Inside athletes' minds: Preliminary results from a pilot study on mental representation of doping and potential implications for anti-doping

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the growing body of literature and putative links between the use of ergogenic nutritional supplements, doping and illicit drugs, it remains unclear whether, in athletes' minds, doping aligns with illicit behaviour or with functional use of chemical or natural preparations. To date, no attempt has been made to quantitatively explore athletes' mental representation of doping in relation to illegality and functionality.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A convenience sample of student athletes from a large South-Eastern Australian university responded to an on-line survey. Competitive athletes (n = 46) were grouped based on self-reported use as follows: i) none used (30%), ii) supplement only (22%), iii) illicit only (26%) and iv) both supplements and illicit drug use (22%). Whereas no athlete reported doping, data provided on projected supplement-, doping- and drug use by the four user groups allowed evaluation of doping-related cognition in the context of self-reported supplement- and illicit drug taking behaviour; and comparison between these substances.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A significantly higher prevalence estimation was found for illicit drug use and a trend towards a biased social projection emerged for supplement use. Doping estimates by user groups showed mixed results, suggesting that doping had more in common with the ergogenic nutritional supplement domain than the illicit drug domain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Assessing the behavioural domain to which doping belongs to in athletes' mind would greatly advance doping behaviour research toward prevention and intervention. Further investigation refining the peculiarity of the mental representation of doping with a larger study sample, controlling for knowledge of doping and other factors, is warranted.</p

Influence of circadian blood pressure patterns and cardiopulmonary functional capacity in hypertensive patients

We sought to assess functional capacity in recently diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients with different 24-hour blood pressure (BP) patterns (dipping, non-dipping, extreme dipping, and reverse dipping). This cross-sectional study involved 164 untreated hypertensive patients who underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Our findings showed that 24-hour and daytime BP values did not differ between four groups. Nighttime BP significantly and gradually increased from extreme dippers to reverse dippers. There was no significant difference in BPs at baseline and at the peak of exercise among four observed groups. Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) was significantly lower in reverse dippers than in dippers and extreme dippers. Heart rate recovery was significantly lower among reverse dippers than in dippers and extreme dippers. Ventilation/carbon dioxide slope (VE/VCO2) was significantly higher in reverse dippers and non-dippers in comparison with dippers and extreme dippers. Non-dipping BP pattern (non-dippers and reverse dippers together) was independently and negatively associated lower heart rate recovery in the first minute and peak VO2. Reverse dipping BP pattern was independently associated not only with heart rate recovery in the first minute and peak VO2, but also with VE/VCO2. In conclusion, untreated hypertensive patients with reverse dipping BP patterns showed significantly worse functional capacity than those with dipping and extreme dipping BP patterns. Circadian BP rhythm is related with functional capacity and should be taken into account in the risk assessment of hypertensive patients

Is there association between left atrial function and functional capacity in patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes?

We sought to investigate the relationship between phasic left atrial function (LA) and functional capacity in the patients with type 2 diabetes (DM). This cross-sectional investigation included 72 controls and 64 uncomplicated DM subjects. All participants underwent echocardiographic examination and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Total and passive LA emptying fractions (EF), demonstrating LA reservoir and conduit function, were significantly lower in DM patients than in controls. Active LA EF, the parameter of LA booster pump function, was similar between DM and controls. Total and positive LA strains, corresponding with reservoir and conduit function, were also significantly reduced in DM subjects comparing with controls. However, negative LA strain—parameter of LA booster pump function, was significantly increased in DM patients in comparison with controls. Peak oxygen consumption was significantly reduced and ventilation/carbon dioxide slope was elevated in DM patients. In the whole study population LA global longitudinal strain was associated with heart rate recovery in the first minute, peak oxygen consumption and ventilation/carbon dioxide slope independently of other clinical parameters and LV hypertrophy and LV diastolic function. In conclusion, LA phasic function and functional capacity were significantly impaired in the patients with DM. LA longitudinal strain, but not LA volume index, was independently related with functional capacity in the whole study population. Our results suggest that evaluation of LA function and functional capacity could detect subclinical target organ damage and prevent development of further complications in uncomplicated DM patients

Potentially fatal new trend in performance enhancement: a cautionary note on nitrite

BACKGROUND: Considerable interest has been shown by athletes and scientists in the potential for nitric oxide and associated vasodilators to enhance performance. This study aims to explore potential misuse of vasodilators by the athletes, and to highlight the growing concern over these agents. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of anonymous inquiries recorded in the Drug Information Database (DID) between January 2006 and June 2008 (inclusive). In this 30-month period, the DID recorded 198,023 inquiries, of which 118,724 were UK Licensed Pharmaceutical products with a further 79,299 inquiries made for substance not found in the database. RESULTS: Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, dominated by Viagra(R), ranked 16th among the substance groups. The proportion of the inquiries made regarding PDE-5 inhibitors, especially in comparison to antibiotics, painkillers or alcohol, appears to be above the level that would normally be expected from medical need. No significant change in the months leading up to the Beijing Olympics was observed. On the contrary, the Nitric/Nitrate group showed a notable increase between 2006-2007 and 2008, suggesting a potential increase in interest in using nitric oxide among athletes. CONCLUSIONS: With patents recently filed for the use of agents containing sodium nitrite/nitrate to enhance blood flow for performance enhancement in sport, coupled with anecdotal evidence from internet athlete forums and media, there is a concern that athletes may endanger their health by using vasodilators to enhance athletic performance. PDE-5 inhibitors or chemicals in the nitrate/nitrate group are currently not prohibited or tested for by the doping control agencies but some are highly dangerous to health and can lead to cardiovascular collapse, coma and death. Its promotion among athletes as a performance enhancing supplement is ethically and medically questionable