A flood of data indicate the importance and the relevance in both respiratory and extrapulmonary disease of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection today. Antibody prevalence rates in Western countries reach 50% in the adult population and remain high in old age suggesting a high rate of reinfection. Chlamydia pneumoniae can cause upper respiratory tract infections, like pharyngitis and sinusitis as well as bronchitis and more than 10% of community-acquired pneumonia. Recent data suggest a possible association of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with wheezing and adult-onset asthma. However, the most...

Chlamydia pneumoniae is now recognized as an important human pathogen. Chlamydia pneumoniae is involved in 5%-15% of community acquired pneumonias, and recent data indicate its relevance in severe pneumonia and as a respiratory pathogen in immunocompromised subjects.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) refers to symptoms and events that result from abnormal regurgitation of gastric contents into the oesophagus. GER is a common clinical problem that affects large segments of the general population. This work looks at the effect on the lungs.

This text explores the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Copd), including the role of bacterial infections and the efficacy of antimicrobial therapy in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECD).

The invention of an instrument called the optical microscope and the new possibilities it offered to observe living material must be considered a major milestone in the advance of our understanding of the mechanisms of life. Huge numbers of important observations have been made using this instrument, but unfortunately it only produces two-dimensional images. The advent of the electron microscope, first the transmission electron microscope (TEM) and then the scanning electron microscope (SEM), then made it possible to observe the three-dimensional structure of specimens literally adding a...

Bronchial asthma is a multifactorial disease. Cooperation between pneumologists, physiologists, immunologists, pharmacologist and pediatricians is frequently needed for the complete investigation of an asthma case. This means that a physician in general practice cannot alone assess all the aspects of asthma employing different technigues to manage this disease. This book will provide physicians with a unique source on the principal methods which can be used to analyze individual cases of asthma and a helpful refrence source for better understanding the multiple pathways to the disease.