This book is designed to provide a comprehensive and state-of-the-art resource for clinicians who care for patients with sepsis and research scientist alike, . Patients with severe sepsis requiring ICU admission have very high rates of ICU and overall hospital mortality, with estimates ranging from 18 to 50%. Risk factors for death from sepsis include underlying illness, increased age, and multi-system organ failure. This is compounded by the significant variation in the management of early severe sepsis. Care of these patients and clinical conditions can be quite complex, and materials are collected from the most current, evidence-based resources. Book sections have been structured to review the overall definitions and epidemiology of sepsis as well as current insights into the pathophysiology of sepsis. This review summarizes the evidence for the international consensus guidelines for the identification and management of sepsis. The latter part of this book reviews emerging concepts and approaches in the diagnosis and management of sepsis that may significantly reduce mortality in the future. Sepsis: Pathophysiology, Definitions and the Challenge of Bedside Management represents a collaboration between authors drawn from a variety of disciplines and contributions from basic scientists and highly recognized clinical opinion leaders with expertise in clinical trials.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an all too common lung condition which varies markedly in severity between individuals. The term COPD covers conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and around 80% of cases are believed to develop as a result of smoking. Lung problems, which often fail to improve significantly over time, cause symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing, coughing, a reduced ability to exercise, and frequent chest infections.
COPD: The Facts is written primarily for sufferers and their families, and will help readers to understand the disease and its symptoms. The book describes in detail how COPD is diagnosed and covers tests and treatments that patients are likely to experience. It dicusses modern approaches to the problems COPD sufferers experience and provides and up-to-date and informative guide to the disease. Examples of patients' experiences are included throughout the text to illustrate the problems faced by people with COPD, and advice is offered to help sufferers improve their overall quality of life.

Cough is the most familiar symptom of respiratory disease, and a problem which general practitioners must deal with on a daily basis. This timely volume draws together a wealth of recent research into the mechanisms, pharmacology and therapies for cough, and places these in clinical context. The text incorporates guidelines on the most common causes of cough, discusses treatments and pitfalls in management, summarizes current research on physiology, pharmacology and treatment of cough, and gives practical advice on diagnosis and management issues for the clinician. "Cough: Causes, Mechanisms and Therapy" is the most comprehensive, up-to-date account of the subject.It will update clinical and basic medical scientists, and promote future research. Readers are encouraged to implement the clinical implications of the discussion into routine practice. This volume will appeal to all those involved in the treatment of respiratory disease, particularly those in hospital respiratory units, and will also be of use to interested general practitioners.

Asthma is a chronic airway disease affecting over 300 million people worldwide with an expected increase of an additional 100 million by 2025. Past decade has observed a notable increase in asthma prevalence on both national and global levels with highest rates observed in western countries (about 30%). Over the past 40 years, a drastic increase in global prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and economic burden have been observed due to asthma especially in children. The rising numbers of hospital admissions for asthma, especially young children, reflect an increase in severe asthma, poverty and lack of proper disease management. Worldwide, approximately 180,000 deaths annually are caused due to this condition. The financial burden on a single asthma patient per year in different western countries ranges from US$300-1,300. Asthma is an intricate respiratory disorder with differences in its severity, natural history and hence treatment response. These differences in intensities of various presentations such as bronchial hyper-responsiveness, airway inflammation, mucus production, airflow obstruction make asthma a heterogeneous disease. The mainstay of current therapies for asthma includes inhaled corticosteroids, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, leukotriene modifiers and 2-adrenoceptor agonists. Some of the currently available drugs are efficient in one or more aspects. However the associated side effects or heterogeneity of the disease limit their usefulness and efficacy, thereby putting a demand on development of new drugs and therapies. On the other hand, asthma has also been treated/managed via herbal medications. These approaches have been described in Unani, Ayurvedic or Chinese system of medicine since antiquity. In fact, several anti-asthmatic drugs were developed from herbs commonly utilized in the non-Western system of medicine. This book focuses on the pathophysiology of asthma, its medication (both herbal and modern), limitations and their future prospects.

This is the second volume of the comprehensive, two-volume work on oxidative stress in lung diseases. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, it demonstrates the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with ROS (reactive oxygen species)-induced initiation and progression of a variety of lung diseases, such as COPD, emphysema, asthma, cystic fibrosis, occupational pulmonary diseases and pulmonary hypertension and discusses points for therapeutic intervention. The book also covers translational research and the latest research on prevention and therapeutics. Each chapter includes in-depth insights into the mechanisms associated with lung diseases and into identifying targets for drug development. Bridging the gap between fundamental and translational research, and examining applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry, it is a thought- provoking read for basic and applied scientists engaged in biomedical research.

