Pulmonary Care and Clinical Medicine
Abstract
Preface
The book series Neuroscience and Respiration presents contributions by expert researchers and clinicians in the multidisciplinary areas of medical research and clinical practice. Particular attention is focused on pulmonary disorders as the respiratory tract is upfront at the first line of defense for organisms against pathogens and environmental or other sources of toxic or disease-causing effects. The articles provide timely overviews of contentious issues or recent advances in the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of the entire range of diseases and disorders, both acute and chronic. The texts are thought as a merger of basic and clinical research dealing with biomedicine at both the molecular and functional levels and with the interactive relationship between respiration and other neurobiological systems, such as cardiovascular function, immunogenicity, endocrinology and humoral regulation, and the mind-to-body connection. The authors focus on modern diagnostic techniques and leading-edge therapeutic concepts. Practical, data-driven options to manage patients are considered.
Body functions, including lung ventilation and its regulation, are ultimately driven by the brain. However, neuropsychological aspects of disorders are still mostly a matter of conjecture. After decades of misunderstanding and neglect, emotions have been rediscovered as a powerful modifier or even the probable cause of various somatic disorders. Today, the link between stress and health is undeniable. Scientists accept a powerful psychological connection that can directly affect our quality of life and health span. Psychological approaches, which can decrease stress, can play a major role in disease therapy.
Clinical advances stemming from molecular and biochemical research are but possible if research findings are translated into diagnostic tools, therapeutic procedures, and education, effectively reaching physicians and patients. All this cannot be achieved without a multidisciplinary, collaborative, bench-to-bedside approach involving both researchers and clinicians. The role of science in shaping medical knowledge and transforming it into practical care is undeniable.
Concerning respiratory disorders, their societal and economic burden has been on the rise worldwide, leading to disabilities and shortening of life-span. COPD alone causes more than three million deaths globally each year.
Concerted efforts are required to improve this situation, and part of those efforts are gaining insights into the underlying mechanisms of disease and staying abreast with the latest developments in diagnosis and treatment regimens. It is hoped that the articles published in this series will assume a leading position as a source of information on interdisciplinary medical research advancements, addressing the needs of medical professionals and allied health care workers, and become a source of reference and inspiration for future research ideas.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Paul Roos, Tanja Koppejan, and Cynthia Kroonen of Springer Nature NL for their genuine interest in making this scientific endeavor come through and in the expert management of the production of this novel book series.
Mieczyslaw Pokorski
