[Changes of circulatory levels of endorphin, serotonin and dopamine and some health physical variables following a period of aerobic training in men with history of addiction to methamphetamine]

Introduction: Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that has an extremely harmful effect on the nervous system, compromising the individual's health. This study aimed to investigate the changes of blood levels of endorphin, serotonin and dopamine and some physical health variables following a period of aerobic training in men with history of addiction to methamphetamine

Materials and Methods: Thirty men with history of addiction to methamphetamine were purposefully selected and randomly divided into two groups of experimental [n=15] and control [n=15]. The experimental group took part in aerobic training on sand for 8 weeks, 3 days a week, with an intensity of 60-75% of maximum heart rate, while the control group had no physical activity. Circulating levels of serotonin, dopamine and endorphin, body mass index [BMI], waist-tohip ratio [WHR], body fat percentage and cardio-respiratory were measured before and 24 hours after the last training session. To measure levels of neurotransmitters, 5 ml blood was collected from the brachial vein of subjects

Results: Eight weeks of aerobic training increased circulating levels of serotonin, dopamine, endorphin and, cardio-respiratory significantly in the experimental group, compared to controls [P<0.05], while body fat percentage, BMI and WHR did not change significantly [P>0.05]

Conclusion: Aerobic training can beneficially impact circulatory levels of serotonin, dopamine and endorphin and cardio-respiratory endurance, both for improving the physical status and health of men with history of addiction to methamphetamine and as a non-drug treatment during rehabilitation

[Comparing the effects of dietary supplementation with carbohydrate and whey protein at two ratios on muscle damage indices after eccentric resistance exercise]

Delayed muscle soreness occurs after resistance activity or training involving an eccentric component, and nutrition can affect the extent of muscle injury by playing a role in both protein synthesis and catabolism. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of dietary supplementation with carbohydrate and protein at different proportions on injury indices of muscle after a session of eccentric resistance exercise. In this double-blind placebo-controlled study 24 non-athlete males [age21.5 +/- 2.4 years, height 176 +/- 4.7 cm, weight 73.6 +/- 5.4 kg, BMI 24.3 +/- 1.9 kg/m[2], body fat 16.1 +/- 2.5%] were divided randomly into 3 groups of 8, receiving a supplement of carbohydrate-plus-whey protein at a ratio of 1: 3 or 1: 4, or a placebo [aspartame]. Serum creatine kinase[CK] andlactate dehydrogenase[LDH] were determined photometrically, and muscle pain was measured using a standard scale of PAS before, 24 and 48 hours after, an eccentric resistance exercise involving knee flexion. Both carbohydrate-plus-whey protein supplements caused statistically significant reductions in CK and LDH levels and muscle soreness compared with the placebo [p<0.05], although no significant differences were observed between the two supplements [p>0.05]. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with carbohydrate and whey protein at a ratio of 1:3 or 1:4 can bring about a reduction in muscle damage indices after eccentric resistance exercise. The optimum ratio, however, to be used in sports drinks and for recommendation to individuals starting exercise warrants further research

Description of the changes of some humoral immune variables immediately and 24 hours after exercise during the preparation exercises for rock climbing

Background: The specific preparatory activities may have different effects on various body systems which are not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a single session of specific preparatory activities on humoral immunity and white blood cell [WBC] immediately and 24 hours after exercise in elite rock climbing athletes

Materials and Methods: Ten elite rock climbing athletes [age23.3 +/- 2.2 years, height 173.6 +/- 4.8 cm, and weight 64.5 +/- 7.3 kg took part in this quasi-experimental study. Subjects were asked to perform specific exercises for 95 minutes [10 minutes warm up, 75 minutes climbing with different degrees of severity, and 10 minutes cool down]. Blood samples were taken before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 24 hours after exercise. Data were analyzed using paired sample Student's t-test and general linear model [p<0.05]

Results: All levels of immunoglobulins decreased immediately after the activity, but this change was significant only for IGM. White blood cells were increased significantly. However, after the 24-hour recovery period, IgG levels were significantly lower than before and immediately after exercise. IgM and IgA also increased significantly. The WBC counts after 24 hours had no significant difference with the previous levels

Conclusion: This study showed that following changes in humeral immune system variables and WBC count after an exercise in elite rock climbers, a 24-hour rest period can be effective to restore basal levels of these variables. Others may require more time

[ comparison of stress coping styles between athletes and nonathletes and its relationship with mental health]

Stress and anxiety are important factors that can highly affect athletes' performance. They can also influence the mental and physical heath of the athletes. The aim of this study was to compare the stress-coping styles in two groups of athletes and non-athletes and evaluating its relationship with their mental health. One hundred athletes were selected randomly and 100 non-athletes were voluntarily participated in this study. Both groups answered the standard Yoo copingstyles and Goldberg general health questionnaires. Relevant statistical tests were used for data analysis. Athletes in comparison with non-athletes used problem-focused and emotionfocused coping styles more frequently, but, they used avoidant-coping styles less frequently [P<0.01]. Also, in the former group, while the application of problem- and emotion-focused coping-styles were correlated with increase in mental health, avoidantcoping styles were correlated with decrease in mental health. In contrast, in non-athletes, using problem-focused and avoidant coping styles were correlated with increase and decrease in mental health, respectively [P<0.05]. Regression analysis demonstrated that stress-coping styles could largely predict the mental health variation in athletes and non athletes groups [P<0.05]. Findings of this study provide more support for the importance of coping styles and its relationship with mental health in stress situations such as sport fields

