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THE DETRO IT JEWIS H NEWS — Fri day, October 2, 1959

Sinai Looks for a Better Tomorrow

Each of the hospital's 10 di-
visions participate in what are
termed departmental investiga-
tions, and each has contributed
its personnel to the overall re-
search program. These divisions
include medicine; surgery; oral
By FRANK SIMONS
In his search for a bigger and better mousetrap, surgery and dentistry; x-ray;
eye, ear, nose and
modern man has developed machines that think; has pediatrics;
throat; obstetrics and gynecolo-
split the atom; has landed a rocket on the moon—and, gy; anesthesia; pathology, and
in the process, has even developed a bigger and better psychiatry.
There are two research com-
mousetrap.
All of his work, all of his findings have been accom- mittees at Sinai — one a group
plished in the name of research. Whether the motive of laymen, the second com-
was patriotism or profit, glory or greed, the world has prised of members of the med-
become a more comfortable place in which to live ical staff. Working together as
because of inventors and scientists and people with a joint committee, the mem-
bers' basic task is to consider
imagination.
applications, assign
Making more than their share of contributions to research
for research and fellow-
the welfare of the world have been its physicians — funds
dedicated men of research like the Walter Reeds, the ships.
The research department
Louis Pasteurs, the Bela
has, thus far, been able to ob-
bility
of
arteriosclerosis
in
hu-
Dr. H. HARVEY GASS (right) holds the instrument which
Schicks and the Jonas Salks.
tain a yearly grant of $25,000
he
developed
with Dr. SANDER KLEIN to permit entry into
mans.
from the Jewish Welfare Fed-
And, in Detroit, at Sinai
There are other factors,
the skull without the need for major brain surgery. The
eration, a fact which hospital
Hospital, the tradition of re- however, all of them tech-
stereotoxic instrument, known by its abbreviation (TECH),
officials consider significant,
search is written into the by- nical and still in the experi-
has already been used on patients to remove tumors- of the
since
in
having
a
basic
budget
laws of the medical staff, who mental stage, which prevent
pituitary gland. Its future function—removal of the entire
for
research,
the
hospital
is
obviously consider scientific Dr. Kobernick from making
pituitary
gland to arrest the spread of cancer of the breast.
guaranteed an elementary
exploration as one of the im- the bold statement that ex-
scientific program.
portant responsibilities of this ercise is the answer to heart
carried the report a step fur-
first and only hospital under disease.
Funds also have been corn- pituitary gland without need
ther.
surgery.
for
major
brain
the auspices of the Detroit Jew-
ing in growing amounts from
He learned that even in the
And so the study continues. foundations like the Michigan
The instrument, referred to
ish community.
The original hospital appropria- Heart Association and American as TECH (an abbreviation for case of prophylaxis — routine
Only seven years old, Sinai tion of $7,000 has been in-
cleaning of the teeth—bactere-
has inaugurated several import- creased by two grants from the Cancer Society; from pharma- transethmoidal chemohypophy- mia was evident in 30 percent
sectomy)
permits
entry
into
the
ant medical research projects Michigan Heart Association, the ceutical firms; from individuals
of the '72 cases studied. There
—all within the confines of a first an $8,000 stipend, and and from the Sinai Women's portion of head where the pitu- was an association, he decided,
itary
gland
is
located
and
de-
limited 1,000-foot research area. more recently, an additional Guild, which has contributed in
struction of the gland through with inflammation of the gum
excess of $20,000.
Such is the significance of the $7,000.
tissue.
a tiny drill hole.
-program that next month the
Before actual research is
For most patients, the bacter-
While Dr. Kobernick's project
Dr.
Gass
explained
that
TECH
area will be expanded into a offers better opportunities for undertaken, a project must be not only will permit the rela- ia disappeared within a few
total of 4,500 feet. -
hours; however, Dr. Winslow
visual presentation than most cleared wth the division chief.
In the rear of the second of the research being conducted Included with the application
emphasized that in a person
floor of Sinai Hospital, when at Sinai, there are many staff is an estimate of the length of
having a history of rheumatic
he is not serving in his ca- members engaged in activities time required to complete the
fever or heart disease, the
pacity as pathologist and di- that may, some day, be of great project and an approximation
tendency for the bacteria to ad-
rector of laboratories, is Dr. significance to the medical of the funds necessary to see
here to damaged tissue and to
grow and possibly cause further
Sidney D. Kobernick. Here, world.
it through.
damage should be carefully con- -
amid a half dozen dogs, sev-
All projects must be approved
In a period of not even seven
sidered and precautions taken
eral dozen rabbits, white years; some 70 doctors and den- by the medical research com-
in dental procedures.
mice and guinea pigs, Dr. tists have participated in, or mittee, of which Dr. David J.
If a case history thus points
Kobernick assumes a second are currently conducting nearly Sandweiss is chairman, and fin-
to a person suffering from a
role, that of acting coordin- 50 separate research studies.
ally given authorization by the
heart disorder, or one who pre-
ator of research.
To assist the regular staff in joint committee which is headed
viously had rheumatic fever,
Equally happy and equally research activities, several fel- by a lay person, currently Max
anti-biotics are used to prevent
busy in both tasks, Dr. Kober- lowships have been established. J. Zivian.
the spread of bacteria.
