Mikhail stepanovich maslov – outstanding scientist, pediatrician, teacher (towards 135th anniversary)

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May 19, 2020, marks the 135^th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Stepanovich Maslov (1885–1961) who was an outstanding pediatrician, Honored Scientist of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, and founder and head of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics (1930–1961) of the Leningrad Pediatric Medical Institute (LPMI) (Fig. 1).

 

Fig. 1. Mikhail S. Maslov (19.05.1885–03.06.1961)

Рис. 1. Михаил Степанович Маслов (19.05.1885–03.06.1961)

 

In 1904, after graduating from the upper secondary school, M.S. Maslov entered the Military Medical Academy (MMA), graduated with honors, and continued his activity at the Department of Childhood Diseases of the MMA, headed by Professor A.N. Shkarin. In 1913, M.S. Maslov defended his thesis, “On the biological role of phosphorus for a growing organism,” for the degree of Doctor of Medicine. This fundamental thesis research identified the priority of a new scientific direction in Russian pediatrics [1, 7, 12, 13].

In 1914, M.S. Maslov got acquainted with the work of children’s clinics in Vienna, Munich, Zurich, and Berlin. A meeting with an outstanding scientist, immunologist, and pediatrician K. Pirke left a lasting impression on the young M.S. Maslov. He introduced the experience of leading pediatric clinics of Europe in the MMA and LPMI.

From 1914 to 1917, M.S. Maslov worked as a chief physician of the evacuation hospital in Rybinsk. Since 1918, he worked as an assistant; from 1920, he was a privat-docent, and in 1921, he became a professor and head of the Department of Childhood Diseases of the MMA (after the death of Professor A.N. Shkarin) [1, 7, 12, 13].

In 1925, the Leningrad Scientific and Practical Institute of Maternal and Child Welfare (LSPI MCW) was established, and its director was Yu.A. Mendeleva. Since 1925, M.S. Maslov headed the departments of physiology (in three nursing infant houses and in three baby houses) and the department for newborns at the LSPI MCW. Since 1928, he headed the Department of Physiology, Hygiene and Dietetics of Early Childhood, and since 1930, he headed the Department of Pathology of Childhood at the Clara Zetkin LRI MCW [7, 11, 13].

In 1935, the LPMI was established, and the Department of Pediatric Pathology at the LRI was transformed into the Department of Faculty Pediatrics of the LPMI, in which he was the head [1, 5, 7, 11, 13]. He also directed three faculty clinics. The name of the outstanding scientist M.S. Maslov is associated with a long history of fruitful scientific, clinical, and pedagogical activity of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics of LPMI (now St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University) [1, 5, 7, 11, 13].

One of the first employees of M.S. Maslov at the Research Institute of MCW and LPMI were Yu.N. Sadykova, E.I. Friedman, O.P. Timofeeva, R.M. Muravina, A.F. Tur, Yu.A. Kotikov, E.I. Kazanskaya, and Yu.E. Vitkind [2, 3] (Fig. 2). E.I. Friedman (1937–1938) and K.P. Ivanova-Glukhova (1938–1944) were the heads of the first faculty clinic [1, 5, 7, 13] (Fig. 2).

 

Fig. 2. The staff of the faculty of Pediatrics of the Leningrad pediatric medical Institute (1938)

Рис. 2. Сотрудники кафедры факультетской педиатрии Ленинградского педиатрического медицинского института (1938)

 

The staff of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics of LPMI, formed after the Great Patriotic War, was represented by G.I. Zaitseva, N.I. Tarasov, V.P. Varlamova, E.A. Antipina, N.I. Blinova, L.M. Plyaskova, N.V. Ananyina, A.P. Makarova, A.A. Valentinovich, I.P. Khlystova, L.Ya. Viss, and M.G. Chukhlovina (Fig. 3) [1, 5, 7, 13].

 

Fig. 3. The staff of the faculty of Pediatrics of the Leningrad pediatric medical Institute (1960)

Рис. 3. Сотрудники кафедры факультетской педиатрии Ленинградского педиатрического медицинского института (1960)

 

The Scientific Pediatric School of Maslov was established on the basis of his extensive clinical experience and the results of fruitful scientific work of the staff of LSPI MCW, LRI MCW, and the Department of Faculty Pediatrics of LPMI [1, 4, 7, 13]. The largest Scientific Pediatric School of Maslov was formed in MMA, Research Institute of MCW, and LPMI [1, 4, 7, 13].