This book addresses several burning issues concerning diseases involving the lungs and respiratory tract. It discusses the epidemiology, mechanisms, prevention, and diagnosis of chest conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea and respiratory infections. Further, it examines the intertwined connection between oxidative stress, cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, and the occurrence and course of obstructive sleep apnea. It also provides pulmonologists with valuable information on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe airway obstruction or respiratory tract infections. Other topics covered include viral infections of the airways, such as influenza, particularly in high-risk groups like pediatric populations, as well as psychosocial aspects, e.g., quality of life in lung cancer patients. Combining basic science and clinical practice, the articles provide key insights and highlight the areas of still limited understanding of disease processes. Stimulating new directions in clinical practice, this collection of articles is intended for respiratory physicians, clinical experts, family practitioners, and all allied healthcare professionals.

This first volume of the comprehensive, two-volume work on oxidative stress in lung disease introduces the molecular mechanisms, and the role of oxidants in the progression of different lung diseases. The lungs of humans and animals are under constant threat from oxidants from either endogenous (e.g. in situ metabolic reactions) or exogenous sources (e.g. air pollutants). Further, oxidative stress causes the oxidation of proteins, DNA and lipids, which in turn generates secondary metabolic products. The book consists of sections, each focusing on different aspects of oxidant-mediated lung diseases. As such it is a unique reference resource for postgraduate students, biomedical researchers and also for the clinicians who are interested in studying and understanding oxidant-mediated lung diseases. The second volume will incorporate other aspects of oxidant-mediated lung diseases, including prevention and therapeutics.

This book presents original articles that report on new approaches and developments involving pulmonary disorders. Pulmonary health attracts public concern as lungs are the first line of defense of the organism against various contagions and are directly influenced by all too often unhealthy constituents of ambient air, which make them vulnerable to diseases. The articles deal with the pathogenic background and most relevant practical aspects of the widespread pulmonary disorders. Topics include the mechanisms and treatment options of sleep apnea syndrome, occupational exposure to carbon dioxide, and the research on prognostic factors in lung cancer. Another theme tackles quality of life in chronic pathologies and the psychosocial factors, often underestimated, having influence on lung function already in adolescence, and thus liable to shape adult pulmonary morbidity. Reports on the course of recent influenza outbreaks and a rather dismal state of anti-influenza measures top off the content. The volume is addressed to clinicians and researchers, pulmonary doctors, and other professionals engaged in patient care and therapy.

Respiratory disease is one of the leading causes of both mortality and morbidity, causing a significant burden on healthcare resources, the economy, and on individual patients and their carers. Respiratory conditions are managed in many different settings, from home and residential care through the full range of primary to tertiary care. The multifaceted nature of both diseases affecting respiration and the care options is comprehensively covered in this second edition of the Oxford Handbook of Respiratory Nursing. Offering a systematic description of the main respiratory diseases found in adults, the Handbook covers the assessment, diagnosis, and nursing management of each condition. With a special focus on the role of the multidisciplinary team in meeting the multiple care needs of respiratory patients, including physical and psychosocial concerns, and both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, the Oxford Handbook of Respiratory Nursing is a unique and invaluable companion for all healthcare professionals working within the specialty. Fully updated to reflect changes in new national and international guidance, with additional topics on biologics, antifibrotic therapy, inspiratory flow, and new NICE and UKIG standards and algorithms, the material has been fully overhauled to reflect current best practice and therapeutic options. Concise, didactic, and augmented with further reading and useful online resources, the second edition of the Oxford Handbook of Respiratory Nursing gives nurses working in the field all the information they need at their fingertips.

This book contextualizes translational research and provides an up to date progress report on therapies that are currently being targeted in lung cancer. It is now well established that there is tremendous heterogeneity among cancer cells both at the inter- and intra-tumoral level. Further, a growing body of work highlights the importance of targeted therapies and personalized medicine in treating cancer patients. In contrast to conventional therapies that are typically administered to the average patient regardless of the patient's genotype, targeted therapies are tailored to patients with specific traits. Nonetheless, such genetic changes can be disease-specific and/or target specific; thus, the book addresses these issues manifested in the somatically acquired genetic changes of the targeted gene. Each chapter is written by a leading medical oncologist who specializes in thoracic oncology and is devoted to a particular target in a specific indication. Contributors provide an in-depth review of the literature covering the mechanisms underlying signaling, potential cross talk between the target and downstream signaling, and potential emergence of drug resistance.

