Airborne allergies afflict millions of Americans, and are now the sixth leading cause of chronic illness. But now allergy victims can fight back with the most up-to-date information available anywhere. Learn the latest techniques for controlling symptoms through conventional medicines and diet, how to make your home allergen-free, and discover the exciting promise offered by lgE blockers and improved immunotherapy. Detailed discussions of allergy myths and how to find a physician who can offer real relief are also included in this essential guide.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a ubiquitous and highly contagious virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and hospitalisation during the first year of life and it might be associated with an increased risk of recurrent wheeze, asthma as well as with decreased respiratory function in school-aged children. In Chapter One, the authors report the most updated evidences for the environmental prophylaxis and summarise current recommendations about targeted palivizumab immunisation and ongoing trials on RSV vaccine development. Chapter Two summarises the most recent literature regarding acute bronchiolitis to provide an evidence-based approach to the management and treatment of this disease. In Chapter Three, the authors review risk factors associated with hospitalisation and pediatric intensive care unit admission. The final chapter illustrates a practical, pathophysiological and step up approach to children affected by severe bronchiolitis.

In this unique title, the full range of chronic respiratory conditions and their association with psychiatric comorbidities are explored and targeted management options are outlined. Indeed recent studies indicate a far higher prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients afflicted with chronic respiratory conditions than in patients with other chronic disorders. Unlike other publications in the field of pulmonary disease, Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Chronic Respiratory Diseases details this significant correlation. The book is comprehensive in scope, covering such topics as depression and anxiety across the age spectrum, diagnostic tools for anxiety and depression, anxiety and depression in COPD patients, depression and anxiety in adult patients with asthma, and end-stage lung disease and lung transplantation, among others. In this novel work, the volume Editors enlist a team of renowned experts in the fields of respiratory and psychiatric disorders to combine a thorough synthesis of the literature with targeted, practical strategies for management. Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Chronic Respiratory Diseases is an invaluable resource for all clinicians who care for patients with chronic and advanced lung diseases.

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the organization of endogenous lung stem and progenitor cell compartments during fetal lung development, postnatal lung growth and in adulthood. Progressing stage by stage, the chapters on fetal lung development emphasize the integrated role of epithelial, stromal, vascular and neural cell elements in building a functional lung, while the subsequent chapters on adult lung regeneration describe the nature and properties of adult lung stem/progenitor cells distributed along the proximal-distal axis of the airway tree. The chapters on regulation of lung regeneration and repair discuss how regenerative cells interact with their niche microenvironment and how regulation of lung regeneration and repair in the steady state and following injury recapitulates ontogeny. And, lastly, the chapters on cellular therapies for lung disease and bioengineering the lung focus on promising emerging therapies and approaches in lung regenerative medicine. The scope of this volume of the Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine series focuses on exploring the topic of building and rebuilding the lung from a cellular rather than a molecular perspective. Thus, the section on cellular therapies does not include extensive coverage of each of the numerous lung diseases, including cancer, which could be amenable to stem cell-based therapies, although the final chapter does include some discussion on the future prospects and challenges. All of the contributors are working on the cutting edge of the lung stem cell field, making this book essential reading for those with an interest in the field of lung stem cell biology and the potential role of cellular therapies and tissue bioengineering approaches in lung regenerative medicine, including biomedical scientists, graduate students, post-graduate researchers and respiratory clinicians.

This issue of Clinics in Chest Medicine focuses on Pulmonary Complications of Non-Pulmonary Malignancy. Editors Guang-Shing Cheng and Jennifer Possick have assembled an expert team of authors on topics such as: Pulmonary manifestations of non-pulmonary solid malgnancies; Pulmonary manifestations of leukemia and lymphoma; Radiation pneumonitis; Toxicities from conventional chemotherapy; Toxicities from novel targeted therapies; Bacterial pneumonia; Fungal pneumonia; Viral pneumonia; IPS and other early onset non-infectious pulmonary syndromes; Pulmonary GVHD and other late-onset non-infectious pulmonary syndromes; Pulmonary function and pre-transplant risk assessment; Diagnostic Evaluation of Pulmonary Abnormalities in Hematologic Malignancy and HCT; Acute respiratory failure in patients with non-pulmonary malignancy; Critical care prognosis and outcomes in patients with non-pulmonary malignancy; and Palliative and end-of-life care.