Since the establishment of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics, Maslov and its staff addresses issues of constitutional anomalies, reactivity of the child’s body, etiology, pathogenesis, classification, clinical presentation, and treatment of major childhood diseases [1–5, 7, 13].

The work of Maslov and the staff of the MMA Department of Childhood Diseases (1924–1961), which focused on the reactivity of the child’s body, body types, and body type abnormalities (diathesis), provided significant scientific and practical contribution to Russian pediatrics. His monograph, titled “The doctrine of body types and body type abnormalities (diathesis) in childhood and their biological and pathological significance,” had three editions (i.e., 1924, 1925, and 1926). As regards the completeness and depth of coverage of the problem raised, this work is unique not only in Russian, but also in the world pediatric literature [1–5, 7, 12, 13].

A priority scientific field for the study of body type abnormalities and diatheses, developed by Maslov [6], was established from the new classification of diathesis and innovative approaches to the study of hereditary predisposition of children to diseases [2, 3]. At that time, one of the main challenges of children’s health care institutions was to reduce the high rate of infant mortality, which was mainly caused by acute digestive disorders [13]. The works of M.S. Maslov and his collaborators on the study of clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and treatment of acute and chronic disorders of nutrition and digestion in infants were of practical significance. The scientific research of the pediatric departments of the MMA and LPMI, headed by Professor M.S. Maslov, were aimed at studying changes in the enzymatic activity of luminal fluids, dynamics of the levels of some electrolytes, indicators of proteins, fats, and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as the effectiveness of various treatment methods of acute and chronic eating disorders in children [5, 7, 13].

Individual links in the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of toxic, septic, and dystrophic conditions in children were explored with M.S. Maslov’s guidance. Research started by M.S. Maslov on the pathogenesis, regularities of disease course, and development of treatment for acute toxicosis at an early age was further developed from the works of Professor A.V. Papayan, who was the head and staff of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics in LPMI. The result was a monograph by Professor A.V. Papayan and E.K. Tsybulkin, “Acute toxicosis in early childhood” (1979), reprinted in 1983 and translated into Bulgarian in 1984 [7, 9, 10].

M.S. Maslov and the staff of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics described the peculiarities of the clinical presentation and the treatment of liver and pancreas diseases in collections, in chapters of manuals on pediatrics, in lectures on pediatrics, and in the monograph, “Diseases of the liver and biliary tract in children” (1951) [7, 13].

The priority research area of M.S. Maslov and the staff of the departments of MMA and LPMI was improvement of sepsis and septic conditions. A series of works by the staff of the departments of MMA and LPMI presented the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and treatment of sepsis in children. These were included in the following publications: “Pathogenesis of toxic, septic and dystrophic conditions in children” (1948), “New data on the pathogenesis of septic and toxic conditions and on disorders of regulatory mechanisms in them in young children” (1952), and the monograph “Sepsis and septic conditions” (1959), which satisfied significantly the need of pediatricians in the available literature [7, 13]. Scientific research performed at the MMA and LPMI focused on the cardiovascular pathology in children. Methods for diagnostics and treatment of rheumatism were developed at the Department of Faculty Pediatrics, LPMI, and hemodynamics in heart defects in children were also assessed [5, 7, 13].

The Department of Faculty Pediatrics, LPMI, focused on respiratory diseases in children. The etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, pneumonia treatment, and respiratory failure were investigated. The introduction of the research results into the pediatric practice helped reduce mortality from pneumonia. M.S. Maslov’s works on this topic were as follows: “Aspects of Diseases of the Respiratory System” (manual on pediatrics, 1938), “Advances in the Treatment of Pneumonia in Young Children” (1940); “Etiology and Treatment of Pneumonia in Young Children” (1947), “Pathogenesis of Pneumonia in Children” (1948), and “The Pathogenesis of Respiratory Failure in Pneumonia in Children and its Treatment” (monograph, 1953) [4, 5, 7, 13]. Research on the topical problem of respiratory diseases in children and the medical and advisory work of the Second Faculty Clinic, restructured in 1977 into the Pulmonology Department, were continued by the team. Further development of the scientific works on pulmonology issues, established by M.S. Maslov in LPMI, was continued by Professor M.G. Chukhlovina [5, 7, 11, 12].

