Class Activities

“Steroid Use: THE GOOD, BAD, and UGLY”

Objectives:

1. To understand the interaction of various steroids with biological targets within the human body.
2. To demonstrate the understanding of lipophilic drug storage in fat and slow diffusion into the bloodstream.
3. To understand the positive impacts steroids have had in the lives of many individuals who otherwise would die.
4. To understand the negative impacts steroids have had in the lives of people who otherwise would have fewer health problems.
5. To understand how a single chemical can have both a strong positive impact on the body, but the remaining product can be hazardous.
6. To understand that steroids are not only used in the popular world of sports, but in the everyday world by people they know.

Science Concepts/Learning Objectives:
The role of steroids in our society is very dynamic as it impacts various genres of life from athletics to respiratory ailments. For this reason, there are multiple areas of science incorporated into this investigation. Several of the major concepts will include the following:

• The various types of steroids and their structures.
• The interaction of these structures on biological targets within the body.
• The interaction of these structures on individual cells and, consequently DNA.
• How the use of these steroids can affect multiple targets including those not intended to be affected.
• The short term benefits of steroids
• The long-term benefits of steroids
• The short and long-term costs of steroid use.
• Why different steroid types are used and absorbed into the body in different methods.
• How scientific data are used to make hiring decisions.

Materials needed:
Internet access
Books and journals with information about steroids

Procedure:
This activity involves students working in groups to prepare a skit that will be presented to the whole class. The class should be divided into groups of approximately 3 students each. Each group will be assigned a “scenario” that describes a particular type of steroid use.

1. Arrange students into groups of approximately 3 students each.
2. Give each group one of the scenarios.
3. Arrange time for students to do research using the internet and other resources.
4. Encourage students to discover how these steroids work at a molecular/cellular level.
5. Allow students time to prepare a skit that will teach the other students about the steroid in question, how it affects the body, the positive and negative effects, and the dilemma faced by the person that is using the steroid.
6. Evaluate the skits as they are presented. See assessment rubric. The rubric can be found by going to the Downloads section on the menu above and selecting the file for Module 6, or by clicking here.

As students prepare their skits, they may need more participants. Allow students to enlist people from other groups to play minor roles in their skits. The skits should be creative but, equally important, they should reveal all of the important information about the particular steroid that is being highlighted by that scenario. Each scenario is provided with guiding questions to encourage in-depth research.

It is suggested that the rubric be handed out to students before they plan their role-plays so that they can clearly see what is expected.

Assessment strategies:
Use the provided rubric to assess the skits as they are presented. The rubric can be found by going to the Downloads section on the menu above and selecting the file for Module 6, or by clicking here.

SCENARIOS

A. Mr. and Mrs. Brookstone have a two-year-old son who has just been diagnosed with autism. The doctor has recommended special schools and programs that can help the family work with this young child. Mrs. Brookstone goes onto the Internet and discovers families who have experienced “miracles” with autistic children who are prescribed a particular steroid. She wants to begin this treatment on her son.

1. What is this steroid and why is it being used with autistic children?
2. How does this steroid usually work?
3. What are the positives of using this steroid for autism?
4. What are the side effects of using this steroid?
5. Is the use of this steroid for autism warranted or not?

B. Mr. and Mrs. Nordstrom have just given birth to a baby girl who is 2.5 months premature. The doctor is recommending steroids to help prevent the lung problems that are common with infants who are so premature. Mr. Nordstrom remembers taking steroids for asthma and he knows they have side effects. He is very concerned about giving them to his baby.

1. What is the steroid that the doctor is recommending?
2. What does this steroid do for premature lung development?
3. What are the positives of using this steroid for lung development?
4. What are the side effects of this steroid?
5. Is the use of this steroid for premature lungs warranted or not?

C. Major League Baseball has never tested for steroids. However, the new labor agreement states that the league will begin steroid testing. Major League Baseball is big business. Millions of dollars in business as well as athletes’ careers are at stake. You are a doctor on the medical review board for Major League Baseball. You and your colleagues have conducted random steroid testing and are reviewing the results. In your group, review the test results and determine whether the player should be suspended from play, put on probation, or is steroid-free. You need to defend your decision with an explanation of the scientific evidence on which it was based.

Base your decision on the following criteria.

