Asthma (eBook)

Sebastian L. Johnston and Stephen T. Holgate are the authors of Asthma: Critical Debates, published by Wiley.

List of contributors.

Preface.

Acknowledgements..

PART 1: Epidemiology.

1. Why is the incidence of asthma increasing (P.M. Matricardi
and S. Bonini).

2. Why is asthma more common in the West (E. Von Mutius).

3. How much asthma can be attributed to atopic sensitization (R.
Beasley, J. Douwes, J. Pekkanen and N.E. Pearce).

4. Is air pollution important in asthma (A.J.
Chauhan).

PART 2: Pathophysiology.

5. Is infection important in the pathogenesis and clinical
expression of asthma (E.R. Sutherland and R.J. Martin).

6. Does infection in early life protect against or cause asthma
(B. Bjorksten).

7. Does asthma progress to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(S.T. Weiss).

8. Antenatal factors in the development of atopy and asthma
(P.G. Woodruff, S.L. Prescott, P.G. Holt and J.V. Fahy).

9. Genetics of asthma: What's new (I. Sayers, B. Beghe, J.
Holloway and S.T. Holgate).

PART 3: Treatment.

10. Can airway fibrosis be prevented (D. Smallwood and J.
Wilson).

11. Does allergen avoidance help? What are the practical
measures that patients can take (A. Custovic and A. Woodcock).

12. Is early treatment of children necessary (P.J. Helms).

13. What are the mechanisms of corticosteroid resistance in
asthma (P.J. Barnes).

14. What new therapies are being developed for asthma and will
they offer something better than steroids (J.C. Kips, K.G. Tournoy
and R.A. Pauwels).

15. What is the orel of long-acting ß2 -agonists in the
treatment of asthma (M.R. Sears).

16. What is the role of leukotriene modifiers in the treatment
of asthma (M.E. Wechsler and J.M. Drazen).

PART 4: Delivery of Care.

17. What are the issues in delivering care in primary care (D.
Price).

18. Are asthma clinics useful: should they be run by the doctors
or the nurse (B.D.W. Harrison and S.M. Mildenhall).

19. Should asthma be managed by the patient or the doctor: is
education important (M.R. Partridge).

20. Are psychosocial factors important in asthma (B.D.W.
Harrison and S.M. Mildenhall).

Index.

There is always the potential for periodic short, succinct, up to
date summaries of how advances in asthma basic science can be
appied to clinical management. This boook is obviously designed to
beof this genre. I think it may succeed in this regard if the
chapters a brief, authoritative and to the point.

Dr C J Corrigan, Imperial College, London

An absolutely top of the bill list of authors - some young, some
established, but all highly competent.... I have no doubts at all
that such a distinguished list of authors will produce a text of
the highest standard which the enthusiast will be delighted to
read.

Dr Martyn Partridge, Whipps Cross Hospital