athletes and often goes hand in hand with other unhealthy choices, including smoking and taking diet pills.

Study Examines Characteristics Of Female High School Students Who Report Steroid Use

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:49:49 EDT

Steroid use among teen girls is not limited to those involved in competitive athletics and is associated with a cluster of other health-harming behaviors, including smoking and taking diet pills, according to results of a recent national survey.

Inhaled Steroids May Not Be Enough For Some Children With Asthma

Tue, 22 May 2007 14:20:20 EDT

Some children may not be able to keep their asthma under control even if they consistently report using inhaled corticosteroids, a mainstay of asthma treatment, suggests a new study.

Daily Steroids Help Boys With Muscular Dystrophy Walk Longer

Mon, 07 May 2007 18:38:38 EDT

Boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were able to walk on their own for a longer period of time and reduce their risk of scoliosis as a result of receiving daily steroid treatments for several years, according to a recent study.

Sports, Unhealthy Weight Control And Steroid Use In Teens

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:11:11 EST

Participation in sports with real or perceived weight requirements, such as ballet, gymnastics and wrestling, is strongly associated with unhealthy weight control behaviors and steroid use in teens, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota.

Light-activated Compound Silences Nerves, May One Day Help Epileptics

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 07:55:55 EST

Brain activity has been compared to a light bulb turning on in the head. Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have reversed this notion, creating a drug that stops brain activity when a light shines on it.

Epidural Steroid Injections Limited In Treating Back Pain, New Guideline Finds

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:30:30 EST

A guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology finds epidural steroid injections play a limited role in providing short-term pain relief for lower back pain that radiates down a leg, and do not provide long-term pain relief. The guideline is published in the March 6, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Interfering With Vagal Nerve Activity In Mice Prevents Diabetes And Hypertension

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:21:21 EST

Interrupting nerve signals to the liver can prevent diabetes and hypertension in mice, according to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The finding is reported in the February issue of the journal Cell Metabolism. The research team surgically removed the vagus nerve in mice and found the procedure prevented or reversed the development of insulin resistance and high blood pressure in mice primed to develop these disorders through treatment with glucocorticoids.

Scientists Use Gene Therapy To Improve Memory And Learning In Animals

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 12:22:22 EST

Stanford University neuroscientists have designed a gene that enhances memory and learning ability in animals under stress. Writing in the November 8 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, the Stanford team says that the experimental technique might one day lead to new forms of gene therapy that can reduce the severe neurological side effects of steroids, which are prescribed to millions of patients with arthritis, asthma and other illnesses.

Steroid Users May Be More Likely To Commit Crimes Involving Weapons, Fraud

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 08:28:28 EST

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids may be associated with an antisocial lifestyle involving several types of crime, including weapons offenses and fraud, but did not appear to be associated with violent crimes or crimes against property, according to an article in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Elevated Testosterone Kills Nerve Cells

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 10:43:43 EDT

A Yale School of Medicine study shows for the first time that a high level of testosterone, such as that caused by the use of steroids to increase muscle mass or for replacement therapy, can lead to a catastrophic loss of brain cells.

Study Suggests How Steroid Can Reverse Post-traumatic Stress

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 23:17:17 EDT

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center, working with mice, have shown how the body's own natural stress hormone can help lastingly decrease the fearful response associated with reliving a traumatic memory.

Pressure To Be More Muscular May Lead Men To Unhealthy Behaviors

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 21:15:15 EDT

Women are not the only ones in American society who feel pressure to achieve the perfect body. New research suggests that men feel pressure to have muscular bodies, and that influence can lead some to symptoms of eating disorders, pressure to use steroids and an unhealthy preoccupation with weightlifting.

New Lab Research May Help Those Deafened By Immune System Attack

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 13:25:25 EDT

In thousands of people each year, the body's immune system suddenly attacks the delicate structures of the inner ear - - leaving patients deaf. New research helps explain why, and may lead to a test that will tell patients if rapid steroid treatment might restore their hearing.

Is It Ethical To Use Enhancement Technologies To Make Us Better Than Well?

Tue, 11 Jan 2005 17:22:22 EST

A variety of biomedical technologies are being developed that can be used for purposes other than treating disease. Such "enhancement technologies" can be used to improve our appearance and regulate our emotions, with the goal of feeling "better than well." In a provocative debate in this month's PLoS Medicine, the premier open-access medical journal, two of America's foremost medical ethicists, Arthur Caplan and Carl Elliott, lay out the pros and cons respectively of these new enhancement technologies.

Steroid Use Causes Long-term Agression, Northeastern University Report Indicates

Fri, 21 Nov 2003 07:08:08 EST

With the recent revelations about steroid use in Major League Baseball and the bust last week of several Oakland Raiders players for drug abuse, Northeastern University psychology professor Richard Melloni, who studies the link between steroid use and aggression, has recently found evidence that use of anabolic steroids may have long-term effects on behavior and aggression levels well after they stop abusing these performance enhancing drugs.

Promising Drug Proves Ineffective As Treatment For Hearing Loss

Wed, 08 Oct 2003 06:58:58 EDT

Researchers have demonstrated that Methotrexate, a promising drug to treat hearing loss in patients with autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED), proved no more effective than placebo in a recently concluded four-year study.

Research Links Adolescent Steroid Use To Reduction In Serotonin, Altered Signaling

Fri, 09 Aug 2002 07:14:14 EDT

With more than one in ten boys admitting to using steroids, muscle- and strength-enhancing drug use among teenagers has caused considerable concern among parents and researchers over the past decade, but until now, the longer-term physiological and neurological effects of its use on the developing brain have not been fully examined. Now, new research from Northeastern University, published in the latest issue of the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, documents the link between adolescent anabolic steroid use and aggression and partly associates the increases in aggression with deficits in the brain"s serotonin system. The study will examine longer-term deficiencies of serotonin levels in the brain as a result of damage from steroid use, suggesting that a tendency toward aggression and impulsiveness may actually linger long after both the steroid use and the muscles and strength developed have waned.

Stress Delays Puberty, Dutch Researchers Find

Tue, 05 Jun 2001 07:22:22 EDT

NWO research at Utrecht University has shown that when carp are subjected to stress, the development of their genital organs is delayed, so that they reach puberty later. It is likely that the stress hormone cortisol plays a major role in delaying puberty.

Scientists Identify New Pathway Of Antidepressant Action

Wed, 10 Nov 1999 06:17:17 EST

Scientists at UC San Francisco have discovered a new chemical pathway in the brain by which the most common antidepressants may alter mood. The research demonstrates that many popular mood modulators trigger chemical activity along more than one track at a time.

Controversial Performance Enhancer "Andro" Affects Brains As Well As Brawn, Say Umass Researchers

Mon, 12 Jul 1999 08:03:03 EDT

Athletes taking the controversial performance enhancer known as "andro" may be affecting their moods as well as their muscles, suggests a study published by University of Massachusetts researchers in the July issue of the journal Endocrinology.

Steroids May Reverse Loss Of Substance Tied To Nervous-System Diseases

Mon, 05 Oct 1998 07:44:44 EDT

Steroids help to reduce inflammation, but University of Illinois scientists suggest they also could be used to reverse a loss of myelin -- a major problem in multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases and injuries associated with the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Allergy-Linked Fatigue May Stem From Nasal Congestion, Interrupted Sleep

Thu, 16 Jul 1998 07:55:55 EDT

New research from Penn State's College of Medicine finds that people with perennial allergies may attribute their daytime fatigue to causes such as the side effects of medications, when, in fact, the fatigue may be a result of nasal congestion and associated sleep fragmentation.