• Suspension from play = the player is currently using steroids
• Probation = signs of past steroid use
• Steroid-free = no (or not enough) evidence of current or past steroid use

1. Player #1 is a member of the Yankee organization. The male hormone testosterone has been detected in his bloodstream. The chemical composition of the hormone is found to be composed of four interconnected carbon rings. Carbon 17 of the structure has an alkyl group (carbon and hydrogen atoms) attached to it. The player shows no sign of liver or kidney damage.
2. Player #2, from the Red Sox, shows signs of liver damage. He has normal kidney function. His LH and FSH levels are low. He has high blood pressure. The player also complains of frequent headaches and dizziness.
3. Player # 3, from the Blue Jays, shows signs of kidney damage. Liver function is normal. Blood pressure is normal. The player has gained weight recently. Electrolyte levels are high. LH and FSH levels are low.
4. Player #4 is a member of the Padres organization. No signs of kidney damage. Slight liver damage was found. Electrolytes are normal. LH and FSH levels are normal.
5. Player #5, from the Mariners, has slight liver and kidney damage. Electrolytes are normal. LH and FSH levels are normal. Blood pressure is normal. Trace amounts of steroid were detected in the blood.

D. Mr. and Mrs. Dubey have a beloved Golden Retriever who is continually losing fur by scratching and chewing at its skin. The veterinarian has diagnosed a flea allergy. As well as treating the dog for fleas, the doctor wants to give the dog steroids.

1. What kind of steroids would the vet be likely to prescribe and for what reason?
2. What do these steroids do for flea allergies?
3. What are the positives of using these steroids for flea allergies?
4. What are the side effects of using these steroids?
5. Is the use of these steroids for flea allergies warranted or not?

E. Mrs. Hematocrit has been diagnosed with anemia. She is not producing enough red blood cells. Her doctor wants to treat her with steroids. She has heard a lot of negative things about using steroids and is very reluctant to use them.

1. Which steroid is the doctor likely to prescribe?
2. What do these steroids do for this type of anemia?
3. What are the positive of using these steroids for anemia?
4. What are the side effects of these steroids?
5. Is the use of these steroids for anemia warranted or not?

F. Mr. Achoo went into the hospital when he was having great difficulty breathing. He was diagnosed with asthma. His doctor is eager to treat him with steroids. But when the doctor explained the side effects, Mr. Achoo was reluctant to take steroids.

1. Which steroid is the doctor likely recommending?
2. How do steroids affect the symptoms of asthma?
3. What are the positives of using these steroids for asthma?
4. What are the side effects of using these steroids for asthma?
5. Is steroid use warranted in this case?

G. Ms. Fleetfoot is a serious runner who has a chance to make the Olympic team. She is concerned that she will have a hard time competing with the strongest runners and she is having a hard time increasing her stamina. A friend tells her that steroids will greatly improve her strength and stamina.

1. Which steroids are Ms. Fleetfoot considering using?
2. What effects do these steroids have on Ms. Fleetfoot’s athletic ability?
3. What are the positives of using these steroids for strength and stamina?
4. What are the side effects of using these steroids?
5. Is steroid use warranted in this case?

H. Mr. Jones is a 17 year old teenager who has not developed typical male secondary sex characteristics. His doctor diagnosed him with a chromosomal condition called Klinefelter Syndrome and prescribed a steroid as well as other treatments.

1. Which steroid is the doctor likely prescribing for Mr. Jones.
2. What effect would this steroid have on the physical symptoms that Mr. Jones is experiencing?
3. What are the positives of using this steroid for Klinefelter Syndrome?
4. What are the side effects of using this steroid?
5. Is steroid use warranted in this case?

I. Mr. Boone went to his doctor with a raging case of poison ivy. His doctor recommended a particular steroid treatment. Mr. Boone is reluctant to take this steroid because he took them one other time for back pain and he did not like the side effects.

1. Which steroid is the doctor likely prescribing for Mr. Boone?
2. What effect does this steroid have on poison ivy?
3. What are the positives of using this steroid for poison ivy?
4. What are the side effects of using this steroid?
5. Is steroid use warranted in this case?

J. Ms. Spears has been diagnosed with CLL – chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Her doctor has prescribed chemotherapy for a period of time and has also prescribed steroid use along with the chemotherapy.

1. Which steroid is the doctor likely prescribing for Ms. Spears?
2. What effect does this steroid have on cancer patients such as Ms. Spears?
3. What are the positives of using this steroid along with chemotherapy?
4. What are the side effects of using this steroid?
5. Is steroid use warranted in this case?