Fifteen professional major league pitchers were filmed with high speed cinematography. One hundred forty-seven pitches were analyzed using an electromagnetic digitizer and a microcomputer. Three phases of throwing were studied: cocking, acceleration, and follow-through. The cocking phase is the period of time between the initiation of the windup and the moment at which the shoulder is in maximum external rotation. This phase occurs in approximately 1500 ms, and the shoulder is brought into an extreme position of external rotation. The acceleration phase and the initial stages of the follow-through phase produce extraordinary demands on the shoulder and elbow. The acceleration phase begins with the throwing shoulder in the position of maximum external rotation and terminates with ball release. This phase occurs in approximately 50 ms, and peak angular velocities averaging 6,180 deg/sec for shoulder internal rotation and 4,595 deg/sec for elbow extension were measured. The follow-through phase begins at ball release and continues until the motion of throwing has ceased. This phase occurs in approximately 350 ms.

Avulsion fractures of the pelvic apophyses are seen infrequently but they show a consistent pattern in mechanism, patient's age, symptoms, physical findings, and roentgenographic appearance. Some disagree ment exists in the literature concerning the treatment of these fractures. This study indicates that early diag nosis and a carefully directed nonoperative treatment program will produce positive results for avulsion frac tures of the pelvis. Twenty-seven cases of acute avul sion fracture of the pelvis were successfully treated in a directed nonoperative program.

Shoulder pain is a common complaint among baseball pitchers. Frequently, the nature of shoulder pathology can be traced to lack of flexibility and muscular imbalance. This paper describes: the normal biomechanics of a properly functioning shoulder during a baseball pitch, pathomechanics of shoulder problems, flexibility requirements of the throwing shoulder, and the muscular balance necessary for an effective throwing shoulder. Appropriate examination procedures are described along with remedial exercises which ensure normal glenohumeral motion and integrated muscle action.

Several have shown plasma to be efficacious against cancer cells in vitro and in vivo with minimal damage to non-cancerous cells and tissue. Most are focused on direct influence of plasma on tumor cells. However, the body's immune system also plays a crucial role in the control of cancer. A new concept of immunogenic cell death (ICD) has been emerging, where through this modality of cell death, an immune response may be stimulated. The goal of the presented study was to explore a regime of plasma treatment that induces ICD in tumor cells and stimulates anti-tumor effects in macrophages-a key immune cell type involved in the initiation of immunological responses. Here, we show that treatment with uniform nanosecond pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (nspDBD) plasma directly activated anti-tumor effects in macrophages. We further show macrophage activation following the expression of plasma-induced damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) in tumor cells, characteristic of ICD.

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We report a series of ossific lesions of the posterior inferior glenoid in a group of elite baseball players. We hope to clarify the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the Bennett lesion. From August 1985 to August 1991, we identified six professional baseball pitchers and one college pitcher with evidence of ossification of the shoulder on plain radiographs, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Arthroscopic examination was performed in all cases. All seven players had identifiable posterior labral injury on arthroscopic examination; six of these seven also had varying degrees of undersurface posterior rotator cuff damage. No anterior tissue damage, anterior instability, or subacromial impingement was noted. No ossification was identified arthroscopically. Intraarticular labral and rotator cuff tears were debrided arthroscopically and patients underwent rehabilitation for 4 to 6 months after surgery. Six of the seven athletes returned to preinjury performance levels; however, one pitcher is no longer playing competitive baseball. The Bennett lesion is an extraarticular posterior ossification associated with posterior labral injury and posterior undersurface rotator cuff damage. It is not, however, a result of traction stresses in the region of the triceps insertion. Recognition is important for identification and treatment of the lesion and associated pathologic damage.

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