This book discusses a wide range of investigations and practice-oriented advances in pulmonary medicine and critical care. Pulmonary diseases are a major cause of hospitalization and mortality, affecting millions of people worldwide. Addressing a range of topics, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, and lung cancer, the book offers insights into the disease mechanisms and risk factors, along with practical aspects concerning the maintenance of quality of life, adherence to therapy, and palliative treatment and care. Further, it explores diagnostic and treatment approaches to respiratory dysfunction and respiratory failure, highlighting the beneficial effects of good sleep quality in chronic pulmonary conditions and lung transplant patients. The book also presents novel experimental research on the cellular voltage-gated sodium channels in the mechanism of pathological cough, which is particularly relevant for future targeted antitussive therapy. Lastly, it addresses the epidemiological aspects of pulmonary infections. As such, this book is a valuable resource for medical scholars, clinicians, family physicians, and other professionals seeking to improve the management of respiratory diseases.

The Respiratory Therapist as Disease Manager serves as a concise, yet informative, knowledge base for disease management in the practice of respiratory therapy. Written for both students and practicing clinicians, this a foundational resource for the Respiratory Therapist who desires to augment their acute care and technical skills with a knowledge base that will enable them to competently perform the duties of a Pulmonary Disease Manager. Fully equipped with case management, patient-education, and self-management content, there is no other textbook like this on the market. The Respiratory Therapist as Disease Manager promotes the concept of behavioral modification in patients through education in conjunction with counseling. Education in and of itself is necessary but not sufficient to increase a patient's ability to manage their chronic disease and thus optimize their quality of life. A more advanced knowledge of chronic respiratory diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension, is presented and focuses on those aspects of each disorder which are relevant to the practice of disease management, such as epidemiology, clinical considerations, and patient education as well as counseling. Factors that are essential to disease management, such as patient adherence to treatment regimens, are discussed as well as specific strategies to resolve self-management inadequacies. The Respiratory Therapist as Disease Manager fills the void of the respiratory therapy curriculum where disease management will be a core competency.

The purpose of this book is to disseminate and deliberate on the latest knowledge concerning immunity and its role in protection and fight against microorganism invasion. The articles tackle both humoral and cellular immunity, and their interconnectivity. The former involves B cells that recognize invading pathogens and create the antibody-mediated response, which when memorized provides future immunity. The latter involves mostly T cells, exemplified by cytotoxic or killer cell destroying the pathogens, or helper cells stimulating B cells to produce antibodies to bind and neutralize the pathogens. T cells act through release of cytokines, interleukins, and other bioactive mediators. Neutrophils play a key role in innate immunity against bacterial infections. The process of NETosis is a recently unraveled sophisticated defense mechanism, consisting of the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps that catch, immobilize, and remove pathogens from the body. Dysfunction of immunity is indisputably conducive to the propensity for infections, particularly respiratory tract infections, as the airways are the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Pathogens can rapidly evolve and adapt to avoid detection by the immune system. The case in point is the influenza virus. The articles report on the epidemiology, diagnostics, serology, complications, and the process of acquired immunity due to vaccination against influenza and influenza-like infections in recent epidemic seasons. The book is a blend of medical research and practice. It is intended for academic scientists, research scholars, clinicians, family doctors, and healthcare professionals.

This book discusses normal sex-related differences in lung structure and function and the role these differences play in lung disease. New research on the effects of sex hormone signaling on specific cell types of the lung has begun to reveal how these hormones may drive or prevent lung disease. Expertly written chapters examine the effects of sex hormones on normal pulmonary structure and function, hormone signaling in lung health, and specific diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and lung cancer. Gender, Sex Hormones, and Respiratory Disease: A Comprehensive Guide focuses on our current understanding and the gaps in research, with suggestions for future directions and implications for therapy. This book is a useful reference for pulmonologists and researchers and will prompt further inquiry aimed at improving overall lung health.

