ATHLETIC INJURIES

An indication of the scope of an athletes' clinic run withina Department of Physical Medicine and Rheumatology is given,based on 150 consecutive sports injuries seen. The importanceof overuse injuries in relation to present training methodsis stressed.     

BROMOCRIPTINE: LACK OF EFFECT ON THE ANGIOTENSIN II AND ALDOSTERONE RESPONSES TO SODIUM DEPRIVATION

Five normal subjects took a low sodium diet for four days on two occasions, one with and one without added bromocriptine 2.5 mg three times a day by mouth. Daily measurements of urinary electrolytes and the concentrations of plasma renin (PRC), angiotensin II (AII), aldosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, cortisol, electrolytes and prolactin were made in both phases of the study. Deprivation of sodium without bromocriptine resulted in progressive and highly significant increases in the plasma concentration of aldosterone from 230 ± 50 to 418 ± 44 (SEM) pmol/l, 18-hydroxycorticosterone from 627 ± 138 to 1420 ± 478 pmol/l, PRC from 108 ± 38 to 166 ± 14 μU/ml and AII from 16 ± 3 to 29 ± 4 pmol/l. Similar changes were found during bromocriptine administration despite suppression of prolactin secretion. Sodium deprivation together with bromocriptine resulted in increases in the plasma concentrations of aldosterone from 230 ± 47 to 416 ± 72 pmol/l, 18-hydroxycorticosterone from 630 ± 99 to 1629 ± 552 pmol/l, PRC from 105 ± 12 μU/ml and AII from 14 ± 3 to 26 ± 5 pmol/l. Plasma cortisol did not change either in response to sodium deprivation or bromocriptine. Mean cumulative negative sodium balance was 101 ± 14 mmol on bromocriptine and 118 ± 14 mmol in the control period. We conclude that prolactin is not necessary for the steroidogenic response to sodium deprivation in man.     

HOW TO EVALUATE CLINICAL PARAMETERS AT A GLANCE

Schiøtz, P.O., Beck, B. and Pedersen, M. (Paediatric Department TG, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark). How to evaluate clinical parameters at a glance. Acta Paediatr Scand 1982; suppl 301: 121-124. — A brief introduction is given to the practical approach in cystic fibrosis patient care, which is used at the Danish Cystic Fibrosis centre employing Dr. Flensborg's flowsheets.     

DFP Labeling of Platelets During Recovery from Thrombocytopenia

Rat platelets were labeled with tritiated diisopropylfluorophosphate(³H-DFP) during recovery from acute thrombocytopenia. The results indicated that there was significant labeling of megakaryocytes by ³H-DFPwhich, in the presence of an increased rate of platelet production, resulted inmaintenance of relatively constant values for platelet-bound radioactivity during the period of maximum platelet production and reactive thrombocytosis.Significant random loss of platelets was apparent, and, when a cohort ofyoung platelets was transfused to normal recipients, they were destroyed at anormal rate.

     

A SYSTEM FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF INTEGRATED CONCENTRATIONS OF HORMONES IN THE BLOOD

The study of integrated concentrations of hormones in the blood can be used to assess accurately the activity of endocrine diseases. A system for making such measurements is described, based on a new pump and double lumen catheter. The properties of this system are discussed and previous systems from the literature are reviewed.     

PAPILLARY ADENOCARCINOMA ARISING IN A THYROGLOSSAL CYST

Carcinoma arising In a thyroglossal cyst is a rare but well-recognized condition. In this paper we present a further case of papillary adenocarcinoma arising in a thyroglossal cyst, and review the published experience of this condition.