Athletes ; Humans ; Microcirculation ; Muscles ; physiology ; Sports

Forensic Sciences ; Hormones ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Humans ; Sports

Blood Chemical Analysis ; Humans ; Water Sports ; physiology

Androgen doping in power sports is undeniably rampant worldwide. There is strong evidence that androgen administration in men increases skeletal muscle mass, maximal voluntary strength and muscle power. However, we do not have good experimental evidence to support the presumption that androgen administration improves physical function or athletic performance. Androgens do not increase specific force or whole body endurance measures. The anabolic effects of testosterone on the skeletal muscle are mediated through androgen receptor signaling. Testosterone promotes myogenic differentiation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells and inhibits their differentiation into the adipogenic lineage. Testosterone binding to androgen receptor induces a conformational change in androgen receptor protein, causing it to associate with beta-catenin and TCF-4 and activate downstream Wnt target genes thus promoting myogenic differentiation. The adverse effects of androgens among athletes and recreational bodybuilders are under reported and include acne, deleterious changes in the cardiovascular risk factors, including a marked decrease in plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol level, suppression of spermatogenesis resulting in infertility, increase in liver enzymes, hepatic neoplasms, mood and behavioral disturbances, and long term suppression of the endogenous hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Androgens are often used in combination with other drugs which may have serious adverse events of their own. In spite of effective methods for detecting androgen doping, the policies for screening of athletes are highly variable in different countries and organizations and even existing policies are not uniformly enforced.
Androgens ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Doping in Sports ; Humans ; Sports ; Weight Lifting

Adult ; Athletes ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sports ; physiology

Catecholamines ; blood ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Water Sports ; physiology

The polar sports tester made in Finland as one of the most widespread instruments in physical training is of importance for sports training. In this paper, we have developed a set of system for analysis of physical training workload using the measured data of the Polar Sports Tester, and have established a set of analysis indices and reports of the physical training workload, including five categories and 127 quantitative indices. It can reflect the distribution of physical workload and provide a series of parameters for coaches to direct scientific training and raise sport level.
Adaptation, Physiological ; physiology ; Gymnastics ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Physical Endurance ; physiology ; Software ; Sports ; physiology

Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Sports ; physiology

Phonocardiogram exercise testing(PCGET) is a recently developed method for evaluating cardiac contractility and the cardiac reserve of patients with heart disease and of healthy subjects. In order to test the reliability of PCGET method in physical sport, the present author conducted a clinical study. The ratio of the amplitude of the first heart sound after PCGET to that recorded at rest was defined as an indicator, i.e. cardiac contractility reserve index (CCRI). PCGET was performed on 30 athletes and 30 non-athletes. The results showed that the average of CCRI was 10.139 +/- 2.631 in 30 athletes and 6.612 +/- 3.104 in 30 non-athletes. There was a significant difference between CCRI of the two groups (P < 0.01). Thus, PCGET might be a noninvasive, convenient and inexpensive technique to evaluate the cardiac reserve quantitatively for athletes.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Exercise Test ; methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Myocardial Contraction ; physiology ; Phonocardiography ; methods ; Sports ; physiology

Recreational diving is an exciting and adventurous sport, but is also potentially hazardous. Despite its inherent hazards, an increasing number of people enjoy SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving; the number of diving-related accidents is therefore also likely to increase. Divers might face physical or psychological stresses from the unfamiliar or hostile underwater environment, which can lead to fatal accidents. To investigate deaths related to SCUBA diving, a forensic pathologist should understand the types and mechanisms of injuries and illnesses unique to SCUBA diving. Postmortem examination of diving fatalities is therefore a formidable task for most forensic pathologists because cases are sparse and the process requires an understanding of diving physiology, diving equipment, and the underwater environment. The primary aim of autopsies in SCUBA diving fatalities is to detect evidence of pulmonary barotrauma, intravascular gas, or pre-existing illnesses. Standard autopsy protocol for SCUBA diving-related deaths should include methods to detect intravascular gas and gas accumulation in the tissue or body cavity through plain radiographs or Computerized Tomography (CT) scans. Analysis of the gas components is also helpful for determining the origin of the gas. Here, the author proposes a practical method for performing an autopsy on a person who died while SCUBA diving.
Autopsy* ; Barotrauma ; Diving* ; Humans ; Methods ; Physiology ; Preexisting Condition Coverage ; Respiration ; Sports ; Stress, Psychological