Subject(s)
Reflex, Babinski , Reflex , History, 19th Century , Humans , Neurology/history , New YorkABSTRACT
Eighteen former and active boxers underwent neurological examination, EEG, computed tomographic scan of the brain, and neuropsychological testing. Eighty-seven percent of the professional boxers had definite evidence of brain damage. All the boxers had abnormal results on at least one of the neuropsychological tests. Brain damage is a frequent result of a career in professional boxing.
Subject(s)
Athletic Injuries/complications , Boxing , Brain Damage, Chronic/diagnosis , Brain Injuries/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Athletic Injuries/diagnosis , Athletic Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain Damage, Chronic/diagnostic imaging , Brain Damage, Chronic/etiology , Electroencephalography , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychological Tests , Psychomotor Performance , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Detailed neurological examinations, EEG and CT scans of the head were performed on 10 professional boxers aged 20 to 31 years shortly after being knocked-out. Intracerebral and subdural haematomas were not suspected or discovered. However, CT scans revealed cerebral atrophy in five of the boxers; this finding was most common in the boxers with the most bouts. The possible relationship of these findings to the chronic encephalopathy of boxers is discussed.
Subject(s)
Athletic Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Boxing , Brain Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Unconsciousness/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Atrophy , Brain/pathology , Cerebral Ventricles/pathology , Humans , Male , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
A pilot study of the effect of D-penicillamine in multiple sclerosis (MS) was undertaken because of D-penicillamine's activity against RNA neurotropic viruses, because it is effective against the auto-immune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and because both viruses and autoimmunity have been implicated in multiple sclerosis. We have treated 16 patients with advanced MS, nine on full doses (2-2.25 grams/day) and seven whose treatment was permanently stopped for reasons other than adverse reactions. There has been some improvement in most of those whose treatment was not withdrawn, and no change or deterioration in those not continued on the therapeutic regimen. Despite use of a high dosage regimen, such as has evoked intolerable side effects in a high percentage of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, we have experienced few side effects in a total of 48 patients suffering from diseases with auto-immune components, a finding we speculate is due to replacement of nutrients inactivated or removed by D-penicillamine, and to supplementation with selected nutrients.
