This book gives an up-to-date analysis of the epidemiology of asthma i n children and adults, the role of steroids in asthma management and n ew and novel asthma therapies. Specific chapters deal with the epidem iology of asthma mortality and of childhood asthma, others discuss the advantages and drawbacks of the use of b2-adenoreceptor agonists, cor ticosteroids, theophylline and new generation phosphodiesterase inhibi tors in the treatment of asthma. A new non-invasive method to assess a irway inflammation is also presented as well as steroid-sparing therap ies in asthma. The book addresses clinicians and basic scientists wit h an interest in asthma epidemiology, steroids and future therapies. I t is also of interest to clinical and no-clinical teachers in academic disciplines relating to respiratory disease.

1. 1. Invasive versus Non-Invasive Clinical Measurements in Medicine Clinical measurement has become an essential complement to traditional physical diagnosis. An ideal clinical measurement should be quantitative, have a high level of reliability and accuracy, be safe, acceptable to the patient, easy to perform and non-invasive. The latter demands that the technique should not break the skin or the lining epithelium and should be devoid of effects on the tissues of the body by the dissipation of energy or the introduction of infection [1]. It is therefore logical that for a given measurement, a non-invasive test will be preferred if it provides the same information with the same accuracy and precision. In the following sections, we will discuss the role of various non-invasive or relatively non-invasive methods to assess airway inflammation in asthma and concentrate on the only direct method of induced sputum examination. 1. 2. Why Is Assessment of Airway Inflammation Important in Asthma? Inflammation is a localized protective response elicited by injury or destruc tion of tissues which serves to destroy, dilute or wall off both the injurious agent and the injured tissue [2]. The role of inflammation in asthma was rec ognized long ago. In his textbook The Principles and Practice of Medicine, in 1892, Sir William Osler described "bronchial asthma . . . in many cases is a spe cial form of inflammation of the smaller bronchioles . . .

Are You Brave Enough for the $1,000 Challenge?
Middle-class incomes are stretched more than ever. Feeling the strain himself, personal finance columnist Brian O'Connor decided to put his own family's spending to the test. He began a ten-week experiment to see if his family could cut its monthly living expenses by $1,000--without sacrificing anything truly important. From groceries and transportation to entertainment and insurance, O'Connor ruthlessly tackled his family's Top 10 spending categories with an eye on rooting out big savings.
As he shares his family's cost-cutting adventures, O'Connor offers helpful strategies for getting your own finances back on track. Whether he's sharing secrets to shrinking your grocery tab or helping you scour bills for unnecessary fees, O'Connor tackles the frustrations and fears of controlling your own financial fate.