Hand injuries in boxing

Investigations of 100 consecutive hand injuries in boxing have shown that 39% occurred in the area of the thumb, including the radial carpals, metacarpals and phalanges and their joints. These injuries were mostly caused by forced abduction of the thumb. Thirty-five percent of the injuries occurred at the base of Metacarpals 2 to 5, including the wrist joint, and arose from forced flexion of the wrist. Twenty-six percent occurred in the phalanges and the rest of the metacarpals, excluding the bases.

Use of the popliteal lymph node enlargement assay to measure rat T cell function in immunotoxicologic testing

Modifications to the host vs graft response assay (HvGR) which render this technique suitable as an in vivo screen of cell-mediated immune function are described. This method utilizes mitotically inactivated spleen cells from normal heterozygous "nude" rats as stimulator population. We injected these cells into the left hind foot pad of unsensitized Charles River CD rats. Within one week, the recipients are sacrificed and both popliteal lymph nodes removed and weighed. The difference in weight between the challenged and unchallenged node represents the primary T cell response to the injected antigen sequestered in the draining lymph node. Using the immunosuppressive agents cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone we demonstrate the applicability of this assay to detect impaired cell-mediated immune function.

The differential sensitivity of rat peripheral blood T cells to immunosuppressants: cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone

Peripheral blood T cells from rats given a single oral dose of dexamethasone (DMS) or cyclophosphamide (CY) exhibited a differential sensitivity to these compounds as measured by lymphoproliferation in the presence of concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohemagglutinin hemagglutinin (PHA). Con A-responsive cells (T Con A) were found to be resistant to the effects of DMS, while the PHA-responsive population (T PHA) showed a dose-dependent suppression at dose levels of 0.35 and 1.00 mg/kg. DMS did not alter serum antibody production against sheep erythrocytes at the dosage level which produced a significant depression of the PHA response. Animals treated with CY showed enhanced Con A-mediated lymphoproliferation at a dose of 15 mg/kg and marked suppression at 45 mg/kg. The PHA-mediated response, however, exhibited only a dose-dependent suppression at both dosage levels. CY had no effect on the antibody response at doses that enhance Con A lymphoproliferation. These results suggest that T helper cells and T suppressor cells are not TpHA cells.

Fenbufen in the treatment of over-use injuries in long-distance runners

A random-selection trial comparing fenbufen (Cinopal; Lederle) and reduction in training activity to reduction in training activity alone in over-use injuries in long-distance runners is described. Fenbufen and reduction of training activity together were found to be significantly superior to reduction of training activity alone and improved the signs and symptoms of over-use injuries in long-distance runners. Most of these injuries were of soft tissues, and in these cases it was found that fenbufen had a significant anti-inflammatory effect.