Book Reviews

Le résumé fourni par la source

This is the twelfth volume of the now prestig ious series, Lung Biology in Health and Disease, edited by Cl.Lenfant.A most fascinating book on chronic airflow limitation, the new term used by the editors of this monograph, P. Macklem and S. Permutt, to describe chronic obstructive pul monary diseases.In fact this monograph focusses on the transition period between health and chronic inability to blow air rapidly out of the lung.Writ ten by the most talented researchers in this area, this volume gives accounts on the rapid progress in this field in the last 20, or perhaps better 10 years.D. V. Bates has writen the first part on the natural history of these diseases.Part two is on the changes in lung structure and function and most of it is devoted to altera tions in lung mechanics and its related fields.The changes in lung structure are dealt by W. Thurlheck.A brief and lucid presentation on the inter pretation of lung function tests has been written by J. Mead.P. Macklem writes about the relation ships between lung mechanics and ventilation distribution, airway stability, airway closure and influence of gas physical properties on pressureflow relationships.The Mayo group, R. Hyatt and J. R. Rodarte, J. Mead and T. Wilson discuss at length on the flow-volume curves, modelling, methods for quantifying, changes in disease and the 0 2 flow-volume curves.5. Permutt and H. Men kes have made a detailed analysis of the mean transit time and of the index of dispersion of this time.Airway closure and changes in inert gas mixing are discussed clearly by L. Engel and L. Farhi.P. Wagner and J. West review the knowl edge on gas exchange in this field, fertilized by their own researches.In a short chapter, D. Proc tor advocates the utility of tests of airway-defense mechanisms.

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