In 1958, at the initiative of M.S. Maslov, a specialized sanatorium was opened for children with chronic pneumonia, which was named after him after 5 years.

From the first days of the establishment of the LPMI, at the Department of Faculty Pediatrics, he performed research on pediatric nephrology. The results of the priority studies of M.S. Maslov and the staff of the department are summarized in the collections “Nephropathy of Childhood” (1935) and “Nephropathy of Childhood in the Light of New Research” edited by Yu.A. Mendeleva (1935), in the chapters of “A Brief Textbook of Children’s Diseases” (1933), and in manuals on pediatrics “Aspects of the Pathology of the Genitourinary Sphere” (1938) and “Kidney Diseases in Children” (1963) [4, 7, 9, 13].

He completed his fundamental thesis research on topical problems of nephrology for the degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences, which was defended by the staff of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics, namely, “On the peculiarities of fat-carbohydrate metabolism in nephropathies” by Associate Professor I.O. Friedman (1940) and “Clinic of nephritis in children” by Associate Professor A.A. Valentinovich (1965) with the scientific advice of M.S. Maslov; “Intravascular coagulation in the pathogenesis of kidney disease in children” by Professor A.V. Papayan (1974) with the scientific advice of Academician A.F. Tur, Professor A.V. Zinserling, and Professor Z.D. Fedorova; “Nephrotic syndrome in childhood: etiological, clinical and morphological, diagnostic, therapeutic aspects, classification issues” by Associate Professor N.D. Savenkova (1996) with the scientific advice of Professor A.V. Papayan; “Combination of ontogenetic and clinical methods of evolutionary physiology in the analysis of the mechanism of regulation of renal function” by Associate Professor A.A. Kuznetsova (2006) with the scientific advice of Academician Yu.V. Natochin; “Tubulopathy with the leading syndrome of rickets, renal tubular acidosis and alkalosis, rare syndromes in children” by Associate Professor J.G. Leviashvili (2016) with the scientific advice of Professor N.D. Savenkova [8–11]. A.V. Papayan was awarded by the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences the M.S. Maslov Prize for his thesis “Study of the coagulation and anti-coagulation system of the blood in healthy children and with certain diseases of the blood system” for a Candidate Degree in Medical Sciences [9, 10].

Professor A.A. Valentinovich, who was a faithful student and follower of the pediatric school of M.S. Maslov and the head of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics (1962–1974), established in the institute a new priority scientific field for the study of the clinic, i.e., aspects of water–salt metabolism in children with glomerulonephritis [8, 9]. Under the guidance of A.A. Valentinovich, 11 theses for a Candidate Degree in Medical Sciences were completed and defended.

In 1974, the first faculty pediatric clinic was transformed into a specialized nephrological clinic. Under the guidance of Professor A.V. Papayan, the Department of Faculty Pediatrics and a specialized nephrological clinic have become a medical advisory and scientific coordination training center for pediatric nephrology [9, 10, 12]. From 1974 to 2002, Professor A.V. Papayan was the chief visiting pediatric nephrologist in St. Petersburg [9, 10].

In LPMI, St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical Academy, and St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, the country’s largest educational school in pediatric nephrology was created with primary specialization (since 1971), city school of nephrologists (since 1974), advanced training of pediatricians (since 1992), clinical residency in nephrology (since 1997), and at present, continuing medical education and training in nephrology [9–12]. Under the guidance of Professor A.V. Papayan, 62 theses for a Candidate Degree in Medical Sciences and one thesis for a Doctorate Degree in Medical Sciences (with scientific consultation) were completed and defended [9, 10].

The modern scientific pediatric nephrological school, created by the Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation and Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences A.V. Papayan, is recognized in Russia and in other countries, and it was further developed by Professor N.D. Savenkova, the successor of the school, and the staff of the department [9–11]. Under the guidance of N.D. Savenkova, 24 theses for a Candidate Degree in Medical Sciences and one thesis for a Doctorate Degree in Medical Sciences (with scientific consultation) were completed and defended [10, 11].

