As expected, Dr Anthony Galea pleaded guilty to some of the charges filed against him but in return he has to help the government identify professional athletes who were treated with banned substances. In the hearing Wednesday, Dr Galea admitted that he brought to the country unapproved and misbranded drugs.

Charges Includes Distribution of HGH

The famous Canadian sports doctor was indicted last year. He was accused of distributing human growth hormone, smuggling, bringing in unapproved drugs into interstate commerce and conspiracy. The unapproved drugs were nutropin, a human growth hormone and Actovegin. He is also facing similar charges in Canada.

Prosecutors also contend that Dr Galea practiced medicine in the country without a license. According to federal investigators, the doctor traveled to the US several times since 2007 and treated at least 20 professional athletes in their homes or hotels. It was estimated that the sports medicine doctor earned at least $800,000 from his clients. The total amount of drugs that he dispensed also ranges from $30,000 to $70,000.

A-Rod, Tiger Woods, Jose Reyes et al

Majority of Dr Galea’s clients came from the Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL) and the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA). While Alex Rodriguez and Tiger Woods denied that they were treated with HGH or steroids, investigators are still looking for the possibility that the Canadian doctor gave them something illegal. New York Mets Jose Reyes and Carlo Beltran were also treated by Dr Galea. Two NFL players were also named as former patients of the doctor. They were NFL linebacker Takeo Spikes and retired running back Jamal Lewis.

According to prosecutors, Dr Galea allegedly treated at least 7 professional athletes with drug mixtures containing human growth hormones. Others were also treated with Actovegin, a drug not approved in the US. Actovegin is a derivative of Calf’s blood which is then injected to patients.

On the other hand, most of the professional players treated by the Canadian doctor only acknowledged the use of platelet-rich plasma therapy. This treatment method is effective in the faster recovery of athletes from injuries.

Most of the Charges Dropped

The plea deal resulted to the dropping of other charges against Dr Galea but he may still receive up to two years jail term. The smuggling, distributing HGH and conspiring to lie to federal agents and defraud the U.S. government charges were withdrawn. He also forfeited $275,000 and a fine of $250,000.

His sentencing is scheduled on October 19. Dr Galea’s assistant who was caught in the Canada-US border with human growth hormone, Actovegin and other homeopathic drugs is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

While Galea will be getting a lighter sentence, his cooperation with the government will definitely give rise to more investigations against professional athletes and probably filing charges against them. The prosecution will not agree to the plea deal if they did not get valuable information from the Canadian doctor.

Government officials and health experts in Mexico argue whether steroid tainted meat is safe to the consumers or not. Early this month, several national soccer players competing in the Gold Cup tested positive for the steroid clenbuterol. The players and the sports federation contends the positive test could be the result of taking contaminated meat.

Sports anti-doping officials may not subscribe to this excuse but media reports reveal that the incidence of meat contamination is common in Mexico. There is a possibility that the players ate beef which were raised with the use of steroids particularly clenbuterol. Many ranchers in Mexico use clenbuterol in their livestock to increase meat production. Touted as miracle salts or cattle cocaine, clenbuterol helps build muscle mass. The meat becomes leaner and free from fats. For unsuspecting consumers, these qualities encourage them to buy the steroid tainted meat.

Government Assured Consumers Meat from Mexico is Safe

Health and agriculture officials from Mexico immediately counter the allegation that meat from Mexico is unsafe to the consumers. This is to avert any adverse effect on the cattle industry and the tourism as well. In a joint statement, government officials said that steroid related sickness in the country is not chronic. Last year’s data showed that there was only one case per one million Mexican consumer hospitalized for eating contaminated meat.

According to Miami Herald, there are at least 7 million beef cattle, 3 million dairy cows and 6.8 million calves in Mexico. The country is a major exporter of calves to the US and also a major consumer of beef. This is the reason why the government tried to limit the effects of steroid meat scare.

Critics, on the other hand, believe that the current situation in the cattle industry is a major concern. There has been reports that cattle producers from the states of Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Michoacán, Mexico, Tlaxcala and Durango use steroids in their livestock.

Zero Incident to Make it Safe

Hospitalization because of Mexican steroid tainted meat reached 795 cases in 2007 and decreased in 2010 to 297 cases. However, health experts argued that there should be zero cases of steroid related illnesses before the government can say it is safe for consumption. People who are sickened by steroid tainted meat are those who buy organ meat particularly liver. Symptoms usually appear after an hour of ingestion which includes palpitations, headache, nervousness, and fluctuating blood pressure.

Mexico Penalizes Use of Clenbuterol on Cattle

The government has an existing law penalizing the use of steroid clenbuterol on cattle production. Offenders will be facing at least seven years if found guilty but many ranchers still ignore the law. It is estimated that using steroids for 1 or 2 months will yield to an additional 15% meat. That would translate to an additional 100 pounds of meat for each cattle.

It was also noted that some ranchers overdose their stocks with Clenbuterol to earn more profit. Health experts warn consumers that they should be more cautious in buying lean and less fatty meat.

