A theory of cellular-function pathology: further development of Virchow's theory of cellular pathology.
A new theory of pathology is introduced. The human cell is an organism in itself. It fulfills both cell-oriented and organism-oriented functions. Impairment of either one of these functions may lead to disease. This means that a structural lesion of a cell is not a sole and necessary cause of the beginning of disease. When a cell-oriented function is impaired the cell suffers, but the overt symptoms at the organ-organism level might be absent for a very long time. This is how a chronic asymptomatic disease starts. Measures of prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment should be centered upon maintenance and restoration of a balance between the cell-oriented and organism-oriented cellular functions.
Yabrov
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Princeton Biotechnologies, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA.
D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010336:Pathology