E. Bernard-weil et al., As well as physiological states, pathological states and therapeutical problems may be a gushing spring for biological theory-and conversely, ACT BIOTH, 47(3-4), 1999, pp. 281-307
New class of therapies, including bipolar therapies (BPT) and "paradoxical"
unipolar therapies (PUT) were firstly proposed in relation to a clinical i
nsight and to some results of biological investigations, then they gave ris
e to mathematical modeling which brought a justification of these therapies
, at least from a theoretical point of view. After recalling the mathematic
al model for the regulation of agonistic antagonistic couples, and reportin
g the fundamental types of control simulation by means of it, we point out
the validity of therapeutical applications inferred from this model. These
therapy modalities, including BPT and PUT, now concern the following diseas
es: astrocytomas, epilepsia and trials on multiple sclerosis. Even if such
attempts are in their early stage, noticeably for the last case where biolo
gical changes have mainly been studied, it seems that a large span of treat
ments is open to BPT and PUT. Improvement of these techniques in the future
depends, in our opinion, on a parallel working on the dynamics of the math
ematical model and the dynamics, perceived by clinical insight and confirme
d by biological investigations, of the body reactions to such strategies. J
ustification of BPT and PUT was given, by resorting to the notion of "patho
logical homeostasis" which, too often, intervenes in order to nullify the e
ffects of unilateral (not paradoxical) therapies. This research has elicite
d some therapies which use two agents with antagonistic effects or only an
agent with effects similar to the agent already in excess in the body - in
both cases at nearly physiological doses.