Methods in Asthmology

I. Basic Aspects.- Definition and Classification of Asthma.- Physiology of the Airways.- Asthma: Origin, Mechanisms, and Clinical Aspects.- II. Conditions Leading to Asthma.- Genetic Predisposition in Asthma.- Endocrinological Changes and Asthma.- Psychogenic Factors in Asthma.- III. Assessment of Respiratory Functions: Methodology.- Volume, Flow, and Resistance Assessment in Asthma.- Distributional Methods and Invasive and Noninvasive Gas Analysis in Asthma.- IV Specific Bronchial Challenges.- Skin Tests and Radioimmunological Assays.- Allergen Administration in Bronchial Provocation Tests.- V. Nonspecific Bronchial Challenges.- Radiogas and Radioaerosol Production, Imaging, and Dosimetry in Asthmology.- Physical Agents in Bronchial Provocation Tests: Nebulized Hypoosmolar Aerosol.- Physical Agents in Bronchial Provocation Tests: Nebulized Hyperosmolar Aerosol.- Chemical Agents in Bronchial Provocation Tests.- Pharmacological Agents in Bronchial Provocation Tests.- Occupational Agents in Bronchial Provocation Tests.- Exercise and Hyperventilation Provocation Challenges.- Mediators in Bronchial Provocation Tests.- VI. Diagnostic Use of Bronchodilators.- Long- and Short-Term Reversibility Tests.- VII. Anatomical Structures Involved in Asthma: Methodology.- In Vivo Experimental Methods for Assessing Muscle Tone Involvement in Bronchial Constriction.- In Vitro Experimental Methods for Assessing Tracheobronchial Smooth Muscle Contraction.- Evaluation of In Vitro Data on Agents Acting on Respiratory Smooth Muscle Tone.- Methods for Assessing Airway Blood Flow in Asthma.- Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Asthma.

An increasing number of people suffer from asthma and even dying is a consequence. Because bronchial asthma is a multifactorial disease, a correct approach to it should involve techniques from different specialities. In this book a group of experts examine the methods used to treat individual cases, thus providing a unique integrated source of information that is usually scattered throughout numerous sources.