Oral steroids have long been used in treating sudden hearing loss. However, today, a new alternative has been given a lot of credit because it widens the treatment options for people with the condition. This treatment option comes in a form of an injectable steroid, which needs to be injected into the middle ear. This injectable treatment is seen to be just as effective as that of the oral steroid option.

The Injectable Treatment

In case of sudden deafness, the oral steroid treatment is still the standard recommendation. The help of the injection treatment is only when there are potential medical contraindications to oral steroids. However, some doctors may prescribe both kinds of treatments for the sudden hearing loss.

Steroid injection treatment has become popular over the last 15 years. Its main advantage is the fact that it offers an increased drug concentration in the problem area with a reduced systemic steroid exposure and so as adverse side effects. Another advantage of the new option is that it is less risky as compared to oral steroids. Taking steroid orally can offer various side effects that steroid injections can avoid. Though the oral steroids come in cheaper, the risks associated with this option are not at all worth the savings.

Injection Performed by Doctors

But since the steroid injections need to be performed by a professional, using it to treat hearing problems can be not that convenient as oral steroids. Patients who need to be injected with steroids need to visit a doctor’s office for the treatment. This is not to mention yet that this is potentially painful and a little bit expensive.

In a study comparing the effectiveness of the two steroid treatment options, it shows that patients that are treated with oral steroids are seen to have showed a 30.7 decibel improvement in their affected ear. On the other hand, patients that are injected with steroids have showed a 28.7 decibel improvement.

Comparing the Two Options

In one study that includes 250 patients who have unilateral hearing loss problem, there is only a slight 10 decibel difference in the hearing outcome between the two treatments. However, this does not mean that one treatment is inferior to the other. Even if the steroid injection treatment has effects slightly inferior to oral treatment, this does not mean that injection is not a good option. Both treatment options are equally effective in recovering hearing.

Side Effects

The study, however, sees that both treatments can have unpleasant side effects. The steroid injection can offer more discomfort and some of the side effects associated with it include brief caloric vertigo, occasional cases of otitis media, and pain. On the other hand, the study have seen side effects of oral steroids as sleep, mood, and appetite changes, increased thirst, dry mouth, elevated blood glucose level, and abnormal complete blood cell count.

The introduction of injectable steroids for treating sudden hearing loss is not meant to wipe out oral steroids but to be a reasonable alternative to the oral treatment. This is especially true for patients that have too high of a risk for systemic steroid usage.

Most people who want to stay young tend to take medicines and supplements to counter the signs of aging. While it is a fact that all of us will grow old, many are still hoping that taking supplements will help slow down the ageing process. This kind of thinking is not only confined to fitness conscious individuals but it is also common to professional athletes who want to stay at their best regardless of age.

The Dehydroeipandrosterone Sulphate

Health experts all agree that some of the hormones in the body are responsible in the overall health and lifespan of an individual. Various researches were already conducted to find the mystery of the ageing process. Just recently, a group of researchers from the King’s College in London UK reported an interesting finding. They were able to determine the genes that control the level of dehydroeipandrosterone sulphate or DHEAS in the body. This is a steroid produced by the adrenal gland and plays a major role in the ageing process.

Genes Affecting the DHEAS Levels

The researchers found out that there are at least 8 genes that affect the DHEAS production in the body. While medical practitioners know that DHEA levels decline as individuals grow older, they still need clinical data that will explain how the steroid deteriorate. At the age of 85, it is believed that the production of the DHEAS in the body declines up to 95%. This is the reason why many doctors associate the deficiency of DHEAS to age-related diseases such as type-2 diabetes and lymphoma. It can also reduce the lifespan of an individual.

There were 14,846 people from Europe and USA who participated in this study. The researchers analyzed their DHEAS levels and 2.5 million variants of their genes. They found out that there are 8 common genes that control the level of the steroid DHEAS in the blood. Some of the genes were also attributed to the occurrence of diseases in older people.

According to Dr. Guangju Zhai of the King’s College, the research is the first large-scale study that unlocked the mystery surrounding DHEAS. “We have identified specific genes that control its concentration levels and shown that some of these are also involved in the ageing process and age-related diseases,” the doctor said.

Role of the Steroid in the Ageing Process

However, the researchers suggest that further research should be conducted since there are still many questions that must be answered in the DHEA’s role in the ageing process. Dr Zhai said that their study did not tackle on the issue whether the sustained level of DHEAS in the body can really delay the ageing process and avert age-related diseases.

Flourishing Market for DHEA Supplements

Several pharmaceutical companies are already selling various anti-ageing products including DHEA supplements. All of these products promise a revitalized and healthier body. In fact, DHEA supplements are now regarded as “the fountain of youth” elixirs. It does not only counter the signs of ageing but it also provides more energy, increased libido, and it preserves muscles.

This supplement is banned in most sports organizations but it is still popular to fitness conscious individuals. Most anti-ageing clinics in the country offer treatment of DHEAS aside from the more popular human growth hormones.

