From bench to bedside--the impact of the transfer of the new biology to clinical medicine.
Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology have enormous implications for clinical medicine. Of particular interest is the ability to diagnose genetic diseases. Although enormous advances have been made in the diagnosis of monogenic disorders, these diseases account for a relatively small percentage of patients seen in adult medicine. Of more interest in terms of clinical impact are the chronic diseases with a genetic component which occur in about 10% of the population e.g. diabetes mellitus, heart disease, malignancy. If a subgroup of patients with a chronic disease such as diabetes mellitus, who are at particular risk to develop complications, can be identified, the physician will have to convince them to alter their lifestyle. The transfer of basic science to clinical medicine may ultimately lead to a greater emphasis on the art of medicine.
Burrow
G N
GN
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toronto.
D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine; D008967:Molecular Biology