nick not .only assists other staff Three such fellows currently
While this might seem like a
Another dental study, con-.
members in obtaining necessary serve in the department.
good deal of red tape, it has
ducted by Dr. Samuel Stulberg,
Dr. Gen Nawayama, a Japan- proved a workable technique.
materials and offering counsel
together with Drs. Hugh Kopel
when it is sought, he has initi- ese researcher, was associated Only a few projects that have
and Joseph Cabot, indicates
ated several projects - of his with Dr. Kobernick in his work. been initiated have been closed
how dentists affiliated with
Dr. Nawayama also collaborated as incomplete, and these studies
own.
Sinai have introduced general
With encouragement from Dr. with Dr. Berk in a study that have accounted for less than
anesthesia
in working with phys-
they
reported
at
the
World
Con-
two
percent
of
the
total
re-
Julien Priver, Sinai director,
ically
handicapped
and disturb-
gress
of
Gastroenterology
in
search funds appropriated, Dr.
and Dr. Harry C. Saltzstein, first
ed youngsters.
DR. MAX WINSLOW
chief of staff, and such inter- May, 1958, in Washington.
Sandweiss pointed out.
Dr. Herbert Bloom, chairman
At present, another Japanese
ested research participants as
Oiie expenditure approved lively simple removal of some
Dr. J. Edward Berk, chief of researcher, Dr. Matametsu Kaw- by the committee—a sum less pituitary tumors, but it may per- of the division of oral surgery
dentistry, in explaining the
medicine, and Dr. David J. Sand- aguebi, is working with Dr. Berk than $2,000—has resulted in mit total removal of the gland and
said that frequently
weiss, chairman of the research and Dr. Raymond Gagliardi, of the development of an instru- in patients with breast cancer procedure,
problems exist in working with
committee, the program has the radiology department, in de- ment by Dr. H. Harvey Gass, and other conditions.
children, some of whom may
crystallized and expanded over veloping a new method for test- attending neurosurgeon, work-
The beneficial effect of re- require as many as 15 'or 20 ap-
ing
the
liver
and
gall
bladder.
the past six years.
The method which utilizes ing in cooperation with Dr. moval of the gland in instances pointments.
Of particular interest to a radioactive substances, m a y Sander Klein, attending endo- of breast cancer—through a ma-
By taking the youngster to
weight-conscious America, which prove useful in patients with crinologist, which, it is hoped, j or brain operation—has clearly the operating room and finish-
has been warned of the high jaundice.
will permit removal of the been established, Dr. Gass said. ing all the work at one time,
Many patients who are unwilling under a general anesthetic,
correlation of cholesterol intake
to submit to such surgery be- dental services can be complet-
and heart disease, is a study -on
cause of its magnitude, would ed in one visit, Dr. Bloom said.
rabbits undertaken by Dr. Kob-
readily accept a relatively eas-
ernick four years ago.
It has been a blend of tal-
ier procedure, he added.
While experimentation still
ents by skilled professionals,
To
date,
TECH
has
not
been
continues and the results are
used for complete removal of under the guidance of Dr.
not completed, Dr. Kobernick
the gland in cancer patients; Priver and his staff, and the
has reported his findings to
however, it has been employed understanding of their needs
both the Society for Experi-
twice by Dr. Gass, with success, and goals by lay leaders in
mental Biology and Medicine, in
in removing tumors of the the community that has pro-
1957, and to the American As-
vided the impetus to plod for-
gland.
sociation of Pathologists and
ward at Sinai in the important
,
Like
the
many
physicians
on
Bacteriologists, at Boston, last
field of research.
the
Sinai
staff
who
are
engaged
April.
Just as Sinai has outstripped
in research, so there are several
In both reports, the latter
dentists who have made scien- its capacity of 237 beds and is ;
more comprehensive, the Sinai
tific accomplishments for their currently completing an addi-
researcher was able to show that
tion which will open on Jan. 4,
profession.
a group of exercised rabbits,
A controlled study made by 1960 to accommodate a total of
fed an equal amount of choles-
Dr. Max Winslow over a several- 383 patients, so the research de-
terol as another group which
year period points to the im- partment hopes to outgrow, with
received no exercise, did not
portance of dentists taking a important contributions to med-
develop arteriosclerosis (hard-
thorough history of their pa- icine, even its newly-acquired
ening of the arteries) of the
tients, much the same as that 4,500 feet of space.
aorta to the same degree, and
Long-range sights are already
taken by the family physician.
Dr.
SIDNEY
D.
KOBERNICK,
acting
coordinator
of
re-
frequently to a much lesser
Basing his research on a being set on the day when Sinai
search at Sinai Hospital, and Dr. ESTELLA MELMAN, a study made in 1943" at the Hospital will have the need for
degree.
Translated into human terms, research fellow at the hospital, place experimental rabbits University of Michigan, which a separate research building
along with reports made on in an electrified treadmill to determine the effects of exercise shoWed that bacteremia — bac- with the best possible equip-
football players and other ath- on the cholesterol-fed animals. The four-year study, which is teria in the blood stream—was ment and personnel to make
letes, it would appear that a still being pursued, is being conducted to learn whether in evidence following the ex- the hospital a leader in re-
certain amount of exercise exercise tends to reduce arteriosclerosis in rabbits fed on a
traction of teeth, Dr. Winslow search as well as patient care.
would tend to reduce the possi- steady diet of cholesterol.

Research Program. Shows
Forward Look in Medicine

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