The findings, according to co-researcher Professor Tim Spector, are significant in understanding how our body works. “This study shows the power of collaborative genetic studies to uncover mechanisms of how the body works. For 50 years we have observed the most abundant circulating steroid in the body, DHEAS, with no clue as to its role. Now its genes have shown us its importance in many parts of the ageing process,” he said.

A doctor’s primary duty is to ensure that their patients are treated with utmost care and proper treatment is given. They should also prescribe medicines that are legally approved for specific medical conditions. However, we still hear from time to time some cases where doctors violate these rules. A doctor in Tulsa, Oklahoma is an example of this. He was charged for making off-label prescriptions for anabolic steroids.

Anabolic steroids are controlled substances. It is a drug that is only prescribed for specific medical conditions such as anemia and some forms of cancers. But today, steroids are commonly used for bodybuilding purposes and used to improve the performance of professional athletes. If an individual can’t purchase these steroids from the black market, they usually connive with doctors just to get prescriptions for steroids. Taking black market steroids are usually dangerous.

Prescriptions for Bodybuilding Use

Dr. Gary Lee, a family and sports medicine doctor from Tulsa, made prescriptions of steroids to at least 3 patients. Authorities said that the steroids were not used to treat ailments but used in bodybuilding like building muscle bulk and muscle enhancement. The doctor was nabbed last year and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He told the court that the off-label prescriptions of steroids were intended to treat injuries and not for bodybuilding purposes.

2 Years Supervised Activities

In the recent update on the case, the Tulsa World website reported that the prosecution and the defense made an agreement to postpone the proceedings for 2 years. Instead, the doctor’s activities will be supervised and monitored by the District Attorney’s Office for the entire duration of the agreement. If Lee violates any of the provisions in the agreement, the case against him will continue.

Payment of Fines and Penalty

The doctor is also required to pay $1,000 to the victims compensation fund, $100 to the DA’s Drug Fund and a monthly due of $40. The court will review the case of Lee on April 2013 and if there are no violations of the law or supervisory guidelines, the case will be dismissed.

Michael King, the defense lawyer of Dr. Lee, clarified that the agreement is not an indication that the doctor pleaded guilty to the charges. The signed document was also clear that the defendant had not admitted guilt. “This seemed like a good way to resolve the case without a long, extended trial,” said the defense lawyer.

The 50-year old doctor is licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. The prosecution maintained their position that Dr. Lee made illegal prescriptions of anabolic steroids by conspiring with patients who obtained and used the drugs for bodybuilding purposes.

Steroid use has become a contributing solution towards treating asthma in children. However, there remains a question about the safety of using this drug in children, especially since the University of Montreal has evaluated how steroids can affect the immune system of children. The findings say that despite the help of steroids, it can expose asthmatic children to new contagious diseases. The study found out that oral steroids cause a temporary depression of immune response of children that were given the drug.

According to Francine M. Ducharme, a University of Montreal professor and pediatrician, the administration of steroids reduces any risk and even the duration of hospital admission in children suffering from acute asthma. However, the safety of this kind of medication is still raising concerns among physicians and parents as steroids have a possible impact on the child’s immune system.

The Reduced Immune Response

The study had evaluated the immune response of children from three to 17 years old, who suffered from an asthma attack. All of them are given immune triggers or antigens and the study has come up with a comparison of the immune response of those given corticosteroids and those that were not given one.

Ducharme says that the evaluation resulted to finding that the children who have been treated with corticosteroid had a significantly decreased immune response. The conclusion was based in the measurement of the amount of antibody produced in children treated with oral steroids as compared to the non-treated children.

Despite this alarming fact, the reduced immunity in children is only transient. This is supported by the study of children who were revaccinated with antigen five weeks after the first evaluation. The recovery period of the immune suppression can heal within six weeks. Ducharme even said that the window of risk of using corticosteroids in treating asthma is very small and the risk is only present with the patients’ exposure to a new antigen concurrent to the intake of corticosteroids.

As a prevention technique, physicians need to know the medical history of the patient prior to prescribing oral steroids. Since the most commonly reported case is chickenpox infection, it is suggested that children who will be treated with steroids must be given a vaccine prior to being prescribed with the drug.

Alternative Asthma Treatments

With the long term effects of steroids and other asthma medications, people are finding alternative ways to cure asthma for a safer and more effective approach. Chiropractic care is one of the alternative solutions being seen today as an effective solution in treating asthma in children. In one study, chiropractic care gave positive effects on 81 children suffering from asthma. It corrects the vertebral subluxation and so decreases and eliminates the need for medications despite asthma being in the picture.

Acupuncture is also seen to be effective in helping children with asthma. However, this kind of acupuncture used in children does not use needles. It is called Shonihari and is known to help a lot of children already especially when coupled with dietary and lifestyle advice.

Corticosteroids, a type of steroid, may be proven an effective solution towards aiding children with asthma. However, there is always a risk involved with it. Talk to your child’s doctor and weigh in the benefits and risks associated with it.