No merger planned with Henry Ford
Deliberations between Henry Ford Health System and The Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University School of Medicine resulted in a decision against pursuing a merger. The organizations instead plan to focus on additional collaborative programs.
Robert Sokol, MD, dean of the School of Medicine, said, "Both institutions are committed to serving our community. These discussions have opened our eyes to important collaborative possibilities, which will allow us to offer far more benefits to the community than a merger would have." Dr. Sokol said the decision also allows the institutions to focus on their own priorities and initiatives while working together.
The key areas the organizations identified for joint collaboration are: ensuring access to community-based health care for Detroit residents; a joint venture medical laboratory; research related to improving health status and services in Detroit; coordinated graduate medical education planning; and consideration of joint programming in selected clinical disciplines.
Novel protein shows why chemotherapy fails
Researchers at Wayne State University and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute are closer to understanding why chemotherapy fails to kill cancer cells. Avraham Raz, PhD, professor of internal medicine, led a team of investigators who found a novel protein called galectin-3 which prevents apoptosis--or cancer cell death. Apoptosis can occur naturally through genetic coding or, in the case of cancer treatment, it can be induced by chemicals.
The research team made the discovery by treating in vitro human breast cancer cells with the chemotherapy drug, cis-Platinum. Their findings were recently published in the journal Cancer Research.
Galectin-3 expression is associated with the growth and metastasis of head and neck, thyroid gland, stomach, brain and colon cancers. Previously, only the gene family Bc1-2 was considered responsible for preventing cancer cell death. Researchers sought to turn off Bc1-2 through gene therapy to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy. The new finding suggests that a combination of treatments is necessary to disable both Bc1-2 and galectin-3.
Physician-immunologist training program to be established
Robert Lisak, MD, professor and chair of neurology, has been awarded nearly $389,000 to establish a physician-immunologist training program at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Lisak says decreased financial support for biomedical research over the last decade has resulted in a steady loss of physician scientists. In addition, financial incentives make primary care medical practice more attractive than subspecialty training for new physicians.
The new program will provide expertise and research opportunities in various aspects of immunology, including mucosal immunity and type I hypersensitivity, infection and immunity, transplantation and tumor immunology, autoimmunity and neuroimmunology.
New techniques for stroke prevention
Seemant Chaturvedi, MD, assistant professor of neurology, is leading an international study comparing carotid artery angioplasty and stenting versus carotid endarterectomy as a stroke prevention measure. WSU/DMC is one of only two sites in Michigan chosen to participate.
Carotid artery stenting is a relatively new innovation to dilate blood vessels such as the carotid artery. Narrowing of the carotid artery is a risk factor for stroke but when to surgically remove the plaque has been controversial for many years. Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting represents an exciting new alternative to surgery, and angioplasty may be applicable for other blood vessels leading to the brain.
"We have already treated some patients with angioplasty of the carotid artery and there has been significant clinical improvement," said Dr. Chaturvedi, who is also co-director of the Harper Hospital Acute Stroke Unit. "It is less invasive than traditional surgery and patients can go home on the same day of the procedure in some cases."
DDT, PCB exposure may affect cancer development
Scientists at Wayne State University and the Karmanos Cancer Institute have shown that certain environmental organochlorine compounds, including two forms of the pesticide DDT and some industrial chemicals (PCBs), act as estrogens (EEs), affecting cell growth and gene activity in human breast cells.
P.V. Malathy Shekhar, PhD, professor of pathology, led a group of researchers who published their findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Shekhar and her colleagues studied the effects of EEs on cell proliferation, competition with natural estrogen, and their effect on estrogen sensitive genes. The tests were conducted in vitro with both precancerous and human breast carcinoma cell lines.
Further research is needed to establish whether EEs are linked to breast cancer risk and incidence. Dr. Shekhar suggests closely monitoring breast cancer patients with high DDT or other EE levels, as well as patients unresponsive to hormone intervention therapies.
"It’s too early to consider environmental estrogen exposure a major risk factor for breast cancer," said Dr. Shekhar. "We need to find out how these compounds affect breast cells, and the effect of that activity on cancer progression."
Associate chair of internal medicine appointed
John Flack, MD, has been appointed associate chair of internal medicine at the Wayne State University School of Medicine/Detroit Medical Center. Dr. Flack also serves as director of cardiovascular epidemiology and clinical applications, a new program at WSU, and he is professor of internal medicine and community medicine.
Dr. Flack’s areas of expertise are hypertension and cardiovascular epidemiology with a focus on the African-American community. Prior to joining WSU, he was associate professor of surgery, medicine, and public health sciences at Bowman Gray Medical School of Wake Forest. While there, he also served as associate director and medical director of the school’s hypertension center. He previously served in positions at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Minnesota Schools of Medicine and Public Health.
Dr. Vincent honored, remembered
Charles Vincent, MD, was honored with a dedication ceremony and a portrait which is displayed in the lobby concourse of University Health Center. Dr. Vincent died in 1995 after an eight-year struggle with renal failure. The words engraved beneath the portrait read, "A man of his word. A man of principle. A man of integrity."
Dr. Vincent graduated from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, where he also completed a residency in ob/gyn. An active member of the faculty, Dr. Vincent served as associate dean for admissions, director of gynecology at Detroit Receiving Hospital, and chief of gynecology at Hutzel Hospital. In 1991, Dr. Vincent assumed the position of chief of ob/gyn at Detroit Riverview Hospital, where he helped organize an initiative to combat teen pregnancy and infant mortality. He was also commissioner of health for the City of Detroit, president of the Wayne County Medical Society, president of the Detroit Medical Society, and Michigan State Medical Society delegate to the American Medical Society.
Brady, Kennedy visit DMC
Former White House Press Secretary James Brady toured The Detroit Medical Center, where he observed and encouraged brain injury patients undergoing therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan.
Brady sustained a brain injury in 1981 during an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan’s life. Today, Brady serves as the vice chairman of the Brain Injury Association, championing many issues from increased employment opportunities for those with brain injury to the integration of the association’s HeadSmart curriculum into elementary schools.
In addition, Ted Kennedy, Jr., gave the keynote address at a November DMC conference entitled "Ethics, Managed Care and the Rehabilitation Patient: Utilizing Resources to Optimize Patient Outcome." Kennedy is an attorney in health law and disability law and he’s an advocate for people with disabilities.
Also featured at the conference were Daniel Callahan, PhD, director of international programs at the Hastings Center in New York, and Gerben DeJong, PhD, director of the National Rehabilitation Hospital Research Center and director of the Research and Training Center in Medical Rehabilitation and Health Policy in Washington, D.C.