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Oncology... Oncology... Oncology... Oncology... Oncology... Oncology...

Gastro Health First in U.S. to Utilize Cover Story: Donation of $126 Million

New Endoscopic Gastroscope Comes As 'Big Surprise'
Continued from page 1 state dollars for our research. It was a very
Gastro Health is the first institution in the United arduous process. We're the newest NCI
States to utilize the latest diagnostic and therapeutic tant areas, saying that it is a program that designated cancer center, and we were
endoscopy technology, the J10 Series Ultrasound bridges the clinical and the laboratory. told that we had one of the most impres-
Video Gastroscope. The gift has already been used to recruit a sive applications that they had seen in a
Daniel Gelrud, M.D., FACP, gastroenterologist and leader in the field, and Dr. Nimer added, long time. In the application, 124
advanced endoscopist with Gastro Health, became "We'll use the money to find new cures in researchers were highlighted." As a result,
the first physician to utilize the technology to exam- the lab for cancer, and we'll also use it to Dr. Nimer said there are treatments that
ine a tumor in the wall of the patient’s stomach. accelerate the clinical trials to demon- are only available through the NCI, and
“My first case with the EUS-J10 happened to be strate that some of the newer treatments Sylvester is therefore the only place in
one where this technology really made a difference,” are better than what we've traditionally South Florida that has those treatments.
said Dr. Gelrud. “This patient had a tumor in the fun- been doing for cancer." Dr. Nimer is excited not only about the
dus of the stomach, a very challenging area to reach Part of the donation has also been ear- gift itself, but also about the domino effect
and biopsy. Because this scope is smaller and more marked for the epigenetics center, and he that may result in future donations. He
flexible, I was able to access the area without any dif- explained that epigenetics deals with a said that when people see what Sylvester
ficulty.” cell's identity. "The epigenetics we study is can do with that kind of money, it will
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a minimally inva- Dr. Daniel Gelrud trying to understand how the cancer cell change the manner in which they are sup-
sive procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves maintains itself; and if we can interfere ported. "People want to invest in a winner.
to produce detailed images of tissues and allows the doctor to reach organs that were with that, the next time the cancer cell I've been here eight years, and it's aston-
difficult to access before such as the pancreas and the outside of the esophagus and divides, it will actually behave normally. ishing how much better we are becoming
stomach. Normal cells die over time; for example, year after year. We're bringing in more and
The new PENTAX Medical J10 Series Ultrasound Video Gastroscopes, which were your skin cells die and are replaced with more world-class people, and the people
launched in mid-September, are designed for optimal procedural efficiency and pro- new skin. So if you can get the cancer cell who have been here for a long time are
vide a lightweight and ergonomic control body design to ensure stability and ease of to think it's a normal cell, it will die. That's functioning at a higher level. We are able
intubation. what the angle is: we're developing new to provide so many advances in cancer
“These are highly specialized procedures so being able to provide our patients with drugs, and we need to understand how care – patients are living much longer and
the most comfortable experience and the most accurate possible results is critical,” cancer cells maintain their abnormal iden- much better lives, which is what this is all
says Dr. Gelrud, who is also the Gastroenterology Course Program Director and an tity." about."
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Florida International University Additionally, Dr. Nimer led the effort to Yes, the reason behind the donation on
(FIU) Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. “This new technology is easier to secure National Cancer Institute designa- Dr. Nimer's behalf is clear.
manipulate, lighter, provides greater imaging quality.” tion for Sylvester, making it the only such
“This is the type of technology we use to go reach cancer in the wall of the stomach center in South Florida. "We put together For more information, call
or in the pancreas. It allows us to perform interventional procedures that we could a phenomenal leadership team and (305) 243-1000 or visit med.miami.edu.
not do before. We can now use this technology to drain cysts and help relieve pain worked very hard to get more federal and
caused by cancer.”

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20 October 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News