Having already posted about doping a week or two ago following the olympics I thought I would research blood doping following the accusations against Lance Armstrong and this is what I learnt...
Blood doping is the act of increasing the number of red blood cells (rbc) in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance. Consequently haemoglobin (hb) the oxygen transporting molecule is also increased improving an athletes capacity (VO2 Max) and endurance. There are two types of blood doping, Homologous and Autologous doping.
A measure of rbc count is hematocrit, which is the volume percentage of rbc within the blood. This is normally around 45% for men and 40% for women as an average.
Homologous doping involves extracting someones compatible blood, concentrating the rbc, storing them and later transfusing them by injection before exercise. However a chemical test was developed in 2004 to identify anyone guilty of homologous doping, in very simple terms the test examines markers on the surface of blood cells with the ability to determine whether blood from more than one person is present in the athletes circulation.
Hence Autologous doping became more popular, the extraction of ones own blood, concentrating the rbc, storing them and later transfusing them by injection before exercise. The World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) are developing a test to compare the age of blood cells which has not yet reached official testing standard. The test compares the number of 'mature' (erythrocytes) and 'immature' (reticulocytes) rbc. Cells are marked using a fluorescent dye which marks RNA and DNA and automatically counted using laser technology. Erythrocytes have neither RNA or DNA, reticulocytes have a small amount of RNA and lymphocytes (white blood cells which are also present) have a large amount of DNA. The differences in dye concentration can easily be used to distinguish between the cells and there should be standard proportion of 'mature' to 'immature' rbc.
Hormones can also be used to increase rbc count and are often harder to detect. For example erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates the formation of rbc and is used medically as a treatment for anemia (deficiency of rbc). Athletes sometimes abuse this medical drug and use its properties to enhance performance.
Tuesday 28 August 2012
Monday 20 August 2012
Tony Nicklinson
For those of you who have read my blog before will know of Tony Nicklinson, a locked-in syndrome suffer, pursuing a "right-to-die" case.
His case to allow doctors to end his life via the use of lethal drugs without fear of prosecution was rejected last Thursday.
The case differed from other "right-to-die" cases which have focused on assisted suicide. Tony Nicklinson would be unable to take lethal drugs, even if they were prepared for him by someone else due to his condition, the paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles however is mind is fully functioning.
Despite being rejected the case has gone further than other cases on assisted suicide in English and Welsh courts.
I have utmost respect and the deepest sympathy for Tony Nicklinson as I cannot imagine how he feels following the news however the general consensus amongst health officials is that the correct decision was made. This particular case is heart wrenching and Tony's wishes are very clear but the court passed judgement considering the bigger picture, had the result been different what affect would this have had in the future?
Although described as a "right-to-die" case Tony Nicklinson can end his life through the means of a hunger strike as described in a very interesting interview(see bottom of page) with Prof John Saunders however Tony Nicklinson understandably wishes to die in a more dignified, pain free way and to do so requires the help of a third party, doctors.
Detached from the emotion and sensitivity surronding the case several questions spring to mind, for example would such an act be murder? How would the doctor required to provide the "help" feel during/after the act?
This case along with many others highlights how complicated the issues surrounding assisted suicide are and how they incorporate a vast number of factors, not just the individual it concerns. For now the law on assisted suicide is to stay the same and each case will be dealt with on an individual basis and even then very few are accepted.
His case to allow doctors to end his life via the use of lethal drugs without fear of prosecution was rejected last Thursday.
The case differed from other "right-to-die" cases which have focused on assisted suicide. Tony Nicklinson would be unable to take lethal drugs, even if they were prepared for him by someone else due to his condition, the paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles however is mind is fully functioning.
Despite being rejected the case has gone further than other cases on assisted suicide in English and Welsh courts.
I have utmost respect and the deepest sympathy for Tony Nicklinson as I cannot imagine how he feels following the news however the general consensus amongst health officials is that the correct decision was made. This particular case is heart wrenching and Tony's wishes are very clear but the court passed judgement considering the bigger picture, had the result been different what affect would this have had in the future?
Although described as a "right-to-die" case Tony Nicklinson can end his life through the means of a hunger strike as described in a very interesting interview(see bottom of page) with Prof John Saunders however Tony Nicklinson understandably wishes to die in a more dignified, pain free way and to do so requires the help of a third party, doctors.
Detached from the emotion and sensitivity surronding the case several questions spring to mind, for example would such an act be murder? How would the doctor required to provide the "help" feel during/after the act?
This case along with many others highlights how complicated the issues surrounding assisted suicide are and how they incorporate a vast number of factors, not just the individual it concerns. For now the law on assisted suicide is to stay the same and each case will be dealt with on an individual basis and even then very few are accepted.
Tuesday 14 August 2012
Doping
Unfortunately the Olympics are over but at least I will no longer be glued to the sofa and how well did Team GB do!?