The Department of Faculty Pediatrics, LPMI, headed by M.S. Maslov, was one of the leading departments in the country. M.S. Maslov paid great attention to the problem of training personnel for practical health care, which was declared in the following publications: “On the organization of practical training in clinical departments” (1940), “In support of the correct distribution of functions in the department” (1946), “Improvement of scientific qualifications of teachers” (1946), and “On the methodology of practical classes at clinical departments” (1955) [1, 4, 7, 13]. At the methodological meetings of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics, M.S. Maslov emphasized the importance of pedagogical skills in conducting practical classes for students [1, 7, 12, 13]. He was the teacher, wise by the experience of the head of the pediatric department, who has brought up several generations of students at the LPMI. M.S. Maslov’s lectures in pediatrics for students were distinguished by scientific novelty, content, and competent presentation and were accompanied by a demonstration of a sick child [1, 5, 7, 12, 13].

M.S. Maslov was a pediatrician with comprehensive knowledge, who preserved health and restored the joy of life to hundreds of thousands of sick children. In 1960 [1, 12] at his 75th anniversary, he noted in his speech: “We know the happiness of a child’s recovery. If we managed to do everything to reduce the morbidity and mortality of children, this is the most important reward that I can receive for my work.” He passed generously his extensive clinical experience and skills to young doctors.

Many generations of pediatricians in Russia used the textbooks and monographs of M.S. Maslov in their training [1, 5, 7, 12, 13]. His last fundamental works were “Lectures on Faculty Pediatrics” (1960) and “Handbook of a Pediatrician” (1961) [5, 7, 13].

M.S. Maslov published the following monographs [4, 5, 7, 13]: “The Doctrine of Body Types and Body Type Abnormalities (Diathesis) in Childhood and their Biological and Pathological Significance” (1924, 1925, 1926); “Fundamentals of the Doctrine of the Child and the Characteristics of his Development” in two volumes (1926–1927), reprinted in 1928, 1930, and 1932; “A Brief Manual of Childhood Diseases” (1933), republished and supplemented in 1935, 1939, 1942, 1952, and 1953; “Textbook of Childhood Diseases” (1940, 1946, 1956); “Diagnosis and Prognosis of Childhood Diseases” (1948); “Lectures on Faculty Pediatrics” in two parts (1957, 1960); and “Handbook of a Pediatrician” edited by M.S. Maslov (1961).

M.S. Maslov was the author of over 200 scientific works, including 16 monographs and 8 manuals. His manuals and monographs have been translated into Bulgarian, Serbian, Chinese, Korean, Romanian, and Albanian languages [4, 5, 7, 13]. Under his leadership, 36 theses for a Candidate Degree in Medical Sciences were completed and defended, and 10 theses for a Doctorate Degree in Medical Sciences were prepared with his scientific counseling [4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13]. Academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences A.F. Tur noted the significant contribution of M.S. Maslov, a prominent scientist and teacher, to higher medical education: “The role of M.S. Maslov in training scientific workers is great. His students and staff, namely, M.S. Bockeria, V.S. Vail, A.A. Valentinovich, V.P. Davydov, G.I. Zaitseva, V.F. Znamensky, Sh.Z. Ibraev, P.I. Ilyinsky, Yu.A. Kotikov, L.G. Leivikov, E.S. Malyzheva, V.I. Morev, R.M. Muravina, G.A. Nikolaev, M.S. Osetrinkina, M.F. Rudnev, V.L. Styrikovich, A.F. Tur, E.I. Fridman, N.A. Shalkov, and L.A. Yurieva, became heads or heads of departments in various medical institutes. In addition, M.S. Maslov trained 18 associate professors and 45 assistants working in medical and scientific research institutes of the Soviet Union” [13].

M.S. Maslov did great scientific and social work. An academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, M.S. Maslov was the permanent chairman of the Leningrad Society of Pediatricians, an active member of the All-Union Society of Pediatric Physicians, the Executive Committee of the International Association of Pediatricians, and the editorial board of the journals Pediatrics, and Issues of Maternal and Child Welfare, and a full member of the Polish, Bulgarian, and French Academies of Sciences.

The shining image of this scientist–thinker was recreated by the memories of colleagues and students. Academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences A.F. Tur wrote: “In his research activity, which lasted more than half a century, Mikhail Stepanovich never stopped, always went forward, looked for something new and often said to his students and employees: “Whoever stops will inevitably roll back, will quickly lag behind the modern level of science” [13].

In his memoirs, Professor A.A. Valentinovich wrote: “Mikhail Stepanovich always said that a thoughtful doctor should draw material from every patient to increase his scientific baggage and receive in his medical activity that deep, supreme satisfaction that can be obtained from a combination of scientific analysis and successful treatment” [1].

