Evening star., 1952-06-13
New Anhritis Institute
Seen as Major Step in
War Against Disease
By Thomas R. Henry
Science Writer Of The Stor

SS'SiNS "tHSF Oi iHe Stot
CHICAGO. June 13 - A new
day may be dawning for the
Nations more than 100000
arthritics, DR.. Russell M. Wilder,
director of the National Institute
of Arthritis and Metabolic diseases
at Bethesda, Md, told the Ameri-
can Medical Association here last
night.
The opening of this national
institute, DR.. Wilder said, offers
possibilities for clinical investi-
cation of this disease on an hither-
to impossible scale. It now is con-
centrating on studies of the ef-
fects Of the new drugs, cortisone
and ACTH. which are the most
potent arthritis remedies. yet
known.
Efforts to synthesize cortisone
now are largely concentrated on
sarmentogenin. an extract from
the seeds of the African stropan-
thus, whose molecule enables
chemists to hurdle the most diff
cult task in producing the power
full secretion of the adrenal glands
In the laboratory.
Tomato Leaf Hormones.
In quite a different field, DR..
Wilder said, DR.. Erich Mosettig of
the institute staff has shown the
feasibility of producing several
hormones from tomato leaves. The
starting points is a substance
known as tomadicine from which
is obtained pregnen, precursor
of the female sex hormone pro-
gesterone. It may also be possible
to build up other sex hormones.
Most important, however, will
be the opportunity to study con-
tinuously and for long periods
selected cases of arthritis and pos
sibly determine its cause.
The Importance of the prob
lem, DR.. Wilder said, is shown by
the fact that more than a million
of the Nations arthritics and
permanently disabled and the loss
amounts to well over a billion dol
lars year.
Partial removal of the stomach
and cutting the vagus nerve go far
toward preventing recurrence of
duodenal ulcers, it was reported
by a group of four New York
surgeons. Duodenal ulcers are
ulcers of the small intestine and
are now quite prevalent. DR..
Leonard A. Druckerman and his
associates of Mount Sinai Hospi-
tai told of results of surgery on
385 patients over six-year period.
Stomach Section Removed.
OF these patients, they reported,
22O were treated by removal of a
large portion of the stomach and
165 by a combination of this and
the nerve operation. In the first
group there were 10 definite and
two suspected cases of recurrent
liberation. In the second group
there were none. The doctors
stressed. however. that the six
year period was too short time
for definite conclusions since duo
denal ulcers have been reported
to recur as much as 80 years
after surgery.
Removal of part Of the stomach,
they said, eliminates that part of
stomach secretions which acts as
a hormone, one Of the most po-
tent of body chemicals. It per-
mits naturalization Of the acid
secretion.
Severance Of the nerve elm
mates the emotional factor which
is widely suspected Of playing a
major part in formation of ulcers.
Radioactive opium, marijuana
and nicotine as well as several me-
dicinal drugs are being produced
at the University of Chicago's
"atomic farm" it was reported
to the association.
Grown Under Glass.
The plants which produce these
substances are grown in glass
chambers which contain considA
erably larger amounts of radio
active carbon. in the form of car
bon dioXide, than is normally in
the atmosphere, are enclosed. They
make use Of this carbon in growth
and some of the exploding atoms
are incorporated in every part.
The drugs, which cannot be
synthesized, are produced to study
their physiological actions in both
men and animals.
Little is known at present except
their end effects. The most con-
spicuous success to date has been
with radioactive digitalis, the most
important of heart stimulants. It
can be traced through the body by
means of the radioactive atoms
until it is entirely eliminated. 1t
has been found, DR.. E. M. K. Gel
ing reported to the association.
that it is retained in the body far
longer-from 40 to 70 days-than
has been supposed. This enables
more accurate regulation of doses.
Among the latest achievements
of the atomic farm is production
of radioactive colchichine, an ex-
tract from the European crocus,
an old-fashioned gout remedy
which now is being studied for its
effects on cancer. 1t is one of the
most powerful substances yet
known in producing plant muta-
t1ons resulting in new species.