Clinical investigation plays an essential role in the differential diagnosis, biomarker development, and therapy and cure of diseases. The book presents a bench-to-bed approach, with broad empirical coverage by experienced practitioners. The articles include topics like cytokine receptors in lung cancer, conduciveness of oxidative stress to carcinogenesis, safety and effectiveness of surgical correction of deformed chest, diagnostic and treatment regimens in inflammation-ridden obstructive lung conditions, alterations in growth hormone secretion leading to disorders of growth and metabolism, microbiota transplantation in pediatric patients, and the promising markers of renal epithelial injury. Yet another issue concerns the restructuring of chronic pain management by establishing the community-based specialized pain clinics. The book aims to disseminate and deliberate on the latest interdisciplinary medical knowledge to enhance clinical outcomes. Being a blend of clinical investigation and practice the book is addressed to physicians, scientists, and allied health care professionals.

Leading researchers are specially invited to provide a complete understanding of a key topic within the multidisciplinary fields of physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. In a form immediately useful to scientists, this periodical aims to filter, highlight and review the latest developments in these rapidly advancing fields.

This book presents the current trends and state of the art solutions addressing various issues related to pulmonary disorders. Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges are tackled, starting with the noncommunicable diseases of sarcoidosis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Pulmonary involvement, practically unavoidable, runs an insidious course, and is often occulted by systemic symptoms. The establishment of a firm diagnosis, with a precision no one could oppugn, is difficult. Other issues pertain to quality of life, disease preventive measures, and the move toward personal health care in chronic sufferers from multiple conditions in later life. There is also an update on the prevalence and diagnostic and treatment challenges of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, the place of neuroproteomics in modern clinical practice is presented. The practical insights emphasize the role of science in advancing biomedical knowledge and care. The book is addressed to researchers and practitioners, and allied health care professionals engaged in effective patient care and therapy.

This concise and practical book provides an overview of neuromuscular disorders in clinical practice. Diagnostic approaches are covered along with patient management strategies in an easy-to-understand and introductory framework. Filling a significant gap in the literature, this resource delivers essential information for neurology trainees and practitioners, as well as anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of this important medical subspecialty.

This book examines non-invasive, electrical-based methods for disease diagnosis and assessment of heart function. In particular, a formalized signal model is proposed since this offers several advantages over methods that rely on measured data alone. By using a formalized representation, the parameters of the signal model can be easily manipulated and/or modified, thus providing mechanisms that allow researchers to reproduce and control such signals. In addition, having such a formalized signal model makes it possible to develop computer tools that can be used for manipulating and understanding how signal changes result from various heart conditions, as well as for generating input signals for experimenting with and evaluating the performance of e.g. signal extraction methods. The work focuses on bioelectrical information, particularly electrical bio-impedance (EBI). Once the EBI has been measured, the corresponding signals have to be modelled for analysis. This requires a structured approach in order to move from real measured data to the model of the corresponding signals. This book proposes a generic framework for this procedure. It can be used as a guide for modelling impedance cardiography (ICG) and impedance respirography (IRG) signals, as well as for developing the corresponding bio-impedance signal simulator (BISS).

This book is a compendium of articles providing insights into a range of contemporary ideas concerning the core yet unsettled clinical issues. Important aspects of pulmonary disorders are tackled such as occupational respiratory health hazards, asthma, or the role of vitamin D in obstructive airway diseases. Genotyping offers a clear promise in the diagnostics of chronic pulmonary lesions of autoimmune background. Cardiac and respiratory-driven pulsation of cerebrospinal fluid content offers novel arguments in the pathophysiologic savvy of a range of brain dysfunctional conditions, including respiratory-related hypoxic pathologies. Some other articles tackle the heady topics of rehabilitation medicine, offering an insight into research-underpinned diagnostics and practical management solutions in a range of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries that affect the human body's movement, particularly those controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The book is addressed to clinicians, researchers, physiotherapists, and medical professionals engaged in patient care.

The comprehensive nature of this text will appeal To many physicians, the study of sinus disease to a wide range of physicians including generalists, reflects a discipline only slightly less interesting otolaryngologists, and allergists. Family physi than a Johnson and Johnson gauze pad, a pursuit cians, internists, pediatricians, and allergists will followed by dilettanti and eccentric professors. To each profit from having a single source that pro others, it represents a subsection of an undefined vides an in-depth review of topics pertaining to discipline that crosses barriers of internal medi sinus diseases. The otolaryngologist will benefit cine, pediatrics, allergy, chest disease, and oto from having a single text that provides a detailed laryngology. To patients, sinus problems are discussion of the many ancillary medical problems synonymous with headaches and a chronic source of morbidity. Yet few physicians have been pre that influence sinus function and, therefore, surgi cal outcome. We hope that all readers will enjoy the pared, until recently, to do much more than pre international choice of authors whose topics have scribe antibiotics, intranasal steroids, antihistamines, been purposely allowed to overlap in an effort to and commiserate for the misery involved. Fortu provide the broadest possible scope of informa nately, this picture shows significant signs of tion. We expect Diseases of the Sinuses to serve as impending remission. The disciplines of clinical immunology, allergy, and otolaryngology have the foundation of an ever-stronger ongoing effort to combat sinus disease.