The character traits of this amazing person and a great scientist were described by A.F. Tur: “For those people who knew little of M.S. Maslov or met him for the first time, sometimes it might seem that he was an overly reserved person. This impression is completely wrong. Mikhail Stepanovich was greatly modest, and perhaps, he had some shyness; he was a sensitive, gentle, and very benevolent person who was attentive to those around him. He was demanding to people, as well as to himself. Mikhail Stepanovich treated children with great love” [13]. “Mikhail Stepanovich was a tall man with athletic physique, courageous, and calm, with a quiet voice that contrasted with the power of every word. He also knew and appreciated literature, art, and music. Mikhail Stepanovich’s expressed artistic talent manifested itself in his playing the cello” [2, 7, 13].

In the 1985 issue of the LPMI newspaper Sovetsky Pediatr [12], completely dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Academician M.S. Maslov (1885–1985), head of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics, Professor A.V. Papayan and Professor M.G. Chukhlovina wrote: “The memory of Mikhail Stepanovich, who was a great man, a talented scientist, teacher and doctor will not fade, and his life will always serve as an example for the present and future generations of doctors and scientists. The employees pay tribute of gratitude and deep respect to the founder of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics, Academician M.S. Maslov.”

The book about the activities of the outstanding scientist, teacher, and pediatrician Mikhail Stepanovich Maslov “M.S. Maslov (1885–1961)” was written by G.L. Mikirtichan and edited by A.I. Kliorina [7].

The great scientist M.S. Maslov was devoted to his profession, pediatrics, for all his life. M.S. Maslov celebrated his 75^th anniversary at the height of scientific fame and universal recognition. He had the highest professional authority. In a speech at the ceremonial meeting dedicated to his 75^th birthday (June 22, 1960), he said: “Pediatrics is the most wonderful, noblest specialty. If somebody asked me what profession I would choose if I was young, I would say with full responsibility that I would enter the pediatric faculty” [1, 7, 12] (Fig. 4).

 

Fig. 4. 75th anniversary of the honored scientist of the RSFSR, academician of the AMN M.S. Maslov (22.06.1960)

Рис. 4. 75-летний юбилей заслуженного деятеля науки РСФСР, академика АМН М.С. Маслова (22.06.1960)

 

The merits of M.S. Maslov in the development of Russian pediatrics are highly appreciated. In 1935, he was awarded the title “Honored Scientist of the RSFSR”; in 1943, he was awarded the title of Major General of the Medical Service, and in 1945, he was elected as full member of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences. M.S. Maslov was awarded the Order of the Red Star in 1940, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor in 1946, the Order of Lenin in 1947, and another Order of the Red Banner of Labor in 1948.

Being head of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics in LPMI, Maslov went down in history as an outstanding scientist, one of the founders of the Russian Scientific Pediatric School, as a teacher who brought up several generations of pediatricians and scientific personnel as a doctor who restored health to hundreds of thousands of sick children. As a scientist, teacher, doctor, and public figure, Maslov is the glory of Russian pediatric science, education, and healthcare.

On June 3, 2020, a significant event in the history of the university took place, namely, the opening of a commemorative plaque to M.S. Maslov, who had dedicated his professional life to pediatrics. We are proud of the glorious history of the Department of Faculty of Pediatrics that Maslov headed from 1930 to 1961.

The teams of the departments of pediatric diseases of the MMA, Faculty Pediatrics of the St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical Academy, and St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, made it a tradition, every 5 years, to hold a conference dedicated to the anniversary of M.S. Maslov by testifying to the abiding memory and recognition of his great contribution to the development of Russian pediatric science, education, and healthcare.

The traditions of the scientific and clinical pediatric school of M.S. Maslov have been carefully preserved and continued by the Department of Faculty Pediatrics of LPMI, St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical Academy, and St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University under the guidance of the heads Professor A.A. Valentinovich (1961–1974), Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation Professor A.V. Papayan (1974–2002), and Professor N.D. Savenkova (2002 to the present).

About the authors

Nadezhda D. Savenkova

St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation

Author for correspondence.
Email: Savenkova.n.spb@mail.ru

MD, PhD, Dr Med Sci, Professor, Head of the Department of Faculty Pediatrics

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Dmitry O. Ivanov

St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation

Email: doivanov@yandex.ru

MD, PhD, Dr Med Sci, Professor, Rector

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

References

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