[ effects of dietary creatine ethyl ester supplementation and resistance training on the body composition and muscular strength in underweight non-athlete males]

No information is available on the consumption of creatine supplements in Iran. Creatine supplements are very popular among athletes. The annual sales only in USA in 2001 were reported to exceed $400 million. Considering the claims of creatine ethyl ester [CEE] manufacturers and distributers about its effects on muscle tissue and strength compared to other creatine forms [specially creatine monohydrate], this investigation was initiated to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of CEE on muscle strength and body composition in underweight non-athlete males. This was a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Sixteen underweight non-athlete volunteers were randomly assigned to either a CEE group [CEE, n=8] or a placebo group [PL, n=8]. In the CEE group, the supplements were orally ingested at a dose of approximately 20 g/day for the first 5 days [the loading phase], followed by ingestion of approximately 5 g/day for 37 days [the maintenance phase]. Subjects in the PL group took rice-flour capsules instead of CEE. Body weight, fat-free mass, and fat mass, as well as muscular strength [bench press and leg press] of the subjects, were measured at the beginning and at the end of a training period of 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week. The independent t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results showed that the CEE group demonstrated greater improvements in 1 Repetition Maximum [1RM] of bench press [12.5 vs. 7.5 kg] and leg press[8.12 vs. 5 kg] than the PL group, although the differences were not statistically significant. Also, body weight [1.69 vs. 0.5 kg] and aft-free mass increased to a greater extent, and fat mass decreased, in the CEE compared to the PL group, but in this case the differences did not reach statistical significance either. Finally, no significant changes were observed in thigh [1 vs 0.63 cm] or upper arm [0.63 vs. 0.48 cm] circumference or body mass index in either group. It is concluded that CEE supplementation is not necessarily effective as regards increasing muscle mass and strength or improving body composition in underweight non-athlete males

[ prevalence of anabolic-androgenic steroids abuse, knowledge and attitue of their side effects, and attitude toward them among the bodybuilding athletes in Rasht]

Anabolic-androgenic steroids abuse is one of the major problems in many kinds of sports, specially bodybuilding and power lifting. Common and sometimes life-threatening complications of these drugs have always been important among athletes. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of anabolic-androgenic steroids abuse, Knowledge and Attitue of users among the bodybuilding athletes in Rasht, northern Iran. The present study is a descriptive one. Target population included all male bodybuilding athletes in Rasht. The measuring instruments were self-reported questionnaires AAS, including 19 questions [five questions on background information, 9 questions related to knowledge, and four questions related to attitudes and three questions related to the prevalence of abuse] [Cronb ach Alpha 0.87] which were distributed among 223 male bodybuilding athletes in Rasht. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics [frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation] and inferential statistics [Spearman correlation coefficient test, t-test] was used for data analysis. The results of data analyses indicate that anabolicandrogenic Steroids are used currently by 67% of the athletes. There was a significant relationship between the prevalence anabolic-androgenic steroids abuse and a history of bodybuilding championship records. [p<0.05]. Also, there was a significant relationship between prevalence of anabolic-androgenetic steroids abuse-and attitude and awareness [P<0.05]. The results of this study showed overuse of such drugs among the young athletes and their lack of awareness of the respective adverse effects. Therefore, prevention programs and education about the adverse effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids are highly recommended

[Effect of anabolic steroids consumption on C-reactive protein [CRP] in bodybuilders]

Prevalence of anabolic steroids [ASs] consumption among bodybuilders has increased progressively. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ASs consumption on C-reactive protein [CRP] in bodybuilders. Sixty healthy men [age: 24/1 +/- 9/1yr; weight: 77 +/- 10 kg and height: 172 +/- 12 cm] participated in the study voluntarily. These subjects were selected from three groups. First group [FG] was bodybuilders who consumed ASs [n=20], second group [SG] was bodybuilders who did not consume ASs [n=20] and third group [TG] were untrained subjects as control [n=20]. Blood samples were collected in fasting state [12 hours] at 09:00 for CRP assessment. Strength and volume of the forearm, pectoral major and femur muscles were measured via 1RM test and muscle circumstances, respectively. Speed was assessed by 30m speed test. Analysis of variance test and LSD post-hoc test was used. FG had significantly greater blood CRP [P<0/05] compared to other groups. However, differences between SG and TG were not significant. Muscle strength, and forearm and femur circumstances were greater in FG than other groups. Furthermore, this was greater in SG than TG. But chest circumstance was greater in FG and SG than TG only. There were no significant differences in speed between groups. ASs consumption for muscle strength and volume improvement in bodybuilders is accompanied by higher level of CRP [as a cardiovascular risk factor]