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure ventilation is the gold standard in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Long-term compliance rates are about 60%. Therefore, several alternative treatment options are of special interest. Beside conservative therapies, various surgical concepts exist. The field of surgery for sleep disordered breathing has rapidly grown with new instrumentation and surgical techniques in the last 10 years. Surgeons in these fields have to attend scientific meetings, participate in workshops, and read the literature to stay up to date. In our sleep laboratories we conduct 30 polysomnographies each night. Each year, we perform almost 1,000 surgical procedures for sleep disordered breathing apart from numerous other conservative and apparative treatment modalities. Referring to our expe- ence and the present literature, we tried to give new information on surgical techniques in this second edition. The chapters are grouped in different anatomical fields of interest. We wanted to give general advice and specific new hints for the surgery of sleep disordered breathing so that the reader learns basic techniques followed by more advanced surgery. In addition to the illustrated surgical descriptions, the chapters contain informations about indications and contraindications of each surgical procedure and the postoperative care. Special interest has been dedicated to evidence-based medicine. So in each chapter, there is a table of references summarizing the effectiveness of the procedure and EBM grade.

Clinically focused and designed to provide a to-the-point overview, Interstitial Lung Disease, by Drs. Talmadge King, Harold Collard, and Luca Richeldi, bring you up to date with increased understanding, new treatment protocols, and recent advances in the field. Written by contributing specialists who are global experts in their respective areas, this one-stop reference provides pulmonologists, intensivists, internal medicine physicians, and researchers with a dependable source of information on current treatment options and patient care. . Evidence for current treatment options for interstitial pneumonia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and smoking-related interstitial lung diseases. . Approach to diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases, such as sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and Churg-Strauss syndrome. . Genetic markers for inherited interstitial lung diseases such as dyskeratosis congenita, tuberous sclerosis/LAM, and hyper-IgE syndrome. . Expert ConsultT eBook version included with purchase. This enhanced eBook experience allows you to search all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

Dr. Goldsworthy has created a state-of-the-art issue that emphasizes the nurse's role in mechanical ventilation. Pertinent clinical topics include the following: basics of mechanical ventilation for nurses; current modes for mechanical ventilation; best practices for managing pain, sedation, and delirium in the mechanically ventilated patient; mobilization of and optimal oxygenation for the mechanicaly ventilated patient; managing complications; and effective weaning strategies. Authors also address mechanical ventilation in both children and neonates. The current content in this issue will leave nurses with the clinical information they need to effectively manage mechanically ventilated patients.

This book presents pulmonary outcomes of prematurity, from their emergence in infancy through to their consequences in adulthood. With an increasing number of preterm births and more infants surviving, there is now a larger population of adults with lung disease originating in infancy requiring specialized care. Looking at the whole group of preterm infants, not just those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, this text covers a wide spectrum of pulmonary outcomes, including: pulmonary hypertension, wheezing, and alterations in sleep. The chapter authors focus on critically appraising what is and is not known about each outcome and suggest key questions that still need to be answered. Respiratory Outcomes in Preterm Infants: Sequelae from Infancy through Adulthood is an ideal reference for the multidisciplinary group that cares for these preterm infants and the adults they become, including: neonatologists, pediatric pulmonologists, pediatricians, adult pulmonologists, primary care physicians, nurses, and fellows.

This issue of World Clinics: Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine focuses on respiratory critical care, presenting an up-to-date collection of articles on the latest developments in the field, authored by internationally renowned experts. The book begins with an introduction to respiratory critical care and assisted ventilation. The following chapters discuss different disorders including acute COPD and asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary thromboembolism, and chronic respiratory failure. The final sections cover critical care in poisoning cases, nutritional management in the ICU, interpretation of arterial blood gases and acid-base abnormalities, and ICU infections and antibiotics. Each article concludes with comments by the editor highlighting their own experience and summarising the chapter. The book is enhanced by images, table and figures. Key Points Evidence-based review of respiratory critical care topics providing an overview of the latest advances in the field Part of the World Clinics: Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine series Each article concludes with comments by the editor Comprehensive text enhanced by images, tables and figures

