We have been using sportomics to understand hypermetabolic stress. Cross Combat (CCombat) has recently been initiated as a high-intensity functional training method inspired by CrossFit. We used a CCombat session to induce metabolic stress and evaluated its effects on hydration and kidney function. Blood samples were collected from 16 elite-level professional male athletes engaged in training sessions over a 96-h protocol. Blood myoglobin increased by ~ 3.5-fold (119 ± 21 to 369 ± 62 nmol/L; p = .001) in response to the protocol, returning to the pre-exercise level within 48 h. Furthermore, d-dimer levels increased from 6.5 ± 0.6 to 79.4 ± 21.3 μmol/L (p < .001) in response to exercise decreasing during recovery with high variability among the studied athletes. Albuminemia and creatininemia increased ~ 10% and cystatin C increased ~ 240% (1.7 ± 0.1 to 5.7 ± 0.5 mg/L; p < .001; effect size = 2.4) in response to the protocol. We measured albuminuria (HuA) to assess kidney permeability to albumin caused by exercise. HuA increased ~ 16-fold (0.16 ± 0.03 to 2.47 ± 0.41 μmol/L; p < .001; effect size = 1.4) in response to exercise, dropping and reaching basal levels during 48 h. Here, we suggest that microalbuminuria can be used as an early, sensitive, easy, and inexpensive biomarker to evaluate hydration status changes during intensive exercise, decreasing chronic impairment in renal function.

Introduction: The debate surrounding the regulations on the participation of transgender individuals in sports is not recent, but it is still ongoing. Some sports organizations are more flexible in this regard, while others are more conservative. Objective: Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, this study summarizes the scientific evidence of the effects of cross-sex hormone therapy on muscle strength, hematocrit, and hemoglobin measurements, parameters that seem to be linked to sports performance. Methods: We conducted electronic searches for manuscripts published before November 20th, 2020. Studies published in three different databases (PubMed, SciELO, and Lilacs) were included, without any time or language restriction, and using keywords such as “transgender”, “gender dysphoria”, “strength”, “hematocrit”, and “hemoglobin”. The PRISMA systematization was used for the elaboration of this review, while a meta-analysis was conducted to mathematically evidence the results. The meta-analysis was performed using the random effect model, to find the pooled estimate effect of cross-sex hormone therapy on the parameters analyzed. Results: The electronic search retrieved 21 articles that were eligible for inclusion. Cross-sex hormone therapy influenced the three parameters analyzed in almost all the studies. Overall, there was a significant increase in muscle strength in female-to-males (FtMs), per muscle group analyzed: +17.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]14.9;20.6). In male-to-females (MtFs) the results of the muscle strength analysis were more controversial, but the pooled estimate effect showed a decrease: −3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] −6.6; −0.6). Conclusion: Muscle strength, hematocrit, and hemoglobin were altered as a result of cross-sex hormone therapy in both FtMs and MtFs. However, there was a lack of studies comparing the transgender individuals to the population of the same desired gender. Such studies are needed, to better infer rules for the participation of transgender athletes in Olympic sports. Level of Evidence I; Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To identify the acute hematological and biochemical changes induced by a Crossfit™ class, ten men were divided into CF group (N = 5) and control group (N = 5). Blood and urine were collected: pre-exercise (T1), after exercise (T2), and 12 post-exercise (T3). Blood cells, urea, cortisol, lactate, creatine Kinase (CK), and microalbuminuria (MAU) had measured. There was a record of handgrip strength (HGS), heart rate (HR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP), with the calculation of the double product (DP). MAU showed an increase in the order of 14,000%, with a return to normal (T3). The DP increased 83% in response to exercise, and this increase seems to be due to HR, which increased 76%. Cortisol and lactate showed an acute increase induced by the method, 47% for cortisol and 874% for lactate, respectively, with recovery less than 12 hours. The correlations between the study variables represent a future perspective for studies in sports medicine. The acute excretion of proteins by the kidneys in an acute way, already in the first exercise session, can in the long-term cause damage to this organ. MAU presented itself as more indicated than urea, the most usual renal marker.   Para identificar as alterações hematológicas e bioquímicas agudas induzidas por uma aula Crossfit™, dez homens foram divididos em grupo CF (N = 5) e grupo controle (N = 5). Foram coletados sangue e urina: pré-exercício (T1), pós-exercício (T2) e 12 pós-exercício (T3). Células sanguíneas, uréia, cortisol, lactato, creatina quinase (CK) e microalbuminúria (MAU) foram medidos. Houve registro da força de preensão manual (FPM), frequência cardíaca (FC) e pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), com o cálculo do duplo produto (DP). A MAU apresentou aumento da ordem de 14.000%, com retorno ao normal (T3). O DP aumentou 83% em resposta ao exercício, e esse aumento parece ser devido à FC, que aumentou 76%. O cortisol e o lactato apresentaram aumento agudo induzido pelo método, 47% para o cortisol e 874% para o lactato, respectivamente, com recuperação inferior a 12 horas. As correlações entre as variáveis ​​de estudo representam uma perspectiva futura para os estudos em medicina do esporte. A excreção aguda de proteínas pelos rins de forma aguda, já na primeira sessão de exercícios, pode, a longo prazo, causar danos a esse órgão. O MAU apresentou-se mais indicado que a ureia, o marcador renal mais usual.

No abstract

Higenamine is prohibited in sports as a β2‐agonist by the World Anti‐Doping Agency. As a key component of a great variety of plants, including the Annonaceae family, one aim of this research project was to evaluate whether the ingestion of Annona fruit could lead to higenamine adverse analytical findings. Single‐dose administration studies including three Annona species (i.e., Annona muricata, Annona cherimola, and Annona squamosa) were conducted, leading to higenamine findings below the established minimum reporting level (MRL) of 10 ng/mL in urine. In consideration of cmax values (7.8 ng/mL) observed for higenamine up to 24 h, a multidose administration study was also conducted, indicating cumulative effects, which can increase the risk of exceeding the applicable MRL doping after Annona fruit ingestion. In this study, however, the MRL was not exceeded at any time point. Further, the major urinary excretion of higenamine in its sulfo‐conjugated form was corroborated, its stability in urine was assessed, and in the absence of reference material, higenamine sulfo‐conjugates were synthesized and comprehensively characterized, suggesting the predominant presence of higenamine 7‐sulfate. In addition, the option to include complementary biomarkers of diet‐related higenamine intake into routine doping controls was investigated. A characteristic urinary pattern attributed to isococlaurine, reticuline, and a yet not fully characterized bismethylated higenamine glucuronide was observed after Annona ingestion but not after supplement use, providing a promising dataset of urinary biomarkers, which supports the discrimination between different sources of urinary higenamine detected in sports drug testing programs.