Molecular intensive care medicine

The development of methods for the analysis of gene structure and function, referred to as recombinant DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) technology, has cre ated unprecedented opportunities for significantly improving the prevention or treatment of human diseases. Both practitioners working in this field a nd interested observers cannot fail to recognize that the remarkable progre ss in understanding disease pathogenesis has placed us on the threshold of a new, revolutionary era of clinical practice. In this context, molecular m edicine that is, the application of molecular biology to elucidating the ca uses and potential cures of disease, has become a major thrust of research at virtually all medical schools. Incorporating the techniques of molecular biology into the research arsenal of the physician should provide new oppo rtunities to dissect out and define the reversible and irreversible intrace llular processes giving rise to acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis , septic shock, or multiple system organ failure, the major causes of morta lity in most intensive care units.