Reflecting recent major advances in the field, Muller's Imaging of the Chest, 2nd Edition, remains your go-to reference for all aspects of chest radiology, including the latest diagnostic modalities and interventional techniques. This exhaustive resource begins with a review of normal anatomy, progressing to expert coverage based first on how patients present in clinical practice, then on diagnosis or diagnostic category. This practical, easy-to-use format helps you effectively select and interpret the best imaging studies for the everyday challenges you face in thoracic imaging. Provides extensive new information on lung cancer screening, detailing the technique required to perform a lung cancer screening CT as well as how to interpret these examinations using ACR Lung-RADS. Contains four all-new chapters: Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis, Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features, Non-infectious complications of lung and stem cell transplantation, and Leukemia. Updates you on recent advances regarding interstitial lung disease diagnosis, diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH), interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF), pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis, and much more. Explains the recent CT classification in usual interstitial pneumonia/idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (UIP/IPF) diagnosis and what features are required to correctly categorize a CT into one of four specific patterns. Covers current topics such as bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections, and new staging and histologic classifications for various lung neoplasms including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Features more than 3,100 superior, large digital-quality images (many in full color) depicting all of the chest imaging findings you're likely to see, and helping you distinguish between conditions with similar manifestations. Provides boxes highlighting key points to assist you with report writing, as well as suggestions for treatment and future imaging studies. Features a full-color design throughout, color-coded tables, classic signs boxes, and bulleted lists that highlight key concepts and get you to the information you need quickly. Enhanced eBook version included with purchase. Your enhanced eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

Respiratory infections constitute a major public health concern. The goal of this book is to share knowledge on the best advances in influenza and influenza-like viral infections, and new molecular-based diagnostic methods that discern the antigenic shift enabling viruses to constantly evolve and elude the host immune response. Co-infections, co-morbidities, persistently meager anti-flu vaccination coverage, and infection complications are dealt with. The chapters also further insight into such topics as the effects of sex hormones, and socioeconomic and anthropometric measures on respiratory and immune functions underlying the severity of asthma and respiratory allergy. Psychological functioning in respiratory disorders, taking into account quality of life, illness acceptance, and depressive symptoms is also reviewed as it is all too often underestimated by healthcare providers. The book is intended for clinicians, researchers, students, and all other actors in health-related issues.

Both communicable and noncommunicable diseases of the respiratory system are an increasing healthcare problem despite medical advances. This book aims at unraveling the mechanisms and improving the treatment of pulmonary pathologies, ranging from such common conditions like influenza and related viral infections, functional lung dysfunction, to lung lesions and others. Chapters present late-breaking findings in the diagnostics, pharmacotherapy, and clinical evidence-based decision-making to provide results that can be used to improve healthcare and quality of life. Extending new knowledge and exploring recent medical advances, the book will hopefully help enrich research and clinical experience regarding important respiratory issues. The book is intended for general practitioners and all professionals engaged in the pulmonary field, from basic scientists to clinical investigators.

This book is an informal autobiography by John West MD PhD. He obtained his medical degree in Adelaide, Australia and then spent 15 years mainly at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital in London where he, with others, used radioactive oxygen-15 to make the first description of the uneven regional distribution of blood flow in the lung. In 1960-1961, he was a member of the Himalayan Scientific and Mountaineering Expedition led by Sir Edmund Hillary who had made the first ascent of Mt Everest 7 years before. During the expedition about 6 scientists spent up to three months at an altitude of 5800 m studying the effects of this very high altitude on human physiology. Because of his interests in the effects of gravity on the lung, Dr. West spent a year at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California in 1967-1968. While there he submitted a proposal to NASA to measure pulmonary function of astronauts in space, and this was funded. Later, in 1981 he organized the American Medical Research Expedition to Everest during which the first measurements of human physiology on the summit, altitude 8848 m, were obtained. In the 1990's, Dr. West's team made the first comprehensive measurements of pulmonary function of astronauts in space using SpaceLab which was taken up in the Shuttle.