It's time for my passion for science and sport to feature again as yesterday it was announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Belarusian women's shot put gold medallist Nadzeya Ostapchuk has been stripped of her title after failing a doping test.
Both samples of her urine (taken before and after the event) tested positive for metenolone which as the IOC states" is classified as anabolic agent under the 2012 prohibited list."
Metenolone is an anabolic steroid with testosterone like properties. By mimicking the effects of testosterone the drug increases the amount of protein synthesis occurring within body cells, which results in the build up of cellular tissue (known as anabolism), particularly in muscle cells.
To state the obvious such development provides an unfair advantage over other athletes within the sport and hence substances such as these are banned!
New Zealand's Valerie Adams, who was originally second, has now been awarded the gold medal.
Finally good luck to anyone receiving results this Thursday, I hope they go well for you!
It's time for my passion for science and sport to feature again as yesterday it was announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Belarusian women's shot put gold medallist Nadzeya Ostapchuk has been stripped of her title after failing a doping test.
Both samples of her urine (taken before and after the event) tested positive for metenolone which as the IOC states" is classified as anabolic agent under the 2012 prohibited list."
Metenolone is an anabolic steroid with testosterone like properties. By mimicking the effects of testosterone the drug increases the amount of protein synthesis occurring within body cells, which results in the build up of cellular tissue (known as anabolism), particularly in muscle cells.
To state the obvious such development provides an unfair advantage over other athletes within the sport and hence substances such as these are banned!
New Zealand's Valerie Adams, who was originally second, has now been awarded the gold medal.
Finally good luck to anyone receiving results this Thursday, I hope they go well for you!
Wednesday 8 August 2012
Tinnitus
When looking on the Internet for music festival tickets I became side tracked and came across a campaign which well known much artists Plan B and Chris Martin are supporting. The campaign is called "The Loud Music Campaign" and one of the medical conditions it warns about/offers advice on is Tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a sound that's heard in one or both ears for which there's no external source. The sounds appears to originate within the ear and is often described as a "ringing or buzzing" sound. There is actually nothing causing the sounds, it is a misinterpretation by the brain of signals from the nerves in the ear.
Tinnitus that occurs in only one ear could be more serious as it may be caused by an acoustic neuroma. Having only read briefly about acoustic neuromas in very simple terms an acoustic neuroma is a rare tumour that grows around the auditory vestibular nerve (acoustic nerve) that connects the ear to the brain. An acoustic neuroma is benign (not cancerous), which means it does not spread to other parts of the body. However, it can damage several important nerves as it grows and consequently cause effects such as tinnitus.
Episodes of tinnitus can be brief, for example after attending a loud music concert or permanent, for example Plan B is a permanent suffer having played many concerts over his career. Nowadays musicians use in ear filter plugs to protect their ears whilst they perform and the use of earplugs amongst spectators is something "The Loud Music Campaign" is trying to promote!
The most common causes are regular exposure to loud noises (eg loud music or loud noise in a workplace such as drilling) and excess ear wax which can also have a negative effect.
Tinnitus is a sound that's heard in one or both ears for which there's no external source. The sounds appears to originate within the ear and is often described as a "ringing or buzzing" sound. There is actually nothing causing the sounds, it is a misinterpretation by the brain of signals from the nerves in the ear.
Tinnitus that occurs in only one ear could be more serious as it may be caused by an acoustic neuroma. Having only read briefly about acoustic neuromas in very simple terms an acoustic neuroma is a rare tumour that grows around the auditory vestibular nerve (acoustic nerve) that connects the ear to the brain. An acoustic neuroma is benign (not cancerous), which means it does not spread to other parts of the body. However, it can damage several important nerves as it grows and consequently cause effects such as tinnitus.
Episodes of tinnitus can be brief, for example after attending a loud music concert or permanent, for example Plan B is a permanent suffer having played many concerts over his career. Nowadays musicians use in ear filter plugs to protect their ears whilst they perform and the use of earplugs amongst spectators is something "The Loud Music Campaign" is trying to promote!
The most common causes are regular exposure to loud noises (eg loud music or loud noise in a workplace such as drilling) and excess ear wax which can also have a negative effect.
Avoiding exposure to loud noise and earwax build-up can help prevent tinnitus. If there is a treatable underlying cause, once this is treated the tinnitus should disappear. In addition if tinnitus does begin to occur steps must be taken to ensure it doesn't get any worse!
Masking the noise with a background radio or a masking device (using white noise) helps to distract the person from their tinnitus.
Here is a link to a page on The Loud Music Campaign's website where you can find more information and an example mp3 clip of what tinnitus sounds like!
Friday 3 August 2012
UKCAT
I sat the UKCAT on Wednesday, glad its out of the way!
Having a well deserved break this week, at the olympics this weekend
Having a well deserved break this week, at the olympics this weekend
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