Preterm birth interrupts the normal developmental progression of most organs, particularly when birth occurs at the lowest level of viability. An immediate task is to successfully transition to a post-natal life without a placental circulation. To do this demands careful management of the cardiorespiratory systems. To best help the fragile preterm infant at this demanding time, care-givers must remember two most pressing goals. These are first to maintain adequacy of gas exchange and delivery, while simultaneously minimizing any secondary injury to the fragile preterm lung. However, after these immediate priorities in the delivery room, the longer term effects of an immature lung development and its associated problems come to the forefront. These problems include the inflammation of perinatal infection, oxygen, and invasive mechanical ventilation. Both the immaturity itself, and secondary lung injury and its inflammation - collectively will often lead to the condition termed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Although many of these infants may eventually be discharged to home without a need for oxygen supplementation or pulmonary medications, the long-term impact of interrupted lung development and secondary lung injury remain serious concerns. It is now well recognized that mechanical ventilation is pivotal to developing secondary lung injury and BPD. Consequently, a great deal of time and effort has been put into the development and application of non-invasive ventilator (NIV) approaches to supporting respiratory function in neonates. Since the landmark publication by Gregory and colleagues in 1967, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) has been the most commonly applied approach to NIV. This approach has been supported by the recent generation of randomized controlled trials. However, cumulatively these trials have shown only a small reduction in rates of BPD. Outside of the trial data, despite the wider application of nCPAP, rates of BPD remain relatively unchanged over recent years. This has led to investigations of other NIV approaches including nasal ventilation and high flow nasal cannula therapy. Not only have available modes increased, but so have the interfaces through which these modes may be applied. In the issue of Clinic in Perinatology, readers will find an up-to-date review of non-invasive approaches to supporting preterm respiratory function. This draws on the expertise of leading investigators in the field. This issue reviews the physiologic mechanisms by which the various approaches to NIV may support respiratory function; the evidence base supporting different NIV approaches; and adjunctive aspects of NIV therapy including their use during neonatal transport and the application of other supportive therapies such as inhaled NO.

Written by some of the world's leading practitioners - and pioneers - in the field, "Thoracic Endoscopy" is the first up-to-the-minute, expert reference for clinicians with a solid foundation in diagnostic bronchoscopy and chest medicine needing to extend their clinical expertise in response to two decades of rapid development.

"Thoracic Endoscopy" covers four key areas of practice:
advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy
the latest techniques for interventional bronchoscopy -- including the traditional rigid bronchoscopy techniques, ablative instruments and stents -- and a discussion of endobronchial lung reduction and gene therapy
a window to the pleura, covering the field of pleuroscopy and the advances in diagnosis and treatment
clinical problems and methodologies, and strategies for solving them using interventional techniques

"Thoracic Endoscopy" presents the only coherent guide to the full range of techniques and practice patterns, and is the essential reference for both experienced interventional pulmonologists and students beginning to practice in this rapidly-developing field.

This comprehensive volume on the blood-gas barrier (BGB) among vertebrates covers its structure and composition along with aspects of evolution, bioengineering, and morphometry. The book also discusses the embryological development of the BGB, including chronology of events and molecular control in vertebrates; modulation of the barrier function, including cyclic stretch-induced increases in alveolar epithelial permeability; mechanisms of lung vascular/epithelial permeability; transport mechanisms of the BGB, including sodium transport channels; factors affecting trans-barrier traffic of fluids, such as chronic elevation of pulmonary microvascular pressure; stress failure; regulation and repair in acute lung injury; chronic lung disease; and lung transportation. Ten authoritative chapters approach the blood-gas barrier holistically, from basic structure and development to pathology and treatment. Properties of the BGB are discussed in the earlier chapters, followed by prenatal and post-natal development and mechanisms of the healthy BGB. The latter half of the book delves into the pathology of the BGB, analyzing common afflictions and exploring options for treatment, including its alterations during lung transplantation. Intuitively structured and comprehensive, The Vertebrate Blood-Gas Barrier in Health and Disease is ideal for researchers and clinicians interested in pneumology and angiology.

