Skin as an Immunocompetent Organ in Health and Disease

In the mid-nineteenth century Virchow revolutionized pathology by introduction of the concept of “cellular pathology”. Today, a century later, this term has increasing significance in health and disease. We now are in the beginning of a new era in pathology, one which might well be termed “organelle pathology” or “subcellular pathology”. The impact of lysosomal diseases on clinical medicine exemplifies this role of pathology of organelles in elucidation of disease today.Another aspect of cell organelles of prime importance is their pathologic alteration by drugs, toxins, hormones and malnutrition. The sensitivity of cell organelles to minute alterations in their environment offers an accurate evaluation of the site of action of drugs in the study of both function and toxicity. Examples of mitochondrial lesions include the effect of DDD on the adrenal cortex, riboflavin deficiency on liver cells, elevated blood ammonia on the neuron and some 8-aminoquinolines on myocardium.

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The Laryngeal Epithelium in Reflux

Perspectives on Voice and Voice Disorders ◽

10.1044/vvd21.3.112 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 112-117 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elizabeth Erickson-Levendoski ◽

Mahalakshmi Sivasankar

Keyword(s):

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux ◽

Critical Role ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Laryngeal Disease ◽

Health And Disease ◽

And Function ◽

The Impact

The epithelium plays a critical role in the maintenance of laryngeal health. This is evident in that laryngeal disease may result when the integrity of the epithelium is compromised by insults such as laryngopharyngeal reflux. In this article, we will review the structure and function of the laryngeal epithelium and summarize the impact of laryngopharyngeal reflux on the epithelium. Research investigating the ramifications of reflux on the epithelium has improved our understanding of laryngeal disease associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux. It further highlights the need for continued research on the laryngeal epithelium in health and disease.

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