Some categories of general pathology and biology: health, disease, homeostasis, sanogenesis, adaptation, immunity: New approaches and notions

Abstract

Despite all significance of the problem, satisfactory definitions of some very important categories of general pathology and biology, particularly health and disease, have not been are mediated by behavior-independent biological processes (for example, biological adaptation), whereas active performance represents productive relations with the environment. found for a long time. Some formulations concerned only biological mechanisms while others, in contrast, emphasized the social aspect of the problem implying humans. Few definitions consist of a number of mutually supplementing phrases, which makes obscure the essence of formulation. According to the well-known WHO definition, “Health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. The WHO did not provide a definition of disease, probably due to the difficulty of formulation. This definition of health, which is correct in essence and intuitively clear, has a humanitarian focus; in consistency with the spirit and goals of WHO, it implies primarily humans. However it should be determined, what the “complete” well-being is. A well-accepted everyday notion of “wellbeing” needs explanation. It is not fully clear, what “social well-being” is because this term also applies to humans only. Obviously, the definition should be brief in its form but suffiSearching for a shelter, digging a burrow, building of a nest or house and creation of a space station are all apparent expressions of the productive activity of animals and humans, respectively. Therefore, the productive activity is an adequate criterion for the organism state. Such relation with the environment underlies the definition of health and disease. For comprehensive consideration of the problem and definition of the notions “health” and “disease”, it is necessary to dwell on two additional general biological categories, homeostasis and sanogenesis. Homeostasis:Homeostasis is the constancy of internal environment of the organism. The idea of homeostasis was put forward long ago by Claude Bernard in the form of a statement that the constancy of internal body environment is a necessary prerequisite of its independent life. Cannon has developed this idea and created a doctrine of homeostasis. Homeostasis is provided by regulatory mechanisms at all levels of the organism, starting from the molecular level and ciently capacious in its content reflecting both biological and social aspects. Also, the definition should bear a universal meaning for at least animals and humans if not for all living s