The first edition of this book, published in 2009, was the only book of its kind dedicated exclusively to the diagnosis and management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Over the past few years, new diagnostic tests and treatments of pulmonary arterial hypertension have been developed and tested. Diagnostic testing has led to more frequent and specific diagnosis in PAH patients, leading to the more widespread use of effective treatment and improved quality of life and reduction of mortality for PAH patients. Pulmonary Hypertension and Interstitial Lung Disease: A Clinical Guide, Second Edition provides an updated and expanded state-of-the-art overview of the problems seen by physicians in the clinical management of ILDs. The first section of the book discusses general features and includes an overview of clinical features, diagnosis and pathology of ILD. The second part discusses specific disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and hypersensitivity pneumonia. Pulmonary Hypertension and Interstitial Lung Disease, Second Edition is an invaluable resource for all physicians whose practice involves the care and treatment of patients with interstitial lung disease.

This issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics, guest edited by Dr. Andrew A. White, is devoted to Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease. Articles in this issue include: An Overview of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Reactions; The Clinical Presentation of Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease; Diagnostic Evaluation in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease; Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease as an Endotype of Chronic Rhinosinusitis; Pathogenesis of Aspirin Reactions in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease; Performing Aspirin Desensitization; Clinical Trials in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease Treatment; Eosinophils and Mast Cells in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease; Mechanisms of Benefit with Aspirin Therapy; Lipid Mediators in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease; and Epigenetic and Genetic Components of Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease.

This book represents an updated review of the physiology of the carotid body chemoreceptors. It contains results in the topics at the frontiers of future developments in O2-sensing in chemoreceptor cells. Additionally, this volume provides data from studies carried out in other O2-sensing tissues including pulmonary vasculature and erythropoietin producing cells. It is a prime source of information and a guideline for arterial chemoreception researchers.

Exposure to ambient air pollutants, both indoors and outdoors has been associated with the exacerbation and also in the etiology of diverse human diseases. This book offers an overview of our current understanding of air pollution health risks and how this knowledge is being used in the regulatory, therapeutic intervention measures to protect the public health and reduce the disease burden caused by acute and long-term exposure to air pollutants. Air Pollution and Health Effects provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of air pollution health risks, morbidity and the global disease burden, whilst also delivering critical review on state of the art research so as to gain a fundamental understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in the etiology of air pollution-induced diseases. Chapters range from pregnancy outcomes and pre-term birth, carcinogens in the ambient aerosol and the health consequences of indoor biomass burning. Special emphasis is placed on regional and local air pollution and its impact on global health along with suitable preventive and interventional measures. With contributions from international experts in the field this volume is a valuable guide for researchers and clinicians in toxicology, medicine and public health as well as industry and government regulatory scientists involved in health protection.

This volume provides protocols that expand on the latest alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) research. The chapters in this book are divided in to three sections: Part I is dedicated to patient-oriented research; part II discusses animal models; and Part III focuses on in vitro studies. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and authoritative, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for researchers, students, and clinican-scientists interested in AAT deficiency, as well as anyone working in the fields of pulmonology and hepatology.

T. Buch, E. Schafer, D. Steinritz, A. Dietrich, T. Gudermann: Chemosensory TRP Channels in the Respiratory Tract: Role in Toxic Lung Injury and Potential as "Sweet Spots" for Targeted Therapies. D.C. Zebrowski and F. B. Engel: The Cardiomyocyte Cell Cycle in Hypertrophy, Tissue Homeostasis, and Regeneration. P. Hegyi and O.H. Petersen: The Exocrine Pancreas: The Acinar -Ductal Tango in Physiology and Pathophysiology.

Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal type of pneumonia primarily affecting elderly and immuno-compromised persons, is caused by the ubiquitous environmental bacterium Legionella pneumophila. This book offers authoritative reviews of different facets of its virulence, focusing on comparative phagocyte infection, virulence gene regulation, biochemical functions of effector proteins and cellular pathogen-host interactions, as well as host responses and immunity to L. pneumophila. Taken together, the contributions in this compilation provide a state-of-the-art overview of current insights into the molecular pathogenesis of the opportunistic and potentially fatal pathogen L. pneumophila.